Why is Appium Preferred Over Other Mobile App Test Automation Tools?
Tags: mobileautomationtesting, mobileapplicationtesting, appiumautomation
Published: 2024-06-13 14:52:00

Has a thought ever struck you about why people choose Appium over other mobile app test automation tools? If you still wonder, come to us!


[Mobile automation testing](https://www.pcloudy.com/mobile-automation-testing-on-real-devices/) has become a crucial aspect of a robust procedure of mobile software development, testify that the entire procedure will generate top-quality solutions while adhering to the exact budget and time constraints.


Appium is amongst the best Android app performance testing tools to monitor and analyze multiple devices before the launch. It is also [beneficial in automating mobile application](https://www.pcloudy.com/13-benefits-of-automation-testing/) testing.


[Mobile application testing](https://www.pcloudy.com/start-to-end-guide-for-mobile-app-testing/) is an indispensable part of the application development process. And automated testing can play a significant role in the quality assurance of mobile applications. Therefore, [Appium automation](https://www.pcloudy.com/5-reasons-why-appium-is-the-best-tool-for-mobile-automation-on-device-cloud/) on the cloud can benefit you with mobile app testing and turn out to be the best among Android app performance testing tools.

 

What is Appium Test Automation Tool?
 

 
Appium is famous as a mobile app test automation tool and enables users to test hybrid and native apps on iOS and Android devices. It leverages the Selenium WebDriver API to have complete control over devices and interact with the applications, making it a superpower option for automating mobile app testing tools.


Appium is an [open-source mobile application testing tool](https://www.pcloudy.com/best-open-source-tool-for-mobile-automation-testing/) that leverages the Selenium WebDriver API. It allows you to jot tests against mobile applications leveraging the same language and framework as your web tests, making it a cinch to use and grab.


Appium also supports various mobile automation frameworks that include Espresso and Calabash. Moreover, it’s supported by primary platforms such as iOS and Android, which means you can integrate Appium into your current [CI/CD pipeline](https://www.pcloudy.com/blogs/accelerating-app-testing-with-automation-and-modern-ci-pipelines/).


Appium is a cross-platform mobile application test automation tool that leverages the JSON wire protocol to interact with native Android and iOS applications via Selenium WebDriver.


How Does Appium Work?
 
Appium is a ‘HyperText Transfer Protocol server’ written using a platform name, Node.js. It can drive Android and iOS sessions using WebDriver JSON wire protocol.


Once you successfully download and install the Appium mobile application testing tool, a server is managed on the machine, exposing a REST API. It aims to get connections conglomerate command requests from the client to perform that command on mobile devices.


Furthermore, the mobile test automation frameworks are leveraged to perform this request again to control the UI applications.


Appium runs the command on simulators and Apple mobile devices leveraging the XCUITest framework, plus on real devices, emulators, and Android smartphones leveraging the UI Automation test framework.


Essential Factors Why Appium is Preferred Over Other Test Automation Tools
 

Let’s get a glimpse of some key factors that differentiate Appium from other automated mobile application testing tools.

Support of Multiple Languages– Appium supports a broad range of programming languages like Java, JavaScript, Perl, Python, Ruby, C#, and many more that are compatible with Selenium WebDriver API. It helps Appium to perform excellently across different frameworks and platforms.

Cost-effective– In the above point, we have seen that Appium supports multiple languages, which makes it more scalable. As a result, it cancels the requirement to set up several platforms during the integration. Apart from this, customers can leverage the app without recording or recomputing, which is more cost-effective.

Cross-Platform Test Automation– It’s an excellent [cross-platform mobile application test automation](https://www.pcloudy.com/cross-platform-mobile-test-automation-using-appium/) tool, as it can work on iOS and Android devices. Appium leverages the JSON wire protocols to interact with iOS and Android devices with the help of Selenium WebDriver.For iOS application automation, Appium leverages the libraries which Apple makes available with the help of an instructions program. The same techniques are leveraged in Android, where Appium leverages a proxy to provide the automation command to the UIAutomator test case presently running on the device.On Android app performance testing tools, Appium leverages the UI Automator that completely supports the JUnit test cases to automate the applications.

Open-source Testing Tool-One of the biggest reasons why customers go for Appium over other mobile app test automation tools is; its open-source framework that encourages testing on simulators, emulators, and real devices. It’s easier for new automation engineers to get their answers via Appium. All thanks to its vibrant and sizable open-source community.

Standard API– Appium is used worldwide. After all, it doesn’t need recompilation or any code change of your application because it leverages the standard API across different platforms.

It makes jotting tests easier for Android and iOS platforms that leverage the same API. However, a user will still require separate Android and iOS test scripts because of the different UI elements on both platforms.

Compatible with Popular Testing Frameworks- Appium is most favorable across all the famous testing frameworks. It supports almost all the known testing frameworks leveraged across different platforms.

Before Appium, test scripts in Java could only be leveraged with the UI Automation of Google, and those in JavaScript could only be leveraged with the UI Automation of Apple. With Appium, mobile teams can take advantage of the framework they want. Appium entirely changes this scenario.


Huge Support System– Being categorized as an open-source mobile application testing tool, Appium is a very popular framework with a vast support system from the open-source community. Customers leveraging Appium can benefit from bug fixes, a vast online community supporting budding experts, and regular updation of versions.

Bid-adieu to Installation– You do not need to install the application for device testing. You can download the Appium mobile testing tools and start working on your Android or iOS devices right away.
 
Comparison with Other Tools


When it comes to mobile app test automation, several tools are available for testers to choose from. In this section, we will compare Appium with three other popular mobile app test automation tools: Espresso, Robot Framework, and Calabash. Understanding the strengths and limitations of each tool can help you make an informed decision on which tool best suits your testing requirements.


Appium vs. Espresso

Appium:
Cross-Platform Support: Appium supports testing for both Android and iOS platforms.
Language Support: Offers support for multiple programming languages including Java, Ruby, Python, C#, etc.
Ease of Setup: It can be slightly complex to set up compared to Espresso.
Execution Speed: Relatively slower execution speed compared to Espresso as it runs tests through a server.
Community Support: Robust community support.
Integration with Selenium: Seamless integration with Selenium, facilitating the testing of both web applications and mobile applications.

Espresso:
Cross-Platform Support: Espresso is limited to testing Android applications.
Language Support: Offers support primarily for Java and Kotlin.
Ease of Setup: Easier and faster to set up compared to Appium.
Execution Speed: Faster execution speed as it runs tests directly within the device.
Community Support: Supported by Google, ensuring updates and maintenance.
Integration with Selenium: Does not integrate with Selenium.



Appium vs. Robot Framework


Appium:
Flexibility in Writing Test Cases: Supports writing tests in multiple languages, making it flexible.
Integrations: Easily integrates with various other tools and frameworks.
Learning Curve: Medium learning curve for someone experienced in Selenium WebDriver.
Keyword-Driven: While Appium can use keyword-driven testing, it’s not the core feature.


Robot Framework:
Flexibility in Writing Test Cases: Tests are written using a simple tabular syntax, which is easier for beginners.
Integrations: Integrates with Selenium for web testing and Appium for mobile testing.
Learning Curve: Easier learning curve, especially for those new to programming.
Keyword-Driven: Primarily a keyword-driven testing framework.


Appium vs. Calabash

Appium:
Community Support: Has a large and active community.
Maintenance and Updates: Continuously maintained and updated.
Interactions with App: Interacts with mobile apps using Selenium WebDriver.


Calabash:
Community Support: The community is less active compared to Appium.
Maintenance and Updates: As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, Calabash is no longer actively maintained.
Interactions with App: Interacts with mobile apps using Cucumber, allowing for more human-readable test cases.


Closing Thoughts


Each testing tool has its own strengths and weaknesses. Appium is a strong choice if you need a tool that offers cross-platform support, and flexibility in language choice. Espresso may be more appropriate for Android-only applications, where fast execution speed is critical. Robot Framework is ideal for those who prefer a keyword-driven approach and simplicity, and Calabash offers a human-readable syntax with Cucumber integration. Choose the tool that best aligns with your project requirements, team skill sets, and long-term maintenance considerations.