Deciding between tools is difficult when there are many excellent free tools and paid test management tools on the market. The two open-source test management tools we will be comparing today are Kiwi TCMS vs TestLink, along with our AccelaTest. Although each test case management tool has excellent options, deciding the right software tool for your QA and development teams is a matter of cost, your software development process, and the features your team requires.
Summary of Comparison
Before getting into the details of each of the test case management tools, we will analyze the core features of the test management tools and how they will help your software testing efforts.
What is each of the tools going to cost?
Kiwi TCMS and TestLink are both free test management tools when you self-host them. Servers and time do cost money, so you should take these into consideration. In contrast, the comprehensive test case management features in AccelaTest are, and always will be, completely free for teams.
The pricing for each test case management tool is as follows:
- Kiwi TCMS: Free Self-Hosting, $50 / month managed hosting
- TestLink: Free Self-Hosting
- AccelaTest: price starts at $0.00 per user per month for the test management tool
In the pricing arena, AccelaTest is the clear winner for being the only no-cost solution that supports your entire testing process.
How do the tools rank as a Test Case Management Solution?
Test Case Management tools should allow you to create test suites, test cases, test plans and support your software development teams. Fortunately, all three contenders deliver on their ability to manage test cases and include the ability to reuse test cases.
The most notable differences between the tools are a lack of being able to clone test cases in TestLink. Most test management tools offer this functionality.
As the core features offered by two of the tools in this arena are roughly the same, and all testing teams may not need the different features, we declare Kiwi TCMS and AccelaTest the victors.
How do the tools rank on the ability to Manage Test Runs?
The ability to track testing, run your test cases, and report on the failed test cases is of equal importance. The contender lagging the most in this arena is TestLink.
The most notable difference between the tools is a lack of test parameterization in Kiwi TCMS and TestLink. AccelaTest offers this basic functionality and is still in active development to add more.
Once all of the enhancements are complete, AccelaTest will be the clear winner in this category.
How well do the tools handle Defect Management?
Both Kiwi TCMS and TestLink offer standalone defect management and integrate with other bug tracking tools for issues. Due to the same functionality offered by each test management tool, we declare Defect Management a tie.
What are the 39 Kiwi TCMS vs TestLink Comparison Points?
In this comparison of Kiwi TCMS, TestLink, and AccelaTest, we will be comparing these tool’s key features: Requirement Management, Test Cases, Execution of Test Cycles, Bugs or Defects, Integration Capabilities, Certifications, Support, Reporting, and finally finish up with Pricing.
There are pros and cons to every testing tool, so let’s get to it.
 |
 |
 |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Requirement Management |
||||||
| Hierarchical requirements support | ||||||
| Requirement and Defect Linking | ||||||
Test case management |
||||||
| Add attachments to test steps | ||||||
| Duplicate tests between projects | ||||||
| Create, view, edit, clone tests within project | ||||||
| Reusable test repositories | ||||||
| Session-based exploratory testing | ||||||
| Gherkin/Cucumber (BDD) support | ||||||
| Summary / Pre-Conditions | ||||||
Test Sets and Execution Management |
||||||
| Test execution and results audit history | ||||||
| Modify tests during test execution | 1 | |||||
| Report defects from test runner | 1 | |||||
| Assign tests to testers | ||||||
| Test Case Parameterization | ||||||
| Ability to Clone, Edit, and Delete Test Runs | ||||||
| Associate test repository to any test execution set | ||||||
| Set test result (pass/fail) status in one click. | ||||||
Bug management |
||||||
| Standalone issue management module | ||||||
| 3rd party issue tracking integrations | ||||||
| Ability to report issues directly (email, Slack, Teams) | ||||||
Integrations |
||||||
| Integration with Test Automation Tools | ||||||
| Jira Issues | ||||||
| Zapier | ||||||
| API | ||||||
| Slack integration | ||||||
| Webhooks | ||||||
Customization |
||||||
| Filter information hierarchically (examples: Test names, Test tree, Bug details) | ||||||
| Custom workflows | ||||||
| Custom tags or fields | ||||||
| Permission-Based Privileges | ||||||
Reporting |
||||||
| Customizable graphs, dashboards, and metrics | ||||||
| Scheduled report delivery | ||||||
Additional features |
||||||
| Import & Export all data | ||||||
| Search (ability to add criteria) | ||||||
| Installation on-premises or Cloud | Cloud | Both | Self-Hosted | |||
| Task Board | ||||||
Security and certifications |
||||||
| Soc 2 | ||||||
| ISO 27001 | ||||||
Service and Support |
||||||
| Support | ||||||
Pricing |
||||||
| Price |
|
Free - Self Hosted $50 / mo Start Monthly Subscription |
Free Self Hosted |
|||
Legend:
1: Functionality is on roadmap to be implemented.
2: Email support to activate for your testing projects.
Test Case Management Tool Comparison – FAQ
What is AccelaTest?
Accelatest Test Runner Overview
Test Case Creation in Accelatest
AccelaTest is different from many popular tools. We have made all core functionality our competitors charge money for entirely free for teams. You read that right. We offer the ability to efficiently manage test plans, test runs, test results, and reporting at no cost.
What is Kiwi TCMS?
Kiwi TCMS Report
Test Runner in Kiwi TCMS
Kiwi TCMS was started as a fork of the open-source test management tool Nitrate and is another comprehensive test case management application built to monitor testing progress and track progress.
Many agile teams use Kiwi to boost productivity and ensure the highest quality software is delivered. Users have found great success using this solution.
What is TestLink?
TestLink is another open-source test management tool many software testing teams have had good luck with.
Fortunately, many plugins are available for TestLink. In addition to Jira, TestLink also integrates through many other third-party plugins available on the market. Some examples include Selenium and other automated testing tools.
Your QA team could join the many other happy users who have found much success with TestLink.
Who are Kiwi TCMS Competitors?
The TCMS arena is full of Kiwi TCMS Competitors. each with recognition. The three main competitors of Kiwi TCMS are TestLink, AccelaTest, and Tarantula.
All of these test case management solutions have their pros and cons, so it really comes down to what your specific needs are for a given project.
TestLink vs Kiwi TCMS Conclusion
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of Testlink vs Kiwi TCMS, in addition to our Free Test Management tool. Many tools have similar features and will continue adding new features. This makes the cost of test management tools a significant difference. The test case management features of AccelaTest are forever free. Open your free account now or discover all the features offered here.
Resources: