Hi Peeps;

 

Just wondered what tools people use for cross browser testing. I see companies like Cross Browser Testing but I have no experience of these, has anyone tried something like this? Currently I have a windows 7 with the latest main browsers but my Win XP testing laptop just died and I wondered whether to replace or go for online testing tools.

 

Help and opinions appreciated as always

I use IE Tester - http://my-debugbar.com/wiki/IETester/HomePage

You have to download and install it and you can test on IE 5.5 (lol), IE 6, 7, 8, 9 and I think 10 as well, on the newest version of IE Tester.

 

Very useful that one.

Thanks Teodora. Is it accurate? Will download and have a go just wondering if there is a difference between their 'emulated' version and the real thing on X platform?

Whenever feasibly possible I call in on favours from family and friends with the actual devices, but when that's not practical I sometimes use this http://www.browserstack.com/. You get a free trial but the prices are very reasonable.

I think it's accurate - I have IE7 on an old laptop and it is the same as on IE Tester, so I should guess the other IE versions should be fine.

Dang Teodora, love you, that tools is awesome

Dang Teodora, love you, that tools is awesome

 

What - no love on Browerstacks as well? Just installing Teodora's link on my netbook - great stuff!

Glad you find it helpful

Here is a very good post by webdepend
He can't post in this topic yet.

Hope you find it useful.

 

 

Here are a few tools that I have found useful (and I've noted whether I use them regularly when testing websites).

 

Multi-Browser Viewer - I use most days. It is
Windows software you have to purchase (there is a free trial) and allows
multiple versions of IE, Firefox, Chrome, etc. to be installed on the
same machine. I generally use it for IE7 and IE8 but it has got many
more browser versions plus some mobile emulators built in.

Spoon.net - a virtualized service, I use it for
IE10, which is free. You can use it for older browsers (plus other
software too) but you need to pay for an account. Multi-Browser Viewer
does have IE10 but my installation was knackering up due to IE10 Preview
being installed on my PC and so I turned to Spoon.net.

CrossBrowserTesting - already mentioned by
BrowserBugs. I pay for an account and use it every couple of weeks when I
need a particular Browser/OS combination, such as Safari 6, which I
don't have locally, and when I need mobile browsers that I also don't
have access to locally. It is good but in my view can never be as good
as having a browser locally installed. I even use it to test client
sites behind VPNs.

Browserstack - already mentioned by 4li4s, I have
used the demo and it worked well. I would consider paying for this if I
didn't already have CrossBrowserTesting (but I would probably go for
Sauce Labs, see below).

Sauce Labs - I have used the demo and this is pretty
good, giving you access to lots of OS/Browser combinations. Plus, they
give you unlimited minutes for manual testing, which makes it cheaper
than CrossBrowserTesting. Plus, they have the ability to set up
automated browser test scripts. This is where I am headed next.

In addition to the above tools, I also have 2 PCs
(Windows 7, Windows Vista), a Macbook (Snow Leopard - need Lion for
Safari 6), a Windows netbook, an iPad 2 and 2 Android phones. In this
way I have a range of OS/Browser combinations plus different screen
sizes and capabilities covered. But an Android tablet and an iPhone are
next on my list to purchase.

For testing on real mobile devices (including the
ability to install apps and test those) you can look at Perfecto Mobile
(expensive but good) or Scirocco Cloud (less expensive, Android only and
not quite as good) or Device Anywhere, which has a free plan that gives
you an unlimited number of 10 minute sessions for spot testing (but you
have to upgrade to the full plan to install apps and this is very expensive).

Hope that helps.

 

 

Edited April 11, 201313 yr by teodora