Katalon alternatives · Updated November 2026
The 9 best Katalon alternatives in 2026
Katalon covers web, mobile, API and desktop in one IDE, with a path from no-code to Groovy. Teams look elsewhere when per-seat annual pricing adds up, when the free plan's limits bite, or when they want AI to do more of the work. These nine alternatives span no-code platforms, desktop suites and open-source frameworks.
Robonito is our product, and we list it first. Every tool here gets the same treatment: what it's good at, where it falls short, and its published price as of November 2026.
01Why switch
Why teams look for a Katalon alternative
- Professional is $1,800 per seat per year, billed annually only
- The free plan leaves out desktop testing, AI script generation and self-healing
- Anything beyond the keywords means Groovy or Java
- It runs as a desktop IDE built on Selenium and Appium, which some teams find heavy
Where Katalon is strong
- Web, mobile, REST/SOAP/GraphQL API and Windows desktop testing in one tool
- No-code, low-code and code in the same project
- AI test generation, self-healing and an MCP server on paid plans
02At a glance
Katalon alternatives compared
Prices are the cheapest published paid plan, checked November 2026. Vendors change them often.
| Tool | Best for | Approach | Platforms | Self-healing | Free option | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robonito | Teams that want AI agents to build and maintain tests without code | No-code, plain language with AI agents | Web; mobile, desktop and API on Pro | Yes, on every plan | Free forever plan | $20/month (Starter); Pro $199/month |
| Testsigma | One no-code tool across web, mobile, API, desktop and Salesforce/SAP | No-code, plain-English | Web, native mobile, API, Windows desktop | Yes | Free trial | Custom quote |
| mabl | Web, API and mobile testing in one agent-driven platform | Low-code with AI agents | Web, API, native mobile (add-on) | Yes (AI auto-healing) | 14-day free trial | Custom quote |
| Testim | Record-and-tweak web and Salesforce tests | Low-code recorder with optional JavaScript | Web, Salesforce, native mobile (separate purchase) | Yes (AI smart locators) | Free trial, then a free Community plan | Custom quote |
| testRigor | Plain-English tests across web, mobile, desktop and API | Plain-English, no-code | Web, native mobile, Windows desktop, API | Yes (AI-based) | Free forever plan (tests and results are public) | Custom quote (Pay As You Go) |
| TestComplete | Enterprises testing Windows desktop apps alongside web and mobile | Record, keyword-driven or code (JS, Python, VBScript) | Windows desktop, web, mobile | Yes | 14-day free trial | From €1,919 per licence (Base, one module) |
| Ranorex Studio | Windows desktop testing with a recorder plus C# | Low-code recorder plus code (C#, VB.NET) | Windows desktop, web, mobile | Not stated | 14-day free trial | Custom quote |
| Playwright | Developer teams wanting fast, reliable cross-engine web tests in code | Code (TS/JS, Python, Java, .NET) | Web (Chromium, Firefox, WebKit), API; mobile emulation only | Healer agent for code (no no-code self-healing) | Open source (Apache-2.0) | Free (you run the infrastructure) |
| Selenium | Maximum language choice on a standards-based browser layer | Code (Java, Python, C#, Ruby, JS); IDE recorder | Web (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari); mobile via Appium | No | Open source (Apache-2.0) | Free (you run the infrastructure) |
03Tool by tool
The 9 best Katalon alternatives
- 01
Robonito
Our productBest for: Teams that want AI agents to build and maintain tests without code
An agentic, no-code QA platform. You describe a test in plain language, AI agents build and run it, and self-healing keeps it working when the UI changes. Web testing is on every plan; mobile, desktop and API testing come with Pro, and runs can use a real device cloud.
Strengths
- Plain-language test creation with AI agents, no scripting or locators
- Published pricing with a free forever plan and self-healing included
- Also tests AI agents, chatbots and IVR phone systems
Limitations
- Mobile, desktop and API testing need the Pro plan ($199/month)
- A younger product with a smaller community than the big open-source frameworks
- Free option
- Free forever plan
- Starting price (November 2026)
- $20/month (Starter); Pro $199/month
- 02
Testsigma
Best for: One no-code tool across web, mobile, API, desktop and Salesforce/SAP
An agentic, plain-English test automation platform with an AI coworker that generates, runs and heals tests. It covers web, native mobile on real devices, REST/SOAP APIs, Windows desktop, Salesforce and SAP.
Strengths
- Very broad platform coverage
- A large real-device and browser cloud included
Limitations
- No public pricing
- Some AI features are Enterprise-only or still upcoming
- Free option
- Free trial
- Starting price (November 2026)
- Custom quote
- 03
mabl
Best for: Web, API and mobile testing in one agent-driven platform
A SaaS test automation platform where AI agents create, run, analyse and maintain end-to-end tests. It covers web, API, native mobile apps, performance and accessibility, with unlimited local and CI runs.
Strengths
- Web, API, mobile, performance and accessibility testing in one product
- Unlimited local and CI runs, unlimited users and concurrency
Limitations
- No public pricing, and cloud runs are metered by credits
- Native mobile app testing is a paid add-on
- Free option
- 14-day free trial
- Starting price (November 2026)
- Custom quote
- 04
Testim
Best for: Record-and-tweak web and Salesforce tests
Tricentis Testim records UI tests and lets you add JavaScript where needed. AI smart locators self-heal, and it covers web, Salesforce and native mobile apps (Testim Mobile).
Strengths
- Mature self-healing smart locators
- Salesforce-specific locators and codeless steps
Limitations
- No public pricing
- Mobile is a separate purchase, and API or desktop testing isn't offered
- Free option
- Free trial, then a free Community plan
- Starting price (November 2026)
- Custom quote
- 05
testRigor
Best for: Plain-English tests across web, mobile, desktop and API
A generative-AI platform where tests are written in plain English from the user's point of view. It covers web and mobile browsers, native mobile apps, native Windows apps (paid plans), API calls, email, SMS and 2FA.
Strengths
- Very broad coverage from one plain-English syntax
- Unlimited users, test cases and executions on paid plans
Limitations
- The free plan makes all tests public; desktop testing needs a paid plan
- No published paid price; it goes through a sales call
- Free option
- Free forever plan (tests and results are public)
- Starting price (November 2026)
- Custom quote (Pay As You Go)
- 06
TestComplete
Best for: Enterprises testing Windows desktop apps alongside web and mobile
SmartBear TestComplete is a Windows tool for automated UI testing of desktop, web and mobile apps, with record-and-replay, keyword tests or scripts in JavaScript, Python or VBScript, plus self-healing and AI visual testing.
Strengths
- Strong object recognition across many Windows desktop technologies
- Choice of record, keyword or script authoring
Limitations
- Windows-only IDE
- High per-licence cost with modules priced separately
- Free option
- 14-day free trial
- Starting price (November 2026)
- From €1,919 per licence (Base, one module)
- 07
Ranorex Studio
Best for: Windows desktop testing with a recorder plus C#
A Windows GUI test automation IDE for desktop, web and mobile apps, combining a low-code recorder with full C# and VB.NET code.
Strengths
- Deep desktop object recognition
- A recorder that extends into full C# code
Limitations
- Windows-only, with no public pricing
- Its AI assistant hasn't shipped yet
- Free option
- 14-day free trial
- Starting price (November 2026)
- Custom quote
- 08
Playwright
Best for: Developer teams wanting fast, reliable cross-engine web tests in code
Microsoft's open-source end-to-end framework with its own test runner, driving Chromium, Firefox and WebKit from TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, Java or .NET. It includes codegen, a trace viewer and code-oriented test agents.
Strengths
- One API across Chromium, Firefox and WebKit in four languages
- Excellent built-in tooling: trace viewer, codegen, parallelism
Limitations
- Needs coding skills to write and maintain tests
- Mobile is emulation only; no native apps or real devices
- Free option
- Open source (Apache-2.0)
- Starting price (November 2026)
- Free (you run the infrastructure)
- 09
Selenium
Best for: Maximum language choice on a standards-based browser layer
The open-source browser automation library behind the W3C WebDriver standard, with bindings for Java, Python, C#, Ruby and JavaScript, plus Grid for distributed runs and Selenium IDE for recording.
Strengths
- The widest language support and a huge ecosystem
- Built on the W3C WebDriver standard, vendor-neutral
Limitations
- A library, not a full framework: you assemble runner, waits and reporting
- Browser-only, with no built-in AI or self-healing
- Free option
- Open source (Apache-2.0)
- Starting price (November 2026)
- Free (you run the infrastructure)
04How to choose
Which Katalon alternative fits your team?
| If you need | Look at |
|---|---|
| No-code with AI and monthly pricing | Robonito |
| Broad no-code coverage across web, mobile, API and desktop | Testsigma or testRigor |
| Heavy Windows desktop testing | TestComplete or Ranorex |
| Free, code-first web testing | Playwright or Selenium |
Head-to-head comparisons
05FAQ
Katalon alternatives: common questions
What is the best Katalon alternative?
For no-code with AI and monthly billing, Robonito. For similarly broad coverage without code, Testsigma or testRigor. For deep Windows desktop testing, TestComplete or Ranorex. For free, code-first web testing, Playwright. Our Robonito vs Katalon page compares the two in detail.
How much does Katalon cost?
As of November 2026, Katalon Studio has a free plan and a Professional plan at $1,800 per seat per year, billed annually. Enterprise is priced by quote.
Is there a free Katalon alternative?
Yes. Playwright and Selenium are open source, though you need coding skills and your own infrastructure. Robonito has a free forever plan that includes self-healing, which Katalon's free plan doesn't.
Does Katalon have self-healing?
Yes, on paid plans. Katalon's free plan doesn't include self-healing or AI script generation.
Try Robonito on your own app
Free forever plan. Describe a test in plain language and let the agents build it.