A full comparison guide: Manual testing Vs. Automation testing

6 min readMar 18, 2024

Imagine you are playing your most favorite video game and all set up for an exciting, fun journey, but suddenly you find a glitch or your game crashes.

Oh, undoubtedly frustrating, right?

So, to ensure that your game runs seamlessly without any bugs, that’s where software testing services come into the picture.

Basically, there are two main methods:

Manual testing: In this, a person tests each feature to find issues and bugs.
Automated testing: In this, an automated special coding program runs that can detect the bugs.

With the help of both methods, developers ensure that the software works flawlessly and provides a hassle-free experience when a user interacts with it.

So, without further ado, let’s explore the pivotal differences between manual testing and automation testing, along with their pros and cons and which QA testing services will be the better approach to testing your software.

Manual Testing Fundamentals

Basically, what is Manual testing?

It is a kind of QA testing services in which software testing does not require any sort of automation and is done with human intervention. During the process, testers develop test cases for the codes needed so that they can test the software and present the final report regarding the software.

It helps catch the necessary bugs and surface issues prior to the software being pushed live.
The time-consuming process as it only depends on human intervention.
There is no doubt that with human involvement, the possibilities of errors increase to some extent.

Manual testing Pros and Cons

Manual testing Pros

It is quite versatile and allows testers to test a variety of test cases.
Manual testing is quite flexible and quickly adapts to changes when it comes to user interface.
It is a kind of less expensive as it does not require us to spend a hefty budget on automation tools and processes.
It provides fast and accurate feedback that helps to make changes quickly.
For rapid and small changes in testing need minimal or no coding.

Manual testing Cons

It takes a lot of extensive time to manually build test cases for covering and testing all the functionalities.
Unfortunately, the results are not recorded, so reusing the manual test cases is almost impossible.
There are more chances of human errors, so it is less reliable than automated testing.
This is one of the software quality assurance services that does not cover all test coverage, which results in some defects not being detected during the testing.
In this type of software testing — there is a large requirement for human resources.

When to use manual testing?

When flexibility is the priority, manual tests will be better as QA can perform the test quickly and provide fast feedback.
When a project is short-term and focuses on minor features, it is better to go for manual software testing services to save a large chunk of money.
It is a viable option when end-user usability is the top-notch consideration; humans have the sensitivity to understand the application’s behavior to create a satisfying user journey.

Real-use cases of manual testing

User Acceptance
Software application adaptability
User interface
Determine real-world user behavior
Compatibility with variety of operating systems, devices, and web browsers.
Accessibility features of the software application.
Web and app behavior.

Well, moving ahead with Automation Testing Fundamentals

what is Automated testing?

Testers utilize specialized automation tools to perform the predefined test cases without human involvement in automation testing services.

In this, the test scripts run automatically to test software functionality, reliability, and performance.
Not only this but the tests are also executed again and again to detect bugs and issues, giving assurance to software quality and stability.
There is no chance of human error due to automation.
It works well for repetitive tasks and regression tests

Automated testing Pros and Cons

Automated testing Pros

It can effectively work well for repetitive tasks and minimize the time required for regression tests.
Compared to manual testing, automation testing services can help find more bugs and glitches quickly.
As there is no human intervention and testers perform all tests with the help of software tools, there is no tiring or fatigue factor.
Not only this, but one of the best benefits of an automation test is that it can record the tests and allow the reuse of the test.
The chances of errors are reduced to a great extent, and it also expands the test coverage, and even not the smallest unit is untested during the process.

Automated testing Cons

There is no doubt that the cost of implementation of automation tools broadly shoots up the project budget.
To execute the automation test, the employees need to be trained and know programming languages.
Another cons of automation software testing services are that the test maintenance is highly costly.
It is quite challenging to gather valuable insights about the visual elements, including button size, font type, color, font size, etc.
These tools are often resource-heavy and complex and may be unavailable for the technology you want to use.

When to use Automated testing?

It is an effective option in scenarios when running repetitive tasks such as regression tests.
The test scenarios are compelling where there is a scarcity of dedicated testers, and test execution needs to be completed by deadlines.

Real-use cases of Automated testing

Regression testing
Early detection of bugs.
Verify the interactions of different modules or components of the software.
Application performance optimization.
Validate the functionality, security, and reliability of APIs.
Verification of GUI response for user inputs.
Compatibility of web applications across web browsers and versions.

Well, automated testing ever replaces manual testing?

Nowadays, there is always a buzz that automation testing will replace manual testing, but in reality, both types of testing have their own advantages. When it comes to manual software testing services, it is helpful to deal with complex test cases. On the other hand, automated testing can help to execute simple and repetitive tests, which makes the process faster and more reliable.

Manual testing focuses on every detail and attention, which helps to enhance the user experience to the next level. It is always a great differentiator and does not replace manual testing.

Example:

Imagine manual testing, which is like capturing stunning photographs and giving details to everything — from the camera setting to perfect lighting conditions to framing the right shot to capture the beauty and more with enhanced creativity.

On the other hand, automated testing services are like a time-lapse camera that can automatically click the photos at predetermined intervals and does not require constant monitoring — it saves a lot of time and effort. Still, it does not ensure that you can have all the critical moments and creative inputs.

Conclusion: Which is a better option?

None of the testing techniques will be eliminated, as both have their own use cases. It entirely depends on your organization’s goals and needs to decide which software testing services will be an appropriate option for your organization.

If an organization wants to scale up — then in the long run, automated testing will be an appropriate option as it provides better coverage and saves time and effort. However, manual testing is still always needed when it comes to exploratory testing.

Does your organization need top-notch software quality assurance services? Zenesys has a bunch of qualified and experienced testers who can provide exceptional reliability and quality to your software, which effectively enhances speed, security, and user satisfaction.