10/27/21, 10:58 PM Automation Testing Vs. Manual Testing: What’s the Difference?

Automation Testing Vs. Manual Testing: What’s the

Difference?
By Thomas Hamilton Updated October 8, 2021

What is Manual Testing?

Manual testing is testing of the software where tests are executed manually by a QA Analyst.
It is performed to discover bugs in software under development.

In Manual testing, the tester checks all the essential features of the given application or
software. In this process, the software testers execute the test cases and generate the test
reports without the help of any automation software testing tools.

It is a classical method of all testing types and helps find bugs in software systems. It is
generally conducted by an experienced tester to accomplish the software testing process.

What is Automation Testing?

In Automated Software Testing, testers write code/test scripts to automate test execution.
Testers use appropriate automation tools to develop the test scripts and validate the
software. The goal is to complete test execution in a less amount of time.

Automated testing entirely relies on the pre-scripted test which runs automatically to
compare actual result with the expected results. This helps the tester to determine whether
or not an application performs as expected.

Automated testing allows you to execute repetitive task and regression test without the
intervention of manual tester. Even though all processes are performed automatically,
automation requires some manual effort to create initial testing scripts.

KEY DIFFERENCE

Manual Testing is done manually by QA analyst (Human) whereas Automation

Testing is done with the use of script, code and automation tools (computer) by a
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10/27/21, 10:58 PM Automation Testing Vs. Manual Testing: What’s the Difference?
tester.

Manual Testing process is not accurate because of the possibilities of human errors
whereas the Automation process is reliable because it is code and script based.
Manual Testing is a time-consuming process whereas Automation Testing is very
fast.
Manual Testing is possible without programming knowledge whereas Automation
Testing is not possible without programming knowledge.
Manual Testing allows random Testing whereas Automation Testing doesn’t allow
random Testing.

Difference Between Manual Testing and Automation Testing

Parameter Automation Testing Manual Testing

In manual testing, test cases

Automation Testing uses automation
Definition are executed by a human
tools to execute test cases.
tester and software.

Manual testing is time-

Processing Automated testing is significantly faster
consuming and takes up
time than a manual approach.
human resources.

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10/27/21, 10:58 PM Automation Testing Vs. Manual Testing: What’s the Difference?

Parameter Automation Testing Manual Testing

Exploratory Automation does not allow random Exploratory testing is

Testing testing possible in Manual Testing

The initial investment in the

Manual testing is
The initial investment in the automated
Initial comparatively lower. ROI is
testing is higher. Though the ROI is better
investment lower compared to
in the long run.
Automation testing in the
long run.

Manual testing is not as

Automated testing is a reliable method,
accurate because of the
Reliability as it is performed by tools and scripts.
possibility of the human
There is no testing Fatigue.
errors.

Small changes like change

For even a trivial change in the UI of the
in id, class, etc. of a button
UI Change AUT, Automated Test Scripts need to be
wouldn’t thwart execution
modified to work as expected
of a manual tester.

Investment is required for testing tools as Investment is needed for

Investment
well as automation engineers human resources.

Not cost effective for low volume Not cost effective for high
Cost-effective
regression volume regression.

Manual Tests are usually

With automation testing, all stakeholders recorded in an Excel or
Test Report
can login into the automation system and Word, and test results are
Visibility
check test execution results not readily/ readily
available.

Automated testing does not involve The manual testing method

Human human consideration. So it can never give allows human observation,
observation assurance of user-friendliness and which may be useful to offer
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10/27/21, 10:58 PM Automation Testing Vs. Manual Testing: What’s the Difference?

positive customer experience. user-friendly system.

Parameter Automation Testing Manual Testing

Performance Tests like Load Testing,

Performance Stress Testing, Spike Testing, etc. have to Performance Testing is not
Testing be tested by an automation tool feasible manually
compulsorily.

Manual tests can be

This testing can be executed on different executed in parallel but
Parallel
operating platforms in parallel and would need to increase your
Execution
reduce test execution time. human resource which is
expensive

You can Batch multiple Test Scripts for Manual tests cannot be
Batch testing
nightly execution. batched.

Programming Programming knowledge is a must in No need for programming in

knowledge automation testing. Manual Testing.

Manual testing needs have a

Automation test requires less complex
Set up more straightforward test
test execution set up.
execution setup

Repetitive Manual Test

Done by tools. Its accurate and never gets
Engagement Execution can get boring
bored!
and error-prone.

Manual testing proves

Automation testing is useful when
useful when the test case
Ideal approach frequently executing the same set of test
only needs to run once or
cases
twice.

Executing the Build

Build Automation testing is useful for Build Verification Testing (BVT) is
Verification
Verification
very difficult and time-
Testing Testing (BVT). consuming in manual
testing.
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10/27/21, 10:58 PM Automation Testing Vs. Manual Testing: What’s the Difference?

Parameter Automation Testing Manual Testing

Manual Testing has a higher

Automated Tests have zero risks of
Deadlines risk of missing out the pre-
missing out a pre-decided test.
decided test deadline.

Manual Testing does not use

Automation testing uses frameworks like frameworks but may use
Framework Data Drive, Keyword, Hybrid to accelerate guidelines, checklists,
the automation process. stringent processes to draft
certain test cases.

Automated Tests acts as a document

provides training value especially for
Manual Test cases provide
Documentation automated unit test cases. A new
no training value
developer can look into a unit test cases
and understand the code base quickly.

Manual Unit Tests do not

Automated Unit Tests enforce/drive Test
Test Design drive design into the coding
Driven Development Design.
process

Automated Tests help in Build Verification Manual Testing defeats the

Devops Testing and are an integral part of DevOps automated build principle
Cycle of DevOps

Manual Testing is suitable

Automated Testing is suited for
for Exploratory, Usability
Regression Testing, Performance Testing,
When to Use? and Adhoc Testing. It should
Load Testing or highly repeatable
also be used where the AUT
functional test cases.
changes frequently.

Manual Testing Pros and Cons

Pros of Manual Testing:

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10/27/21, 10:58 PM Automation Testing Vs. Manual Testing: What’s the Difference?

Get fast and accurate visual feedback

It is less expensive as you don’t need to spend your budget for the automation tools and
process
Human judgment and intuition always benefit the manual element
While testing a small change, an automation test would require coding which could be
time-consuming. While you could test manually on the fly.

Cons of Manual Testing:

Less reliable testing method because it’s conducted by a human. Therefore, it is always
prone to mistakes & errors.
The manual testing process can’t be recorded, so it is not possible to reuse the manual
test.
In this testing method, certain tasks are difficult to perform manually which may require
an additional time of the software testing phase.

Automated Testing Pros and Cons

Pros of automated testing:

Automated testing helps you to find more bugs compare to a human tester
As most of the part of the testing process is automated, you can have a speedy and
efficient process
Automation process can be recorded. This allows you to reuse and execute the same
kind of testing operations
Automated testing is conducted using software tools, so it works without tiring and
fatigue unlike humans in manual testing
It can easily increase productivity because it provides fast & accurate testing result
Automated testing support various applications
Testing coverage can be increased because of automation testing tool never forget to
check even the smallest unit

Cons of Automated Testing:

Without human element, it’s difficult to get insight into visual aspects of your UI like
colors, font, sizes, contrast or button sizes.
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