Alpha Testing vs Beta Testing

Both alpha and beta testing are types of user acceptability testing that assist users to gain trust in a product before it is released. Both contribute to the collection of actionable feedback and the improvement of product usability. However, although having similar core goals, alpha and beta tests are conducted in distinct ways, leaving some companies undecided about which sort of testing to use. We’ll discuss the distinction between alpha and beta testing to clear up any misunderstandings.

1. Alpha Testing

Alpha testing is a type of user acceptance testing that is typically performed by internal software testers. Sometimes it is conducted by potential users, but in any case, its main objective is to ensure that the product meets all requirements and identify any potential issues or bugs prior to releasing the final product to end users. Alpha testing is one of the final stages of software development; it occurs after system testing but before beta testing and occurs at the very end of the software development process.

The following are the requirements for alpha testing:

Software requirements document or business requirements specification
All requirements have test cases.
Setup of the Environment
The QA build is ready to go.
A traceability matrix to assure that each design requirement is verified by at least one test case.
Upload test cases and track issues with this test management tool.
A group of testers who are well-versed in the software

The following are the exit criteria of Alpha Testing:

All of the cases were performed and passed.
All of the major bugs have been fixed.
The results of the test have been sent in the form of a summary report.
There are no additional features to be implemented.
Approval of alpha testing

1.1 Why is it necessary to perform Alpha Testing?

Alpha testing is an important part of the software development process. The testing has been focused on confirming that specific elements of the software are working properly up to this point. Now you’re putting the software to the test to check if it actually works. An automobile could be used as an example. You’ve tested the engine, transmission, and chassis up to this point. You might have even put the vehicle together and tested it on a rolling road. But now you’re taking it to a test track to see how it handles, brakes, and has safety features.

1.2 Advantages of Alpha Testing

Following are some of the advantages of Alpha testing:

Simulating real-world user behavior and surroundings
Identifying major bugs
Bugs are spotted and fixed before the beta version is released, which saves money on bug fixes.
Getting a better understanding of product dependability
Identifying and analyzing any risks that could arise during or after the product introduction

1.3 Drawbacks of Alpha Testing

Since the product is still in development, extensive testing of the functionality may be impossible.
The reliability and security of the system are not tested.

1.4 Tools for Alpha Testing

While performing alpha testing, the entire team should report defects using the same mechanism. This will ensure clear communication and timely bug fixes, as well as avoid the creation of duplicate issues. QA testers utilise the following tools and services.

1.4.1 ReQtest

ReQtest has a number of important functions, including bug tracking. It enables the capture, tracking, and management of defects, as well as the previewing of bug reports and the use of charts to show bugs visually. Finding certain reports is simple due to filters.

1.4.2 Monday.com

Monday.com can be used for project management, task management, software development, sales, and CRM, among other things. Bug tracking is one of the functions, and even non-developers can easily submit issues. Monday.com is compatible with Outlook, Slack, OneDrive, Gmail, and Google Drive, among other applications.

1.4.3 Jira Software

Jira is a popular project management tool that can be used to create and share bug reports with your team. To accomplish this, simply create a new task, select the appropriate project, and select the bug option. Add all of the necessary fields to the report itself, including the title, reproduction steps, expected and actual results, and severity. It will be simpler to reproduce the bug if you include screenshots or videos. The bug ID and reporter name will be automatically included, but you may additionally specify the assignee if you know who is responsible for fixing the problem.

2. Beta Testing

Beta testing is a type of user acceptance testing that takes place outside of the company and is carried out by real users in their own environment. A group of users tests the program and provides comments on its quality before it is released to the market.

Your software team has informed you that they currently feel the program is ready to use in its entirety. You are now prepared to test in the real world after successfully completing all internal tests. Companies frequently organize beta-testing programs where they seek out people who are interested in receiving early access to new software. The possibility that the software might be less stable is known to the beta testers. Additionally, they are usually pleased to provide you with feedback.

The entry criteria for beta testing are the following:

Sign-off on alpha testing
A fully ready beta version of the software
The environment ready to release the product to the public
A tool to capture real-time feedback and suggestions

As for the exit criteria, here they are:

All the major and minor bugs have been fixed
A public feedback report has been prepared
A beta test summary report has been delivered

2.1 How does Beta Testing assist you?

Exposing your product to actual users who aren’t privy to its workings is the key advantage of beta testing. The software’s performance in actual-world situations can now be tested for the first time. This is essential, especially for mobile apps. High latencies and network instability are frequent problems with cell phones. Your programme may face new difficulties as a result of this. Your backend gets exposed to realistically high loads as part of the beta testing process, as well. You ought to have performed stress testing on your backend by now. However, this is frequently highly implausible.

2.2 Advantages of Beta Testing

lowering the risk of product failure as a result of client validation
Obtaining useful suggestions from actual users
enhancing the overall quality of the product
testing the infrastructure after launch
Increasing consumer contentment
greater cost-effectiveness compared to alternative data collection techniques
Finding bugs that were not discovered during the earlier testing phases

3. Difference between Alpha Testing and Beta Testing

Basis	Alpha Testing	Beta Testing
Who conducts the test	Internal Staff of the Company	End-users
What locations are used for the tests?	The company’s website	The client’s location
When testing needs to be done?	When the product is 70-90 percent ready or following the system testing phase	Once the product is 90–95 percent complete and has undergone alpha testing.
The white box and black box methodologies are applied?	Both	Only black box technique
Testing for security and dependability is done?	No	Testing is done for robustness, dependability, and security
How long do the tests last?	There must be many test cycles, each of which takes 1-2 weeks.	It requires 1 or 2 cycles, each lasting 4-6 weeks.
Objectives	To assess the product’s quality, find bugs, and make sure it is prepared for beta testing	To assess consumer happiness, get input, and make sure the product is ready for release

4. Conclusion

Due to its role in gathering genuine user feedback, beta testing may appear to be more important for software development organizations. Both of these testing kinds are critical to the success of the product because alpha testing is necessary to assure good beta testing, making them both equally important.

Instead of concentrating simply on alpha or beta testing, we advise you to include both of these phases in your testing lifecycle. After the system testing phase, begin with alpha testing, iron out all the bugs, and then go on to the beta testing phase to gather useful feedback from users. Learn more about how TestDel can help your organization and how to make testing more efficient so you can get more significant business results.

TestDel is a software testing business dedicated to providing our clients with the highest quality software possible. We’ve worked with many companies in industries ranging from banking and healthcare to retail and technology. Our in-depth understanding of numerous testing techniques enables us to uncover hidden faults in various software components and give the best solution for your company. Please Contact us for more information.