Overview

Katalon and Robot Framework platforms have become very popular in the functional Test Automation space. This document attempts to compare these two platforms across common features.

image6
image7

Problem Statement

Even though Test Automation as a practice and automation platforms have been around for a while, their adoption has lagged behind in general. Recently, one of our customers approached us with a request to compare and contrast Katalon and Robot Framework based on their specific use case. Their primary objective was to automate most of their regression testing so that their development team could move rapidly with a drastically shortened feedback loop for any newly introduced features.

Katalon Studio vs Robot Framework

Katalon Studio Robot Framework
Ease of Use
  • Provides a user-friendly interface that requires minimal knowledge of software development
  • Supports a record-and-playback feature that allows users to create tests rapidly
  • Uses a simple, keyword-driven syntax that is easy to understand and write
  • Emphasis on readability and natural language, making it easy for both technical and non-technical users
Programming Language
  • Based on Java and Groovy
  • Implemented in Python and supports other languages through external libraries
Test Libraries and Ecosystem
  • Provides a rich set of built-in libraries for web testing, such as Selenium WebDriver and Appium for mobile testing
  • Supports integration with various external tools and services
  • Supports a modular architecture and extensive support for libraries and frameworks
  • Large ecosystem with various libraries available for different purposes (includes Selenium Library for web testing and Microsoft’s Playwright)
Flexibility and Extensibility
  • Offers a wide range of built-in features, reducing the need for extensive programming
  • Can be less flexible when specific customizations are required
  • Highly extensible and allows users to create custom libraries and keywords
  • Can integrate with external tools, frameworks, and APIs to meet specific testing requirements
Community Support
  • Active user community and provides official documentation, tutorials, and forums for support
  • Large and active user community that contributes to the framework's development. Extensive documentation, forums, and mailing lists are available for support
Licensing & Costt
  • Offers both free and commercial versions. The free version comes with some limitations, while the commercial version provides additional features and support.
  • Open-source and free to use (does not have a commercial version)

Conclusion

Both Katalon Studio and Robot Framework are excellent test automation platforms with their own pros and cons. The choice of the platform to use really depends on the project requirements and the technical skillset of the test engineering team managing it. Katalon Studio lends itself well for less technically inclined users by supporting a quick setup, good build-in features (commercial version). Robot Framework is more flexible and supports customizations with a wide range of plugins, but as with any open-source platform, it requires a team with decent development skills to maintain the tests or extend the features with suitable plugins.

References

Robot Framework

Katalon Studio

Katalon Studio Pricing