Top 17 Alternatives to Airtest Project for Android/Windows Testing

Introduction: Where Airtest Project Fits in Test Automation

Airtest Project emerged from the growing need to automate game and app UI flows on Android and Windows—domains where traditional DOM-based or accessibility-driven tools often fall short. Created and open-sourced by NetEase, Airtest leans on Python and computer vision (CV) to locate elements and drive interactions, making it a natural fit for scenarios where UI elements aren’t easily accessible through conventional selectors—for example, many game engines or custom-rendered interfaces.

The toolset typically includes the Airtest framework and AirtestIDE, with the option to add Poco for hierarchical UI object inspection. This combination has gained popularity for several reasons:

• It supports image-based automation on Android and Windows (with community patterns also applied to emulators and game launchers).

• It offers broad test automation capabilities with Python, which many QA engineers and developers already use.

• It integrates with modern CI/CD workflows and can be shaped to fit various pipelines.

Over time, Airtest Project has been adopted by game teams and mobile QA groups that need CV-based strategies, scriptable flexibility, and reasonable scaling within CI. However, as teams mature or their needs change—expanding to iOS, seeking stronger object-level selectors, reducing maintenance, or pursuing low-code solutions—they often evaluate alternatives or complements to Airtest.

This guide explores the top 17 alternatives (and near-adjacent complements) to help you choose the right fit for your stack and skills.

Overview: Top 17 Alternatives to Airtest Project

Here are the top 17 alternatives for Airtest Project:

• Airtest + Poco

• Appium

• AutoHotkey

• AutoIt

• Automation Anywhere

• Blue Prism

• Espresso

• FlaUI

• Maestro

• Paparazzi (Cash App)

• Pywinauto

• Repeato

• Shot (Kakao)

• SikuliX

• Waldo

• White

• Winium

Why Look for Airtest Project Alternatives?

Depending on your application type, team skills, and infrastructure, you might consider alternatives for reasons like:

• Need for iOS coverage: Airtest focuses on Android and Windows; many teams require iOS support without major rework.

• Test flakiness in CV-heavy flows: Pure image matching can be brittle if tests are not structured well, or if the UI frequently changes (themes, animations, effects).

• Desire for object-based selectors: Accessibility or native selectors (e.g., Android View IDs, Windows UI Automation) can be more stable than images for many apps.

• Lower maintenance and onboarding: Some teams prefer declarative or no-code tools to speed up authoring and reduce scripting overhead.

• Specialized workflows: Screenshot testing, RPA, or enterprise governance may be better served by tools built specifically for those needs.

• Language and ecosystem fit: If your team prefers Java/Kotlin, C#/.NET, or YAML-based flows over Python, a different tool might align better with your current stack.

Detailed Breakdown of Alternatives

1) Airtest + Poco

• What it is: A complementary pairing from NetEase that augments Airtest’s CV approach with Poco’s UI hierarchy inspection for Android, iOS, and Windows.

• Platforms: Android, iOS, Windows

• License: Open Source

• Primary tech: Python

• Ideal for: Teams that like Airtest’s flexibility but want more robust selectors and easier element targeting through UI hierarchies.

Strengths:

• Combines image-based actions with hierarchy-based locators for fewer flaky tests.

• Works across Android, Windows, and iOS (via Poco integrations).

• Fits naturally with existing Airtest scripts and AirtestIDE.

• Supports CI/CD pipelines and modern workflows.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• This is an incremental upgrade rather than a replacement. It addresses many CV-only pain points by adding object-level selectors and is often the fastest path to stabilizing Airtest-based suites.

2) Appium

• What it is: A widely used, open-source, cross-platform automation framework for Android, iOS, and mobile web that implements the WebDriver protocol.

• Platforms: Android, iOS, Mobile Web

• License: Open Source (Apache-2.0)

• Primary tech: WebDriver

• Ideal for: Teams that need a standard, language-agnostic solution with a large ecosystem and device-cloud compatibility.

Strengths:

• True cross-platform approach with broad language bindings (Java, Python, JS, etc.).

• Rich plugin ecosystem and strong community support.

• Works well with device clouds and CI/CD tools.

• Mature reporting and integration patterns via common test runners and frameworks.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• Appium emphasizes accessibility and native selectors over image matching, which can improve stability for standard apps. It may be less effective for game UIs that lack accessible elements, though plugins exist for image-based interactions. For general app automation and multi-language teams, Appium often reduces maintenance overhead.

3) AutoHotkey

• What it is: An open-source Windows automation and scripting language commonly used for UI interactions, hotkeys, and macros.

• Platforms: Windows

• License: Open Source (GPL)

• Primary tech: AHK script

• Ideal for: Lightweight Windows desktop automation, quick scripts, and small teams.

Strengths:

• Very low barrier to entry for simple automation tasks.

• Fast to prototype and iterate desktop UI interactions.

• Large community and examples for common Windows workflows.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• AutoHotkey is Windows-only and not suited for Android testing. It’s less structured than Airtest for large-scale test suites but can be excellent for speeding up repetitive desktop tasks, installers, launchers, or small smoke tests.

4) AutoIt

• What it is: A Windows automation and macro scripting language often used for UI interactions and installers.

• Platforms: Windows

• License: Freeware

• Primary tech: AutoIt script

• Ideal for: Teams automating Windows desktop workflows and installers with minimal overhead.

Strengths:

• Simple scripting for keyboard/mouse automation and basic UI controls.

• Good fit for legacy applications and installation flows.

• Lightweight and easy to embed into build scripts.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• AutoIt is Windows-only and does not address Android. It’s a popular choice for desktop-only automation and can be simpler than Airtest for basic UI flows on Windows. For advanced computer vision or Android coverage, Airtest remains stronger.

5) Automation Anywhere

• What it is: A commercial RPA platform for automating business processes on Windows desktops and across enterprise systems.

• Platforms: Windows (with integrations across enterprise systems)

• License: Commercial

• Primary tech: Visual workflows

• Ideal for: Enterprises needing governance, monitoring, and scalable bot orchestration.

Strengths:

• Enterprise-grade governance, auditing, and security.

• Visual workflow design with reusable components.

• Strong analytics, monitoring, and management tools.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• Automation Anywhere focuses on RPA use cases rather than test automation per se. It can automate UI workflows reliably but is typically overkill for pure testing needs and lacks Android-first tooling. If your priority is enterprise-wide process automation, it may be a fit; for game or app UI testing, Airtest is more direct.

6) Blue Prism

• What it is: A commercial RPA platform geared toward enterprise-grade automation and governance.

• Platforms: Windows (with integrations across enterprise systems)

• License: Commercial

• Primary tech: Visual workflows

• Ideal for: Organizations standardizing on RPA for repeatable UI workflows and back-office automation.

Strengths:

• Strong governance, compliance, and security posture.

• Scalable digital workforce orchestration.

• Reusable components and robust control mechanisms.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• Like Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism is RPA-first. It’s not optimized for mobile or game testing workflows. Choose it if your priority is process automation within enterprise constraints rather than flexible, Python-based test scripting.

7) Espresso

• What it is: Google’s official Android UI testing framework that runs in-process with the app.

• Platforms: Android

• License: Open Source (Apache-2.0)

• Primary tech: Java/Kotlin

• Ideal for: Native Android app testing with fast, reliable, and stable tests integrated into Android Studio.

Strengths:

• High stability and speed due to in-process execution.

• Strong integration with Android tooling and Gradle.

• Reliable selectors and synchronization with the UI thread.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• Espresso is ideal for standard Android apps with accessible elements. It is less suitable for graphics-heavy games without accessibility hooks. If you value stability, speed, and tight integration into Android development workflows, Espresso often outperforms CV-based approaches.

8) FlaUI

• What it is: An open-source .NET library for automating Windows desktop applications using UI Automation (UIA2/UIA3).

• Platforms: Windows

• License: Open Source (MIT)

• Primary tech: C#/.NET

• Ideal for: Teams building automated tests for Windows apps using C# and UI Automation APIs.

Strengths:

• Strong support for Windows UI Automation patterns.

• Typed, maintainable selectors in C#.

• Works well with popular .NET test runners and CI.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• FlaUI is a better fit for Windows desktop apps with accessible UI elements. It offers more maintainable selectors than image matching. However, it does not cover Android. For Windows-heavy pipelines, FlaUI can reduce flakiness compared to CV-based flows.

9) Maestro

• What it is: An open-source, declarative mobile UI testing framework using YAML flows with growing community and cloud runner options.

• Platforms: Android, iOS

• License: Open Source

• Primary tech: YAML flows

• Ideal for: Teams wanting quick authoring, easy maintenance, and cross-platform mobile coverage with minimal setup.

Strengths:

• Declarative flows are easy to read, review, and maintain.

• Simple setup and rapid onboarding.

• Good fit for CI/CD and cloud execution.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• Maestro emphasizes readability and simplicity, relying on selectors rather than pure CV. It does not target Windows, but adds iOS support—often a missing piece for Airtest-first teams. If you want to reduce scripting overhead on mobile, Maestro is a strong candidate.

10) Paparazzi (Cash App)

• What it is: An open-source screenshot testing framework for Android that can run on the JVM without an emulator.

• Platforms: Android

• License: Open Source (Apache-2.0)

• Primary tech: Kotlin

• Ideal for: Fast, deterministic screenshot tests within Android build pipelines.

Strengths:

• Emulator-free screenshot testing speeds up feedback.

• Consistent rendering and reproducibility.

• Great for visual regressions and design checks.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• Paparazzi focuses on screenshot validation, not full UI interaction or end-to-end flows. It’s complementary to Airtest, helping catch visual regressions faster while Airtest handles functional automation.

11) Pywinauto

• What it is: A Python library to automate Windows GUI applications using accessibility APIs and native handles.

• Platforms: Windows

• License: Open Source (BSD)

• Primary tech: Python

• Ideal for: Python teams automating Windows desktop apps with object-level selectors.

Strengths:

• Pure Python API with good community examples.

• Supports multiple backends (UIA, Win32).

• Plays nicely with Python-based CI and test runners.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• Pywinauto provides more stable object-based selectors for Windows than CV-only scripting. It does not address Android, but for Windows-heavy suites, it can reduce flakiness and maintenance compared to image matching.

12) Repeato

• What it is: A commercial, codeless mobile UI testing tool that uses computer vision and is designed to be resilient to UI changes.

• Platforms: Android, iOS

• License: Commercial

• Primary tech: Codeless/CV

• Ideal for: Teams seeking no-code mobile test authoring with CV-based robustness and CI integration.

Strengths:

• No-code authoring lowers the barrier for non-programmers.

• CV-based approach that aims to handle UI changes gracefully.

• Integrates with CI/CD and reporting workflows.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• Repeato offers a guided, codeless experience versus Airtest’s Python scripting model, and it adds iOS support. It’s well-suited for teams that want CV benefits without writing code, at the cost of a commercial license.

13) Shot (Kakao)

• What it is: An open-source Android screenshot testing library used for validating UI against golden images.

• Platforms: Android

• License: Open Source (Apache-2.0)

• Primary tech: Kotlin

• Ideal for: Visual regression testing in Android pipelines, especially for Compose and View-based UIs.

Strengths:

• Strong, reliable screenshot testing capabilities.

• Clear workflows for updating and reviewing golden images.

• Integrates naturally into Android build processes.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• Shot handles visual regressions, not end-to-end interactions. It is a good complement for catching visual drift while Airtest (or another functional tool) drives flows and validations.

14) SikuliX

• What it is: An open-source, cross-platform computer vision automation tool for Windows, macOS, and Linux that drives UIs by matching images.

• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux

• License: Open Source (MIT)

• Primary tech: Java/Jython

• Ideal for: Desktop UI automation where accessibility isn’t available and cross-OS coverage is important.

Strengths:

• Mature image-based engine for desktop UIs.

• Cross-platform support beyond Windows alone.

• Scriptable with Java/Jython and embeddable in CI.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• SikuliX is a desktop-first CV tool; Airtest targets Android and Windows with a game-centric slant. If your scope is cross-OS desktop automation and you’re comfortable with image matching, SikuliX can be a strong alternative to Airtest on desktop but does not directly replace Airtest for Android device automation.

15) Waldo

• What it is: A commercial, codeless mobile UI testing platform with recording, cloud execution, and analytics.

• Platforms: Android, iOS

• License: Commercial

• Primary tech: Codeless

• Ideal for: Teams prioritizing ease of use, fast onboarding, and cloud-based mobile testing.

Strengths:

• No-code recorder accelerates test creation.

• Cloud infrastructure simplifies scaling and maintenance.

• Built-in reporting and collaboration features.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• Waldo trades scripting flexibility for simplicity and speed. It covers Android and iOS but not Windows. If you want minimal setup and managed infrastructure, Waldo may fit better than self-managed Airtest pipelines.

16) White

• What it is: An open-source .NET framework for automating Windows applications; a precursor to more modern libraries like FlaUI.

• Platforms: Windows

• License: Open Source

• Primary tech: C#/.NET

• Ideal for: Legacy Windows desktop automation where White remains integrated or for maintaining older test suites.

Strengths:

• Familiar .NET patterns for Windows UI automation.

• Works with older applications and frameworks.

• Usable with popular .NET test runners.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• White offers object-level selectors and native integration in C#. It’s Windows-only and generally older than FlaUI, but still useful for legacy stacks. For modern Windows automation, FlaUI often supersedes White.

17) Winium

• What it is: An open-source, Selenium-inspired automation framework for Windows applications with WebDriver semantics (less active in recent years).

• Platforms: Windows

• License: Open Source

• Primary tech: C#/.NET

• Ideal for: Teams that want Selenium/WebDriver-like commands for Windows desktop testing.

Strengths:

• WebDriver-style API familiar to Selenium/Appium users.

• Can integrate with existing WebDriver-based tooling.

• Useful for unifying automation patterns across web and desktop.

Compared to Airtest Project:

• Winium focuses strictly on Windows and has seen less community activity. If you want a WebDriver-style approach for desktop, it’s appealing; for Android or more active ecosystems, other tools may be better suited.

Things to Consider Before Choosing an Airtest Alternative

• Application scope and platforms:

• Selector strategy:

• Language and skill alignment:

• Ease of setup and onboarding:

• Execution speed and stability:

• CI/CD integration:

• Debugging and reporting:

• Ecosystem and community:

• Scalability and device/cloud options:

• Cost and licensing:

Conclusion

Airtest Project remains a powerful choice for Android and Windows UI automation—especially in game-focused or CV-driven scenarios where traditional selectors are hard to obtain. Its Python foundation, open-source model, and CI friendliness make it attractive to many teams.

However, the best tool depends on your needs:

• Prefer object-based selectors and tight Android integration? Espresso shines.

• Want cross-platform mobile with a large ecosystem? Appium is a safe bet.

• Need to stabilize Airtest scripts with hierarchy selectors? Airtest + Poco is a natural next step.

• Focused on Windows desktop apps with accessible UI? FlaUI or Pywinauto can reduce flakiness.

• Seeking quick wins without coding? Waldo, Repeato, or Maestro streamline authoring and maintenance.

• Looking for visual regressions rather than full E2E automation? Paparazzi and Shot fit the screenshot testing niche.

• Automating enterprise back-office workflows? RPA platforms like Automation Anywhere or Blue Prism may be more appropriate.

Ultimately, many teams use a combination: a primary framework for end-to-end flows, plus a complementary tool for screenshots, RPA tasks, or platform-specific gaps. Evaluate your application’s platforms, your team’s skills, and your maintenance capacity, then choose the mix that delivers stable, scalable automation with the least friction.