Top 39 Alternatives to TestNG for Java Testing

Introduction

TestNG emerged in the mid-2000s to address limitations in earlier Java testing frameworks. Inspired partly by JUnit but designed to be more flexible, it introduced rich annotations, powerful parameterization, data providers, dependency control, and parallel execution out of the box. Its suite XML, listeners, and reporting made it a favorite for teams building automation around the JVM, especially when combined with Selenium for UI testing and Rest Assured for API checks.

Over time, TestNG became a staple in CI pipelines and large-scale enterprise test suites. Its strengths—flexible configuration, solid parallelism, and mature integration with Java tooling—helped it endure. Still, modern QA spans many layers (unit, API, UI, mobile, performance, security, accessibility), multiple languages, and complex deployment setups. That’s why teams increasingly look to tools that either complement or replace TestNG for specific use cases or technology stacks.

This guide reviews 39 credible alternatives across unit testing, UI/end-to-end (E2E), API, mobile, performance, security, visual, and accessibility testing. Some are true substitutes for TestNG in JVM unit/integration testing; others are best considered targeted solutions that outperform a general-purpose test runner in their niche.

Overview: Top 39 TestNG Alternatives Covered

Here are the top 39 alternatives for TestNG:

• Applitools Eyes

• Burp Suite (Enterprise)

• Citrus

• Cypress

• Detox

• Espresso

• FitNesse

• Gauge

• IBM Rational Functional Tester

• JMeter

• JUnit

• Jest

• Katalon Platform (Studio)

• Mabl

• Mocha

• NeoLoad

• Nightwatch.js

• OWASP ZAP

• PIT (Pitest)

• Playwright

• Postman + Newman

• Protractor (deprecated)

• ReadyAPI

• Repeato

• Rest Assured

• Sahi Pro

• Selenide

• Serenity BDD

• SikuliX

• SoapUI (Open Source)

• TestCafe

• TestCafe Studio

• TestComplete

• UI Automator

• Vitest

• Waldo

• WebdriverIO

• axe-core / axe DevTools

• k6

Why Look for TestNG Alternatives?

• Broader test types beyond unit/integration: TestNG isn’t a browser automation, mobile, performance, visual, or security scanner by itself. Teams often need specialized tools for these layers.

• Cross-language stacks: Polyglot teams prefer tools native to JavaScript, Python, or .NET for better DX and community fit.

• Reporting and analytics needs: While TestNG has listeners and reports, some platforms offer richer dashboards, trace viewers, and insights without custom wiring.

• Codeless and low-code options: Non-developer QA roles may want recorders or model-based tools to accelerate authoring and maintenance.

• Cloud scale and device coverage: Running across browsers, real devices, or global load injectors often calls for tools purpose-built for scale and environment orchestration.

Detailed Breakdown of Alternatives

Applitools Eyes

Applitools (visual testing) adds AI-driven visual comparison for web, mobile, and desktop.

• AI-powered visual diffs; Ultrafast Grid.

• Captures visual regressions; easy UI issue spotting.

• Integrates with many languages and CI tools.

Compared to TestNG: Focuses on visual correctness, not test orchestration. Pair it with your runner when pixel-perfect matters.

Burp Suite (Enterprise)

PortSwigger’s Enterprise edition automates DAST for web and APIs at scale.

• Mature security scanner and reporting.

• Scheduling, CI/CD, and governance-friendly.

• Enterprise-grade dashboards and triage.

Compared to TestNG: Targets security scanning, not unit tests. Use when you need automated security coverage in pipelines.

Citrus

Open-source, message-based integration testing for HTTP, SOAP, JMS, and more.

• Rich support for messaging and service orchestration.

• Data-driven test definitions and validators.

• Works well for integration endpoints.

Compared to TestNG: More specialized for messaging and integration flows than a general runner.

Cypress

Cypress.io delivers developer-friendly E2E testing for modern web apps.

• Great DX, time-travel debugger, auto-waits.

• Integrates with CI/CD and parallelization.

• Strong component and E2E testing workflows.

Compared to TestNG: Runs in Node.js for web E2E, not JVM unit tests. Strong choice for front-end teams.

Detox

Wix’s gray-box mobile testing for React Native and native apps.

• Synchronizes with app state; fewer flake issues.

• Runs on devices/emulators with CI support.

• Strong fit for React Native pipelines.

Compared to TestNG: Mobile-focused, JS-based; not a JVM test runner.

Espresso

Google’s official Android UI test framework.

• Tight Android integration; reliable synchronization.

• Kotlin/Java APIs; fast feedback on device.

• Supported by Android tooling ecosystem.

Compared to TestNG: Purpose-built for Android UI, not general unit tests.

FitNesse

A wiki-based acceptance testing framework.

• Shareable, business-readable specs.

• Fixtures bridge business and tech domains.

• Encourages collaboration across roles.

Compared to TestNG: Aimed at acceptance and ATDD rather than code-centric unit testing.

Gauge

ThoughtWorks’ spec-oriented test framework.

• Human-readable specs with reusable steps.

• Multilanguage support; pluggable runners.

• CI/CD friendly and extensible.

Compared to TestNG: Similar in purpose for automation, but emphasizes specification-style authoring.

IBM Rational Functional Tester

IBM’s enterprise UI automation for desktop and web.

• Broad tech coverage in legacy/enterprise UIs.

• Record/playback and scripting options.

• Enterprise integration and support.

Compared to TestNG: UI automation suite with IDE-style tooling, not a Java-only runner.

JMeter

Apache’s performance/load testing tool.

• Protocol and web/API load generation.

• GUI for design; CLI for CI scale.

• Extensible with plugins; Java-based.

Compared to TestNG: Focused on load/performance, not unit tests.

JUnit

The foundational Java unit testing framework.

• Ubiquitous, simple, and well-supported.

• Mature ecosystem and IDE integrations.

• Strong CI compatibility and extensions.

Compared to TestNG: Closest substitute for JVM unit tests; simpler conventions but fewer built-ins than TestNG in some areas.

Jest

Meta’s JavaScript testing framework for Node/web and React Native.

• Great DX; snapshots; parallel runs.

• Rich ecosystem and watch mode.

• Works for unit, component, and light E2E.

Compared to TestNG: JS-first; ideal for front-end and Node services, not JVM-centric.

Katalon Platform (Studio)

A low-code, all-in-one test platform across web, mobile, API, and desktop.

• Recorder, object repository, analytics.

• CI/CD integration and team features.

• Groovy/Java scripting when needed.

Compared to TestNG: Higher-level, low-code approach across channels; not a bare test runner.

Mabl

A cloud, low-code test platform with self-healing for web and API.

• Codeless creation; AI-assisted maintenance.

• SaaS-first execution and reporting.

• Easy CI/CD and collaboration.

Compared to TestNG: Managed platform for E2E and API tests, not a JVM library.

Mocha

A popular JavaScript test runner for Node.js.

• Flexible, well-understood structure.

• Works with many assertion libraries.

• Great for Node services testing.

Compared to TestNG: JS-based runner; an alternative only if you’re in a Node stack.

NeoLoad

Tricentis NeoLoad for enterprise load and performance.

• Scalable load generation and modeling.

• Deep monitoring integrations.

• Suitable for complex performance testing.

Compared to TestNG: Dedicated performance suite; complements functional tests rather than replaces them.

Nightwatch.js

A JS E2E framework using WebDriver and DevTools.

• Modern runner with Selenium and Chrome DevTools.

• Cross-browser support; CI-ready.

• Page objects and plugins.

Compared to TestNG: For UI automation in JS; not a JVM unit framework.

OWASP ZAP

Open-source DAST for web and APIs from OWASP.

• Automatic scans and CI integrations.

• Strong community and frequent updates.

• Extensible with scripts and add-ons.

Compared to TestNG: Security scanning, not functional unit testing.

PIT (Pitest)

Mutation testing for the JVM.

• Mutates bytecode to assess test quality.

• Surfaces weak tests beyond coverage metrics.

• Integrates with Maven/Gradle.

Compared to TestNG: Enhances test suites by measuring effectiveness; used alongside, not instead of, TestNG.

Playwright

Microsoft’s cross-browser E2E automation.

• Auto-waiting and robust selectors.

• Trace viewer and strong debugging.

• Supports Java, .NET, Node, Python.

Compared to TestNG: E2E browser automation with multi-language SDKs; pairs well with or replaces Selenium-based stacks.

Postman + Newman

API testing with Postman’s collections and Newman CLI.

• Quick authoring; powerful assertions.

• Easy CI integration via CLI.

• Collaboration on collections and environments.

Compared to TestNG: API-focused; more natural for request/response workflows than a general runner.

Protractor (deprecated)

Angular’s former E2E framework is now deprecated.

• Historically useful for Angular apps.

• Migration guides exist for newer tools.

• Community moved to Playwright/Cypress.

Compared to TestNG: Avoid for new projects; migrate if still in use.

ReadyAPI

SmartBear’s commercial API testing suite for SOAP/REST/GraphQL.

• Advanced data-driven and security tests.

• Virtualization and reporting features.

• Enterprise orchestration and analytics.

Compared to TestNG: API-first platform with rich features; not a JVM unit test framework.

Repeato

Codeless mobile testing using computer vision.

• Visual matching resilient to UI changes.

• iOS and Android with cloud runs.

• Low-code workflow for QA teams.

Compared to TestNG: Targets mobile UI automation, not Java-based unit testing.

Rest Assured

Fluent Java DSL for REST API testing.

• Natural Java syntax for HTTP assertions.

• Easy integration with CI and build tools.

• Strong adoption among backend teams.

Compared to TestNG: Often used with TestNG/JUnit as the assertion layer; better API ergonomics than raw HTTP clients.

Sahi Pro

Enterprise web/desktop automation tool.

• Robust for complex enterprise apps.

• Smart waits and recorder support.

• CI integration and reporting.

Compared to TestNG: Higher-level UI automation; complements or replaces Selenium-based scripts.

Selenide

A fluent Java wrapper over Selenium WebDriver.

• Concise API with smart waits.

• Stable selectors and browser control.

• Works smoothly with JUnit/TestNG.

Compared to TestNG: Pairs with TestNG for UI tests; replaces raw Selenium complexity.

Serenity BDD

A BDD-style test framework with reporting and the Screenplay pattern.

• Rich, living documentation reports.

• Encourages maintainable test design.

• Integrates with WebDriver and REST tools.

Compared to TestNG: Offers structure and reporting beyond a plain runner; great for acceptance tests.

SikuliX

Image-based automation for desktop apps.

• Computer-vision-driven interactions.

• Cross-platform (Windows, macOS, Linux).

• Useful for legacy or non-standard UIs.

Compared to TestNG: Desktop UI automation; not a JVM unit runner.

SoapUI (Open Source)

A classic open-source GUI for SOAP/REST testing.

• Quick API test creation and assertions.

• Supports data-driven runs.

• Extensible via scripts.

Compared to TestNG: Purpose-built for API testing; pair with CI runners via command-line options.

TestCafe

DevExpress’s Node-based E2E web testing.

• No WebDriver dependency.

• Isolated browser context; stable automation.

• TypeScript support and CI integration.

Compared to TestNG: JS-based E2E for browsers; not suited for JVM unit testing.

TestCafe Studio

A commercial, codeless IDE variant of TestCafe.

• Recorder and visual test authoring.

• Reduced code maintenance.

• Team-friendly reporting.

Compared to TestNG: Codeless browser automation vs. code-centric Java tests.

TestComplete

SmartBear’s codeless/scripted automation for desktop, web, and mobile.

• Record/playback plus scripting.

• Broad tech coverage and integrations.

• Centralized reporting and analytics.

Compared to TestNG: Full UI automation suite, not a Java test runner.

UI Automator

Google’s framework for Android system-level UI automation.

• Works across apps and system UI.

• Kotlin/Java APIs with device control.

• Good for end-to-end mobile flows.

Compared to TestNG: Mobile system-level testing vs. JVM unit/integration.

Vitest

A Vite-native test runner for web/Node.

• Fast startup and hot-reload testing.

• Good DX for modern front-end stacks.

• Compatible with popular JS libs.

Compared to TestNG: JS ecosystem unit/component testing; not JVM-focused.

Waldo

No-code mobile testing platform for iOS and Android.

• Recorder and cloud execution.

• Visual workflows and stability features.

• CI-friendly with rich reports.

Compared to TestNG: Codeless mobile E2E; not a Java library.

WebdriverIO

Modern JS test runner for WebDriver and DevTools (web and mobile via Appium).

• Flexible config and strong ecosystem.

• Cross-browser and mobile support.

• CI/CD integrations and reporters.

Compared to TestNG: JS-based E2E with WebDriver/DevTools; different stack than JVM unit testing.

axe-core / axe DevTools

Deque’s accessibility engine and tooling.

• Automated WCAG rule checks.

• IDE/CI integrations and reports.

• Helps shift-left accessibility.

Compared to TestNG: Accessibility checks, not a functional test runner.

k6

Grafana k6 for performance and load testing.

• Scriptable in JavaScript.

• Cloud and on-prem execution options.

• Integrates with observability stacks.

Compared to TestNG: Dedicated performance tool; complements functional tests.

Things to Consider Before Choosing a TestNG Alternative

• Project scope and layer: Are you testing unit, API, UI, mobile, performance, security, visual, or accessibility? Pick purpose-built tools for each layer.

• Language and stack alignment: JVM-only teams may prefer JUnit, Rest Assured, Selenide, Serenity BDD. Polyglot or front-end teams may choose Playwright, Cypress, or WebdriverIO.

• Ease of setup and authoring: Consider low-code/codeless (Katalon, TestComplete, TestCafe Studio, Waldo) vs. code-first frameworks.

• Execution speed and stability: Look for auto-waits, smart retries, and minimal flakiness (Playwright, Cypress, Selenide, Espresso).

• CI/CD integration: Ensure headless runs, parallelization, artifacts (videos, traces), and clear exit codes fit your pipeline.

• Debugging and reporting: Prefer tools with trace viewers, detailed logs, visual diffs, and actionable reports (Playwright trace, Applitools, Serenity reports).

• Community and ecosystem: Large communities often mean faster answers, plugins, and better documentation (JUnit, Playwright, Cypress).

• Scalability and environments: For large suites, check parallel execution, test distribution, and cloud/device coverage.

• Cost and licensing: Balance commercial features and support versus open-source flexibility and long-term maintenance.

Conclusion

TestNG remains a reliable, widely used test runner on the JVM. Its flexible annotations, suite orchestration, and parallelism continue to serve countless teams. Yet the testing landscape has diversified. For front-end E2E, tools like Playwright, Cypress, and WebdriverIO provide modern workflows and robust debugging. For APIs, Rest Assured, Postman + Newman, SoapUI, and ReadyAPI accelerate request/response validation. For mobile UI, Espresso, UI Automator, Detox, Repeato, and Waldo cover native and cross-platform needs. Performance engineers lean on JMeter, k6, and NeoLoad, while security and accessibility are better addressed by OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite (Enterprise), and axe DevTools. Visual quality is best handled by Applitools Eyes.

If your goal is JVM unit/integration, JUnit is the most direct alternative, with Serenity BDD and Selenide enhancing structure and browser automation ergonomics. For teams scaling testing across channels, consider platforms that centralize reporting, offer cloud execution, and integrate smoothly with CI/CD. The best choice depends on your application stack, skill sets, and the quality signals you need most.