Top 40 Commercial Alternatives to Squish

Introduction

Squish began life at froglogic (now part of The Qt Company) to solve a very specific problem: reliable end-to-end (E2E) GUI automation for Qt and QML applications, including embedded UIs. Over time, it expanded to cover desktop and web interfaces while keeping its deep object-level access to Qt widgets and QML components. Squish supports multiple scripting languages (Python, JavaScript, Ruby, Tcl, and Perl), integrates with CI/CD, and offers a full toolchain: an IDE, a test runner, an object spy, and an object map.

Why did it become popular? For teams building Qt and embedded UIs—especially in regulated or device-heavy industries—Squish provided stable, introspection-based automation when other tools treated Qt apps as opaque bitmaps. Its scripting flexibility and cross-platform reach (desktop, embedded, web) made it a safe bet for long-lived products and complex UIs.

That said, testing needs continue to evolve. Teams increasingly mix technology stacks across web, mobile, desktop, and APIs; they want managed device/browser clouds; they look for AI assistance, visual validation, synthetic monitoring, and performance testing at scale. As a result, many organizations are evaluating commercial alternatives that better fit their current applications, pipelines, and skills.

Overview: Top 40 Squish Alternatives Covered

Here are the top 40 commercial alternatives to Squish covered in this article:

• Applitools Eyes

• Applitools for Mobile

• Automation Anywhere

• BitBar

• BlazeMeter

• Blue Prism

• BrowserStack Automate

• Burp Suite (Enterprise)

• Checkly

• Cypress Cloud

• Datadog Synthetic Tests

• Eggplant Test

• Functionize

• Happo

• IBM Rational Functional Tester

• Kobiton

• LambdaTest

• LoadRunner

• Mabl

• Micro Focus Silk Test

• Microsoft Playwright Testing

• NeoLoad

• New Relic Synthetics

• Percy

• Perfecto

• Pingdom

• RPA Tools (UiPath)

• Ranorex

• ReadyAPI

• Repeato

• Sahi Pro

• Sauce Labs

• TestCafe Studio

• TestComplete

• Testim

• Tricentis Tosca

• UFT One (formerly QTP)

• Virtuoso

• Waldo

• testRigor

Why Look for Squish Alternatives?

• Broader platform needs: If your product spans native mobile, modern web frameworks, or SAP, you may want a tool that specializes in those areas or offers managed device clouds.

• Visual verification: Squish focuses on functional automation. Teams often add visual AI tools to catch pixel-level regressions, branding issues, and layout shifts.

• SaaS orchestration and scale: Cloud runners, real-device farms, and parallelization dashboards can simplify maintenance and speed up pipelines compared to self-hosted setups.

• Low-code/AI authoring: Some teams prefer model-based, no-code, or natural language test creation to reduce scripting overhead and speed up authoring.

• Monitoring and performance: Synthetic monitoring and load testing are outside Squish’s core. Dedicated tools fill these gaps in production and pre-production.

• Organizational fit and cost: Licensing, skill sets, and integration preferences may push teams toward tools that align with existing platforms and workflows.

Detailed Breakdown of Alternatives

Applitools Eyes

• What it is: A visual testing platform from Applitools for web, mobile, and desktop. It uses AI to compare screenshots and detect visual regressions, powered by the Ultrafast Grid for parallel rendering.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Squish is primarily functional UI automation, while Applitools Eyes excels at visual validation. Many teams use Eyes alongside their functional tests to catch visual issues Squish is not designed to detect.

Applitools for Mobile

• What it is: A mobile-focused extension of Applitools Eyes for iOS and Android visual testing.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Squish can automate mobile-like UIs on embedded/Qt stacks, but Applitools for Mobile specializes in visual issues on iOS and Android. It is complementary if you need robust mobile visual coverage.

Automation Anywhere

• What it is: An RPA platform for Windows that overlaps with UI testing by automating business workflows across desktop apps and web.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Squish is a test automation tool with deep Qt support; Automation Anywhere is RPA-first. Choose it when the goal is automating business processes across heterogeneous desktop/web systems rather than testing Qt apps.

BitBar

• What it is: A cloud device and browser testing platform from SmartBear that provides real devices and browsers for automation.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Squish can run locally and on embedded targets; BitBar provides a managed cross-platform device/browser cloud for broader application stacks. Use BitBar to expand test coverage beyond Qt/embedded.

BlazeMeter

• What it is: A performance and load testing platform for web, APIs, and protocols, compatible with JMeter, Gatling, and k6.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: BlazeMeter is for performance and load. Squish focuses on functional UI automation. Teams often pair Squish (functional) with BlazeMeter (performance) for complete coverage.

Blue Prism

• What it is: An enterprise RPA platform for Windows that can automate repeatable UI workflows across systems.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Blue Prism targets process automation, not testing. If your need is to automate business workflows rather than validate application correctness, Blue Prism can be a better fit.

BrowserStack Automate

• What it is: A cloud-based cross-browser and mobile automation platform with a large real device and browser grid.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Squish is ideal for Qt/QML apps and embedded targets. BrowserStack Automate is best for web and mobile stacks where you need wide coverage across browsers and devices.

Burp Suite (Enterprise)

• What it is: An enterprise DAST (Dynamic Application Security Testing) solution from PortSwigger that automates web and API security scanning.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Burp Suite targets security testing, not functional UI automation. Use it to complement Squish with security coverage for web apps and APIs.

Checkly

• What it is: A synthetic monitoring and E2E testing platform built around Playwright for browser checks and API monitoring as code.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Checkly is monitoring-first with Playwright-based checks. Squish provides deep Qt/desktop automation; Checkly shines for production monitoring of web flows and APIs.

Cypress Cloud

• What it is: A SaaS runner and insights platform from Cypress that adds parallelization, flake detection, and dashboards to Cypress tests.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Cypress Cloud is specific to Cypress and the web. Use it if your team standardizes on Cypress for web apps; Squish remains a better fit for Qt/embedded UIs.

Datadog Synthetic Tests

• What it is: A synthetic monitoring solution from Datadog for browser and API checks with CI/CD integrations.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: This is for monitoring production or pre-prod health. Squish is for functional automation across desktop/embedded. They can coexist: Squish for development testing, Datadog for ongoing synthetic checks.

Eggplant Test

• What it is: An AI-driven, model-based testing platform from Keysight that uses image recognition and SenseTalk scripting across desktop, web, and mobile.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Squish uses object-level access (especially for Qt). Eggplant’s image-based approach works well for heterogeneous environments or when object hooks are unavailable.

Functionize

• What it is: An AI-assisted E2E testing platform for web and mobile that uses machine learning to stabilize selectors and reduce flakiness.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Functionize focuses on AI-assisted web/mobile automation, whereas Squish is strongest for Qt/embedded UIs. Functionize is compelling if you want low-code web/mobile scaling.

Happo

• What it is: A visual regression platform for component-level testing in web apps, running snapshots in CI.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Happo focuses on front-end component visuals, not end-to-end functional flows. It complements Squish where web UI look-and-feel must be guarded.

IBM Rational Functional Tester

• What it is: An enterprise functional UI automation tool from IBM covering desktop and web applications.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: RFT offers broad enterprise UI automation but lacks Squish’s specialized Qt/QML introspection. Choose RFT when you need IBM ecosystem alignment and desktop/web coverage.

Kobiton

• What it is: A cloud platform for real-device mobile testing and automation.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Kobiton specializes in native mobile device coverage. Use it when your focus is mobile apps rather than Qt/embedded or desktop UI automation.

LambdaTest

• What it is: A cloud platform for cross-browser and mobile testing with Selenium, Appium, Playwright, and Cypress support.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: LambdaTest is ideal for web/mobile cross-browser scale. Squish remains stronger for Qt/QML and embedded targets.

LoadRunner

• What it is: An enterprise performance/load testing suite (now under OpenText) for web, APIs, and protocols.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: LoadRunner is for performance testing, not functional UI automation. It pairs well with Squish to validate performance under load.

Mabl

• What it is: A low-code, AI-enabled E2E testing platform for web and APIs.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Mabl targets rapid web testing with low-code features. Squish is better for Qt/embedded; Mabl is better for teams focused on web speed and maintainability.

Micro Focus Silk Test

• What it is: A legacy enterprise functional UI testing suite (now OpenText) for desktop and web apps.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Silk Test covers desktop/web but lacks Squish’s deep Qt/QML hooks. Consider it for mixed legacy desktop estates rather than Qt-centric apps.

Microsoft Playwright Testing

• What it is: A managed cloud service from Microsoft to run Playwright tests at scale.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: This is for web E2E with Playwright. If your app is primarily web and your team prefers Playwright, this provides managed scale. Squish remains best for Qt/embedded UIs.

NeoLoad

• What it is: An enterprise performance testing platform (now part of Tricentis) for web, APIs, and protocols.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: NeoLoad addresses performance testing. Use it alongside Squish to validate throughput, latency, and scalability.

New Relic Synthetics

• What it is: Scripted browser and API checks from New Relic for synthetic monitoring.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Synthetics is monitoring-focused. Squish is for development and regression testing of UIs, especially Qt/embedded.

Percy

• What it is: A visual testing platform from BrowserStack for web UIs, capturing and diffing snapshots in CI.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Percy provides visual regression coverage for web apps. It complements Squish when you need look-and-feel validation.

Perfecto

• What it is: An enterprise device cloud for mobile and web testing.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Perfecto is about managed cross-platform coverage. It is ideal for teams prioritizing breadth of devices/browsers, not for Qt-specific automation.

Pingdom

• What it is: A synthetic monitoring tool for web and APIs focused on uptime and basic transactional flows.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Pingdom is not a functional testing framework. It is a complement for production readiness, while Squish is used for pre-release UI testing.

RPA Tools (UiPath)

• What it is: An RPA platform (Windows and macOS support) used to automate business processes, sometimes repurposed for UI regression automation.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: UiPath automates processes across apps rather than testing a single app’s correctness. Choose it when your goal is business automation rather than fine-grained Qt UI testing.

Ranorex

• What it is: A codeless/scripted UI test automation tool for desktop, web, and mobile with a robust recorder and object repository.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Ranorex is broadly similar in spirit for desktop/web/mobile, but Squish offers deeper Qt/QML introspection. Ranorex is a strong choice if your stack spans multiple UI types beyond Qt.

ReadyAPI

• What it is: A commercial API testing suite from SmartBear for SOAP, REST, and GraphQL.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: ReadyAPI focuses on APIs, not UIs. Use it alongside Squish to cover backend layers thoroughly.

Repeato

• What it is: A codeless, computer-vision-based mobile UI testing tool for iOS and Android.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Repeato specializes in mobile UI via computer vision. Squish provides code-based, object-level automation (especially Qt). Repeato is compelling for pure mobile pipelines.

Sahi Pro

• What it is: An enterprise UI automation tool from Tyto Software for web and desktop apps.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Sahi Pro focuses on enterprise web automation and also supports desktop. Squish remains stronger for Qt/embedded; Sahi Pro is a fit for complex web apps.

Sauce Labs

• What it is: A device and browser cloud for web and mobile testing and automation.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Sauce Labs is about breadth and scale for web/mobile. It is not tailored to Qt; use it when cross-browser/device coverage is your top priority.

TestCafe Studio

• What it is: A codeless IDE version of TestCafe from DevExpress for web E2E automation.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: TestCafe Studio is web-only. If your product is web-centric and you want codeless authoring, it is a strong option. Squish is a better fit for Qt/embedded UI testing.

TestComplete

• What it is: A codeless/scripted E2E automation suite from SmartBear for desktop, web, and mobile with record/playback and multiple scripting languages.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Of the generalist tools, TestComplete most closely mirrors Squish’s breadth across desktop/web/mobile. However, Squish retains an edge for Qt/QML introspection and embedded focus.

Testim

• What it is: An AI-assisted E2E web testing platform with self-healing locators and low-code authoring.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Testim focuses on accelerating web test authoring. Squish targets functional automation across desktop/embedded and web, with special strength in Qt/QML.

Tricentis Tosca

• What it is: An enterprise model-based test automation platform with strong support for web, mobile, desktop, and SAP.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Tosca is a heavy-duty enterprise platform for heterogeneous stacks. Squish is lighter and better for Qt/embedded; choose Tosca when you need enterprise-scale governance and SAP.

UFT One (formerly QTP)

• What it is: A functional UI automation suite from OpenText for desktop and web apps, backed by a long enterprise history.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: UFT One competes directly in desktop/web functional automation. Squish still wins for Qt/QML depth and embedded targets.

Virtuoso

• What it is: An AI-assisted E2E testing platform for web and mobile with vision and NLP-driven authoring.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Virtuoso targets faster authoring with AI and NLP for web/mobile. Squish is more code-centric and excels in Qt/embedded.

Waldo

• What it is: A no-code mobile UI testing platform for iOS and Android with cloud execution.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: Waldo is mobile-only and codeless. If your product is native mobile, Waldo simplifies workflows. Squish is better for scripted, Qt/embedded-heavy products.

testRigor

• What it is: A natural language E2E testing platform for web and mobile where tests are written in plain English.

• Strengths:

• Compared to Squish: testRigor focuses on accessibility and speed of authoring for web/mobile. Squish is ideal for engineering teams needing deeper control, especially for Qt/QML.

Things to Consider Before Choosing a Squish Alternative

• Application stack and scope:

• Language and authoring model:

• Setup, maintenance, and scale:

• Execution speed and stability:

• CI/CD and ecosystem integration:

• Debugging and observability:

• Community and vendor support:

• Cost and licensing:

Conclusion

Squish remains a top-tier choice for teams building Qt and QML UIs—especially on desktop and embedded platforms—thanks to its deep object-level access, flexible scripting, and CI/CD readiness. However, modern QA often demands more: visual validation, mobile device clouds, AI-driven authoring, synthetic monitoring, performance testing, and enterprise-scale governance.

If your product is primarily web or mobile, or if you need managed scale and visual AI, tools like TestComplete, Ranorex, Mabl, Functionize, testRigor, Applitools, BrowserStack Automate, and Sauce Labs can better match those needs. For performance and monitoring, BlazeMeter, NeoLoad, Datadog Synthetic Tests, New Relic Synthetics, and Pingdom fill critical gaps. RPA platforms (UiPath, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism) are valuable when automating business workflows across multiple systems rather than validating a single app.

The right choice often combines tools: for example, Squish for Qt functional tests, Applitools for visual diffs, and a cloud grid for cross-browser coverage. Align your selection with your stack, team skills, and the outcomes you need most—speed, stability, coverage, or scale—and you will assemble a testing strategy that meets today’s demands without overcomplicating tomorrow.