Top 6 Alternatives to Blue Prism for Visual Testing

Introduction: From RPA Pioneer to Visual UI Workflows

Blue Prism emerged in the early 2000s as one of the pioneers of Robotic Process Automation (RPA). Its core promise was straightforward: let “digital workers” execute repeatable, rules-based tasks across Windows applications just as a human would—clicking buttons, entering data, and orchestrating multi-step workflows. Over time, Blue Prism cemented its place in enterprise automation with centralized governance, scalable orchestration, and a visual approach to designing processes.

Blue Prism’s architecture revolves around process design (Process Studio), reusable application interactions (Object Studio), and enterprise-grade orchestration (Control Room). Its strengths include broad UI automation capabilities, the ability to automate legacy Windows applications, and integration into modern CI/CD pipelines when needed. As teams realized that RPA-style UI interactions can also exercise end-to-end user journeys, Blue Prism began to serve not just operational automation but also certain forms of visual UI testing—especially for regression checks on desktop workflows.

Despite its maturity and history, many teams are now exploring alternatives. The reasons are practical: broader platform coverage (web, mobile, macOS), lower maintenance, SaaS-first delivery, or features that are more tuned to testing (self-healing selectors, richer reporting, and scalable cloud execution). If you’re evaluating options, this guide highlights the top 6 alternatives that bring visual testing to web and mobile while preserving the spirit of reliable, repeatable UI workflows.

Overview: The Top 6 Blue Prism Alternatives for Visual Testing

Here are the top 6 alternatives for Blue Prism:

• Automation Anywhere

• Mabl

• RPA Tools (UiPath)

• Repeato

• TestCafe Studio

• Waldo

Why Look for Blue Prism Alternatives?

While Blue Prism is proven and widely adopted, it’s reasonable to consider other tools when your needs evolve. Common reasons include:

• Platform and device coverage: Blue Prism centers on Windows desktop automation. If you need first-class support for web, macOS, or mobile (Android/iOS), you may want a tool purpose-built for those environments.

• Maintenance and flakiness: Visual/UI automation can become brittle if locators aren’t managed well. Teams may prefer tools with self-healing locators, AI-driven element detection, or computer-vision approaches to reduce maintenance.

• SaaS-first delivery: Cloud-native platforms can simplify setup, scale on demand, and reduce infrastructure overhead compared to on-prem or heavy desktop tooling.

• Test-focused capabilities: While Blue Prism can be used for regression-like checks, dedicated testing tools often bring richer reporting, built-in assertions, visual change detection, parallel execution, and native CI/CD integrations.

• Cost and scalability: Licensing, bot orchestration, and infrastructure management can add cost and complexity. Some alternatives simplify cost models and offer elastic execution environments.

• Learning curve and collaboration: Specialized testing platforms may provide low-code, codeless, or collaborative interfaces that speed up authoring and make reviews easier for QA and dev teams working together.

Alternative 1: Automation Anywhere

What it is and what makes it different

Automation Anywhere is a leading RPA platform designed for Windows, with strong overlap into test automation for UI-driven workflows. Built as a comprehensive RPA suite, it offers bot lifecycle management, governance, and analytics that enterprises value. Teams often co-opt its robust UI automation for test-like scenarios—validating end-to-end flows that mirror production usage.

Strengths at a glance

• Broad UI automation: Mature RPA capabilities for desktop apps, web apps, and cross-application workflows.

• Enterprise governance: Role-based access, audit trails, and bot lifecycle controls that suit regulated environments.

• Scalable orchestration: Centralized bot management and scheduling for large fleets.

• CI/CD friendly: Can integrate into pipelines to trigger runs and gather results.

• Reusability: Componentized building blocks and reusable objects reduce duplication.

How it compares to Blue Prism

• Platform focus: Like Blue Prism, it’s primarily Windows-centric for desktop UI, but it also automates web applications effectively.

• Visual testing posture: Comparable to Blue Prism in RPA-led visual workflows; both can be used for regression checks across UI journeys.

• Maintenance: Subject to similar flakiness if locators are not well-structured; careful design and governance help.

• Enterprise fit: Both are strong in large organizations; the decision often comes down to licensing, existing skill sets, and ecosystem preference.

Best for

Teams automating end-to-end flows across browsers and platforms who want an RPA-first approach that can double as a visual test executor when needed.

Alternative 2: Mabl

What it is and what makes it different

Mabl is a commercial, low-code, AI-assisted end-to-end testing platform focused on web and API testing. It is SaaS-first with built-in self-healing, change detection, and comprehensive reporting. Unlike RPA-centric tools, Mabl is explicitly designed for testing, with test authoring, assertions, and CI/CD at the core of its workflow.

Strengths at a glance

• Self-healing tests: AI-driven element selection reduces flakiness as UI changes.

• Web-first testing: Purpose-built for browser automation with modern frameworks and cloud execution.

• Integrated reporting and insights: Rich dashboards, failure analysis, and change detection that suit QA and dev collaboration.

• CI/CD integration: Streamlined hooks into pipelines for continuous testing.

• Low-code authoring: Shortens the learning curve for creating stable tests.

How it compares to Blue Prism

• Platform focus: Mabl is optimized for web and API testing, not Windows desktop UI. If your visual testing targets browsers, Mabl often provides faster, more resilient results.

• Maintenance overhead: Mabl’s self-healing typically reduces upkeep compared to RPA-style scripts in Blue Prism.

• Testing features: Assertions, data-driven tests, and visual diffs are core to Mabl; in Blue Prism, these patterns require more custom setup.

• Governance and RPA: Blue Prism retains an edge for orchestrating complex desktop business processes.

Best for

Teams automating end-to-end flows across browsers and platforms who want a purpose-built, low-maintenance, cloud-based testing solution.

Alternative 3: RPA Tools (UiPath)

What it is and what makes it different

UiPath is a leading RPA platform that, like Blue Prism, excels at automating desktop and web applications. UiPath has also invested in test automation via a dedicated test suite, bringing more test-centric features to an RPA backbone. It uses a visual designer with .NET underpinnings, giving technical teams flexibility to extend with code when needed.

Strengths at a glance

• Dual focus: Strong in both RPA and UI test automation for regression and E2E scenarios.

• Visual + .NET extensibility: Visual flows combined with code-based customization where needed.

• Orchestrator and governance: Enterprise-grade management, scheduling, and monitoring for large-scale runs.

• CI/CD support: Integrations for continuous testing and deployment.

• Cross-environment automation: Broad support for desktop and web; growing macOS support complements Windows heritage.

How it compares to Blue Prism

• Testing emphasis: UiPath’s test suite provides more out-of-the-box test capabilities, whereas Blue Prism is primarily RPA repurposed for tests.

• Extensibility: The .NET ecosystem offers flexible customization and plugin development; Blue Prism provides its own extensibility model but with a different developer experience.

• Maintenance: Similar challenges with flaky selectors if not designed well; both benefit from strong object repositories and locator strategies.

• Platform breadth: UiPath’s evolving cross-platform story can be an advantage if you’re looking beyond pure Windows desktop.

Best for

Teams automating end-to-end flows across browsers and platforms who want an RPA-first solution with a more explicit testing toolkit.

Alternative 4: Repeato

What it is and what makes it different

Repeato is a commercial, codeless mobile UI testing tool for iOS and Android built on computer vision. Rather than relying solely on traditional element locators, Repeato uses visual recognition to interact with and validate mobile screens. This approach can be more resilient to subtle UI changes and is well-suited to teams that need mobile E2E coverage without heavy code.

Strengths at a glance

• Computer vision-based: Interacts with UI components visually, often more tolerant to UI changes.

• Codeless authoring: Record and refine tests without writing scripts.

• Mobile-first: Designed specifically for iOS and Android app testing.

• CI/CD friendly: Integrates into pipelines to run suites on every change.

• Faster onboarding: Non-coders and product teams can contribute to test coverage.

How it compares to Blue Prism

• Platform focus: Repeato targets mobile apps; Blue Prism focuses on Windows desktop workflows. For mobile visual testing, Repeato is the more natural fit.

• Maintenance: Computer vision can reduce brittleness when UI elements change position or styling.

• Testing features: Repeato is oriented around test authoring and validation for mobile; Blue Prism would require workarounds and emulators to achieve similar coverage.

• RPA vs. testing: Blue Prism excels at desktop business process automation; Repeato is purpose-built for mobile test automation.

Best for

Teams automating end-to-end flows across mobile platforms who want resilient, codeless visual testing powered by computer vision.

Alternative 5: TestCafe Studio

What it is and what makes it different

TestCafe Studio is the commercial, codeless IDE variant of the popular TestCafe framework for web testing. It provides a user-friendly interface for recording, authoring, running, and debugging browser tests without having to write code—though it can interoperate with code-based workflows where needed.

Strengths at a glance

• Codeless web testing: Record and maintain tests for modern web apps with minimal setup.

• Cross-browser execution: Run tests across browsers and platforms without relying on Selenium.

• Stable selectors and smart waits: Built-in stability features help reduce flakiness.

• Parallelization and CI: Out-of-the-box parallel runs and pipeline integrations.

• Developer-friendly roots: Backed by a mature framework that engineers and QA can both adopt.

How it compares to Blue Prism

• Platform focus: TestCafe Studio is web-only; Blue Prism is Windows desktop-first. If your primary testing targets browsers, TestCafe Studio offers a simpler, specialized experience.

• Maintenance and reliability: Web-focused locator strategies and smart waiting can help reduce flaky tests compared to generic desktop automation approaches.

• Reporting and debugging: Testing-centric reporting, time travel/logs, and IDE tooling often streamline root-cause analysis.

• RPA vs. testing specialization: Blue Prism remains stronger for operational desktop automation, whereas TestCafe Studio is tuned for testing the modern web.

Best for

Teams automating end-to-end flows across browsers and platforms who want a codeless, stable, and CI-friendly web testing solution.

Alternative 6: Waldo

What it is and what makes it different

Waldo is a commercial, no-code mobile testing platform for iOS and Android that runs tests in the cloud. It emphasizes an intuitive recorder, fast feedback loops, and scalable execution, making it easy for cross-functional teams to participate in mobile app verification without heavy scripting.

Strengths at a glance

• No-code recorder: Create mobile tests without writing code.

• Cloud execution: Scale tests across devices and OS versions on demand.

• Collaboration-friendly: A UI that enables QA, developers, and product stakeholders to contribute.

• CI/CD integration: Automate mobile test runs as part of release pipelines.

• Fast feedback: Rapid runs and accessible results aid iterative development.

How it compares to Blue Prism

• Platform focus: Waldo is mobile-first; Blue Prism is Windows desktop-first. For native mobile app visual testing, Waldo provides a better out-of-the-box experience.

• Maintenance: No-code authoring and cloud-managed devices reduce infrastructure and maintenance overhead versus desktop RPA setups.

• Reporting and triage: Testing-oriented dashboards make it easier to pinpoint UI breakages in mobile builds.

• RPA vs. test execution: Blue Prism remains compelling for enterprise desktop automation workflows; Waldo is specialized for mobile app testing.

Best for

Teams automating end-to-end flows across mobile platforms who want a no-code, cloud-based testing solution with quick iteration.

Things to Consider Before Choosing a Blue Prism Alternative

Selecting the right tool depends on your context. Use the checklist below to narrow the field:

• Application under test

• Authoring approach and team skills

• Setup and infrastructure

• CI/CD and DevOps integration

• Stability and execution speed

• Debugging and reporting

• Governance and compliance

• Scalability and cost

• Ecosystem and community

Conclusion: Matching Tools to Your Visual Testing Needs

Blue Prism remains a respected pioneer in RPA, with proven strengths for Windows desktop automation and the ability to orchestrate complex, repeatable UI workflows. For teams whose visual testing aligns with desktop regression and operational process validation, Blue Prism still delivers.

However, modern testing often spans browsers and mobile devices, and requires lower maintenance, scalable execution, and testing-focused features like self-healing, rich reporting, and deep CI/CD integrations. That’s where alternatives can shine:

• If you want to stay in an RPA-first ecosystem with enterprise governance, Automation Anywhere and UiPath bring mature automation plus test capabilities.

• If your primary target is the web, Mabl and TestCafe Studio offer simpler authoring, stronger test-centric workflows, and resilient selectors.

• If mobile is your focus, Repeato and Waldo bring codeless, device-centric visual testing that’s easier to scale and maintain.

In practice, many organizations adopt a hybrid approach: using RPA for desktop process automation and specialized testing platforms for web and mobile. The best choice depends on your application surfaces, team skills, and appetite for cloud versus on-prem. If you’re consolidating tooling, consider a platform that aligns with your heaviest testing needs—often web and mobile—while maintaining a strategy for desktop workflows where RPA remains strong.