SmartBear TestComplete vs TFS comparison

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6,927 views|4,860 comparisons
86% willing to recommend
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Read 93 TFS reviews
2,136 views|1,253 comparisons
87% willing to recommend
Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between SmartBear TestComplete and TFS based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Test Automation Tools solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed SmartBear TestComplete vs. TFS Report (Updated: July 2020).
772,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"The most valuable features of the SmartBear TestComplete are self-healing, they reduce the maintenance required. The different languages SmartBear TestComplete supports are good because some of our libraries are written in Python, JavaScript, and C#. It's very easy to put them all under one project and use them. The are other features that SmartBear TestComplete has but the competition widely has them as well.""The ease-of-use and quality of the overall product are above average.""The solution has a very nice interface.""The product's initial setup phase was easy.""It is very easy to maintain tests with this tool. It covers all necessary items in the test plan. The most painful item in testing is maintenance. When changes occur, the tests should be maintained.""It's cross platform automation capabilities specially ranging across web, UNIX (via putty), and other systems.""Recording and playback of tests were easier with SmartBear TestComplete...It is a scalable solution.""The most valuable features are the desktop and mobile modules."

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"For what I need TFS for, I have never run into any limitation.""The traceability is valuable. While managing the workflows, it was always nice to have that traceability from requirements and all the way through design. It integrates with Microsoft Test Manager, and you can have everything that is related to a requirement attached to it.""Work item management integration with source control.""Team Foundation Server (TFS) is easy to use, and we have a complete trail and traceability. We also like the access control part.""What I like the most is that you can set permissions on just one folder.""The most valuable feature is the backlog.""It is a stable solution.""Version Control: TFS offers both the centralized “TFVC” version control technology as well as the distributed “Git” version control technology."

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Cons
"Name Mapping feature should be clearer. Whenever I use it, I do not really know what will work and what will not work.""SmartBear products generally have a weak link when it comes to integration with other test management tools like Inflectra.""The code editor, though following eclipse-style, is still a work in progress and gives a very poorly formatted code once viewed via other editing tools.""The artificial intelligence needs to be improved.""Headless testing would be a big improvement.""The pricing is the constraint.""In scenarios where two of our engineers work on the same task, merging codes is a bit difficult.""The initial setup of SmartBear TestComplete was complex."

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"The project management side should be addressed and the project and release planning should be somewhat extended.""Microsoft should discontinue the use of SharePoint as I don’t really see any value add to TFS, document management features can be included in TFS web portal itself, if required!""The program and portfolio planning facility can be improved.""TFS on-premise does not support integration with SharePoint Online.""TFS and MTM have their own style of working and they are different from other tools like Jira or TestRail, which are simpler and easy to use.""The solution is stable but could improve.""The interface can be improved and made more user-friendly.""The dashboard and the customization of dashboards is an area they have to work on."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "The product is becoming more and more expensive."
  • "My advice so far, is that while it’s not quite as powerful and easy to use as UFT, its price tag more than makes up for it."
  • "The price is less, compared to other products, such as QTP."
  • "Buy modules on demand. If you have a four-person team and they will each automate tests only 25% of the time, it's better to buy a floating licence and share the tool during the work day."
  • "TestComplete now have come up with three modules (Web, Desktop & Mobile), so based on the type of product for automation, it is adequate to purchase the required module."
  • "This is a pay-per-use service that is not expensive, and cost-efficient if you have a small team."
  • "The option we chose was around $2,000 USD."
  • "The licensing costs are in the range of $1,000 to $3,000."
  • More SmartBear TestComplete Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "It's just as expensive as HPE ALM, without many of the features, best used for development tool only to avoid higher costs."
  • "TFS is on the higher side, but if you intend to use the tool as a complete ALM tool, it will reduce your costs in the long run."
  • "Use the Microsoft recommended “seat-based” licensing model. This allows a single developer with multiple machines to consume only one client license."
  • "If running TFS on-premise is expensive, maybe you could consider moving to the Cloud and use the Visual Studio Team Services."
  • "It is pretty expensive compared to other project management tools."
  • "The pricing is reasonable at this time."
  • "TFS is more competitively priced than some other solutions."
  • "We pay subscription fees on a yearly basis and the price is reasonable."
  • More TFS Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:TestComplete has strong reporting capabilities. The reports they generate are really good.
    Top Answer:It's comparable to other similar tools, perhaps a bit less expensive than some of its competitors. So, the pricing is pretty reasonable.
    Top Answer:Headless testing would be a big improvement. For example, when we run our regression suite, we need to start a virtual machine and run the tests interactively. There isn't a way to run the tests… more »
    Top Answer:TFS and Azure DevOps are different in many ways. TFS was designed for admins, and only offers incremental improvements. In addition, TFS seems complicated to use and I don’t think it has a very… more »
    Top Answer:Microsoft's technical team is supportive.
    Top Answer:There is a yearly licensing fee that needs to be paid.
    Ranking
    7th
    Views
    6,927
    Comparisons
    4,860
    Reviews
    7
    Average Words per Review
    503
    Rating
    7.1
    3rd
    Views
    2,136
    Comparisons
    1,253
    Reviews
    25
    Average Words per Review
    377
    Rating
    8.0
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    Team Foundation Server
    Learn More
    Overview

    What is SmartBear TestComplete?

    TestComplete is a reliable, sturdy automated testing platform created by SmartBear Software. SmartBear Software is a worldwide technological leader known for developing quality enterprise-class development and testing solutions.

    TestComplete simplifies the process of creating tests for numerous applications, including, but not limited to; Desktop, Android, IOS, Web browsers, and Windows. Application tests can be manual, scripted, and even recorded by using keyword-driven or data-driven functionality. There are even additional options for error reporting and automated playback. The object repository is extremely accurate and is fully customizable. TestComplete can easily be used by experienced developers and even by manual novice testers to develop quality automated UI tests quickly.

    TestComplete offers three different testing scenarios:

    • Desktop: Users can easily and quickly automate UI tests using today’s most popular desktop applications, such as; Windows, Java, Python,.Net, VBScript, and more.

    • Web: Users can effortlessly create renewable tests for all of today’s popular web applications, including JavaScript frameworks on 2000+ trusted browser and platform integrations.

    • Mobile: Users can safely build and automate serviceable UI tests on actual or virtual android or IOS devices, locally or in the cloud. Users can create code or codeless tests. TestComplete seamlessly integrates with many of today’s popular frameworks.

    Key Features

    • Easily create automated UI tests: TestComplete offers scriptless Record and Replay or simple keyword-driven tests to quickly develop any type of UI test users may require. Tests can be recorded once, then replayed when needed across various applications on mobile, web, or desktop environments. TestComplete integrates with many different languages, such as Java, Python, C+, and more.

    • Keyword driven tests: Users can easily divide testing steps, actions, objects, and data with an integrated keyword-driven test structure. This makes it easy for every user to participate in the test automation process; there is no programming experience needed. Everything is made simple with easy-to-use point-and-click options.

    • Data driven tests: Easily distinguish data from test commands to keep administrative efforts simple. Users can improve overall coverage by running various automated mobile, desktop, or web UI tests.

    • Record and Replay: Users can reuse created automated tests across every environment as often as desired. This helps to expand overall test coverage and represents a huge cost and time savings.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Sandhiya T S., Sr Solutions Engineer at Lexington Soft, relates, “The record and replay aspects of the solution are quite useful for people. With them, you don't have to write any scripts. Basically, you can record your actions and play them back later. The initial setup is also very easy.”

    Sai S R., Staff Test Architect at a tech services company, says, "The most valuable features of the SmartBear TestComplete are self-healing, they reduce the maintenance required. The different languages SmartBear TestComplete supports are good because some of our libraries are written in Python, JavaScript, and C#. It's very easy to put them all under one project and use them."

    Visual Studio’s Team Foundation Server (TFS) is a powerful application development lifecycle management solution. It aids developers in managing every aspect of their DevOps and application creation. TFS combines many different types of solutions into a single powerful platform.

    Visual Studio TFS Benefits

    Some of the ways that organizations can benefit by choosing to deploy TFS include:

    • Build automation. TFS enables users to create definitions that can easily automate any and all tasks that are critical to the development of their applications. Businesses can utilize features that are built into TFS to accomplish preset tasks that can help them create the application of their choice. This can include enabling them to run automated tests when the need arises. Additionally, users can create custom tasks that will run automatically and allow users to focus their attention on the areas that most demand their focus.
    • Security. TFS is designed with the security of a user’s DevOps in mind. It enables an organization to restrict user permissions so that only developers that are meant to have access to particular parts of the development process can perform tasks related to those sections. It segments the development process to reduce the possibility of sensitive data being stolen.
    • Enables product rollbacks. TFS keeps copies of past versions of the organization’s application. Users can sift through the different versions that are available and can redeploy the version that best fits their needs should it ever become necessary to do so.

    Visual Studio TFS Features

    • Source code management. TFS comes with all of the tools that developers need to completely manage their source code. They can share their code so that multiple developers can work on the same project. Additionally, TFS enables them to do things like review the history of a particular piece of source code.

    • Project management. Organizations can leverage the wealth of project management features that TFS offers and ensure that their projects run as smoothly as possible. Project managers are able to use TFS to control every aspect of their project, from the planning stage until the application’s development has reached its conclusion.
    • Reporting. TFS enables users to generate reports that leverage critical metrics and provide them with important insights into the applications that they are creating. These comprehensive reports can be secured so that only users with the proper level of clearance can access them.

    Reviews from Real Users

    TFS is a highly effective solution that stands out when compared to many of its competitors. Two major advantages it offers are its source code management capabilities and its powerful integration suite.

    Carl B., the vice president of engineering at Vertex Downhole Ltd, writes, “The most valuable features are related to source code management. Using TFS for source code management and being able to branch and have multiple developers work on the same projects is valuable. We can also branch and merge code back together.”

    Ashish K., the principal consultant at Wipro, says, “I have found almost all of the features valuable because it integrates well with your Microsoft products. If a client is using the entire Microsoft platform, then TFS would be definitely preferable. It integrates with the digital studio development environment as well.”

    Sample Customers
    Cisco, J.P. Morgan, Boeing, McAfee, EMC, Intuit, and Thomson Reuters.
    Vendex KBB IT Services, Info Support, Fujitsu Consulting, TCSC, Airways New Zealand, HP
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Computer Software Company33%
    Manufacturing Company12%
    Financial Services Firm9%
    Comms Service Provider6%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company19%
    Manufacturing Company12%
    Financial Services Firm11%
    Government7%
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm26%
    Computer Software Company17%
    Manufacturing Company16%
    Energy/Utilities Company10%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization53%
    Computer Software Company7%
    Manufacturing Company5%
    Financial Services Firm5%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business29%
    Midsize Enterprise27%
    Large Enterprise44%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business24%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise61%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business17%
    Midsize Enterprise25%
    Large Enterprise58%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business9%
    Midsize Enterprise59%
    Large Enterprise32%
    Buyer's Guide
    SmartBear TestComplete vs. TFS
    July 2020
    Find out what your peers are saying about SmartBear TestComplete vs. TFS and other solutions. Updated: July 2020.
    772,649 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    SmartBear TestComplete is ranked 7th in Test Automation Tools with 72 reviews while TFS is ranked 3rd in Test Management Tools with 93 reviews. SmartBear TestComplete is rated 7.6, while TFS is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of SmartBear TestComplete writes "A stable product that needs to improve its integration capabilities with other test management tools". On the other hand, the top reviewer of TFS writes "It is helpful for scheduled releases and enforcing rules, but it should be better at merging changes for multiple developers and retaining the historical information". SmartBear TestComplete is most compared with Tricentis Tosca, Katalon Studio, Ranorex Studio, OpenText UFT One and froglogic Squish, whereas TFS is most compared with Microsoft Azure DevOps, Jira, Rally Software, TestRail and OpenText ALM / Quality Center. See our SmartBear TestComplete vs. TFS report.

    We monitor all Test Automation Tools reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.