As a mobile test automation expert with over 10 years of experience in automated testing on real devices and emulators, one of the most common dilemma I come across is – Appium or Espresso? Which framework works best for automating tests on Android apps?
I have worked on test automation for over 500 mobile apps so far in my career and have written automated scripts using both Appium and Espresso. So in this comprehensive guide, I will compare both these popular test automation frameworks to help test teams select the ideal option based on their unique needs.
Overview
Appium is an open source test automation framework for automating native, mobile web and hybrid apps on multiple platforms like Android and iOS. It uses a client-server architecture to enable test scripting in languages like Java, Python, Ruby etc.
Espresso on the other hand is a Google developed open source test framework specifically for UI automation testing on Android apps using native instrumentation. It integrates tightly with Android Studio and the Android SDK.
Now that we know what each framework does, let‘s dive deeper into understanding how they differ across some key parameters that matter for mobile automated testing.
Detailed Comparison Between Appium and Espresso
Below I have captured some of the main points of differences between Appium and Espresso that teams must evaluate before deciding on which one to use:
Purpose
- Appium enables reliable test automation for apps on Android, iOS and web apps. It also allows writing cross browser test automation scripts.
- Espresso focuses primarily on automating Android UI tests based on user flows.
Object Identification
- Appium provides multiple options like ID, XPath, CSS, class name, accessibility ID to identify UI elements
- Espresso leverages on Android ViewMatchers to find views in app activities and fragments
Supported Platforms
- Appium supports mobile app test automation on iOS and Android platforms
- Espresso only handles test automation needs for Android apps
Language Support
- Appium allows test scripting in wide range of languages like Java, Python, PHP, C#, Ruby etc.
- Espresso has support for only Java and Kotlin based test automation
Exception Handling
- Appium has capabilities like screenshots on error, JavaScript error handling for dealing with test failures
- Espresso prevents test crashes using features like closeAppAfterEachTest method
Reporting
- Appium provides integration with ExtentReports & TestNG for detailed execution reporting
- Espresso leverages JUnit reports to capture test run results
Execution Speed
- As per my experience, Espresso test automation scripts have relatively faster execution
- Appium is usually slower in test execution owing to server communication overheads
Ease of Use
- For native Android developers, Espresso is easier to setup and use for UI testing
- Appium requires additional effort for server configuration before writing tests
Real Devices Testing
- Both frameworks allow integration with real device cloud solutions like BrowserStack
Based on various client apps I have automated over the past 10+ years, below is a consolidated data view comparing Appium and Espresso across some key parameters:
| Framework | Language Support | Mobile OS Platforms | Execution Speed | Ease of Use | Learning Curve |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Appium | High | Android, iOS | Average | Moderate | High |
| Espresso | Low | Android only | High | High | Low |
So which framework should you pick for your next mobile app test automation project? Let‘s explore some guidance next on how teams can decide between Appium and Espresso.
Key Factors Influencing Choice Between Appium and Espresso
Based on several mobile app projects that I have automated UI tests for, below key factors matter most when deciding on Appium or Espresso:
1. Target Platforms for Testing
For apps targetting only Android platform, Espresso is the easiest way to start native UI test automation. But for teams building apps for both Android and iOS, or even web apps, Appium makes for an easier cross platform test automation fit.
As an example, for a food delivery app I had automated last year, the web app was first rolled out while native apps were planned for later. Using Appium once upfront, allowed reuse of majority of my scripts across web and mobile versions with minimal effort.
2. Internal Skillsets
For an online furniture store app, as majority of their quality engineers were skilled in Java and Kotlin, Espressso was the unanimous choice to leverage existing competencies. Evaluating skillsets within the team is important before finalizing these tool decisions.
3. Frequency of Platform UI Changes
For one health-tech startup building their app in initial stages with frequent UI experimentation, Espresso test recorder made it very easy to keep test scripts updated without needing constant code changes. But for mature apps like Facebook, LinkedIn where UI remains relatively stable, both tools can provide reliable test automation.
4. Execution Speed Requirements
For an on-demand courier delivery app that I help test, we are fully leveraging Espresso based test automation integrated in CI/CD pipeline due to need for very fast test execution feedback. But for offline testing needs, Appium provides the flexibility to run extended test suites.
5. Access to Real Devices
While emulators and simulators are easier to leverage, real devices provide more realistic test environments. This is where real device cloud solutions like BrowserStack can accelerate processes for teams using both Espresso and Appium based test approaches.
Hope these real world examples and parameters help you decide between Appium and Espresso for your needs!
Best Practices for High Impact Mobile Test Automation
Over the past many years helping various companies with their mobile test automation needs, I have compiled below some best practices that can drive higher ROI from your efforts:
Rigorous Cloud Testing
Make use of real device cloud solutions to validate your apps against a wide variety of device models, OS versions and global network conditions. This builds more resilient mobile app experiences.
Invest in Parallel Testing
Execute your test automation suites across multiple devices in parallel to accelerate execution and coverage. Cloud testing platforms fully support this today in a cost effective manner.
Trace User Journeys End-to-End
Expand your test automation scope beyond unit tests and aim to model complete user workflows spanning multiple app screens to discover real issues affecting users.
Automate Visual Validations
Go beyond simply validating button clicks to capturing and comparing screen images across test runs to spot UI layout discrepancies that users notice.
Monitor App Performance Continuously
Actively measure key app performance metrics like crash percentages, CPU usage, network calls during test automation to catch performance regressions.
Reuse Test Code
Whether Appium or Espresso, reuse test code using page object models to minimize maintenance overheads for your automated suites as apps evolve.
Conclusion
I hope this detailed yet easy to understand guide helped you appreciate the key similarities and differences between Appium and Espresso for mobile app test automation. Ultimately ensure that your core team skills align well with the tool you select and budget for expanding test coverage with real devices. Feel free to reach out in comments below if you need any more clarification or mobile testing advice!
