You see them everywhere. Top 10 this, top 20 that. We have all searched for lists that rank products. Whether cars, phones, software, or anything else. But how trustworthy are the ‘top software’ lists on the internet?
This month’s Testing Times explores ‘top software lists’ and questions what they are really telling us. This is only a shallow dive, but it’s deep enough—I barely broke the surface before I started to find surprising and inaccurate information.
My Problem with Top Software Testing Tools Lists
I am a software test professional, and this is a software testing newsletter, so it won’t surprise you to learn that my primary issue with these lists concerns test tools—the OpenText suite of tools in particular.
If the OpenText test tool division was spun off as a separate business, it could be the world’s largest software test tool vendor. Its suite of testing tools has long been at the forefront of software testing.
Yet, many of the alleged ‘top software testing tools’ lists fail to include any of OpenText’s industry stalwarts, such as UFT One and LoadRunner, which professional testers have trusted for years. Even when they do include them, they often languish near the bottom.
This is just plain wrong and can lead to a skewed perception of the testing tools landscape, potentially misleading organisations in their quest for effective testing solutions.
This discrepancy between my real-world experience and these lists made me question their credibility. It also drew my attention to a potential gap in understanding between what’s popular in online discourse versus what’s driving enterprise-level software quality assurance.
5 Reasons Why ‘Top Test Tools’ Lists Get it Wrong
Below are five key reasons why these lists do not accurately represent the best testing tools in the market.
1. Outdated Information
The test tools market is constantly shifting, so it’s not surprising that many lists of top testing tools lack up-to-date information.
Honestly, I sometimes struggle to keep up with the shifting sands within individual tool vendors and software houses, never mind the broader ecosystem.
However, if an article is published as a “2025 list”, should it contain information more than a year out of date?
- The 20 Best Functional Testing Tools For QA In 2025 from the CTO Club mentions ‘Micro Focus Silk Test’ at number 18, despite sales of this product ending in December 2023.
- Headspin’s Top Software Testing Tools for 2025 – All You Need to Know About refers to Micro Focus UFT.
- QA Touch goes one step further back in time in its 32 Best Software Testing Tools For 2025, referring to ‘HP UFT’.
- And Guru99’s 40 BEST Software Testing Tools List (2025) tops the lot by including mention of QTP.
To clarify:
- Micro Focus acquired HP Software in September 2016
- OpenText acquired Micro Focus in January 2023.
- QTP was renamed UFT sometime around December 2017
Surely 7 years is long enough to update this list?
I wonder how these list providers will handle the recent OpenText product name changes made in January 2025. My guess is not well.
This outdated information makes it abundantly clear that the authors are recycling their list and have not conducted recent, in-depth research on the current state of the testing tools market.
2. Bias Towards Open-Source
Maybe because they’re easier to obtain, or maybe because of some of the reasons listed below, but it doesn’t take Sherlock Holmes to notice that these lists often favour open-source tools.
Yes, tools like Selenium and JMeter have merits, but come on. They are not the top testing tools. They certainly don’t offer the most comprehensive feature sets and are not efficient solutions for enterprise-level testing needs.
Let’s compare Selenium, a very basic tool, with UFT One, which offers a more integrated and robust solution with professional support and the ability to test many more applications and technologies. UFT One wins, hands down.
In fact, UFT One could easily replace multiple open-source tools, saving significant time (and time is money) and reducing complexity in the testing process.
Most open-source tools are aimed at developers and require expert users with programming skills. This will, more often than not, end up costing you significantly more.
Surely the top testing tools should be the ones that both technical and non-technical testers can use?
Plus, let’s not forget the real reason consultancies push open-source tools
3. Lack of Enterprise Perspective
Many of these lists seem geared towards individual developers or smaller teams rather than mid-sized or large enterprises, and that is a problem.
Enterprise customers have very different demands. They need scalability, stability, security and professional support to resolve issues as and when they arise. Businesses can’t leave this sort of thing to chance—business profitability and people’s livelihoods depend on properly tested software solutions.
It boggles the mind that these lists omit or misrepresent enterprise-grade tools like LoadRunner Cloud—which offers comprehensive testing capabilities across various platforms and technologies—in favour of niche or single-use tools.
Enterprise customers reading these biased lists could be led to a skewed representation that doesn’t accurately reflect their needs, which could result in costly and embarrassing decisions.
4. Misunderstanding of AI and Advanced Features
Nowadays, everyone uses artificial intelligence, and professional testers are no exception.
Indeed—as AI has become increasingly important in software testing—tools that leverage AI for smarter, more efficient testing should be at the forefront of any credible “top tools” list.
Yet, many of these lists glaringly overlook AI capabilities such as advanced object recognition, natural language script creation, AI-based execution, automated maintenance, synthetic data creation or any of the many other AI-powered features in OpenText tools like UFT One.
The failure to highlight these advanced features further compounds my overall sense that the authors of these lists do not understand the sector, the tools or the current trends and innovations in software testing.
5. Clickbait Culture and SEO Optimisation
Finally, the elephant in the room. Unfortunately, as much as we’d like to think everyone on the Internet is honest, trustworthy and looking out for our best interests, many of these lists are created more to generate clicks and improve search engine rankings than provide valuable, accurate information.
This can lead to including tools that are less mature and require more effort than the most effective or comprehensive ones.
The result is often a list that appears useful at first glance but lacks relevance and practical utility for serious testing professionals.
Speak to Experts, and Don’t Trust Lists!
‘Top software testing tools’ lists can potentially provide a starting point for exploration.
However, as I have found, most are a poor source of information and often out of date by years. If you decide to use them, please don’t rely on them as the sole source of test tool comparisons.
The frequent omission of industry-leading, comprehensive tools like OpenText’s UFT One and LoadRunner Cloud from these lists should be evidence enough that they are questionable at best and misleading at worst.
If you’re serious about efficient, effective software testing, it’s crucial to look beyond these often misleading lists and seek the opinions of stakeholders and professionals in similar businesses.
By doing so, you can help ensure that you’re choosing tools that will genuinely enhance your testing processes and contribute to delivering high-quality software.
Going by what has happened before, these lists will be out of date for years to come.
Futureproof Your Test Tool Choices
The proper test tool will be your ally for many years; the wrong tool can be an expensive headache for an equally long period. Selecting a tool is an investment in the future of your software quality, so invest wisely.
Don’t leave this choice to an ill-informed list that is only out to get clicks.
