September 22, 2009 - 10:14 PM
Cross Browser Testing - Browser Capture Services
You've designed and coded a website and now you want to see how it looks across multiple browsers and platforms. What's the fastest, easiest and best way to test? If you have the resources you could install all of the browsers on all of the platforms you are developing for. Another option would be to use a web based service that does most of the hard work for you in a few clicks. The following is a review of four major web based browser capture services.
1. Browsercam
Services: browser capture, email capture, device capture, remote access
Cost: $59.95 per month for one user (other plans available)
Number of browsers: 10 - Windows, Mac and Linux
Speed of capture: a few minutes depending on the number of browsers selected
Pros: number of browser scenarios, granular options (screen size, Flash on/off), download
Cons: cost, the interface design and usability could be improved
What makes this option different from the rest?
Over 400+ combinations of browser, operating system and other scenarios. Multiple services including the only one offering device capture and remote access (at an additional cost).
2. Browserlab
Services: browser capture
Cost: free
Number of browsers: 7 (Windows, Mac)
Speed of capture: a few minutes depending on the number of browsers selected
Pros: 2-up view (need at least a 17" monitor), onion skin view superimposes two screen shots
Cons: a limited number of browsers, no download, the test screen shots seem to be embedded in Flash
What makes this option different from the rest?
The ability to do some visual analysis within the BrowserLab application such as 2-up view and onion skin view. It also integrates with Dreamweaver.
3. Browsershots
Services: browser capture
Cost: free, they may also offer a higher level (faster) service for $29.95 a month
Number of browsers: 94 browsers - Linux (30), Windows (54), MacOS (2), BSD (4)
Speed of capture: unpredictable, depends on site traffic, may be "unavailable"
Pros: free, largest number of browser scenarios, granular options (screen size, color depth, Javascript on/off, Java on/off, Flash on/off), download
Cons: it's not clear if your screen shots are private or public, the interface design and usability could be improved, checking and unchecking browsers is time consuming, unpredictable response time
What makes this option different from the rest?
Not knowing when the service will be available which is a major concern although when it is available it is robust - the most combinations of browser and operating system.
4. Litmus
Services: browser capture, email capture, spam analysis
Cost: $49 per month for one user (other plans available)
Number of browsers: 24 - Windows, Mac
Speed of capture: a few minutes depending on the number of browsers selected
Pros: useable interface, publishing of tests, validation (css, html), test versions, download
Cons: cost, only popular browsers - for example no Opera 10/OSX
What makes this option different from the rest?
It has the most useable interface with the most useful features as well as multiple services (all included in cost). Litmus also offers a Mac based browser capture application - Alkaline (17 Windows browsers on your Mac).
Conclusion
At a basic level all of the options reviewed provide acceptable browser capture. The differences between options is in the features and related cost. Make a choice based on your needs - the specific browsers and operating systems you need to test for and how you prefer to work.
Between my Mac and PC I have access to the majority of the most popular browsers which I test on while developing a website. Dealing with multiple IE versions on one PC is difficult. For my needs Litmus is the most versitile and if I must test on more obscure or edge case browsers I can use Browsershots. Litmus also include email capture which is a nice bonus. Browsercam was more than I needed for the cost. BrowserLab does not have enough browsers and I like to download the screen shot to analyze in Photoshop.
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Sasha writes:
November 08, 2009 - 3:02 AM