Top API Testing Tools In 2023

Software companies are stepping up the production of applications to match the ever-growing demand. As per Statista, there are 2.59 million apps available in Google Play Store as of 2023. In such a highly competitive software landscape, users are intolerant of applications that are unreliable. Issues in the API could lead to the users facing errors or latency, causing a loss of trust in your applications and ultimately impacting your business. As a result, companies are under high pressure to deliver APIs that provide high performance consistently. This is possible only through comprehensive API testing.

API testing is the process of making sure that an API (Application Programming Interface) is working smoothly and correctly. There are different kinds of tests that help in thoroughly checking that the API is functioning properly. Developers can perform these tests manually or with the aid of automated tools.

Traditionally, the testing process happened at the end of creating an API, but now, many teams do it in the earlier stage of development. Early testing of APIs brings multiple advantages to developers and businesses, making the entire process seamless and hassle-free.

Benefits of API testing

API testing offers a range of significant advantages in the realm of modern software development:

Quality Assurance: API testing is instrumental in maintaining the credibility of your software and upholding your business’s reputation. It provides a means to verify that your API functions as intended, instilling confidence in end-users.
Early Issue Identification and Resolution: The shift-left testing approach allows teams to catch and address defects at their inception. This proactive strategy ensures that the development process remains predictable and adheres to timelines.
Agile Development: Integrating API tests into continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines empowers teams to automatically validate every code change before it goes live. This agile approach facilitates frequent releases while mitigating the risk of introducing bugs and regressions.

With the adoption of the ‘shift-left’ approach, there is a constant need to test the APIs at every stage of development. Therefore, it has become essential for developers to automate the process. While manual API testing can certainly aid developers in pinpointing specific issues, test automation offers a systematic and error-reducing approach. By leveraging automation tools, teams can create comprehensive test cases and run test executions with precision. These automated tests can be scheduled to run at designated intervals or seamlessly integrated into CI/CD pipelines, ensuring that checks are consistently applied after every code entered.

Best API Testing Tools in the Market

In the market, there are several tools available for API testing. Choosing the right one for your business is crucial to ensure that your web and mobile applications perform as expected. Here, we’ll break down the features and benefits of some popular API testing tools to help you make an informed decision.

TestGrid

TestGrid is a popular testing platform that offers a streamlined and user-friendly interface. It offers features that make API testing 70% faster than the conventional API automation process, allowing you to test more efficiently and deliver superior results. With TestGrid, you can now collaborate with your testing and business teams to create and run test cases, even if you don’t have prior programming expertise.

Features:

Simplified API automation for SOAP and REST calls with a user-friendly interface.
Empowers you to write test cases that provide deeper and more detailed validation of API calls.
Conducts API integration automation testing and monitors transactions seamlessly.
Create API tests without the need for extra test cases.
Effortlessly incorporate real-time UI value assertions using API-fetched data.
Generates comprehensive reports of the number of source types, request data, duration, speed, and more.
A unique worldwide tool that is capable of testing on all platforms – mobile, web, hardware, and IoT.
Reduces testing expenses and effort through automation and early defect detection.

Katalon Studio

Katalon Studio stands out because it can seamlessly blend both user interface (UI) testing and business-level testing across different operating systems like Windows, Linux, and Mac OS. This tool is versatile, supporting a wide range of requests, including SOAP and RESTful, and various command types like GET, POST, PUT, and DELETE.

Features:

Katalon Studio handles both RESTful and SOAP requests with a variety of commands, all customizable.
It combines UI and API verification seamlessly.
It offers a collection of built-in keywords for creating test cases.
Data-driven testing is made easy with this tool.
It employs AssertJ, one of the most robust assertion libraries, allowing you to create clear and structured assertions with a BDD approach.
Suitable for both technical and non-technical users.

SoapUI

SoapUI serves as an automated testing tool designed specifically for testing SOAP and REST APIs. It functions as a headless, behind-the-scenes tool for functional testing of APIs.

Features:

Easy and quick test creation through point-and-click and drag-and-drop actions.
Conducts load tests by reusing test scripts.
Generate security scans to assess the safety of all your API tests.
Supports for data-driven testing
Native integrations with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) processes and support for asynchronous testing.

Tricentis Tosca

Tricentis Tosca is an API Testing platform that speeds up the testing process through a user-friendly approach, eliminating the need for coding and scripts for comprehensive test automation.

Features:

Compatible with a wide range of protocols, including HTTP(s), JMS, SOAP, REST, Rabbit MQ, AMQP, TIBCO EMS, IBM MQ, and NET TCP.
Its model-based automation allows optimal reusability and maintainability
API tests can be applied across various platforms like mobile, cross-browser applications, and packaged software.
Reduces the time needed for regression testing.
Users can utilize the signature security option to sign multiple parts of a message.

Apigee

Apigee stands as a versatile cross-cloud API management platform that enables users to gauge and assess API performance, as well as supports API creation using tools like Swagger.

Features:

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Facilitates the design, monitoring, deployment, and scaling of APIs.
Allows the identification of performance issues by monitoring API traffic, response times, and error rates.
Offers a straightforward process for generating API proxies from the Open API Specification and deploying them in the cloud.
Provides flexibility for both cloud and on-premises deployment, including private cloud and hybrid deployment models.
Offers visualization tools, dashboards, and reports for real-time data measurement across APIs.

Conclusion

As the software development landscape continues to grow, the right API testing tool can make a significant difference in ensuring the quality, security, and functionality of your APIs. Consider your specific requirements and select a tool that aligns with your goals and development processes.

With TestGrid as a top choice for API testing, you can navigate the ever-changing world of software development with confidence and reliability. TestGrid’s codeless test automation capabilities guarantee faster results and reduce your overall testing efforts and expenses.