SmartBear TestComplete vs SpecFlow comparison

The compared SmartBear and Tricentis solutions aren't in the same category. SmartBear is ranked #5 in TAt , with an average rating of 7.8, and holds a 5.9% mindshare in the category. Tricentis is ranked #12 in TMT , with an average rating of 7.5, and holds a 1.7% mindshare. Additionally, 87% of SmartBear users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 75% of Tricentis users who would recommend it.

SmartBear TestComplete

Read 76 SmartBear TestComplete reviews

3,897 Views
2,901 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

SpecFlow

Read 4 SpecFlow reviews

272 Views
115 Comparison Views

75% willing to recommend

SmartBear TestComplete

SpecFlow

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

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

Find out what your peers are saying about Tricentis, Katalon Studio, OpenText and others in Test Automation Tools.

To learn more, read our detailed Test Automation Tools Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Test Automation Tools

April 2025

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Helped 850,900 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

SmartBear TestComplete

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Functional Testing Tools (5th), Regression Testing Tools (4th), Test Automation Tools (5th)

SpecFlow

Average Rating

7.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Test Management Tools (12th)

Mindshare comparison

While both are Quality Assurance solutions, they serve different purposes. SmartBear TestComplete is designed for Test Automation Tools and holds a mindshare of 5.9%, down 7.2% compared to last year.
SpecFlow, on the other hand, focuses on Test Management Tools, holds 1.7% mindshare, up 1.6% since last year.

Test Automation Tools

Test Management Tools

Featured Reviews

Prakhar Goel

Sr Test Lead at Emerson

Used for integration automation, user-based automation, and web automation

The solution's most valuable features are the drag-and-drop feature, keyword-driven approach, and reusability of the scripts. The solution has introduced a new feature that helps us identify objects we cannot normally identify. It gives you a fair idea of objects, resolving the object recognition issue. The solution can be used to perform different tests on different machines.

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KreshenAmourdon

Software Automation Test Engineer at I2era

An automation solution with good integration capabilities that needs to focus on providing an option for chain testing to its users

In our company, we need to maintain the scripts of the product daily, and in case of failures, we need to check out the scripts. I would recommend the product to those planning to use it based on both they are planning to build. If you are going for unit testing or small scripts, then you can go with SpecFlow. I don't have much experience with the solution. It is a good and straightforward product. It is also an easy-to-use and user-friendly product that can easily adapt to any framework. I rate the overall solution a seven out of ten.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The solution is great as a record and playback tool. It also has valuable regression testing."

"TestComplete fits almost perfectly with a large amount of stacks, such as Delphi, C#, Java and web applications."

"The product is stable for what we are currently using it for, and it is sufficient for us."

"TestComplete has strong reporting capabilities. The reports they generate are really good."

"The reporting is ready to use and doesn't require any setup."

"The most valuable features are the desktop and mobile modules."

"It's cross platform automation capabilities specially ranging across web, UNIX (via putty), and other systems."

"When compared to other tools, it is very simple."

More SmartBear TestComplete pros

"One of the most valuable features of SpecFlow for us is its risk identification capabilities."

"The initial setup is easy."

"The most valuable feature of the solution is unit testing...It is also an easy-to-use and user-friendly product that can easily adapt to any framework."

"SpecFlow's best feature is the ability to add additional layers to the programming."

Cons

"We were testing handheld barcode scanners running WindowsCE with many menus of warehouse functions, and our biggest problem was the timing between input and responses."

"The solution needs to extend the possibilities so that we can test on other operating systems, platforms and publications for Android as well as iOS."

"One notable drawback is the absence of native integration with Git."

"This solution could be improved by making it easier to visualize where there is a failure without having to look at it in detail."

"The integration tools could be better."

"During the distribution of our regression test cases, the control IDs are not always recognized correctly."

"Right now, the product only supports Windows."

"SmartBear products generally have a weak link when it comes to integration with other test management tools like Inflectra."

More SmartBear TestComplete cons

"SpecFlow's installation and configuration can be a bit challenging due to its flexibility as an open-source tool."

"Regarding improvement, it would be good if SpecFlow could provide chain testing, which it currently doesn't allow."

"SpecFlow would be improved with the addition of functionality reporting, which would be really helpful for automation testing."

"I'd prefer in TFS if we could be writing test cases, not in the old classical version. We should be writing in Gherkin and then automatically have it convert that Gherkin test case into SpecFlow feature files."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"This is a pay-per-use service that is not expensive, and cost-efficient if you have a small team."

"The pricing is pretty reasonable."

"The solution is around $1500. Some are perpetual licenses, and some get a yearly report card."

"The product is becoming more and more expensive."

"Our ROI is about $10,000 a year."

"The price of SmartBear TestComplete could be less. The main challenge is when it comes to node-locked. They should use a subscription model, such as a monthly-based subscription or, a quarterly-based subscription. Their floating license is very expensive, and this high price should be reduced or provide, at a minimum, a subscription model."

"The licensing costs are in the range of $1,000 to $3,000."

"SmartBear TestComplete is an expensive tool."

More SmartBear TestComplete pricing and cost advice

"SpecFlow is an open-source product."

"SpecFlow is open-source and free of charge."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

20%

Manufacturing Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Government

Computer Software Company

15%

Healthcare Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

12%

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about SmartBear TestComplete?

TestComplete has strong reporting capabilities. The reports they generate are really good.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SmartBear TestComplete?

I am not involved in pricing or licensing; our management team handles these aspects.

See all answers

What needs improvement with SmartBear TestComplete?

While using SmartBear TestComplete, we are fine with the current capabilities, however, it would be beneficial to improve some performance aspects, especially the image comparison feature. Occasion...

See all answers

What do you like most about SpecFlow?

One of the most valuable features of SpecFlow for us is its risk identification capabilities.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SpecFlow?

SpecFlow is an open-source product. You just use SpecFlow's plugin capabilities or add it to your existing framework.

See all answers

What needs improvement with SpecFlow?

In terms of improvement, SpecFlow's installation and configuration can be a bit challenging due to its flexibility as an open-source tool. While it offers a balanced flexibility, setting it up migh...

See all answers

Comparisons

Tricentis Tosca vs SmartBear TestComplete

Compared 23% of the time

OpenText UFT One vs SmartBear TestComplete

Compared 12% of the time

Ranorex Studio vs SmartBear TestComplete

Compared 12% of the time

Qt Squish vs SmartBear TestComplete

Compared 9% of the time

Katalon Studio vs SmartBear TestComplete

Compared 8% of the time

More SmartBear TestComplete Competitors

Tricentis Tosca vs SpecFlow

Compared 100% of the time

More SpecFlow Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

SmartBear TestComplete

March 2025

Download SmartBear TestComplete product report

Buyer's Guide

SpecFlow

April 2025

Download SpecFlow product report

Also Known As

No data available

SpecFlow+

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."

SmartBear

SpecFlow is a testing framework that supports Behaviour Driven Development (BDD). It lets us define application behavior in plain meaningful English text using a simple grammar defined by a language called Gherkin.

Tricentis

Sample Customers

Cisco, J.P. Morgan, Boeing, McAfee, EMC, Intuit, and Thomson Reuters.

Microsoft, Caterpillar, Siemens, Charles Schwab, IBM, Deloitte, Accenture, Philips, Dell, Deutsche Bank

Buyer's Guide

Test Automation Tools

April 2025

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