Difference between alpha and beta testing
Alpha Testing Beta Testing
Alpha testing performed by Beta testing is performed by Clients
Testers who are usually internal or End Users who are not employees
employees of the organization of the organization
Alpha Testing performed at Beta testing is performed at a client
developer's site location
Alpha testing involves both the Beta Testing typically uses Black
white box and black box testing Box Testing
Alpha testing requires a lab Beta testing doesn't require any lab
environment or testing environment or testing environment.
environment The software is made available to the
public and is said to be real time
environment
Long execution cycle may be Only a few weeks of execution are
required for Alpha testing required for Beta testing
Critical issues or fixes can be Most of the issues or feedback is
addressed by developers collected from Beta testing will be
immediately in Alpha testing implemented in future versions of
the product
Alpha testing is to ensure the Beta testing also concentrates on the
quality of the product before quality of the product, but gathers
moving to Beta testing users input on the product and
ensures that the product is ready for
real time users
Difference Between Alpha and Beta Testing
Let’s have a look at the alpha testing vs beta testing comparison table to
see how they differ:
Criterion Alpha Testing Beta Testing
Testers Internal employees of the A sample group of end-users
organization who aren’t part of organization
Environm Takes place in a controlled or lab Doesn’t require any specific
ent environment lab environment
Performed Within the organization or at the At the client’s location or with
developer’s site end users
Time of Before launching the product for At the time of product
testing release marketing
Validation Checks for functionality, internal Checks for reliability and
design, and system requirements security in detail
Goals Ensures product quality and Evaluate customer
design, making it ready for beta satisfaction for full release
testing
Testing Covers black-box and white-box Covers black-box testing
Type testing
Duration Includes multiple test cycles, each A few test cycles are required,
for 1-2 weeks, varying with the depending on user’s feedback
number of issues
After Developers immediately work on Feedback received is usually
testing any identified issues or bugs implemented as future
versions of product
Alpha Testing vs Beta Testing – Key Differences
● Alpha testing primarily takes place within the organization, whereas Beta
testing takes place in the user’s environment.
● Only functionality and usability are checked during Alpha Testing, whereas
usability, functionality, security, and dependability are all thoroughly tested
during Beta Testing.
● Long execution cycles may be required for Alpha Testing, but Beta Testing
can be completed in a matter of weeks.
● Internal organization employees perform Alpha Testing, whereas users
perform Beta Testing.
Which One to Choose: Alpha or Beta Testing?
Looking at the differences, beta testing may seem to be more essential!
And why not? After all, it helps collect genuine feedback from real users.
Does that mean you can ignore alpha testing? Well, not really.
Although alpha and beta testing depend on real users and different team
inputs, distinct processes and goals drive them. Combined, both testing
types enhance a product’s performance and lifespan.
So, instead of focusing only on alpha or beta testing, we recommend
you include both testing stages in your software development lifecycle.
You may start with alpha testing after the system testing phase, fix and
resolve all the critical issues, and proceed to the beta testing stage to
get actionable insights from end users.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is alpha testing used?
Alpha testing is used to identify and resolve all bugs or issues before the
app is released to public. The aim is to ensure the app’s quality.
How long does Alpha and Beta testing take?
Alpha testing typically takes 1-2 weeks per test cycle, depending on how
many issues are discovered and how many new features are released. It
is not uncommon for the total Alpha phase to be 3-5 times the length of
the following Beta phase.
The duration of beta testing depends on test objectives. Usually, the
testers spend 1-3 weeks, which again varies with the size of the app.
What comes first, alpha or beta testing?
Alpha testing comes first! The internal members of the organization
perform this testing. Once the alpha testing is done, the application
proceeds to the beta testing phase.
Beta testing releases a beta version of an application to a small group of
real users. They try out the app for a specific period; based on their
usage and experience and provide feedback to the organization.
