tldr: Testsigma offers codeless mobile testing for iOS and Android across native, hybrid, and mobile web apps. You get 2,000+ real devices, parallel execution, AI self-healing, and NLP-based test creation. It's a codeless alternative to Appium, though the device count is smaller than BrowserStack's 30,000+.
Introduction
Mobile testing is where test automation goes to die. Device fragmentation, OS version sprawl, flaky locators, and the Appium learning curve combine to make mobile the hardest testing discipline to automate and maintain.
Testsigma's pitch: write mobile tests in plain English, run them on a cloud lab of 2,000+ real devices, and let AI handle the locator maintenance. No Appium code. No XPath selectors. No local device infrastructure.
For teams evaluating mobile testing alongside BrowserStack (30,000+ devices) or LambdaTest (3,000+ devices), the comparison isn't just about device count. It's about who writes and maintains the tests. This guide covers Testsigma's mobile capabilities as of 2026.
What you can test
Native apps: iOS (Swift/Objective-C) and Android (Kotlin/Java). Upload .ipa or .apk/.aab files directly.
Hybrid apps: React Native, Flutter, Ionic, Cordova. Testsigma handles WebView and native context switching, which is one of the most painful parts of Appium-based hybrid testing.
Mobile web: Test web apps in Chrome on Android and Safari on iOS. Same NLP approach used for desktop web testing.
Why codeless matters more on mobile
Codeless testing is useful on web. On mobile, it's transformative.
Appium tests are notoriously fragile. Element locators change with every app update. Setting up Appium itself requires the Appium server, Xcode (for iOS), Android SDK, and device-specific configurations. Teams regularly spend a week just getting the environment right.
Testsigma replaces all of that with plain English: "Tap on Login button," "Enter 'user@email.com' in the Email field," "Swipe left on the carousel." No UIAutomator selectors. No accessibility IDs. No XPath.
The self-healing layer matters even more on mobile than web. Mobile apps update frequently, and locator IDs change constantly. The Healer Agent auto-adapts when elements shift. Users report 90% less maintenance compared to Appium. Even if that number is optimistic, cutting mobile test maintenance in half would be a win for most teams.
The device lab
2,000+ real iOS and Android devices available on demand. Real hardware, not emulators or simulators. Latest device models and OS versions.
That's enough for most teams. You'll cover the top 20-30 device/OS combinations that represent 90%+ of your user base. Where it falls short: if you need to test on obscure devices, region-specific models, or older hardware, BrowserStack's 30,000+ device catalog gives you more coverage.
Parallel execution runs the same test across dozens of devices simultaneously. A compatibility check that would take hours sequentially finishes in one run.
Cross-platform testing
If you're using a cross-platform framework (React Native, Flutter), you can write tests once and run them on both iOS and Android. Platform-specific steps are available for native features unique to each OS.
You can also compare behavior across platforms in the same test run. Useful for catching "works on Android, broken on iOS" issues early.
Mobile testing comparison
| Capability | Testsigma | BrowserStack | LambdaTest | Appium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | Codeless (NLP) | Code-based | Code-based | Code-based |
| Real devices | 2,000+ | 30,000+ | 3,000+ | Local/cloud |
| Native apps | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hybrid apps | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile web | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Self-healing | Yes (AI) | No | No | No |
| Test management | Built-in | Separate product | Third-party | None |
| Setup time | Minutes | Minutes | Minutes | Hours |
| Cost | Paid (contact sales) | Published tiers | Published tiers | Free (framework) |
When Testsigma makes sense
- Your QA team doesn't code, and you need mobile automation without hiring SDETs.
- You're already using Testsigma for web testing and want mobile in the same platform.
- Mobile test maintenance is consuming more hours than test creation.
- 2,000+ devices covers your target device matrix.
When to look elsewhere
- You need 30,000+ devices. BrowserStack is the clear choice.
- You're testing TV platforms (Roku, tvOS, Android TV). Appium handles these. Testsigma doesn't.
- Budget is tight. Appium is free. Testsigma's open-source edition includes mobile testing but requires local device setup.
- You need low-level device control that Testsigma's NLP abstraction doesn't expose.
FAQs
Does Testsigma use Appium under the hood? No. Testsigma has its own execution engine for mobile testing. It abstracts the complexity behind the NLP interface.
Can I test on emulators instead of real devices? The cloud platform provides real devices only. The open-source Community Edition can be configured with local emulators and simulators.
How many devices can I test on in parallel? Depends on your plan. Parallel execution scales with the number of parallel slots in your subscription.
Can I upload my own .apk or .ipa files? Yes. Upload app builds directly to the platform.
How does mobile test maintenance work? The Healer Agent monitors for UI changes and auto-adapts locators. This is the same self-healing that works on web tests, applied to mobile.
Conclusion
Mobile testing is hard. Testsigma makes it easier by removing Appium complexity, providing codeless test creation, and handling locator maintenance with AI. The trade-off is a smaller device lab and less flexibility than code-based frameworks. For teams where mobile test maintenance is the bottleneck, Testsigma's approach is worth evaluating. For teams that need the widest device coverage or low-level device control, BrowserStack or Appium is the better fit. See our Testsigma vs Appium comparison and pricing guide.