Is there a best test management tool for JIra? Because when it comes to managing tests, using Jira just won’t cut it anymore.
After all, we’re living in an era where the software release process has grown shorter and shorter. You can’t wait for developers to finish building the software before you test it. And that means you need to continuously test software to deliver quality releases frequently.
Jira testing workarounds (like creating “test case” issues) will only work for so long. Hacks and manual efforts to track tests can’t scale to hundreds or thousands of tests. That makes it difficult to continuously test with Jira alone.
So, you need a better way to manage your test cases. But you want to keep using Jira to track and manage issues. And you don’t want to add even more complexity to your development environment.
Luckily, you can have the best of both worlds — better test case management while still tracking issues in Jira.
👉🏼 Looking for test case and issues management that can be hosted on-prem or in the cloud?
What’s the Best Test Management Tool for Jira?
You don’t have to abandon Jira. You can add a testing management tool to Jira. And, if you do it the right way, it’ll improve your whole development lifecycle.
There are two ways to add test case management to Jira. You can use add-ons or integrate a TCM solution.
I'll cover the pros and cons of each.
1. Use Jira Add-Ons for TCM
Jira add-ons are frequently used to help Jira users do more. It’s typically easy to get Jira add-ons. They can give your testing process a boost — especially if you’re used to tracking tests in Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.
But how do you know if a Jira add-on is the right choice?
Take these pros and cons into consideration.
Pros — Using Jira Add-Ons for Testing
- Simple integration with Jira.
- Ability to see test runs attached to Jira issues.
- Easy to buy in the Atlassian Marketplace.
Cons — Using Jira Add-Ons for Testing
- Limits in testing features and functionality.
- Lack of visibility across development.
- Costs rise fast as you add more add-ons to accomplish your goals.
- Risks include complexity, ongoing maintenance, and multiple support teams.
Jira add-ons are best for small test teams.
If you’re part of a small testing team, using Jira add-ons might be your best path forward. You’ll be able to solve your biggest issues.
But if you’re part of a larger testing team, you might need more than Jira offers.
2. Integrate a TCM Solution With Jira
Organizations with larger testing teams and greater testing complexity won’t get what they need out of Jira add-ons.
That’s why they typically decide to integrate a test case management solution with Jira.
Pros — Integrating TCM With Jira
- Test cases can be shared across multiple projects.
- Both automated (e.g., Selenium) and manual testing are consolidated.
- Testing cycles can be reused.
- You get visibility over your entire test case history (in Jira and in the TCM tool).
- Test cases can be linked with Jira issues for greater traceability.
Cons — Integrating TCM With Jira:
- Finding the right TCM solution.
Integrating a TCM solution with Jira is best for midsize to large testing teams.
If you’re part of a large testing team — or if there’s complexity in your testing process — a TCM solution might be right for you.
But not all TCM solutions are the same. Some will be easier to integrate with Jira than others.
Helix TCM, for instance, seamlessly integrates with Jira. If you find a bug during testing, you’ll be able to create a Jira issue right within Helix TCM. It works in reverse, too. If you’re digging into an issue in Jira, you’ll be able to see its related test cases from Helix TCM — without leaving the interface.
Back to topSolve Your Jira Testing Problems
Testing in Jira can be a pain. But by adding test management to Jira, you can solve your testing problems.
From Questions to Answers…
Without a comprehensive view of your development lifecycle, you’ll wind up stuck with questions.
Were your requirements met? How do you know an issue was tested and resolved? Did your software actually go through proper testing before it was released?
Tracking down that information is difficult if you’re managing bugs in Jira — and doing everything else in disparate documents.
When you add test management to Jira, you’ll solve this problem. And you’ll get the answers you’re looking for.
You’ll know:
- When requirements were met.
- If an issue was tested and resolved.
- Whether your software was tested in the first place.
From Manual to Agile Testing…
Maybe you’re practicing Agile development. Or maybe you’re simply trying to be more agile in your testing processes.
While Jira supports Agile for bug tracking, it doesn’t for managing test cases.
But when you add test management to Jira (via an add-on or integration), you’ll be ready for Agile testing.
How to practice Agile testing:
- Trust your testers.
- Test continuously to deliver quality software.
- Listen to your customers.
- Reuse test cases when and where it makes sense.
One of the most important aspects of Agile testing is being comfortable with constant change. Jira makes it difficult to move at the speed of change. But using a test management add-on or integration makes it easier to go with the flow.
From Reactive to Proactive Reporting…
Without a test management tool, many organizations are stuck in reactive reporting. This typically means reporting on how many test cases you have, how many you ran, and what percent passed — if you’re lucky.
But you don’t have the wealth of information or the visibility to dig into testing problems. After all, it’s hard to spot a bottleneck in your testing process if you’re working out of a spreadsheet.
Adding a test management tool makes it easy to solve this testing problem — and get visibility into your processes.
You’ll be able to answer:
- What are the top issues and bottlenecks?
- What do you want to test in your next release?
- What have you already tested?
- What are your biggest risks?
Jira Plugins for Test Management
Jira doesn’t work for test management. Find a tool that does. Visit the Jira alternatives hub >
Test Case Management Tools That Integrate With Jira
Helix TCM makes it easy to add top-notch test case management to Jira. But don’t just take our word for it. See for yourself how Helix TCM will solve your Jira testing problems.