The first area to cut costs under tight deadlines and limited budgets is usually testing. During development, the focus is typically on functionality, interface, and deadlines. Testing often gets postponed or performed superficially.
And it may seem like everything works. Seems like it.
Then the problems start:
- users complain about bugs;
- something crashes under load;
- new features conflict with old ones;
- vulnerabilities become costly issues.
In the end, your business loses money, time, and reputation. Let’s explore why app testing before launch is not just a check, but an investment in your project’s future.
What Is Mobile App Testing?
Mobile application QA testing aims to detect bugs and ensure that:
- the app runs correctly on various devices and OS versions (Android, iOS);
- it behaves stably in different use scenarios (opening, minimizing, weak internet);
- it loads quickly and doesn’t crash;
- it responds appropriately to user input;
- it doesn’t drain the battery or overheat the device;
- it meets App Store and Google Play requirements.
The main goal of the entire process is, of course, quality assurance mobile app. To achieve this, we also need to evaluate the user experience (UX) quality. Smooth animation, logical navigation, absence of freezes and bugs — all these affect whether the user stays or uninstalls the app in the first minute.
We also assess performance and reliability, device and OS compatibility, data security, and other aspects. For example, performance testing under load. More on that below.
Why Testing Before Launch Is Critical
Many believe that an app testing company is only needed to save the app from bugs. But there are even worse situations — from loss of trust to direct multimillion-dollar losses. Launching without testing is playing Russian roulette with your business reputation and budget.
Take the mass banning of Twitter (X) accounts in 2023. After a moderation algorithm update, thousands of legitimate accounts were mistakenly blocked. As a result, advertisers fled the platform en masse. Estimated losses: around $75M in one month. Could this have been avoided? Absolutely. A/B testing of the new algorithm on a limited audience would have exposed the bug.
Or consider the United Airlines case. What happened? After updating their booking software, the airline’s system crashed. Over 500 flights were canceled, and delays affected 70,000 passengers. The company suffered $300M in losses (compensations + stock drop). How could it have been prevented? By ordering mobile app testing services and verifying the integration of the new software with legacy systems.
Overall, conducting testing (even better — mobile QA automation) is an investment in:
- Reliability. The average user deletes an app within 1–3 days after encountering a bug. A sad reality, especially considering the cost of acquiring a new user is 5–7 times higher than retaining an existing one.
- Customer loyalty. A stable, glitch-free app retains users: 80% uninstall apps after two crashes. Automated testing ensures a smooth experience, boosting retention.
- Business reputation. A bad release = bad reviews. Even one bug can trigger a flood of 1-star ratings in the App Store or Google Play, destroying trust faster than any marketing can rebuild it.
What Happens After Testing?
After testing, you receive a clear report with the identified issues. Each bug includes: a description of the problem, steps to reproduce, screenshots/videos, and, most importantly, its severity level (blocker, critical, cosmetic).
The team providing mobile app testing services will help you prioritize fixes: first, those that break core functions (like payments), then less urgent ones. This ensures your app launches stable, and development resources are used effectively.
Types of Mobile App Testing Services
So, you’ve decided to order app QA services. What should you know, and what types of testing does your case require?
First, it helps to understand the difference between functional and non-functional testing.
Functional testing literally answers the question: "Does the product do what it's supposed to?"
It checks all key features and workflows. Functional testing simulates user behavior: where they click and why, whether a new user can find what they need, or if adding an item to the cart is confusing.
Non-functional testing asks: "How well does the product do it?"
These criteria relate to the app’s quality: response speed, performance, compatibility, background behavior, security, usability, etc.
| Important! Functional testing is performed at all development stages, including before release and after major updates. Other types can be postponed or adapted to budget, but not this one. Why? Because if the app doesn’t work, nothing else matters. |
Next, let’s break down what types of testing will help ensure quality assurance mobile app.
Performance & Load Testing
What is it? Checking the app’s speed, stability, and responsiveness under load (thousands of users, weak internet).
When it’s needed:
- for high-traffic services (social networks, marketplaces);
- before launching major ad campaigns;
- if the app slows down or overheats devices.
Example: a food delivery app must handle order spikes during lunch hours.
Usability Testing
Evaluation of how intuitive and user-friendly the interface is for real users. Usability testing for apps is necessary:
- after a design overhaul;
- if conversion rates drop (users don’t complete purchases);
- for startups seeking product-market fit.
Example: if placing an order takes five steps instead of two — users will choose competitors.
Security Testing
This is the process of identifying vulnerabilities that could lead to data breaches or hacking. When it’s critical:
- for fintech, medical, and government apps;
- if handling personal data;
- before launching internationally (e.g., GDPR compliance).
Example: an API vulnerability might let hackers access users’ bank cards.
Compatibility Testing (Devices + OS)
Cross-platform testing ensures your app works across various devices, OS versions, and screen sizes.
It’s essential if your audience uses diverse phones, after major OS updates, or for visually demanding apps (like AR/games).
Example: works fine on iPhone 15 but crashes on Samsung A10.
Bug tracking workflows aren’t just “clicking around” — there are many advanced QA techniques, like stress tests or radiation simulation.
Tip: Not all test types are needed every time, but plan for them. Regression testing is crucial.
Manual vs Automated Testing: What You Need to Know
Testing is a balance between flexibility (manual checks) and efficiency (automation). Choosing the right method can save up to 70% of your budget and accelerate time to market. Our advice: start with manual testing, but gradually automate what you test most often.
| Criteria | Manual Testing | Automated Testing |
| Speed | Slow (depends on the tester) | Fast (parallel execution) |
| Flexibility | High (can test on the fly) | Low (only pre-programmed scenarios) |
| Cost | Expensive in the long run | Pays off in 3-6 months |
| Reliability | Risk of missed bugs | Consistent results |
| Best Use | UX, exploratory testing | Regression, load, repeatable checks |
Testing on Real Devices vs Emulators
As a client, you’ll rarely have to make a direct real-device vs emulator testing decision. But understanding the difference is crucial, it’s about budget and deadlines. Automated tests on emulators are 10 times cheaper than testing on real-device cloud farms, but that savings can come at the price of missed bugs.
Even if the development team insists emulators and beta testing services are "enough," demand that key scenarios (payments, geolocation, camera use) be tested on real devices. This is your insurance against lost revenue and reputation risks: like a 1-star App Store review because the app freezes on a tablet.
How do we handle this at Wezom?
Before any release, we run a 24-hour testing marathon on 10–20 real devices. We pay special attention to budget Android models (which often cause issues) and the latest iOS versions (due to Apple’s strict requirements).
How to Choose a Mobile App Testing Partner
One of the biggest differences between a professional QA team and someone "just tapping around on a phone" is the testing environment. For effective mobile application QA testing, the team must use not just emulators and cloud farms (like BrowserStack or Firebase Test Lab), but also:
- automation tools (Appium, XCTest, Detox);
- bug tracking systems (Jira, TestRail, YouTrack);
- and of course, a set of real devices.
When choosing a QA team, ask the following questions:
- How do you approach mobile app testing?
Look for: strategy, test scenarios, documentation, bug reports. - Do you have experience testing apps with [push notifications / payments / geolocation, etc.]?
Customize based on your app’s features. - Do you use automated tests? In which scenarios?
A good answer: “Yes, we combine manual and automated tests, especially for regression.” - How often do you provide reports and in what format?
- What do you do if you find a critical bug the day before launch?
Conclusion
A well-tested app earns high ratings faster, builds trust, and frees your team to focus on growth instead of post-release fires. And the earlier you bring a QA team into development, the cheaper and more effective every future stage becomes.
Quality is a competitive edge. And a high-quality testing partner is not just a contractor — they're a part of your team, helping you build not just a working app, but a successful one.