Users expect perfection. They’ll abandon an app the moment it’s unstable or slow.

Current iOS trends are all about privacy features, AI and cross-device experiences. The bar is higher than ever for app quality.

As the App Store gets more competitive, iOS app testing is the difference between apps that succeed and those that get lost in the bad reviews.

By testing throughout development, teams catch issues early, maintain quality and deliver the experience users expect today.

Below, you’ll learn how to test your iOS app to meet user standards and delight them every time.

iOS app testing basics

What is iOS app testing?

iOS app testing is a multi-step quality check that happens before an app hits users’ iPhones and iPads. It’s how you find and fix issues before they hit real users.

Testing breaks down into three:

Functional testing makes sure everything in your app works. This means checking if buttons work, forms submit data, if camera access or location services work. It’s like checking a checklist to make sure each part of the app does its job.

Performance testing looks at how your app performs under different conditions. Key areas are:

• App launch speed
• Battery consumption during normal use
• Memory usage when multiple features are running at once
• App behavior with no internet

User experience testing looks at how people interact with your app. This means observing how intuitive the app feels, if the design makes sense and if users can complete tasks without getting frustrated.

These types of testing happen throughout iOS app development, not just at the end. New features need testing as they’re built. Updated features need fresh testing. It’s an ongoing process that helps catch issues early when they’re cheaper and easier to fix.

Why iOS app testing?

Bad app quality hurts where it hurts most—your app store ratings and your bottom line. A single crash can turn a 5-star app into a 1-star nightmare. Data from QualiTest shows 88% of users stop using apps that crash or freeze more than twice.

A 2023 report by Instabug found a strong correlation between app stability and user satisfaction. Apps with higher crash free session rates get better app store ratings, meaning users are more likely to abandon apps that crash or have performance issues.

Testing catches the issues that would otherwise get those bad reviews. Early bug detection through testing also saves big bucks.

Some iOS app fixes include:

• Catching compatibility issues before users hit different iPhone models
• Spotting memory leaks that drain batteries and frustrate users
• Finding UI glitches that confuse users and kill retention

Users will delete an app that doesn’t meet their standards and move on to the next one. Testing prevents problems and builds trust with users who have many alternatives at their disposal.

iOS testing environments

iOS testing involves several different environments, each serving a purpose in catching bugs and improving quality.

Native iOS Devices

When you want production-quality apps, there’s no substitute for testing on actual iOS devices in real-world conditions.

Physical iPhones and iPads are the most accurate testing environment. Testing on real devices reveals hardware-specific issues like camera glitches, GPS accuracy or touch response problems.

What works on an iPhone 16 Pro might not work on an iPhone 12. Physical devices also expose real-world conditions like poor internet or low battery.

Consider borrowing or renting devices to test more without the big upfront costs. Or, hire iOS developers to manage the whole process on native devices.

Emulators and Simulators

For rapid development and initial debugging, simulators are a essential tool in the iOS developer’s toolbox. They allow for quick testing.

The iOS Simulator, part of Apple’s Xcode development environment, is a way to test basic app functionality. Running on a Mac, it mimics iOS behavior and lets developers spot obvious UI problems or logic issues.

Simulators speed up testing since switching between different iOS versions and device types takes seconds rather than having a full device lab.

But developers should remember that simulators can’t replicate all hardware-specific behavior or actual performance.

Cloud Based Testing Platforms

Cloud platforms bridge the gap between simulators and physical devices. These services have a large library of real iOS devices that developers can access remotely.

You can test on dozens of device/OS combinations without the cost of buying and maintaining physical devices. Cloud platforms also have automated testing tools that can run thousands of tests overnight and catch issues that might slip past manual testing.

iOS app testing types

Manual Testing

Manual testing is the foundation of quality assurance for iOS apps. Testers interact with the app just like end users would, navigating through screens, pressing buttons and exploring features.

The real power of manual testing is during exploratory testing sessions. Testers can think creatively, try out unusual combinations of actions or investigate hunches about potential issues. This type of testing is useful when testing new features or major updates where the expected behavior is not fully documented.

For some parts of the app manual testing is irreplaceable. Elements like visual design consistency, animation smoothness and gesture responsiveness require human judgment. A skilled manual testing service brings methodical discipline and intuitive understanding to the process.

Automated Testing

Automated testing allows for fast and repeatable verification of app functionality. Test scripts can run hundreds of times without getting tired, testing core features consistently and fast. Makes sense for regression testing where the same tests need to run frequently to verify that new changes haven’t broken existing functionality.

The tooling ecosystem for iOS automated testing has robust solutions:

• XCUITest for native UI testing
• XCTest for unit and integration testing
• Appium for cross platform test automation

The best candidates for automation are login flows, basic navigation paths and core business logic. The investment in writing automated tests pays off most when applied to stable features that need frequent testing. Critical user paths like purchase flows or data entry forms benefit most from automated testing.

Functional Testing

Functional testing verifies that each feature of the iOS app works as per the specs. This includes everything from basic operations to complex business workflows. The process starts with understanding user requirements and translating them into specific test cases.

Key areas to focus on during functional testing:

• User authentication flows (login, registration, password recovery)
• Core business logic implementation
• Data handling and storage
• Integration with external services and APIs
• Push notifications
• In-app purchase flows

Testing involves both positive and negative scenarios. Positive testing verifies that features work as expected under normal conditions. Negative testing tries to break the app by providing invalid inputs or creating edge case conditions. Both are necessary to build robust apps.

Performance Testing

Performance testing checks how the iOS app behaves under different conditions. Load times, response times and resource usage affect the user experience. Performance testing checks how the app uses device resources.

Several key metrics to monitor during performance testing:

• App launch time and initialization speed
• Memory allocation and leaks
• CPU usage during different operations
• Battery consumption patterns
• Network bandwidth
• Storage usage and cleanup

Testing involves creating baseline measurements under normal conditions and then testing under stress conditions.

This might include running the app with low memory, testing with slow network, or measuring performance while other apps are running in the background. Each scenario helps to build a complete picture of the app behavior.

Usability Testing

Usability testing is about the human side of app interaction. This process puts the app in front of users and observes how they interact. TestFlight is a great way to distribute beta versions and collect user feedback before launch.

A full usability testing approach:

• Watching users complete specific tasks
• Recording user confusion points or hesitation
• Gathering feedback on interface clarity
• Measuring task completion time
• Identifying navigation issues

The testing sessions should mimic real world usage scenarios. Participants get tasks but minimal guidance so natural interaction patterns emerge. Their feedback helps to identify confusing interfaces, unclear instructions or complicated workflows that might frustrate users.

Security Testing

Security testing protects the app and its users from threats. This critical phase of testing checks how the app protects sensitive information and resists different types of attacks. Mobile apps handle personal data so security testing is more important.

Security testing covers:

• Data encryption at rest and in transit
• Authentication mechanism strength
• Session management security
• Input validation
• File system interaction
• Network communication

Tools like OWASP ZAP and Burp Suite can help to identify common vulnerabilities. The testing involves trying different types of attacks and checking for data leaks. Special attention to how the app handles sensitive information like passwords, payment details and personal data.

Compatibility Testing

Compatibility testing ensures the app works on different devices and iOS versions. This phase takes into account hardware variations, screen sizes and OS differences. The iOS ecosystem has multiple device types and generations, each with its own characteristics.

You need to consider:

• Screen resolution and aspect ratios
• Device specific features (Face ID, Touch ID)
• iOS version compatibility
• Hardware capability differences
• Memory and storage variations
• Network technology support

The testing process involves creating a device matrix with the most common configurations of your target users. Each combination needs to be verified for core functionality, visual layout and performance. Backward compatibility with older iOS versions while taking advantage of newer platform features.

iOS App Testing Best practices

Plan a Testing

Having a testing strategy is the foundation of quality assurance for any iOS app. Before you write your first test case, consider using a test pyramid approach where unit tests are the base, integration tests the middle layer and UI tests the top.

Consider using behavior driven development (BDD) by writing your test cases in a way that reflects user behavior and business requirements. This will make your tests more meaningful and easier for non-technical people to understand.

Identify which features need more attention based on what your users do in your app. So, if you’re building a photo sharing app, you’ll want to focus more on testing the image upload and sharing feature since that’s what people use the most.

Split your testing plan into chunks:

1. Must-haves that absolutely need to work
2. Core features that most users interact with daily
3. Nice-to-haves that aren’t deal breakers if they have minor issues

This way, you’re not wasting time testing features that are rarely used while missing critical bugs in your main features.

Test on Real Devices

Testing on physical devices reveals issues that simulators might miss especially around hardware specific features like camera integration, GPS accuracy and motion sensors.

Think about edge cases like low battery, incoming phone calls during critical operations, and system-wide settings that can affect your app. Also, test your app when system resources are constrained like when multiple memory hungry apps are running simultaneously or when the device is low on storage.

While simulators are good for quick checks, nothing beats testing on actual iPhones and iPads. Apps can work perfectly in the simulator, but crash on real devices due to memory constraints or weird iOS quirks that simulators can’t catch.

Building a device library doesn’t mean you need every iPhone ever made. Start with:

• The latest iPhone model
• A model that’s 2-3 years old
• An iPad, if your app supports it
• Different screen sizes to catch layout issues

Keep track of which iOS versions are most common among your target users and have devices running those versions.

Test in CI/CD

Testing as part of your development workflow means catching bugs early when they are cheaper and easier to fix. Think of it like spell-check that runs automatically as you type. You want your tests to run automatically whenever code changes.

A CI/CD pipeline specifically for iOS development can really help improve your app’s quality and release speed. Consider having pre-commit hooks that run lightweight tests before code is even committed.

Run tests in parallel to reduce build time and have test retries for flaky tests that might fail occasionally. Use Xcode Cloud or Fastlane to automate screenshot generation and app distribution to testers. Consider having feature flags to safely deploy new features to production.

Setup your pipeline to:

• Run unit tests on every code push
• Run UI tests on nightly builds
• Block merges to main branches if tests fail
• Generate test coverage reports

This keeps your testing consistent and prevents the “I forgot to run tests” problem that plagues many projects.

Monitor Test Results

Test monitoring goes beyond just pass/fail metrics. Implement detailed logging that captures the exact conditions under which tests fail, including device state, network conditions and user interactions leading up to the failure.

Use tools like Firebase Test Lab or TestFlight’s analytics to get real world usage data to inform your test coverage.

Just running tests isn’t enough – you need to understand what they’re telling you. Look for patterns in your test failures. Are certain features breaking more often than others? Do issues pop up more frequently after specific types of changes?

Track your test results using dashboards that show:

• Pass/fail rates over time
• Most failing tests
• Test execution time
• Code coverage

This helps you catch issues early and show stakeholders how stable the app is. When presenting to business teams, focus on metrics they care about like crash rate or bug detection time.

iOS app testing challenges and how to overcome them

Apple’s rules

The iOS ecosystem is tough due to its strict App Store rules and high user expectations. Your testing approach needs to take into account iOS specific things like app permissions, background/foreground state handling and memory management.

You’ll also need to consider how your app interacts with iOS system features like Shortcuts, widgets and notifications. A good testing strategy should also cover accessibility features as iOS users heavily use VoiceOver and other accessibility tools.

iOS device fragmentation

When building iOS apps you have a mix of different iPhone and iPad models with different screen sizes and processing power. While Apple’s ecosystem is more controlled than Android, you still need to test across multiple devices and iOS versions to catch issues early.

To tackle this problem effectively, start by looking at our target market. Looking at iOS adoption rates helps you pick the most important device/OS combinations to test. Instead of testing on every device, group similar devices together. For example, you might test on an iPhone 13 to represent newer phones and an iPhone X for older models.

Limited testing resources

Apple devices are expensive and can be a strain on QA testing budgets especially for growing companies. A single test device can cost over $1,000 so building a testing lab can be expensive.

Cloud testing platforms are the solution. Services like BrowserStack and AWS Device Farm give us access to real iOS devices online. You can test on different iPhone models without buying them.

Simulators are good for basic testing but use them alongside real device testing as they can’t replicate everything, like exact touch sensitivity or battery drain.

Manual vs Automated testing

Find the right balance between human testers and automated scripts. Manual testing helps us catch visual issues and usability problems that automated tests might miss. But it’s time consuming and repetitive.

Automate the repetitive tests, like checking if basic features work across different iOS versions. This will free up your testers to focus on new features and complex user scenarios.

The key is to know which tests to automate: start with stable features that rarely change, like login flows and navigation paths. Manual testing for areas that require human judgment, like if animations feel smooth or if the app is intuitive to use.

Better user experience, better app

User expectations are higher than ever. You need more than great features. You need flawless execution. Through iPad and iPhone app testing you can commit to a continuous development process that results in a better user experience and better reviews.

When you test performance in every dimension you create experiences that stick. When testing is part of the development DNA the result is an app that works and delights at every touchpoint.

FAQs

What are the main types of iOS app testing?

To test iOS apps effectively you need to test several types.

• Functional testing checks if features work as designed, from basic navigation to complex transactions.
• Performance testing measures app speed, battery usage and memory management under different conditions.
• Security testing protects user data by finding vulnerabilities in data storage and transmission.
• UI testing checks if buttons, menus and gestures work smoothly across different screen sizes.
• Accessibility testing checks if the mobile app works with VoiceOver and other assistive technologies.

How do I choose the right testing tools for my iOS app?

The choice of testing tools depends on your project. For automated iOS app testing XCUITest integrates well with iOS app development solutions and is good for teams that are familiar with Swift. Appium is good for teams that work across multiple platforms. TestFlight is good for distributing beta versions to real users for feedback.

Small projects might start with XCUITest and add more tools as needed. Larger projects often use multiple tools, XCUITest for unit tests, Appium for cross platform testing and TestFlight for beta testing.

How often should I test my iOS app?

Testing should happen throughout development not just before release. Each new feature should be tested before it gets integrated into the main codebase. After major updates run regression tests to see if changes broke existing features.

Critical features like payment processing or user authentication should be tested with each code change. Less critical features should be tested weekly or bi-weekly. The goal is to establish a testing schedule that matches your development pace.

What’s the difference between testing on real devices and iOS simulators?

Real devices is the most accurate testing environment, it’s how users will experience the app. They show real world issues like touch sensitivity, GPS accuracy and camera functionality. But maintaining a device lab is expensive and requires regular updates.

iOS simulators is quick and cost effective during early development stages. They are good for basic UI testing and debugging but can’t replicate hardware specific issues or exact performance characteristics. Use simulators during development and real devices for final validation.

How do I optimize my iOS app testing process?

Start by automating the tests you can. Login flows, navigation paths and other repetitive tasks are good candidates for automation. Set up continuous integration pipelines to run tests automatically when code changes.

Prioritize your test cases by risk and importance. Core features need to be tested more frequently than minor UI elements. Use test management tools to track results and see patterns in bugs. Regular review of test results will help you spot areas where testing coverage can be improved.

Keep your test environments clean and up to date. Have dedicated testing devices or simulators to avoid conflicts between different app versions. Document your testing process so new team members can get started.