How to Reduce the Costs of Software Testing - 8 Strategies

# Team Size

The number of testers you need depends on your app's complexity and type. For new apps, a typical ratio is one tester per 5-6 developers if developers handle basic testing. Small apps may need 2-5 testers, while medium ones might require 5-10. Adjust team size based on the app’s scope and testing needs to balance quality and costs.

# Type of Testing Required

Different testing types: manual, automated, functional, and performance come with varying costs. Automated testing, for instance, has higher initial costs because of the tool setup and scripting but in turn, reduces long-term expenses. The choice depends on project goals and timelines.

# Test Coverage and Complexity

The scope of testing: covering all features, user scenarios, and edge cases directly impacts cost. More complex apps with intricate integrations or multiple user flows demand broader coverage, increasing time and effort.

# Defect Management and Resolution

One of the ways to reduce QA testing costs is early-stage defect detention while late-stage fixes or post-launch corrections can significantly increase expenses.

# Test Environment

Simulating different devices, browsers, and networks ensures comprehensive testing but may raise costs depending on how complex the infrastructure is.

# Testing Tools

Investing in testing tools can save time and effort but adds upfront costs. Open-source tools may minimize cost of software testing, but enterprise-grade tools often offer more advanced features and support.

# Testing Infrastructure

Infrastructure requirements, such as servers, networks, and cloud-based testing environments, play a role in cost estimation. Scalable infrastructure solutions can help control expenses while maintaining flexibility.

# Scope Creep and Changing Requirements

Evolving requirements during development can increase testing workloads. Regular updates to test cases, scripts, and strategies add unforeseen costs.

8 Effective Strategies to Reduce Software Testing Costs

First of all, never sacrifice quality to cut costs in software testing. The right QA strategy not only ensures quality but also promotes cost savings in software testing process over time.

# Outsource Testing to Cut Costs

Outsourcing software testing can significantly reduce software testing costs by eliminating the need for hiring, training, and maintaining an in-house QA team. Companies can access skilled testers and advanced tools without investing in additional infrastructure and maintaining flexibility to scale resources based on project needs. Simply put, you only pay for what you use.

Partnering with providers in cost-effective regions like Eastern Europe is also a great cost-saving in software testing, especially for businesses located in the US, UK, Canada, and Western Europe.

# Consider Risk-Based Testing

Risk-based testing focuses on potential issues that could threaten a software project’s success, such as risks that might increase timelines or inflate costs. These potential risks are identified early, before development starts, and monitored throughout the process, especially in Agile workflows, where new risks may emerge.

This testing approach prioritizes features and functions based on their likelihood of failure, importance, and potential impact. By concentrating efforts on key risk areas, testing teams can detect major problems early when they’re easier to manage, this way, contributing to cost saving in software development. 

# Prioritize Test-Driven Development

Test-driven development is an approach to software testing procedures where unit tests are written before the actual code. This approach ensures that code functionality is validated from the outset, allowing issues to be identified and resolved early and reduce QA testing costs. 

For example, you're developing an online shopping cart. One key feature is calculating the total price, including discounts and taxes. Using TDD, you'd first define test cases, such as:

1. Does the cart calculate the total correctly without discounts or taxes?
2. Does it apply a 10% discount accurately?
3. Does it add a 5% tax correctly to the total?

Before any coding begins, these tests are written. At first, they’ll fail since no functionality exists yet. You then build the logic step by step to make each test pass.

# Optimize Use of Manual Testing

Despite the rise of automation, manual testing activities remain essential in areas where human intuition and judgment can’t be replaced, for example, exploratory testing, user experience evaluation, and identifying subtle testing issues that automation might overlook.

However, as the project grows, manual testing can become time-intensive and costly, requiring more resources to handle tasks like regression testing or cross-browser testing for new features. This challenge grows when last-minute changes force shifts in testing strategies, adding further complexity and delays. 

To optimize manual testing, we recommend focusing on critical areas where automation is less effective and pairing it with automated testing to streamline repetitive tasks.

# Wisely Choose Testing Tools

Investing in high-quality software testing tools can pay off in the long run but there are also a few options for how to reduce the cost of software testing by wisely choosing the testing tools.

There are many powerful open-source testing tools available that can replace expensive commercial tools. Options like Selenium, JUnit, TestNG, and Appium are widely used and offer a range of features for automated testing. 

Many paid testing tools offer free trials or discounted licenses for startups, educational institutions, or non-commercial projects. Take advantage of these offers to evaluate if the tool is a good fit before committing to a paid plan.

What’s more, when outsourcing your software testing, you often don't have to pay for the best testing tools yourself. Your outsourcing partner is likely to have access to advanced tools as part of their service, saving you the cost of investing in expensive software.

# Automate Repetitive Tasks

Automation testing can seem more expensive upfront because of the initial investment in automation tools, infrastructure, and scripting.

However, automating repetitive testing tasks is a smart way to save time and reduce costs in the long run, especially for projects requiring repetitive or large-scale testing.

Tests like regression, smoke, and performance testing are ideal options for automation since they require consistent execution across multiple builds. 

Here is how automation can reduce QA testing costs:

• Once tests are automated, they can be reused across multiple builds and projects without additional effort. This reduces labor costs associated with manual testing for the same tasks.
• Automated tests run much faster than manual ones, allowing you to test more in less time.
• Automation handles large datasets, multiple platforms, and complex scenarios effortlessly, which would require a significant manual testing workforce.
• It eliminates human error in repetitive tasks, reducing the risk of costly fixes later.
• Though automation has a higher upfront cost, the reuse of test scripts and reduced manual labor make it a cost-efficient solution for ongoing and future projects.

# Continuous Integration and Testing

According to the Systems Sciences Institute, fixing errors after release can cost 4–100 times more than addressing them during the early stages. Late-stage bugs often require extensive rework across multiple components, making them far more expensive and challenging to fix.

By introducing tests early, starting with unit testing and progressing to integration and system testing, teams can detect issues as they arise, minimizing debugging efforts and reducing the risk of major defects later.

Frequent regression and continuous testing in every sprint, especially in Agile environments, ensure that new changes do not break existing functionality. This systematic approach also prioritizes performance and security testing to address critical issues proactively.

# Optimize Test Coverage

The goal of optimizing test coverage is to focus on essential areas of the application while avoiding redundant or low-value testing. 

Want to stay efficient? Use requirement traceability to map each test case to a specific feature or need. This ensures you're testing the right things and not wasting testing time on irrelevant areas. Regularly clean up your test suite by removing outdated or redundant cases. 

Don’t overlook the power of tools. Code coverage tools can reveal which parts of your application are untested, so you can concentrate on critical gaps. Breaking the system into smaller modules and testing each one separately also makes it easier to spot and fix problems.

Additional Ways to Maintain Quality While Reducing Testing Costs

Here are three more practical ideas on how to reduce the cost of software testing.

Collaborative Testing Between Teams

Encourage collaboration between development, QA, and business teams to share knowledge and improve efficiency. By working together, teams can identify potential issues earlier, reduce redundancies, and ensure that testing efforts are aligned with project goals.

Staying Aware of the Hidden Costs

Hidden costs, like tool updates, infrastructure fees, or specialized training, can quickly inflate testing budgets. Regularly review expenses, plan for unexpected costs, and ensure transparency in outsourcing agreements to avoid surprises.

Using Reusable Materials in Training Employees

Invest in creating reusable training resources like recorded sessions, guides, and e-learning modules. These materials reduce the time and costs associated with onboarding new QA team members while maintaining consistent training quality.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid When Reducing Testing Costs

Compromising Quality for Speed

Rushing testing to meet deadlines often leads to overlooked bugs, poor user experiences, and costly post-release fixes. Speed should never come at the expense of delivery.

Underestimating Test Coverage

Insufficient coverage leaves critical parts of the application untested, increasing the risk of undetected defects that can disrupt functionality and harm customer trust.

Underestimating the Importance of Manual Testing

While automation is important, manual testing is crucial for finding user experience flaws and edge cases that automation often misses.

Ignoring Automation

Skipping automation at all leads to repetitive manual work, slower testing cycles, and as a result higher costs. 

Lack of Proper Tooling

Using outdated or inadequate tools can slow down the testing process and increase the likelihood of missed bugs.

Bad Test Planning

Without clear priorities and timelines, deadlines slip, and critical bugs may go unnoticed, putting the entire project at risk.

Not Involving Developers in Testing

Keeping developers out of the testing process creates a disconnect between coding and quality assurance.

Delaying Testing

Don’t wait until the end of development cycles to test the software.

Conclusion: Find the Right Balance Between Cost and Quality with inVerita

The question “how to reduce software testing costs” can be answered as soon as you define your project requirements and fully understand its scope. Once you’ve locked in the project details and technology stack, it’s time to evaluate your options for the critical testing phase and find a way to minimize cost of software testing.

This decision involves choosing whether to outsource testing or build an in-house team and understanding what software testing services and tools are included in each option.

At inVerita, we use a mix of testing models, automation, and manual efforts to meet the unique needs of your software product.