Role of Alpha and Beta Testing

For any software release, Alpha testing and beta testing are very important phases. These testing techniques are used to save thousands of dollars by companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft.

Alpha Testing is performed mainly by in-house software QA and testing teams. Customers or users of the application can also do alpha testing.

It is a term used in software industries and is conducted by a team of skilled and experienced testers onsite. It is conducted in a virtual environment.

Beta Testing is carried out by real users in the real environment. This is the final phase of testing followed by full Alpha test cycle where companies release software for a few external group of users outside the company test teams.

Alpha and Beta both have their significance in testing and are terms used in this software industry.

Some of the differences between Alpha and Beta testing are:

1- Alpha Testing is conducted at development site whereas customers at their own site do Beta Testing.    

2- Both Alpha and Beta are kinds of Acceptance Testing, the only difference is that Alpha is conducted within whereas Beta is conducted out of the organization.    

3- Unlike beta testing, Alpha Testing is not open for the market. For Alpha Testing, a dedicated test team is appointed.   

4- Beta Testing is done for software product like operating system, games etc. Whereas, Alpha Testing is done for a software application, project, and product.  

5- Alpha Testing is done onsite, and business analysts and developers are involved with the testing team whereas, in Beta Testing, they are not involved at all.

6- Beta Testing is always Black box testing, whereas Alpha Testing involves both Black and White box testing.

Alpha Testing requires a team of skilled professional testers who can ensure the software product is complete and ready to get launched into the market or for Beta Testing, which makes it a very challenging job. During Beta Testing by the end user, it is always expected from an Alpha tester that for any software product, no bug should be identified, as it may cause huge reputation loss for an organization. If Alpha Testing team missed valid bugs in a software product, then sometimes organization offer money or prize for beta testers for identifying those bugs.