Advantages of using automated tools for testing are as follows :

1. Automated Software Testing Saves Time and Money

i) Software tests have to be repeated often during development cycles to ensure quality. Every time source code is modified software tests should be repeated.

ii) For each release of the software it may be tested on all supported operating systems and hardware configurations.

iii) Manually repeating these tests is costly and time consuming. Once created, automated tests can be run over and over again at no additional cost and they are much faster than manual tests.

iv) Automated software testing can reduce the time to run repetitive tests from days to hours.

v) A time savings that translates directly into cost savings.

2. Testing Improves Accuracy

i) Even the most conscientious tester will make mistakes during monotonous manual testing.

ii) Automated tests perform the same steps precisely every time they are executed and never forget to record detailed results.

3. Increase Test Coverage

i) Automated software testing can increase the depth and scope of tests to help improve software quality.

ii) Lengthy tests that are often avoided during manual testing can be run unattended.

iii) They can even be run on multiple computers with different configurations.

iv) Automated software testing can look inside an application and see memory contents, data tables, file contents, and internal program states to determine if the product is behaving as expected.

v) Automated software tests can easily execute thousands of different complex test cases during every test run providing coverage that is impossible with manual tests.

vi) Testers freed from repetitive manual tests have more time to create new automated software tests and deal with complex features.

4. Automation Does What Manual Testing Cannot

i) Even the largest software departments cannot perform a controlled web application test with thousands of users.

ii) Automated testing can simulate tens, hundreds or thousands of virtual users interacting with network or web software and applications.

Disadvantages of using automated tools for testing are as follows:

1. High investments required in package purchasing and training.

2. High package development investment costs.

3. High manpower requirements for test preparation.
4. Considerable testing areas left uncovered.