What tool to use for checking browser compability?
As a webdesigner, SEO developer, UI expert you need to be aware how and whether your product gets displayed on various browsers. How do you optimize it? Well, you have to know your standards and what works and what not on different platforms and browsers, there is no avoiding that. But beyond that you need to check your product. Sometimes you don’t want to or don’t have access/time to test on all possible or even major platform. So what tools should you use for checking browser compatibility.
I will cut to the point. I recommend Adobe BrowserLab and then explain why is it better than the other options when you do a cost-benefit analysis. To use Adobe BrowserLab you need to sign up/in/for/with a (free) Adobe ID. Then you just give it a URL and it can show you how that page would look like with Chrome (13 & 14 on Windows), Firefox (5 &7 on Windows and OS X) Internet Explorer (6-9 on Windows) and Safari (5.1 on OS X).
A side note: On a local tech email list there was a slight case of panic as someone misread an email and thought it said that BrowserLab would be discontinued April 22. A quick check on the official page of Adobe CS Line online services clarified that it “Adobe CS Review and SiteCatalyst® NetAverages™ will no longer be available after April 12, 2012.” Don”t worry then, BrowserLab lives on. (For now?)
Here is a round up of the tools you may find in your search for the best browser compatibility tool. A lot of them are great, but their free option, if they have any, are too limited. I am on a no budget, so they didn’t work for me as well:
| Method | Browsers | Free | Price | Comment | |
| Adobe BrowserLab | Emulated preview | Chrome 13 & 14 on Windows Firefox 5 &7 on Windows and OS X Internet Explorer 6-9 on Windows Safari 5.1 on OS X |
yes | Free, but requires (free Adobe ID) | Best feature/price ratio |
| BrowserShots | Screenshot of page | 120 for Linux, Windows, Mac OS X | yes | $29.95/month | Processing and display is slow, may take 2-3 hours for the default set of browsers |
| CloudTesting | Screenshots, HTML & component diagnostics via IDE | ? | no | Contact sales for quote | UK based |
| BrowserPhoto | Shows screenshots, HTML Errors, Browser Bugs | 2 screen sizes and 12 browsers | no | $15/one time use $150/domain |
NetMechanic’s product |
| Browsera | Eutomatic layout problem and JavaScript errors detection. | Multiple versions fo Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari | Free for up to 25 page | $39: 300 pages/14 days $49: 500 pages/1 month $99: 2000 pages/month |
On the plus side it can test entire sites. But borwser options are not comprehensive enough and pricey. |
| CrossBrowserTesting | live browser test and automated screenshots | 100+ available, including IE6, Macs, iPhones, iPads, Android, Blackberry | no | $29.95: 150 minutes/month $49.95: 600 minutes/monhth $199.95: 3000/minutes/month |
Can test local files via VNC |
| BrowserCam | Screencapture of pages by OS/browser | dozens for Mac OS X and Windows (including Camino and Netscape:-)) | no | no new members, but members went from one-day to annual |
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