Beta Testing 101: Explained with Types and Steps to Run

While your shiny new software may look and perform well in controlled testing environments, it still may have bugs that could potentially have slipped through the cracks even after a slew of rigorous testing procedures. And you don’t want buggy software getting shipped to the end users. That’s where beta testing comes in, allowing you to eliminate such uncertainties. 

Beta testing is a phase in software development where a version of the product is released to a limited audience outside the development team. This allows end-user groups, known as beta testers, to test the software in real-world scenarios, identify bugs, and provide feedback. The goal is to catch any issues that weren't identified during earlier testing phases and ensure the product is ready for a wider release.

The feedback from beta testers is then used by the development teams to improve the product. Any critical issues, bugs, or usability problems are resolved to ensure the software is of high quality and reliable. 

Beta testing is a part of user acceptance testing (UAT) to find technical and usability flaws with black box testing methods and reduce the risk of failures during real-world usage. Moreover, beta testing is a go-to method for getting feedback from end-users and understanding end-user behavior and product usage patterns.

Although many quality assurance(QA) activities covered by these alpha and beta testing methods have some overlapping, there are subtle differences between them. Let’s look at the key differences between alpha and beta testing for software.

Going with the Greek naming convention, alpha testing is generally performed just before the beta tests. However, it's not always the case, and sometimes, development teams may skip the alpha testing phase and directly go for beta tests. 

Also Read: Quality Assurance vs. Quality Control

What are the Types of Beta Testing?

Beta testing can be categorized into six types. 

1 - Open Beta Testing 

Open beta testing involves a wide range of participants in the testing process and there are no strict criteria for end users to join. For example, users can gain access to the product directly from the product owners or the software development teams. Or, if the product is hosted on mobile app stores such as Google Play Store or the App Store, users can directly download and try out the application.

2 - Closed Beta Testing 

Closed beta testing allows product access for testing to a select group of users. It's a more controlled form of testing, where beta testers typically belong to a particular segment of users that closely resembles the target audience. Also, participation usually requires an invitation from the product developers.

3 - Technical Beta Testing 

Technical beta testing involves users with specific technical expertise to find technical faults in the product. It aims at identifying difficult-to-find and complex issues that may have been missed during earlier testing phases and focuses on validating the technical aspects of the software, such as performance and security. 

4 - Focused Beta Testing 

Focused beta testing targets specific features or functions of the product rather than the entire application. Based on the user feedback, improvements are made. Moreover, beta testers for this type of testing may be a selected group of users or general end users. The decision to include what user groups to include typically depends on the internal development teams.

5 - Marketing Beta Testing 

Marketing beta testing aims at creating buzz and promoting products by giving early access to social media influencers and tech reviewers. This type gauges market interest and collects insights on potential marketing strategies before the official launch.

6 - Post-release Beta Testing 

Conducted after the official release, this type gathers ongoing feedback from end-users interacting with the product in the natural environment. It helps identify any issues that arise post-launch and helps make informed decisions for future updates.

Also Read: How to Write Test Cases? Stepwise Guide with Examples

BetterBugs makes the bug-reporting process extremely easy, intuitive, and stress-free while running beta tests for your software. It’s a lightweight and snappy Chrome extension that enables you to create and share comprehensive bug reports with one click. 

The bug reports include:

• Screenshots and video footage of the issue. You can also add markups to them.
• Technical details, such as console logs, network requests, and system information (auto-attached)
• Environment details (auto-attached)
• Backend event logs (auto-attached)
• Additional files as attachments
• And many other details.

All this information with complete context and technical details about the issue can be accessed using the report link auto-generated by BetterBugs, eliminating the need for manually sharing details. This enables you to save up to 90% of your time while reporting issues during beta testing.

Developers can then use the complete information by accessing the report link for better debugging sessions. Moreover, they can use AI features while debugging. 

You can also integrate it with 10+ project management tools and issue trackers, such as Jira, GitHub, and Asana. You can share the report directly to your Project Workspaces right from the browser.

You can get the free forever version of BetterBugs with extensive features or the Pro version at $4/user/month with more advanced features and AI capabilities.

Before covering the steps to run beta tests, let’s quickly cover the exit and exit criteria to kick things off for beta testing.

Entry Criteria for Beta Testing

1. Sign-off on alpha testing activities.
2. Ensure that the software or feature(s) to be considered for beta testing is complete, any critical issues are resolved, and the product build is stable enough.
3. Double-check that the documentation is complete. Make sure to include the complete user guide and release notes.
4. Create a detailed test plan with clear objectives, scopes, and procedures for beta tests.
5. Confirm that proper feedback mechanisms, bug-reporting, and bug-tracking tools are in place.

Also Read: What is Bug Tracking?

Exit Criteria for Beta Testing

1. All critical and major issues found during beta testing are resolved.
2. Feedback from beta testers is thoroughly reviewed and proper fixes are implemented wherever required.
3. The product meets performance benchmarks and standards.
4. The product is confirmed to be compatible with target devices, operating systems, and environments.
5. All security vulnerabilities identified during beta testing have been resolved and the product passes security checks with no red flags.
6. A summary for beta tests has been created and handed off to relevant team members.
7. The stakeholders and management have approved the product for market release.
8. Sign off from beta testing.

Also Read: Bug Life Cycle: Explained with Steps to Run

Steps to Run Beta Tests

Step 1 - Define Objectives

Start by defining what you want to achieve with your beta test. Are you looking for bug identification, usability feedback, market validation, or anything specific? It’s best to outline your objectives clearly to have a clear sight of the testing process.

Example: Let’s consider an example of running beta testing for an eCommerce platform’s transaction handling feature and search and filtering functions.

Objectives:

• Ensure the platform handles transactions seamlessly.
• Gather usability feedback on the user interface for both buyers and sellers.
• Identify and fix any bugs in the search and filter functions.

Step 2 - Select Your Beta Testers

Assemble a team of user groups as beta testers that match your target audience. Consider demographics, technical expertise, and user behavior patterns when selecting participants.

Example: Choose 80-100 participants, including:

• Online shoppers of various age groups.
• Small to medium-sized business owners.
• Users with varying levels of technical expertise.

Step 3 - Prepare and Handoff Detailed Instructions to Beta Testers

Provide testers with clear guidelines on how to use the product. Include information about specific features you want them to focus on and tools to report their findings.

Example: Provide instructions on:

• How to create and manage accounts.
• Using the search and filter features.
• Completing transactions and checking out.
• Using bug reporting tools, such as BetterBugs to share visual proofs of issues.

Step 4 - Set Proper Feedback Mechanisms and Channels

Create relevant channels for collecting feedback, such as surveys, forums, or direct interviews. Ensure these channels are easily accessible and user-friendly.

Example: Create:

• A dedicated forum for real-time discussions and support.
• An email address for reporting any critical issues.

Step 5 - Set Your Timelines and Kick Things Off for Testing

Define a timeline for your beta test that includes participation procedures, testing duration, feedback collection periods, and analysis phases. Start the testing procedures.

Example: Define a testing period:

• Start date: February 1st, 2025.
• Duration: 4 weeks.
• Weekly check-ins and feedback sessions.

Step 6 - Collect Feedback and Analyze

Next, collect feedback and analyze it systematically to identify common issues or suggestions for improvement. Look for patterns in user responses that can inform your next steps.

Example: Collect feedback from:

• Surveys.
• Forum discussions.
• Emails.

Analyze data to:

• Identify common issues such as search inefficiencies or checkout problems.
• Assess usability concerns with the user interface.

Step 7 - Prioritize Fixes Based on Severity Levels

All feedback may or may not carry equal weight. Consider prioritizing fixes based on severity and impact on user experience. It’s best to work on critical issues first before moving on to minor ones.

Example: Prioritize working on:

• Critical bugs like transaction failures or search errors.
• Major usability issues.
• Plan to address minor improvements in future updates.

Step 8 - Keep Beta Testers Informed, Plus Include them in Feedback Loops

Keep testers informed throughout the process and share updates on changes made based on their feedback. Going forward, acknowledge their contributions and express gratitude for their efforts and participation.

Example: You can send:

• Bi-weekly updates on progress and fixes.
• A thank you note on emails for contributions.
• Information on upcoming updates based on feedback.

Step 9 - Document the Findings

Maintain clear documentation of all feedback received and actions taken in response to it. This documentation would serve as a valuable resource for future development and help track improvements made over time.

Example: Maintain documentation of:

• All feedback received.
• Actions taken to resolve issues.
• Lessons learned for future development procedures.

Step 10 - Plan for Post-Beta Steps

Finally, consider how you will engage with testers going forward—whether through follow-up surveys or invitations to future testing events—to stay in touch with the participants.

Example: Plan for post-beta steps by:

• Sending follow-up surveys to gather feedback on the final version.
• Inviting beta testers to participate in future testing events.
• Offering incentives for participation and support.