Alpha/Beta Testing

We're all done with Release Prep! All the work you put into preparing your app will be worth it when users get it into their hands.

Before opening the floodgates and letting anyone access your app, it’s highly, highly recommended that you user test.

User testing means finding real, live users to use your application, gathering their feedback on what works well and what doesn't to improve your app's experience.

During the development process, you should be testing along the way to catch any bugs and to make sure you’re moving the the right direction.

User testing, especially pre-launch, can help you optimize for the smoothest user experience. Listening to your users is crucial to building features they actually want so they keep coming back.

The Google Play Developer Console helps you test with an initial small group, called alpha testers, before moving on to a larger group of beta testers.

These testers cannot leave reviews or ratings, so there is no risk to your app’s Google Play rating.

Find Testers

First you’ll need to find testers. Consider your personal circles - friends, family, coworkers, classmates, and community members. For example, if you built an app for dog lovers to track their daily walks, you might find dog enthusiasts at Meetup groups who could be your future users.

Another source is an online site such as Reddit, which has sub-reddits specifically for alpha/beta testers, beta testers, and Android apps.

Closed or Open Beta

During the beta testing phase, you can either run a closed beta or open beta.

A closed beta which means you test on a smaller group, or have a specific group of users you want to test your app. This is useful if you’re testing an existing app that you’ve published before, so only users in your test group will receive an update for updated test version.

An open beta is run on a large group, AND your app is surfaced on the Play Store with a label that it’s a beta version.

If you run an open beta test, ANYONE can join your beta program and submit feedback privately to you. If you choose this option, really make sure your app is ready for this level of visibility.

Again, open and closed beta testers reviews are NOT public.

Get User Feedback

After you’ve selected who your users will be, how do you get feedback?

You can get feedback by email, websites, a message forum such as Google Groups or G+ Communities, or other channels.

If you're running an open test your testers can also provide you with private feedback through the Play Store.

Now’s your turn. Setup an alpha or beta test for your app to make sure it gets real-life review before going live!

Remember, your testers want to help you make the app experience awesome! Also remember to thank them for their time and feedback. Have fun in the testing process, and use it as a chance to learn more about how you can continue building the best product.