Aspect	Alpha Testing	Beta Testing
Purpose	To identify and fix bugs before releasing to external users.	To evaluate the product in a real-world environment by actual users.
Conducted By	Internal team, often the development team or QA team.	External users, often a selected group of customers or end-users.
Environment	Controlled, in-house environment.	Real-world environment.
Stage in Development	Early, before the product is fully ready for the market.	Later, when the product is close to final release.
Access to Product	Limited to internal employees or selected testers.	Broader access, usually to external users.
Testing Focus	Functionality, usability, and bug detection.	Usability, user experience, and performance in a real-world scenario.
Bug Severity	Often more severe, as the product is still in development.	Generally less severe, as major bugs should have been fixed.
Duration	Typically shorter, depending on the number of issues found.	Can be longer, lasting several weeks or months.
Feedback	Detailed feedback from a technical perspective.	Feedback focused on user experience and satisfaction.
Result	A product that is further refined based on internal testing.	Final adjustments before the product is officially released to the market.

Versions of Software

The terms of Alpha Testing and Beta Testing are based on software version terminologies.

Here is a table summarizing the versions of software for you:

Version Type	Definition	Characteristics
Pre-Alpha	Early development stage with incomplete features.	Highly unstable, limited to developers, and not ready for testing.
Alpha	Feature-complete but not thoroughly tested, released for internal testing.	May be unstable, contains known bugs, tested by the development team.
Beta	Released to a limited audience outside the development team for testing.	Closer to the final product, may still have bugs, feedback used for improvements.
Release Candidate (RC)	Potential final version, released for final testing before public release.	Very stable, with all major issues resolved, minor tweaks or bug fixes.
General Availability (GA) / Release to Manufacturing (RTM)	The final, stable version ready for public release.	Fully functional, thoroughly tested, and ready for deployment.
Patch / Hotfix	Minor update to fix specific bugs or security vulnerabilities.	Focused on resolving specific issues, minimal changes to existing functionality.
Minor Version	Update that adds minor features or improvements without major changes.	Stable, incremental improvements to the existing software.
Major Version	Significant update introducing major features or changes.	May include breaking changes, new features, and substantial improvements.
Maintenance Release	Focused on fixing bugs and improving performance post-major or minor release.	Ensures stability and performance over time.
LTS (Long-Term Support)	Version with extended support, including security patches over a longer period.	Prioritizes stability, used in environments where frequent updates are undesirable.
End-of-Life (EOL)	Software version no longer supported or maintained.	No further updates, including security patches, users encouraged to upgrade.
Rolling Release	Continuous updates without distinct major versions.	Users receive latest features and fixes regularly, often used in open-source projects.

It is relatively easy to see that Alpha testing should come before Beta testing. The former is a less stable version of the latter.

Let's learn more about each concept in depth!

What is Alpha Testing?

Alpha Testing is a type of software testing performed to catch and fix critical bugs before releasing the software to a broader audience in the Beta Testing phase.

Alpha testing usually occurs after unit and integration testing but before beta testing. It is conducted by the internal development and QA teams in a controlled environment that mimics the real-world usage of the software as closely as possible.

Stages of Alpha Testing

Alpha Testing typically occurs in two phases:

Phase 1: Developers conduct white-box testing, focusing on the internal workings of the software. This involves checking the code, architecture, and logic to ensure everything functions correctly.
Phase 2: The QA team performs black-box testing, where the software is tested from the end-user's perspective without looking at the code. This phase focuses on the overall functionality, user interface, and experience, aiming to uncover any bugs or issues that might hinder the user's interaction with the software.

Several challenges of alpha testing you should be aware of:

Alpha testing is only conducted in a controlled environment with a small group of internal testers, there can be an inherent bias. Testers are so familiar with their software that they unconsciously overlook certain issues. This is why we need beta testing in later stages for a more objective evaluation.
At the Alpha stage, the software is usually not fully developed yet. There can be some features still under construction, which affects the final results.

What is Beta Testing?

Beta Testing involves releasing the software to a select group of external users outside the development team is to evaluate the software in a real-world environment. It helps to identify issues that were not caught during internal testing, and gather user feedback to make final adjustments before the official launch.

Unlike alpha testing, which is conducted in a controlled environment, Beta Testing takes place in a real-world environment. This could mean the software is used on various devices, operating systems, and under different network conditions, closely mimicking how it will be used after the official launch.

Who Conducts Beta Testing?

Beta testing is typically conducted by a group of external users. They can be existing customers or selected test participants who fit the target audience profile. Sometimes beta testers can even be the general public if it’s an open beta. This diversity of testers in Beta Testing is crucial.

Google Chrome's beta release in 2008

Beta Testing Process

There are 4 stages to beta testing:

Distribution: The software is distributed to the selected group of Beta testers either by providing download links, giving access to a web-based application, or distributing it through app stores (in the case of mobile apps).
Testing and Feedback Collection: Beta testers use the software as they normally would, and report any bugs, usability issues, or performance problems they encounter.
Data Analysis: The feedback and data collected from Beta testers are analyzed by the development team. This data helps identify any critical issues that need to be addressed before the final release.
Iterations: Based on the feedback, the development team may make necessary changes, fix bugs, and possibly conduct another round of Beta Testing to ensure the software is ready for launch.

Challenges of Beta Testing

1. Limited Control

Beta testing is done in real-world conditions so it is much harder for the dev team to replicate and diagnose issues. We can address this challenge by establishing a standardized process to capturing and reporting bugs.

2. Inconsistent Feedback Quality

This happens frequently if you choose the qualitative approach. Some testers provide detailed and useful insights, but others might just give vague reports that do not describe the issue well enough. Either we quantify the feedback process through Likert scale or establish a standardized feedback process.

3. Potential for Negative Public Perception

If Beta Testing is open to the public and significant issues are discovered, it could lead to negative public perception.

A good case study is the Real Money Auction House (RMAH) in the game Diablo III. Back in the day it was a new feature introduced to allow players to buy and sell in-game items for real-world currency. Blizzard intended the RMAH to provide a safe and secure way for players to trade valuable items without resorting to third-party markets, which were prevalent in Diablo II.

Source: r/diablo

However, many fans felt that the RMAH fundamentally altered the core experience of Diablo. The franchise had always been about the thrill of finding rare and powerful loot through gameplay. The introduction of real-money transactions was seen as a shift toward a "pay-to-win" model, where wealthier players could buy their way to success rather than earning it through in-game effort. This monetization approach was perceived as prioritizing profits over player experience, leading to widespread dissatisfaction.

The RMAH also disrupted the in-game economy, as players could easily purchase high-end gear, which undermined the incentive to grind for loot. This devaluation of the loot system, a central pillar of the Diablo series, was a significant point of contention for the community.

4. Possibility of Feature Creep

Based on user feedback, there might be pressure to add new features or make significant changes late in the development process, leading to feature creep. Feature creep happens when a product team continuously add too many features to the point that they undermine the product's value. It makes the product too complicated or confusing for users to find the functionality they need.

Duke Nukem Forever is one of the most infamous examples of feature creep in the gaming industry. Originally announced in 1997, the game went through numerous changes in direction, technology, and design over its 14-year development period. Developers kept adding new features, switching game engines, and attempting to keep up with industry trends.

The constant addition of new features and changing of the game’s core technology led to repeated delays and a significantly bloated development process. When the game was finally released in 2011, it was met with widespread criticism for being outdated and lacking coherence, showing the detrimental effects of feature creep.