Qase
from $0/mo
- Smarter Versioning, Lower Cost, Same Modern UX
- Shared Steps with True Version Control
- Pricing Model
Tool Comparison
Qase or TestPad? Why Neither Is the Best Choice for Growing QA Teams
Qase's per-seat pricing climbs fast above 10 testers. TestPad is intentionally simple and skips structured Test Cases, AI, and full Jira sync. There is a better middle.
vs
TestPad
from $49–59/mo
- Checklists Are Lightweight. Testably Is Lightweight + Structured.
- Checklists vs Structured Test Cases
- A Real Free Tier — Forever
Qase and TestPad both pitch a modern, friendly alternative to enterprise tools like TestRail. They land in very different places. Qase is the structured-but-modern option: full Test Case management, Shared Steps, Requirements Traceability on the Business plan, Jira two-way sync, and per-user pricing at $25/month Startup and $44/month Business. The Free plan covers 3 users and 500 test cases — generous for tiny teams. TestPad is the deliberately lightweight option: a test-script-as-checklist interface, no Shared Steps, no Requirements Traceability, no AI features, and bracket-based per-user pricing starting at £49/month for 3 users. Most growing QA teams hit a wall with either choice. Qase becomes expensive past 10 testers ($250–$880 per month). TestPad's checklist model is too thin for audit-heavy or regression-critical work. Testably is the structured-and-flat-rate middle: Free forever, $19 Hobby for 5 members, $49 Starter, $99 Professional for up to 20 testers. AI test case generation ships on every paid plan. Shared Steps pin to versions per test case — neither Qase nor TestPad offers that.
At a Glance: Feature Comparison
Testably vs Qase vs TestPad, side by side.
| Feature | Testably | Qase | TestPad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Forever | 3 users · 500 TCs | No (30-day trial) |
| Structured Test Cases | Yes | Yes | Checklist style only |
| Shared Steps version pinning | Yes | Always-latest | No |
| AI test generation | All paid plans | Paid add-on | No |
| Requirements Traceability | Hobby+ | Business+ | No |
| Flat-rate pricing | Yes | No | Bracket-based |
| Jira two-way sync | All plans | Built-in | Higher plans |
| CI/CD integration | Professional+ | Yes | Higher plans |
| Setup time | < 5 min | 15 min | < 5 min |
Last updated: May 2026. Feature availability may vary by plan.
Pricing at Common Team Sizes
What each option costs from a small QA team to enterprise scale.
| Plan | Testably | Qase | TestPad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo 1 project · 2 members · 100 TCs | $0/mo 3 users · 1 project · 500 TCs | No free tier 30-day trial only |
| Small team (5) | $49/mo Starter — 5 testers | $125/mo $25 × 5 (Startup) | £49–59/mo Essential, 3 users |
| Mid team (10) | $99/mo Professional — up to 20 testers | $250/mo $25 × 10 (Startup) | £99–149/mo Pro plan, ~10 users |
| Large team (20) | $99/mo Professional — up to 20 testers | $500–880/mo $25–44 × 20 | Custom Bracket pricing |
| AI test generation | Included All paid plans | Add-on Sold separately | Not offered No AI features |
Prices as of May 2026. See each vendor's official site for the latest pricing.
Both Qase and TestPad Have Real Gaps
Where each one falls short — and why teams keep looking for an alternative.
Qase
Qase per-seat pricing scales linearly
Startup is $25/user/month, Business is $44. A 20-tester team pays $500–$880/month before any AI add-on. The free-tier appeal disappears above 10 testers.
No Shared Steps version pinning
Qase Shared Steps cannot be pinned to a version. Edits propagate to every test case immediately, including in-progress runs — a regression risk.
TestPad
No structured test cases
TestPad uses test-script-as-checklist by design. No Shared Steps, no version pinning, no Requirements Traceability. Audit-heavy and regulated teams need more structure.
AI and integrations missing
TestPad ships no AI test case generation. Jira two-way sync, CI/CD, and Slack are gated to higher plans or unavailable.
Why Teams Skip Both and Pick Testably
The third option most QA teams end up choosing.
01
Flat-rate $99/mo covers up to 20 testers
No per-seat math. Hobby is $19. Starter is $49. Professional is $99 for the entire QA team up to 20 members.
02
AI included on every paid plan
Generate test cases from text, Jira issues, or exploratory sessions starting on the $19 Hobby plan. No separate AI subscription.
03
Shared Steps with version pinning
Each test case pins the Shared Step version it links. Edits do not affect runs already in progress. Side-by-side diffs before every upgrade.
04
Structured Test Cases + Requirements Traceability on Hobby
Full Test Case structure plus unlimited RTM from $19/month — not gated to Business tier like Qase.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Qase or TestPad better for small QA teams?
Qase has the more generous free tier (3 users, 500 test cases). TestPad is friendlier to start but lacks structured test cases, AI, and full Jira two-way sync. Above 5 testers, Qase becomes per-seat expensive. Testably solves both: free forever, then flat-rate at $19/$49/$99.
Does Qase or TestPad have AI test generation?
Qase sells AI as a paid add-on. TestPad has none. Testably includes AI test case generation on every paid plan starting at $19/month.
Can Qase Shared Steps be pinned to a specific version?
No. Qase Shared Steps are always-latest only. Edits propagate to every linked test case immediately. Testably is the only tool of these three with per-test-case Shared Step version pinning, side-by-side diff, and run snapshots.
Don't pick between two compromises
Start Testably free. Migrate from Qase or TestPad in under an hour.