Hey folks! 
I’ve just joined a team as the second QA engineer, and my first mission is to find a reliable test management tool.
We’re working on a desktop application, our test suite is still developing, and most of our testing is manual at this stage. Also — we’re not using Jira, so I’m specifically looking for tools that don’t require Jira integration.
Ideally, the tool should be easy to use, budget-friendly (or free), and a good fit for a small team that’s just getting started with structured testing.
Would love to hear what tools you all have used!
Huh, I know just the thing for you man!
It’s LambdaTest – An AI-Powered Test Management in a Unified Platform.
We recently adopted LambdaTest as our go-to solution, and it’s been impressive — especially considering it offers a free test management tool bundled within their platform.
It’s more than just test case tracking. Their Test Manager lets you write, organize, and execute manual tests with smart features like hotkeys, AI-powered test step generation, and CSV/API-based imports for existing test cases.
We don’t use Jira either, and it hasn’t been a blocker. The built-in search/filter, evidence attachment, and build history tracking make it super easy to manage manual test cycles across projects.
Plus, you get perks like cross-browser testing and device labs if your needs expand later.
For a team just starting to formalize QA processes, the balance between structure and flexibility is perfect.
If you want a list of more test management tools, check this blog: 21 Free Test Management Tools And Their Features [2025] | LambdaTest — it’ll help you pick one that fits your needs.
Thank me later
I agree with @devan-skeem — indeed LambdaTest is a great choice.
But I also use TestLink sometimes, and it’s a classic, free option (though self-hosted).
When our team was on a tight budget, we went with TestLink. It’s open-source and still very relevant for teams doing manual QA without Jira. Sure, the interface feels a bit dated, and you’ll need to host it yourself, but once it’s set up, you get solid features like test case versioning, execution reports, and user-based permissions.
It served us well for a few years until our team scaled up and needed tighter integrations. If your team’s tech-savvy and fine with a basic UI, TestLink is a dependable starting point that won’t cost you a thing.
So @klyni_gg — you’ve got yourself one more option now. Enjoy!
Hello @klyni_gg!
I’ll tell you what my personal favourite is — other than the two mentioned by @devan-skeem and @ian-partridge — and that’s Testmo.
It has a clean UI, works Jira-free, and is super easy for manual QA.
In a recent project, we used Testmo and it struck a great balance between usability and structure. It’s built with manual testing in mind but still gives you room to grow into automation and integrations later. We weren’t using Jira either — and thankfully, Testmo doesn’t force it.
What I appreciated most was how intuitive the UI was. Setting up test cases, test runs, and reports was simple. The pricing’s fair for small teams too, and it helped our QA stay organized without becoming a bottleneck for devs.
If you’re after something modern but not bloated, this is a solid pick.