What is Beta Testing? There are no guidelines for how a beta test should look or be conducted. Beta testing, which is essentially giving a product or close to it to potential users for evaluation in the real world, is what beta testing does. A test must meet the following criteria to be considered a beta test: Apps must be feature complete and stable. Beta testers should be part of the app's target customer. Beta testers should use it for real-world scenarios. Alpha vs. Beta Testing Your beta testing phase can be started when you are not beta-ready. This will make a huge difference in the test's success. Before we talk about the different approaches and types of beta testing, let's first distinguish it from alpha. The beta phase is preceded by Alpha testing. Alpha testing is the phase that precedes the beta phase. It usually lacks many features, is often too unstable and buggy for reliable use. This is typically an internal affair. Your internal developers and/or testers