Software Research
Software Research is a privately held San Francisco software company, founded 1978, that develops eValid, a browser-based web application testing suite featuring DOM-based functional, load, and performance testing, sold via perpetual licenses and international distributors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1978
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Software Research does
Software Research, Inc. is a privately held software testing company founded in 1978 and headquartered in San Francisco, California. The company specializes in automated testing and quality assurance technology, with its current flagship product being eValid — a browser-based web application testing suite that pioneered DOM-based functional testing, load testing, site analysis, and performance monitoring. The underlying technology, which was functionally incorporated into the W3C WebDriver Standard, is protected by 10 US utility patents issued between 2007 and 2021. Software Research also historically developed TestWorks, a client-server test automation product line for Windows and UNIX/XWindows systems that achieved >4,000 licenses at >1,750 sites worldwide by 1995 before being retired as a legacy product in 2002.
The company monetizes through a mix of perpetual software licenses (eValid 4.0 starting at $495 for basic record/playback capability), annual maintenance subscriptions, and contract-based analysis services for monitoring web application load and server performance. Sales are conducted via direct engagement from San Francisco and through an established international distributor network covering Europe (Benelux, Germany, Austria, Denmark, France, UK, Italy) and Asia (Japan, Korea). Quality Week conference operations (1988-2002) and a Testing Techniques Newsletter (1978-2005) historically supported community engagement, though these channels have since been retired. The company is founder-controlled: CEO Edward F. Miller, PhD has led since 1978, with VP Rita M. Bral serving since the late 1980s. Software Research has remained self-funded throughout its 45+ year history with no external investors or acquisition activity.
Software Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Software Research
- Legal name
- Software Research, Inc.
- Website
- https://software-research.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1978
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Software Research is a privately held San Francisco software company, founded 1978, that develops eValid, a browser-based web application testing suite featuring DOM-based functional, load, and performance testing, sold via perpetual licenses and international distributors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Software Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Software Testing Tools
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Enterprise Application Testing & QA Services (BPAEAGAI)
Keywords
Where Software Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Software Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Subscription-based Licensed Testing Solutions: Software Research provides subscription-based licensed testing solutions for mobile and web-based applications, including eValid and TestWorks product lines.
- Contract-Based Analysis Services: Contract-based analysis services for monitoring and measuring load and server performance of web applications.
- Software Product Licenses: One-time perpetual licenses for software products including eValid (starting at $495 for basic record/playback capability) and various bundle configurations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Basic Record/Playback - Entry level eValid license |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Complete License - Full eValid functionality |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time | Upgrade from Ver 3.n to 4.0 |
| Subscription | Annual | Maintenance Subscription |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Software Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Software Research develops and sells the eValid web application testing suite, which provides browser-based functional testing, load testing, site analysis, page timing/tuning, and performance monitoring using native DOM-based browsing capabilities. The company also offers contract-based analysis services for monitoring and measuring load and server performance of web applications, and historically maintained the TestWorks client-server test automation product line.
Product overview
Software Research offers a portfolio of software testing and quality assurance products, primarily the eValid web application testing suite and the legacy TestWorks client-server test automation product line. eValid, the current flagship product, provides automated web testing including DOM-based functional testing, load testing, site analysis, and performance monitoring using native browser technology. TestWorks, a legacy product line retired in 2002, offered GUI test capture/playback, regression testing, and code coverage analysis for Windows and UNIX systems. The company also organized the Quality Week conference series and published the Testing Techniques Newsletter/Quality Techniques Newsletter for the testing community.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- eValid: Automated web application testing and analysis technology product suite including functional testing, load testing, website scanning, security checking, and performance monitoring
- TestWorks
- Quality Week
Products and services
- eValid Automated web application testing suite providing functional testing, load testing, website scanning, security checking, and performance monitoring using native browser-based playback with DOM-based browsing capabilities. Designed for enterprise QA teams and web application developers.
- Contract-Based Performance and Load Analysis Services
Quantifiable outcome
- eValid technology incorporated into W3C WebDriver Standard
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Software Research
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Software Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature5 records
Software Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- PVI Precision Software B.V.coreInternational distributor for Benelux region (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg) handling Software TestWorks products including Regression, Advisor, and Coverage product bundles.
- Computer Resources InternationalcoreInternational distributor for Denmark handling Software TestWorks products including Regression, Advisor, and Coverage product bundles.
- Scientific Computers, Ltd.coreInternational distributor for France and UK (England, Scotland, Ireland) handling Software TestWorks products including Regression, Advisor, and Coverage product bundles.
- PVI Precision Software GmbHcoreInternational distributor for Germany and Austria handling Software TestWorks products including Regression, Advisor, and Coverage product bundles.
- SLIGOS S.p.A.coreInternational distributor for Italy handling Software TestWorks products including Regression, Advisor, and Coverage product bundles.
- SIElab, s.r.l.coreInternational distributor for Italy handling Software TestWorks CASE products.
- Lifeboat, Inc.coreInternational distributor for Japan handling Software TestWorks CASE products.
- Daeboong CorporationcoreInternational distributor for Korea handling Software TestWorks products.
- W3C (World Wide Web Consortium)coreeValid's foundational web application testing technology was functionally incorporated into the W3C WebDriver Standard, validating the company's technical leadership and enabling interoperability with industry standards.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Software Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Applitools: Applitools provides AI-powered visual testing and monitoring for web applications, overlapping eValid's functional testing and continuous web application monitoring capabilities for enterprise QA teams.
- BrowserStack: BrowserStack offers cloud-based cross-browser testing, functional testing (Live, Automate), and website performance monitoring — directly overlapping eValid's load testing, performance monitoring, and browser-based functional testing capabilities.
- SmartBear Software: SmartBear provides a portfolio of functional, load, and API testing tools (TestComplete, LoadNinja, ReadyAPI) targeting the same QA/test automation buyer as Software Research's eValid. Both compete in browser-based functional and load testing for web applications.
- Selenium Project: Selenium WebDriver is the open-source standard for browser automation whose W3C standard incorporated Software Research's eValid technology. It directly competes with eValid as a browser-based web application testing solution for QA professionals.
- Tricentis: Tricentis provides enterprise test automation platforms (Tosca, qTest) covering functional, performance, and load testing of web applications. Targets the same enterprise QA buyer segment as Software Research, including continuous testing for browser-based apps.
- Parasoft: Parasoft provides automated software testing tools covering functional testing, load testing, API testing, and code coverage analysis — overlapping with both eValid's web testing and the legacy TestWorks/TCAT coverage analysis offerings.
- Cypress.io: Cypress offers a modern developer-focused web application end-to-end testing framework running inside a real browser — directly competing with eValid in browser-based functional testing for web developers and QA engineers.
- Sauce Labs: Sauce Labs delivers cloud-based cross-browser testing, automated functional testing, and performance monitoring using the W3C WebDriver standard that eValid's technology helped define. Direct overlap in browser-based functional and load testing.
Broad incumbents
- Micro Focus / OpenText: OpenText (which acquired Micro Focus) offers a broad enterprise software portfolio including functional testing (UFT One), load testing (LoadRunner), and ALM tools — overlapping eValid's functional and load testing capabilities as part of a much wider stack.
- Micro Focus LoadRunner (now OpenText): LoadRunner is an enterprise load and performance testing product (now under OpenText) that directly overlaps eValid's LoadTest product for measuring load and server performance of web applications.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Software Research social profiles
Digital presenceSoftware Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Software Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Software Research subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Software Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Software Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Software Research
What does Software Research do?
Software Research develops and sells the eValid web application testing suite, which provides browser-based functional testing, load testing, site analysis, page timing/tuning, and performance monitoring using native DOM-based browsing capabilities. The company also offers contract-based analysis services for monitoring and measuring load and server performance of web applications, and historically maintained the TestWorks client-server test automation product line.
Is Software Research a public or private company?
Software Research is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Software Research founded?
Software Research was founded in 1978. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Software Research based?
Software Research is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Software Research make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Subscription-based Licensed Testing Solutions are the primary driver. The others are contract-Based Analysis Services and software Product Licenses.
Who are Software Research's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Applitools, BrowserStack, SmartBear Software, Selenium Project, Tricentis, Parasoft, Cypress.io and Sauce Labs. Broad incumbents are Micro Focus / OpenText and Micro Focus LoadRunner (now OpenText).
Does Software Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for Software Research.
What industry is Software Research in?
Software Research's product category is Software Testing Tools. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAEAGAI, Enterprise Application Testing & QA Services. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.