The TestStand alternative that runs in your browser
NI TestStand costs around $5,000 per seat per year, runs Windows-only on the desktop, and stores sequences in a format you can't diff or reason about with modern tools. Galois Sequences is a cloud-native test sequencer: a visual builder with numeric limits, full traceability on every run, and production locking — reachable from any browser.
Sequences are stored as versioned text, so every step is diffable and every run is queryable. The open-source edge daemon that drives your instruments is free and Apache-2.0 licensed; sequencing and the cloud platform are scoped to your deployment, not priced per seat.
NI TestStand vs Galois
| Feature | NI TestStand | Galois |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$5,000/seat/year | Free core · Enterprise custom |
| Platform | Desktop, Windows-only | Any browser + desktop + edge daemon |
| Sequence format | Proprietary binary | Versioned text (diffable) |
| Traceability | Add-on / manual | Full, every run |
| AI assistant | Contextual help only | |
| Remote access | Requires VPN + IT | Built-in zero-config mesh |
| Instrument coverage | NI-preferred hardware | 573 profiles, any SCPI vendor |
| Open source | Edge daemon (Apache-2.0) |
NI TestStand alternative — FAQ
- What is the best NI TestStand alternative?
- Galois Sequences is a cloud-native TestStand alternative: a visual sequence builder with numeric limits, production locking, and full traceability, reachable from any browser. Sequences are stored as versioned text you can diff and code-review.
- How much does Galois cost compared to TestStand?
- TestStand is roughly $5,000 per seat per year. The Galois edge daemon is free and open source (Apache-2.0); cloud sequencing is scoped to your deployment rather than licensed per seat.
- Can Galois run test sequences without Windows?
- Yes. Galois sequences run in the browser and the edge daemon runs on Windows, Linux, and Raspberry Pi. TestStand is Windows-only on the desktop.
- Can I migrate my existing test sequences?
- Galois sequences use 8 step types (actions, waits, numeric limits, and more) that map to common TestStand patterns. Talk to us about a migration path for your existing sequences.
Replace TestStand seats with cloud sequencing
Book a demo to see the visual sequence builder, or run the free open-source daemon to start controlling instruments today.
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