Checking website browser and platform compatibility is key, if you want your site to appeal to the target audiences using them. Since I got a few emails about the topic, both from people asking me what I use and those suggesting their services, following is a list of online and offline tools you can use to check your site

Platform screen-shots and/or ready-made virtual machines

• Net-Renderer - Internet Explorer screenshots.
• Browsrcamp – Mac screenshots. There’s also a paid virtual machines service with a Demo.
• Browsercam – All platforms virtual machines.
• CrossBrowserTesting - All platforms, virtual machines, free for 5 minute sessions. Demo.
• BrowserPool – All platforms, virtual machines, free test account.
• Browsershots – All platforms, screenshots.
• IECapture - Internet Explorer screenshots.

Software

• Just download everything and run from your local machine (example), maybe through using virtual machines (like VMWare).
• Microsoft VNCs.
• Multiple IEs – Internet Explorer installations.
• IETester - Internet Explorer installations. (through TipTrickMod)
• Sizer - Test different resolutions.

I was also made aware of a Smashing Magazine article that has some more details and tools in “Browser Tests, Services and Compatibility Test Suites”. IBM also has a few more in “Cross-browser Web application testing made easy”.

What do you use?

Related posts:

1. The open-source Browser Shots : Test your website on all platforms and browsers
2. Test your website on Internet Explorer : Making sure you’re okay with IE5-IE6
3. Install, upgrade, test and debug your CMS website locally on a Windows machine
4. Easier computing life - how to simplify your computing experience
5. An old Windows XP machine optimization tweaks