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Cypress vs. Playwright: Which One is Better for You?

When it comes to automated testing tools, there are a lot of options out there. But two of the most popular and widely used options are Cypress and Playwright. So, which one is better for you?

To help you make that decision, we've put together a brief comparison of the two tools.

-> If you need to test a web application that is built using React, then Cypress may be the better option. However, if you need to test a web application that is built using Angular, then Playwright may be the better option. Ultimately, the best way to decide which tool is right for you is to try them both out and see which one you prefer.

-> Cypress is a JavaScript testing tool that is built on top of the Mocha test framework. It uses a unique architecture that makes tests run in the same event loop as the application under test. This makes tests more reliable and less flaky.

-> Playwright, on the other hand, is a Node.js library developed by Microsoft. It provides a cross-platform API for automating Chromium, WebKit, and Firefox browsers.

-> One of the key differences between the two tools is that Cypress runs tests in the same event loop as the application under test. This makes tests more reliable and less flaky.

-> Playwright, on the other hand, uses a different process for each browser. This can make tests more reliable, but it can also make them slower.

-> Another key difference is that Cypress has a built-in test runner and reporter. The playwright does not have a built-in test runner, but it does have a reporter.

-> Cypress is a JavaScript-based end-to-end testing tool that runs in the browser. It's easy to set up and use, and it has excellent documentation. However, Cypress can be slow, and it doesn't support headless browsing.

The playwright is a Node.js library that provides APIs to automate Chromium, WebKit, and Firefox browsers. It's faster than Cypress and supports headless browsing, but it has a steeper learning curve.

-> Cypress is a great tool for those who are looking for an easy-to-use solution with great documentation. However, if you need a fast tool that supports headless browsing, Playwright is the better option.

-> Cypress is free and open source, while Playwright is a paid tool.

Conclusion

So, which one is better for you? It really depends on your needs and preferences. Do your research and test out each tool before using it in production as automated testing is a critical part of any web development process! Both tools have their pros and cons, so it's important to understand the differences before making a decision.

Oldest comments (4)

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muchwowdodge profile image
Anton Rhein

I can't find any clue about having to pay for playwright. Where did you find that ?

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idxn profile image
Tanakiat Srisaranyakul

In the past, playwright is just a library and you need jest as a runner but currently it's not. The playwright team implemented the runner already.

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4m3r profile image
Amer

"Cypress is free and open source, while Playwright is a paid tool."

Cypress is paid tool.

Playwright is free and open source tool.

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stepanbarantsev profile image
Stepan Barantsev

Great article!

I will be very glad if you agree that I translate this and your other articles for software-testing ru (software-testing.ru/), a Russian website about testing. Of course, a link to the original article and your name as the author will be published.

In addition, I would be very grateful for permission to include your articles in the English-language blog feed on our site.

What do you think about it?