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Testing · head to head

BrowserStack vs Cypress

BrowserStack logo

BrowserStack

Testing

Real device cloud for web and mobile testing

From
$12.5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Cypress logo

Cypress

Testing

JavaScript end-to-end testing framework with browser-based runner and cloud service

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Cypress has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: BrowserStack volume pricing for 25+ users and custom pricing for higher parallel counts not publicly listed; Cypress limited to web applications; mobile and desktop app testing not supported
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BrowserStack and Cypress actually diverge.

Attributes where BrowserStack and Cypress differ
AttributeBrowserStackCypress
Starting price$12.5/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebmacOS, Windows, Linux

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Testing).

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

BrowserStack

  • Testing on 3500+ real browser combinationsnot Cypress
  • Validating payment workflows on real devicesnot Cypress
  • Testing web performance on real devicesnot Cypress
  • Testing localization from 100+ countriesnot Cypress

Cypress

  • End-to-end testing for modern JavaScript web applicationsnot BrowserStack
  • Continuous integration pipelines with parallelised test executionnot BrowserStack
  • Visual regression testing and accessibility verificationnot BrowserStack
  • Flaky test detection and eliminationnot BrowserStack
  • Team collaboration on test maintenance and debuggingnot BrowserStack

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

BrowserStack

  • Volume pricing for 25+ users and custom pricing for higher parallel counts not publicly listed
  • Annual billing saves up to 25% versus monthly, but specific annual prices not published for all tiers

Cypress

  • Limited to web applications; mobile and desktop app testing not supported
  • Free tier capped at 500 test results/month; insufficient for most development teams
  • Paid features (flake detection, analytics) not included in free tier
  • JavaScript/TypeScript focused; less suitable for polyglot organisations

Pricing, plan by plan

BrowserStack

$12.5/month
  • Freelancer$12.5/month
    • 100 minutes monthly
    • 1 user
    • Desktop testing
  • Desktop$29/month
    • Unlimited testing minutes
    • Individual plan
    • 3000+ desktop browsers
  • Desktop & Mobile$39/month
    • Unlimited testing minutes
    • 3000+ desktop and 30000+ mobile device combinations
    • Marked as Best Value
  • Team$150/month
    • 5+ users
    • Unlimited testing minutes
    • Multi-device testing

Cypress

Free
  • Starter (Free)Free
    • 500 test results/month
    • 100 prompt executions/month
    • Parallelisation
  • Team$67/month
    • 120k test results/year
    • 9k prompt executions/year
    • Flake detection
  • Business$267/month
    • 120k test results/year
    • 24k prompt executions/year
    • Spec prioritisation
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • 1.8M test results/year
    • 60k prompt executions/year
    • Unlimited users

Which should you pick?

Choose BrowserStack if

Nothing in the data separates BrowserStack from Cypress on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

BrowserStack review

Choose Cypress if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Cypress review

Questions people ask

Is BrowserStack or Cypress better?
Neither clearly leads. BrowserStack starts at $12.5/month and Cypress at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BrowserStack or Cypress?
Cypress has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12.5/month for BrowserStack and Free for Cypress.
Does BrowserStack or Cypress run on more platforms?
BrowserStack runs on Web. Cypress runs on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Can I use Cypress for free?
Yes. Cypress has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. BrowserStack starts at $12.5/month.
What is BrowserStack best used for?
BrowserStack is most often used for testing on 3500+ real browser combinations, validating payment workflows on real devices, testing web performance on real devices, testing localization from 100+ countries. Of those, testing on 3500+ real browser combinations and validating payment workflows on real devices are not what Cypress is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

BrowserStack: How much does BrowserStack cost?

BrowserStack Freelancer plan starts at $12.50/month (100 minutes, 1 user), Desktop plan costs $29/month, Desktop & Mobile plan costs $39/month (marked as best value), and Team plans start at $150/month for 5+ users. Annual billing saves up to 25% compared to monthly billing. All prices are for annual commitment.

Source
Cypress: Is Cypress free?

Yes, Cypress offers a free Starter plan with 500 test results per month, 100 prompt executions monthly, 50 users, and 30-day data retention. No credit card is required.

Source
BrowserStack: What testing minute limits does BrowserStack provide?

Freelancer plan includes 100 testing minutes monthly. All other individual and team plans provide unlimited testing minutes. Team sizes start at 5+ users for team plans.

Source
Cypress: How much does Cypress Team cost?

Cypress Team costs $67 per month when billed monthly or $799 per year for annual billing (11% savings). It includes 120,000 annual test results, 9,000 yearly prompt executions, 50 users, 90-day data retention, flake detection, Jira integration, and email support.

Source
BrowserStack: How many devices can you test simultaneously on BrowserStack?

Individual plans allow standard device testing. Team Pro plans enable 4 simultaneous devices, Team Ultimate enables higher simultaneous testing. Automation Pro plans support multiple parallel tests, with volume discounts available for higher parallel counts (2, 5, 5+).

Source
Cypress: What is the difference between Cypress Team and Business?

Cypress Business costs $267 per month (or $3,199 annually) compared to Team's $67/month ($799/year). Business provides twice the prompt executions (24,000 vs. 9,000 yearly), spec prioritization, auto-cancellation, and enterprise GitHub/GitLab support.

Source
BrowserStack: What automation testing plans does BrowserStack offer?

Automate Chrome plan costs $59/month for 1 parallel. Automate Desktop costs $99/month (1 parallel, 3000+ browsers). Automate Standard costs $175/month (1 parallel, desktop and mobile). Automate Pro costs $225/month and adds SIM card testing, real device performance testing, and AI agents for self-healing and failure analysis.

Source
Cypress: Can I purchase additional test results on Cypress?

Yes, Cypress allows purchasing bundled on-demand test results. Team costs $6 per 1,000 results, Business costs $5 per 1,000, and Enterprise pricing is custom. Open-source projects qualify for complimentary cloud services.

Source
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