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Testing · head to head

BrowserStack vs Percy

BrowserStack logo

BrowserStack

Testing

Real device cloud for web and mobile testing

From
$12.5/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Percy logo

Percy

Testing

Visual regression testing owned by BrowserStack, with a permanent free tier for low screenshot volume

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Percy 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; Percy pixel-based diffing generates more false positives from font rendering and anti-aliasing noise than Applitools' AI-based comparison, which trains some teams to start ignoring diff alerts over time.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which BrowserStack and Percy actually diverge.

Attributes where BrowserStack and Percy differ
AttributeBrowserStackPercy
Starting price$12.5/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionFreemium, paid tiers by screenshot volume
Free tierNoYes

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

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in BrowserStack

Nothing recorded that Percy does not also cover.

Only in Percy

  • Screenshot diffing
  • Framework integrations
  • Responsive and cross-browser snapshots
  • Review workflow
  • Build history
  • BrowserStack platform integration

What people use each for

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

BrowserStack

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

Percy

  • A team already on BrowserStack for device testing that wants to add visual regression without a separate vendor relationshipnot BrowserStack
  • A low-traffic project that can run indefinitely on the 5,000-screenshot free tier without paying anythingnot BrowserStack
  • A team wanting a lower cost per screenshot than Applitools and willing to tolerate more manual false-positive triagenot BrowserStack
  • A Cypress or Playwright test suite adding visual checks without changing its existing test runnernot 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

Percy

  • Pixel-based diffing generates more false positives from font rendering and anti-aliasing noise than Applitools' AI-based comparison, which trains some teams to start ignoring diff alerts over time.
  • It is billed separately from core BrowserStack device testing, and stacking Percy with other BrowserStack modules such as Accessibility Testing materially increases total contract value beyond the headline device testing price.
  • Paid tier pricing above the free tier is not transparently published as a fixed number, requiring a quote to know actual cost at scale.
  • The free tier's 5,000-screenshot cap is easy to exceed for any team running visual tests across multiple browsers and viewports on every commit, pushing many active projects into a paid tier faster than the free number suggests.
  • As part of a larger acquired portfolio, Percy's roadmap priority within BrowserStack's broader product strategy is less certain than it would be as a standalone company's sole focus.

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

Percy

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 5,000 screenshots a month
    • Unlimited users and projects
    • 30-day build history
  • Percy$undefined/month
    • Priced by screenshot volume above the free tier
    • Sold separately from core BrowserStack device testing plans
    • Get a current quote before assuming bundled pricing with other BrowserStack products

Which should you pick?

Choose BrowserStack if

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

BrowserStack review

Choose Percy if

  • You need screenshot diffing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want framework integrations.
Percy review

Questions people ask

Is BrowserStack or Percy better?
Neither clearly leads. BrowserStack starts at $12.5/month and Percy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, BrowserStack or Percy?
Percy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12.5/month for BrowserStack and Free for Percy.
Does BrowserStack or Percy run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Percy for free?
Yes. Percy 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 Percy is typically brought in for.
What can BrowserStack do that Percy cannot?
Percy covers Screenshot diffing, Framework integrations, Responsive and cross-browser snapshots, Review workflow.

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
Percy: Is Percy free?

Yes for up to 5,000 screenshots a month with unlimited users and projects; beyond that it is a paid, quote-priced module.

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
Percy: Is Percy included if I already pay for BrowserStack device testing?

No, it is billed separately by screenshot volume, not bundled into core device testing plans.

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
Percy: How does it compare to Applitools?

Percy uses pixel-based diffing, which is generally cheaper per screenshot but produces more false positives than Applitools' AI-based perceptual comparison.

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
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