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Testing · head to head

Cypress vs Keycloak

Cypress logo

Cypress

Testing

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Keycloak logo

Keycloak

Developer Tools

Open-source identity and access management server.

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cypress limited to web applications; mobile and desktop app testing not supported; Keycloak requires self-hosted deployment and operational expertise to install, configure and maintain

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cypress and Keycloak actually diverge.

Attributes where Cypress and Keycloak differ
AttributeCypressKeycloak
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, LinuxSelf-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API
CategoryTestingDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What people use each for

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

Cypress

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

Keycloak

  • Organisations requiring self-hosted identity infrastructure for compliance or data residencynot Cypress
  • Companies with existing LDAP/Active Directory systems needing federated authenticationnot Cypress
  • Open-source projects and communities requiring free IAM without licensing costsnot Cypress
  • Enterprises building custom identity workflows requiring fine-grained authorisationnot Cypress
  • Teams with sufficient operational expertise to manage infrastructurenot Cypress

Where each one falls short

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

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

Keycloak

  • Requires self-hosted deployment and operational expertise to install, configure and maintain
  • No managed cloud option provided by Red Hat; organisations must operate infrastructure themselves or use third-party distributions
  • Clustering and high-availability configurations require additional operational knowledge
  • Community support only; commercial support requires third-party vendors or distributions

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Keycloak

Free
  • Open-sourceFree
    • Full platform functionality
    • Self-hosted deployment
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Cypress if

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

Choose Keycloak if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Self-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API.
Keycloak review

Questions people ask

Is Cypress or Keycloak better?
Neither clearly leads. Cypress starts at Free and Keycloak at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cypress or Keycloak?
Cypress starts at Free and Keycloak at Free.
Does Cypress or Keycloak run on more platforms?
Cypress runs on macOS, Windows, Linux. Keycloak runs on Self-hosted, Docker, Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, API.
Can I use Cypress for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Cypress best used for?
Cypress is most often used for end-to-end testing for modern javascript web applications, continuous integration pipelines with parallelised test execution, visual regression testing and accessibility verification, flaky test detection and elimination. Of those, end-to-end testing for modern javascript web applications and continuous integration pipelines with parallelised test execution are not what Keycloak is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Keycloak: What protocols does Keycloak support?

Keycloak supports OpenID Connect, OAuth 2.0 and SAML 2.0 protocols for authentication and authorisation.

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
Keycloak: Can Keycloak integrate with existing user directories?

Yes. Keycloak supports user federation with LDAP and Active Directory systems, allowing organisations to leverage existing user directories.

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
Keycloak: Is Keycloak free?

Yes. Keycloak is fully open-source and free to deploy and use. No licensing fees are required.

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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