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Testing · head to head

Cypress vs Playwright

Cypress logo

Cypress

Testing

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Playwright logo

Playwright

Testing

Open-source web automation framework for testing and scripting across browsers

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; Playwright requires programming language knowledge; not suitable for non-technical QA staff
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cypress and Playwright actually diverge.

Attributes where Cypress and Playwright differ
AttributeCypressPlaywright
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
PlatformsmacOS, Windows, LinuxWindows, macOS, Linux

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

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 Playwright
  • Continuous integration pipelines with parallelised test executionnot Playwright
  • Visual regression testing and accessibility verificationnot Playwright
  • Flaky test detection and eliminationnot Playwright
  • Team collaboration on test maintenance and debuggingnot Playwright

Playwright

  • End-to-end testing for web applicationsnot Cypress
  • Cross-browser compatibility testingnot Cypress
  • Accessibility testing and automated screen reader validationnot Cypress
  • Web scraping and data extraction automationnot Cypress
  • AI agent web automation via MCP integrationnot 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

Playwright

  • Requires programming language knowledge; not suitable for non-technical QA staff
  • WebKit implementation less mature than Chromium; occasional webkit-specific issues
  • Mobile browser testing relies on emulation, not real devices
  • No managed cloud infrastructure; users must host CI/CD runners or pay for third-party services

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

Playwright

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Playwright review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Cypress if

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

Choose Playwright if

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

Questions people ask

Is Cypress or Playwright better?
Neither clearly leads. Cypress starts at Free and Playwright at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cypress or Playwright?
Cypress starts at Free and Playwright at Free.
Does Cypress or Playwright run on more platforms?
Cypress runs on macOS, Windows, Linux. Playwright runs on Windows, macOS, Linux.
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 Playwright 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
Playwright: How much does Playwright cost?

Playwright is completely free. It is open-source software available for TypeScript, Python, .NET, and Java with no licensing fees or usage limits.

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
Playwright: Is Playwright open-source?

Yes, Playwright is open-source software. The source code is available on GitHub and can be used at no cost with no restrictions on commercial use.

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
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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