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Testing · head to head

mabl vs Percy

mabl logo

mabl

Testing

Low-code browser and API test automation with hosted runners and self-healing selectors

From
On request
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: mabl tests are stored in a proprietary format and cannot be exported as runnable code, so migrating to Playwright or Cypress later means re authoring every test by hand.; 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.
  • They diverge on capability: mabl covers Trainer recorder, Percy covers Screenshot diffing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which mabl and Percy actually diverge.

Attributes where mabl and Percy differ
AttributemablPercy
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteFreemium, paid tiers by screenshot volume
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, macOS, Windows, LinuxWeb

Identical on both: 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 mabl

  • Trainer recorder
  • Auto healing selectors
  • API testing
  • Accessibility checks
  • Cross browser cloud runs
  • CI and issue tracker hooks

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.

mabl

  • A QA team of two or three people responsible for regression coverage across a web application released weeklynot Percy
  • An organisation that abandoned a Selenium suite because maintenance consumed more time than manual testing didnot Percy
  • Teams that need accessibility scanning and functional regression reported in the same runnot Percy
  • Product companies where non engineers, such as support or business analysts, are expected to author testsnot Percy

Percy

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

Where each one falls short

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

mabl

  • Tests are stored in a proprietary format and cannot be exported as runnable code, so migrating to Playwright or Cypress later means re authoring every test by hand.
  • Auto healing can mask a genuine defect: if an element is removed and a similar one takes its place, the test adapts and passes when a user facing regression has actually shipped.
  • Pricing is not published and is driven by concurrent run capacity, so the cost of shortening a two hour suite to twenty minutes is a renegotiation rather than a configuration change.
  • Debugging a failure happens inside a hosted runner you do not control, which makes flakiness caused by test data or environment timing harder to reproduce locally than with a suite you run yourself.
  • Native mobile application coverage is thin compared with the browser product, so teams with an iOS or Android app still need a second tool such as Appium or Maestro.

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

mabl

On request
  • mabl$undefined/year
    • Annual subscription quoted per organisation, with the number of concurrent cloud runs as the main cost driver
    • Trial available without a sales call, full pricing is not published

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 mabl if

  • You need trainer recorder.
  • You work on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux.
  • You also want auto healing selectors.
mabl 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 mabl or Percy better?
Neither clearly leads. mabl starts at On request and Percy at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, mabl or Percy?
Percy has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for mabl and Free for Percy.
Does mabl or Percy run on more platforms?
mabl runs on Web, macOS, Windows, Linux. Percy runs on Web.
Can I use Percy for free?
Yes. Percy has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. mabl starts at On request.
What is mabl best used for?
mabl is most often used for a qa team of two or three people responsible for regression coverage across a web application released weekly, an organisation that abandoned a selenium suite because maintenance consumed more time than manual testing did, teams that need accessibility scanning and functional regression reported in the same run, product companies where non engineers, such as support or business analysts, are expected to author tests. Of those, a qa team of two or three people responsible for regression coverage across a web application released weekly and an organisation that abandoned a selenium suite because maintenance consumed more time than manual testing did are not what Percy is typically brought in for.
What can mabl do that Percy cannot?
mabl covers Trainer recorder, Auto healing selectors, API testing, Accessibility checks. Percy covers Screenshot diffing, Framework integrations, Responsive and cross-browser snapshots, Review workflow.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

mabl: Can I export mabl tests to Playwright if we leave?

No. You can export documentation of the steps, but not runnable code. Budget for re authoring the suite.

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.

mabl: Does auto healing actually work?

It works often enough to be the reason people buy it, but it cannot be verified from a demo. Trial it against your own application through at least two real releases.

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.

mabl: Is mabl a replacement for unit tests?

No. It covers end to end journeys through a running application. Unit and integration coverage still belongs in your repository.

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.

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