Playwright vs Cypress

Selenium's smarter cousin meets end-to-end testing that doesn't make you want to end it all. Here's our take.

Playwright

Nice Pick

Selenium's smarter cousin. Write once, test everywhere, and actually enjoy it.

Pros

• Single API for Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit with built-in auto-waiting
• Multi-language support (JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java, .NET)
• Fast and reliable with automatic retries and network interception

Cons

• Steeper learning curve compared to simpler tools like Puppeteer
• Can be overkill for basic scripting tasks

Cypress

End-to-end testing that doesn't make you want to end it all. Finally, a browser automation tool that actually works.

Pros

• Automatic waiting eliminates flaky timeouts
• Time-travel debugging lets you step through test failures
• Runs directly in the browser for real-world testing
• Built-in dashboard for test results and CI integration

Cons

• Limited support for cross-browser testing (mainly Chrome/Firefox)
• Can't run multiple tabs or windows simultaneously

The Verdict

Use Playwright if: You want single api for chromium, firefox, and webkit with built-in auto-waiting and can live with steeper learning curve compared to simpler tools like puppeteer.

Use Cypress if: You prioritize automatic waiting eliminates flaky timeouts over what Playwright offers.

The Bottom Line

Playwright wins

Selenium's smarter cousin. Write once, test everywhere, and actually enjoy it.