At Mantis EVN, we pride ourselves on staying ahead of industry trends, tools, and technologies that simplify the QA process and ensure reliable, accurate results across various platforms. Recently, we explored a detailed comparison of two leading automated testing tools: Playwright and Testim. Both are widely used for software testing but serve different audiences and purposes, offering unique advantages and trade-offs.
In this post, we’ll break down the key differences, pros, and cons of these tools to help you decide which might be the better fit for your team’s QA needs.
What Are Playwright and Testim?
- Playwright: An open-source framework by Microsoft for end-to-end testing. It allows for cross-browser testing, supports multiple programming languages, and provides a powerful API for creating highly customizable and reliable tests.
- Testim: A commercial, AI-powered test automation platform designed for both technical and non-technical users. It offers a codeless interface for creating and maintaining tests, backed by AI features like self-healing capabilities and detailed reporting.
Key Differences Between Playwright and Testim
| Feature | Playwright | Testim |
| Audience | Primarily developers and QA engineers with coding expertise. | Geared towards non-technical users, manual testers, and teams seeking a low-code or codeless testing solution. |
| Ease of Use | Requires knowledge of programming languages (e.g., JavaScript, Python). | Intuitive drag-and-drop interface; minimal technical knowledge required. |
| Customizability | Highly customizable through code, enabling complex test scenarios. | Limited to the platform’s built-in functionality; customization possible but less flexible. |
| AI Features | No built-in AI but provides stable and reliable APIs for automation. | Uses AI for self-healing tests, making it resilient to UI changes. |
| Supported Platforms | Web, mobile web, desktop (across Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit). | Primarily web apps with additional support for desktop and mobile testing. |
| Timeouts and Retries | Requires manual implementation of retries and custom timeout configurations. | Built-in options for retries, waiting, and error handling. |
| Cost | Free and open-source. | Paid, with pricing based on user and feature requirements. |
Pros and Cons
Playwright
“The biggest advantage of Playwright is its security—it keeps everything in your control, so you’re not relying on another company’s cloud for your testing. It’s also incredibly flexible, letting you build your own tools using TypeScript or JavaScript and integrate them directly into your test cases. Plus, it works seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines, making it easy to fit into modern development workflows,” explains Mantis EVN’s QA Excellence Engineer Tigran Grigoryan.
Pros:
- Cross-Browser Support: Supports Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit, enabling reliable testing across multiple browsers.
- High Customizability: Great for QA teams needing granular control over test scripts.
- Powerful APIs: Offers extensive APIs for actions like intercepting network requests, handling authentication, and working with iframes.
- Open-Source: No cost, with a large community providing support and resources.
Cons:
- Steep Learning Curve: Requires programming knowledge, making it less suitable for manual testers or non-technical users.
- No Built-in AI: Relies on manual effort for maintaining tests when UI changes occur.
- Time-Intensive: Writing and maintaining scripts can be time-consuming, especially for complex applications.
Testim
Testim’s no-code approach enables users to design and manage tests through an intuitive visual interface. To see how we use Testim alongside other platforms, check out our recent blog, 7 QA Tools Every Tester Should Know: Mantis EVN’s Guide.
Pros:
- Codeless Interface: Simplifies testing for non-technical users, reducing reliance on developers.
- AI-Powered Self-Healing: Automatically adjusts tests to UI changes, reducing maintenance effort.
- Rich Reporting: Provides detailed dashboards and reports for easy debugging and tracking.
- Collaboration-Friendly: Designed for team collaboration with built-in features like test versioning and sharing.
Cons:
- Cost: Pricing can be a barrier, especially for smaller teams or startups.
- Limited Customization: May not support very complex or non-standard testing requirements.
- Dependency on Platform: Being a paid tool, teams are tied to Testim’s ecosystem and roadmap.
When to Choose Playwright
- If your team has strong coding expertise and needs granular control over test scenarios.
- For projects requiring extensive browser and platform support.
- When working on a budget and looking for a free, open-source solution.
- For advanced use cases like intercepting network traffic, handling multi-page workflows, or managing complex authentication flows.
When to Choose Testim
- If your team has limited coding skills or wants to empower non-technical members to contribute to testing.
- For projects where frequent UI updates require a tool with AI-powered self-healing.
- When detailed reporting and team collaboration are key priorities.
- If you’re looking for a faster test creation and execution process with a codeless approach.
Final thoughts
Both Playwright and Testim are excellent tools for QA, but their suitability depends on your team’s skill set, project needs, and budget:
- Playwright is ideal for teams seeking flexibility, control, and scalability in their tests. It’s the tool of choice for teams comfortable with coding who want a free and powerful framework.
- Testim is perfect for organizations that value ease of use, rapid test creation, and minimal maintenance. Its AI-driven features make it especially useful for teams with less technical expertise or for testing rapidly changing applications.
At Mantis EVN, we tailor our tool selection to the needs of each project, ensuring efficient and effective testing. Whether you’re building a startup MVP or maintaining a mature enterprise product, understanding these tools’ strengths and limitations will help you make the right choice for your QA strategy.
If you’re looking for a QA team that leverages the most advanced tools in testing, contact Mantis EVN, and let’s build the best partnership to deliver a flawless user experience for your product.
