Comparing TestCafe vs Playwright

End-to-end (E2E) testing tools have become vital in delivering reliable and bug-free web applications. Two of the most popular and modern tools in this space are TestCafe and Playwright. While both are open-source and enable cross-browser automation, they differ significantly in terms of architecture, capabilities, and flexibility. In this blog, we’ll compare TestCafe vs Playwright across key parameters to help you decide which tool suits your project best.


🛠️ Overview

TestCafe is a Node.js-based tool developed by DevExpress, known for its simplicity and ease of use. It doesn’t rely on browser-specific drivers like Selenium, which makes setup and maintenance easier.

Playwright, on the other hand, is a newer framework developed by Microsoft. It provides more advanced browser automation features and supports Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit with a single API.


⚙️ Setup and Configuration

TestCafe: Extremely easy to set up. It doesn't require browser drivers, which simplifies the process. You can run tests with just:

bash

npm install -g testcafe

testcafe chrome tests/

Playwright: Requires installation of both the Playwright library and browser binaries.


bash


npm install -D @playwright/test

npx playwright install

Winner: TestCafe for simplicity and quick setup.


🌐 Browser Support

TestCafe: Supports Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari (via remote testing), and headless modes. However, support for Safari and mobile browsers is limited.

Playwright: Supports Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit natively, enabling full coverage of modern browsers including mobile emulation and Safari on macOS.

Winner: Playwright for broader and deeper browser support.


🧪 Test Execution and Control

TestCafe: Uses its own proxy server to inject scripts into the browser. While this makes it simpler to control, it can lead to limitations with handling native dialogs or browser-level permissions.

Playwright: Uses browser DevTools Protocols, giving fine-grained control over browser behavior—great for handling multi-tabs, downloads, permissions, and intercepting network requests.

Winner: Playwright for advanced control and flexibility.


📄 Test Syntax and Features

TestCafe: Test code is easy to read and write, using an intuitive API:


javascript

fixture`Login Page`.page`http://example.com`;


test('User login', async t => {

  await t

    .typeText('#username', 'user')

    .typeText('#password', 'pass')

    .click('#login-btn');

});

Playwright: Offers powerful syntax with automatic waits, parallel execution, fixtures, and retries:


javascript

test('User login', async ({ page }) => {

  await page.goto('http://example.com');

  await page.fill('#username', 'user');

  await page.fill('#password', 'pass');

  await page.click('#login-btn');

});

Winner: Playwright, especially for advanced and large-scale projects.


🧩 Ecosystem and Integrations

TestCafe: Limited plugin ecosystem but integrates with CI tools like Jenkins and GitHub Actions. Lacks native support for test recording or visual testing.

Playwright: Rich ecosystem with built-in test runner, codegen (test recorder), visual comparisons, and integrations with tools like Allure, Applitools, and BrowserStack.

Winner: Playwright for out-of-the-box features and integrations.


🏁 Conclusion

Feature TestCafe Playwright

Ease of Use ✅ Easy ⚠️ Moderate

Browser Support ⚠️ Limited ✅ Extensive

Advanced Features ⚠️ Basic ✅ Rich

Test Control ⚠️ Limited ✅ Full Control

CI/CD Integration ✅ Supported ✅ Supported

Community Support ✅ Mature ✅ Growing Fast


Final Verdict:

Choose TestCafe if you need a simple, quick-start solution for basic to intermediate web apps.

Choose Playwright if you're working on a complex application that demands flexibility, browser control, and scalability.


Learn Playwright Testing Training

Read More: Troubleshooting Playwright Failures in CI/CD
Read More: Playwright’s Role in DevOps Pipelines
Read More: Creating Visual Regression Snapshots in Playwright


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