Applitools vs Katalon: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Applitools and Katalon side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Applitools
Visual AI testing for web and mobile apps
Best for you if:
- • You want visual testing leader
Katalon
AI-augmented test automation platform for web, mobile, desktop, and API testing.
Best for you if:
- • You want comprehensive testing across multiple platforms (web, mobile, desktop, API)
| At a Glance | Applitools | Katalon |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | Free plan, paid from $84/user/mo, billed yearly Create plan |
Category | Testing & QA UI/UX Design | Testing & QA Automation |
Rating | 4.3/5 G2 4.3 90 reviews | 4.4/5 Capterra 4.4 · G2 4.4 934 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Potential for high overage fees on checkpoint usage. | n/a |
Choose Applitools or Katalon?
Choose Applitools if
- You want visual testing leader
- You want AI comparison
Choose Katalon if
- You want comprehensive testing across multiple platforms (web, mobile, desktop, API)
- You want AI augmentation enhances test automation capabilities
In-Depth Analysis
Applitools
Visual AI testing for web and mobile apps
Applitools offers a generous Free tier with 100 checkpoints, making it excellent for individual developers or small projects to get started with AI visual testing.
Watch out
Potential for high overage fees on checkpoint usage.
Strengths
- Pro: Visual testing leader
- Pro: AI comparison
- Pro: Cross-browser
- Pro: Good SDKs
- Pro: Ultrafast grid
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive
- Con: Per-checkpoint pricing
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Enterprise focus
- Con: Overkill for simple needs
Key features
Katalon
AI-augmented test automation platform for web, mobile, desktop, and API testing.
Katalon's pricing is on the higher side compared to some competitors, especially with the 'Create' tier at $84/user/month.
Strengths
- Pro: Comprehensive testing across multiple platforms (web, mobile, desktop, API)
- Pro: AI augmentation enhances test automation capabilities
- Pro: User-friendly with easy setup and integrations
Weaknesses
- Con: Test scripts are written only in Groovy, so teams already fluent in Python, C#, or JavaScript cannot use their preferred language the way Selenium, Playwright, or TestComplete allow.
- Con: The free Studio IDE only covers local, manual execution; running tests in CI/CD pipelines or headless via the command line requires the separately paid Katalon Runtime Engine, which is licensed per node and runs roughly 1,800 to 2,400 dollars per node per year, so parallel-execution costs scale steeply.
- Con: Reviewers repeatedly report the IDE becoming sluggish and prone to hangs on large test suites, with execution slower than leaner code-native frameworks.
- Con: It is oriented toward functional testing and has no built-in performance or load testing, so teams needing those must add a separate tool.
Key features
Plans and prices: Applitools vs Katalon
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Applitools |
| applitools.com/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
| Katalon |
| katalon.com/pricing |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Applitools pricing and Katalon pricing.
Key Takeaways
Applitools
- Choose if you want visual AI testing for web and mobile apps
Katalon
- Choose if you want AI-augmented test automation platform for web, mobile, desktop, and API testing
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.3/5 from 90 reviews for Applitools, 4.4/5 from 934 reviews for Katalon).
- Katalon starts at $84/user/mo, billed yearly; Applitools has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Applitools and Katalon compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.3/5 from 90 reviews for Applitools, 4.4/5 from 934 reviews for Katalon). Katalon starts at $84/user/mo, billed yearly; Applitools has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Applitools and Katalon used for?
Applitools: Visual AI testing for web and mobile apps. Katalon: AI-augmented test automation platform for web, mobile, desktop, and API testing.
What does Applitools cost vs Katalon?
Applitools has no public paid-plan price on file. Katalon's cheapest paid plan is Create at $84/user/mo, billed yearly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Applitools and Katalon?
Applitools's main strength: visual testing leader. Katalon's main strength: comprehensive testing across multiple platforms (web, mobile, desktop, API).