Hardhat vs Cypress: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Hardhat and Cypress comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Hardhat
Rust-powered Ethereum development environment for robust smart contract creation and deployment.
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need debugging features specifically
- • Rust-powered Ethereum development environment for Solidity.
- • Comprehensive tools for testing, deployment, and debugging smart contracts.
Cypress
JavaScript end-to-end testing
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.8/10 vs 0.0/10)
- • You need testing & qa features specifically
- • Modern end-to-end testing framework with visual debugging
- • Time travel debugging shows DOM state at each test step
| At a Glance |  Hardhat |  Cypress |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free + Paid |
Best For | Debugging | Testing & QA |
Rating | —/100 | 88/100 |
| Feature | Hardhat | Cypress |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | — | 88 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | DebuggingTesting & QA | Testing & QABrowser DevTools |
How Hardhat and Cypress Compare
Hardhat
Rust-powered Ethereum development environment for robust smart contract creation and deployment.
Free
Cypress
JavaScript end-to-end testing
Free tier available · 88/100 score
Hardhat is a debugging tool. Cypress is in testing & qa.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Hardhat is free. Cypress is freemium.
Go with: Hardhat
Want the highest-rated option?
Cypress scores 88/100. Hardhat is unrated.
Go with: Cypress
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Cypress
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Hardhat is free. Cypress is freemium. Go with Hardhat if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Hardhat is a debugging tool. Cypress is in testing & qa. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
Cypress
- Higher score: 88/100 vs unrated
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Hardhat
- Completely free
- Better fit for debugging
The Bottom Line
Cypress (88/100) is our pick. That said, Hardhat is free — hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hardhat or Cypress better?
Cypress scores 88/100 in our evaluation. Hardhat is free and Cypress is freemium.
What are Hardhat and Cypress used for?
Hardhat: Rust-powered Ethereum development environment for robust smart contract creation and deployment.. Cypress: JavaScript end-to-end testing.
What does Hardhat cost vs Cypress?
Hardhat is completely free. Cypress is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.