Puppeteer vs Cypress: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Puppeteer 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:
Puppeteer
Headless Chrome automation
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • Puppeteer is a Node.js library for controlling Chrome programmatically
- • It automates browser tasks for testing, scraping, and screenshot generation
Cypress
JavaScript end-to-end testing
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.8/10 vs 8.5/10)
- • Modern end-to-end testing framework with visual debugging
- • Time travel debugging shows DOM state at each test step
| At a Glance |  Puppeteer |  Cypress |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free + Paid |
Best For | Testing & QA | Testing & QA |
Rating | 85/100 | 88/100 |
| Feature | Puppeteer | Cypress |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 85 | 88 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Testing & QABrowser DevTools | Testing & QABrowser DevTools |
How Puppeteer and Cypress Compare
Puppeteer
Headless Chrome automation
Free · 85/100 score
Cypress
JavaScript end-to-end testing
Free tier available · 88/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Puppeteer is free. Cypress is freemium.
Go with: Puppeteer
Want the highest-rated option?
Puppeteer: 85/100. Cypress: 88/100.
Go with: Cypress
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Cypress
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Puppeteer is free. Cypress is freemium. Go with Puppeteer if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Both are testing & qa tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Cypress scores higher: 88/100 vs 85/100.
Key Takeaways
Cypress
- Higher score: 88/100 vs 85
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Puppeteer
- Completely free
The Bottom Line
Cypress (88/100) is our pick. That said, Puppeteer is free — hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Puppeteer or Cypress better?
Cypress scores 88/100 in our evaluation. Puppeteer is free and Cypress is freemium.
What are Puppeteer and Cypress used for?
Puppeteer: Headless Chrome automation. Cypress: JavaScript end-to-end testing.
What does Puppeteer cost vs Cypress?
Puppeteer is completely free. Cypress is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.