Puppeteer vs Selenium: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Puppeteer and Selenium 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 want the higher-rated option (8.5/10 vs 8.4/10)
- • Puppeteer is a Node.js library for controlling Chrome programmatically
- • It automates browser tasks for testing, scraping, and screenshot generation
Selenium
Browser automation framework
Best for you if:
- • Selenium is an open-source browser automation framework for testing
- • It automates browsers for end-to-end testing across platforms
| At a Glance |  Puppeteer |  Selenium |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free |
Best For | Testing & QA | Testing & QA |
Rating | 85/100 | 84/100 |
| Feature | Puppeteer | Selenium |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Free |
| Editorial Score | 85 | 84 |
| 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 Selenium Compare
Puppeteer
Headless Chrome automation
Free · 85/100 score
Selenium
Browser automation framework
Free · 84/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are free. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Puppeteer
Want the highest-rated option?
Puppeteer: 85/100. Selenium: 84/100.
Go with: Puppeteer
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Puppeteer
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are free. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are testing & qa tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Puppeteer scores higher: 85/100 vs 84/100.
Key Takeaways
Puppeteer
- Higher score: 85/100 vs 84
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Selenium
The Bottom Line
Puppeteer (85/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Puppeteer or Selenium better?
Puppeteer scores 85/100 in our evaluation. Both are free.
What are Puppeteer and Selenium used for?
Puppeteer: Headless Chrome automation. Selenium: Browser automation framework.
What does Puppeteer cost vs Selenium?
Puppeteer is completely free. Selenium is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.