Playwright vs Selenium
Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.
Reliable cross-browser automation.
The verdict
Both Playwright and Selenium are credible software testing tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.
Choose Playwright if you want a higher overall rating (4.7/5). Reliable cross-browser automation.
Selenium - Open-source browser automation framework
Playwright vs Selenium: side by side
| Dimension | Playwright | Selenium |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Open source | Open source |
| Best for | Developers, Qa | Qa Engineers, Developers |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, Linux | Self Hosted, Api |
| Rating | 4.7/5Winner | 4.3/5 |
Playwright key facts
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Pricing
- Open source - Free
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Mac, Windows, Linux
- Best for
- Developers, Qa
- Editor rating
- 4.7 / 5
- Founded
- 2020
- Headquarters
- Redmond, WA, USA
Selenium key facts
- Vendor
- Software Freedom Conservancy
- Pricing
- Open source - Free
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Self Hosted, Api
- Best for
- Qa Engineers, Developers
- Editor rating
- 4.3 / 5
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- Remote
Frequently asked questions
Is Playwright better than Selenium?
Neither is universally better - Playwright edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Playwright or Selenium cheaper?
Playwright is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free. Playwright starts at free; Selenium starts at free.
Can Playwright replace Selenium?
Yes for most teams - both are software testing tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.