Originally published on February 7, 2025 by Matías J. Magni (Sr. SDET | International Speaker).
As Software Development Engineers in Test (SDETs), selecting the right automation framework is crucial for ensuring scalable, efficient, and maintainable test suites. Two of the most popular choices in the JavaScript ecosystem are Cypress and Playwright, each with its own strengths and limitations.
While Cypress is excellent for fast and reliable front-end testing, Playwright excels in more complex scenarios. If you're wondering when to opt for Playwright over Cypress, this guide will help you decide.
1. Applications with Multi-Tab Workflows
Cypress Limitation
Cypress does not natively support multiple tabs, making it challenging to test applications that dynamically open new tabs/windows.
Playwright Advantage
Playwright provides multi-tab and multi-context support, allowing seamless interaction across multiple browser tabs.
Use case examples:
- Dashboards that open reports in new tabs.
- Social media apps with pop-out chat windows.
2. Dynamic iFrame Interactions
Cypress Limitation
Cypress has limited and inconsistent support for iFrames, often requiring workarounds or custom plugins.
Playwright Advantage
Playwright treats iFrames as first-class elements, allowing direct interaction without additional configurations.
Use case examples:
- Applications embedding third-party widgets (e.g., payment gateways, maps).
- Legacy systems that rely on iFrames for modular UIs.
3. Cross-Browser Testing (Including Safari)
Cypress Limitation
Cypress primarily supports Chromium-based browsers. While it has Firefox support, it notably lacks native Safari (WebKit) support.
Playwright Advantage
Playwright provides full compatibility with Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit (Safari), making it essential for apps requiring true cross-browser validation.
Use case examples:
- Government portals requiring strict Safari compliance.
- Applications targeting global audiences using diverse browsers.
4. Mobile Device Emulation
Cypress Limitation
Cypress lacks native support for mobile device emulation (it only creates a viewport resize).
Playwright Advantage
Playwright supports built-in mobile emulation, allowing realistic testing of device-specific behaviors like touch gestures, geolocations, and screen orientations.
Use case examples:
- E-commerce applications with responsive designs.
- Progressive web apps (PWAs) that require touch interaction testing.
5. Large-Scale Test Suites with Parallel Execution
Cypress Limitation
Cypress generally requires additional setup (e.g., Cypress Cloud, a paid service) to achieve efficient parallel test execution across machines.
Playwright Advantage
Playwright supports parallel execution natively (via Sharding), significantly reducing execution time for large-scale test suites without mandatory paid services.
Use case examples:
- Enterprise platforms with 1000+ test cases.
- CI/CD pipelines requiring efficient parallel test execution to unblock deployments.
6. Complex Network Interception and API Testing
Cypress Limitation
Cypress provides basic network stubbing (cy.intercept) but lacks some advanced interception features found in newer tools.
Playwright Advantage
Playwright enables full control over network requests, including:
- Mocking API responses.
- Intercepting WebSocket traffic.
- Testing offline scenarios.
Use case examples:
- Stock trading platforms requiring real-time data validation.
- Applications that need to simulate different network conditions (3G, Offline).
7. Summary Table: When to Choose Playwright Over Cypress
| Feature | Cypress | Playwright |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Tab Support | ❌ Not Supported | ✅ Native Support |
| iFrames | ⚠️ Limited / Difficult | ✅ First-Class Support |
| Browser Support | Chromium, Firefox | Chromium, Firefox, WebKit (Safari) |
| Mobile Emulation | ❌ Viewport only | ✅ Device Emulation |
| Parallel Execution | 💰 Paid Service (Cloud) | ✅ Native & Free |
| Language Support | JavaScript / TypeScript | JS, TS, Python, Java, .NET |
8. Key Takeaway
While Cypress is a great choice for simple, fast, front-end-focused testing, Playwright offers superior flexibility for applications requiring:
- Multi-tab workflows
- Cross-browser compatibility (Safari)
- Complex DOM structures (iFrames)
- Advanced network interception
- Scalability with parallel execution
For SDETs working on large-scale projects with diverse testing needs, Playwright often proves to be the more powerful and future-proof option.
Reference List
- Microsoft. (n.d.). Playwright Documentation. Retrieved from playwright.dev
- Cypress.io. (n.d.). Cypress Documentation. Retrieved from cypress.io
- W3C. (2022). WebDriver Specification. Retrieved from w3.org
- MDN Web Docs. (n.d.). iFrames and Cross-Origin Security. Retrieved from developer.mozilla.org
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