How popular isPlaywright?
In September 2026, people searched for Playwright by name about 49,100 times worldwide, a 17.7% increase from the previous year. These searches made up 86.1% of all global visual regression testing tool searches, placing Playwright first out of five tools. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about visual regression testing tools, Playwright appeared in all answers and was the most recommended of the five.
Playwright is the most searched of 5 competitors and the most recommended in AI answers.
PlaywrightShare of searches 86.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
ApplitoolsShare of searches 11.6%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th- BackstopJSShare of searches 1.3%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
ChromaticShare of searches 0.7%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
PercyShare of searches 0.37%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
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Top visual regression testing tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Playwright appeared in all five answers. Playwright is the most recommended of the five.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- Playwright1st
- Chromatic2nd
- Percy3rd
- Applitools4th
- BackstopJS5th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Playwright5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Chromatic4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Percy4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Applitools3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- BackstopJS2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about visual regression testing tools
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which visual regression testing tool should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best visual regression testing tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best visual regression testing tool for catching ui changes?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“visual regression testing tools”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ui testing software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Which visual regression testing tools compete with Playwright?
Share of searches by month for Playwright, Applitools. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Playwright | Applitools | BackstopJS | Chromatic | Percy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 82.9% | 13.1% | 2.6% | 0.87% | 0.52% |
| Nov 2025 | 83.4% | 12.9% | 2.5% | 0.72% | 0.51% |
| Dec 2025 | 82.9% | 13.8% | 2.1% | 0.63% | 0.55% |
| Jan 2026 | 74.6% | 22.5% | 2% | 0.59% | 0.39% |
| Feb 2026 | 82.1% | 14.3% | 2.3% | 0.73% | 0.57% |
| Mar 2026 | 82.3% | 13.6% | 2.7% | 0.77% | 0.65% |
| Apr 2026 | 83% | 13.7% | 2.2% | 0.63% | 0.44% |
| May 2026 | 86.2% | 10.5% | 2% | 0.78% | 0.51% |
| Jun 2026 | 89.4% | 7.8% | 1.8% | 0.59% | 0.37% |
| Jul 2026 | 88.3% | 8.8% | 1.8% | 0.66% | 0.52% |
| Aug 2026 | 90.8% | 6.8% | 1.4% | 0.58% | 0.49% |
| Sep 2026 | 86.1% | 11.6% | 1.3% | 0.7% | 0.37% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 86.1% | 49.1K | +1.7% | -4.7 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 11.6% | 6.6K | +83.3% | +4.8 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 1.3% | 720 | 0% | -0.1 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 0.7% | 400 | +29% | +0.1 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 0.37% | 210 | -19.2% | -0.1 points |
86.1%
Held 1st. 49.1K estimated branded searches, +1.7% vs prior month. Share -4.7 points.
11.6%
Held 2nd. 6.6K estimated branded searches, +83.3% vs prior month. Share +4.8 points.
1.3%
Held 3rd. 720 estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
0.7%
Held 4th. 400 estimated branded searches, +29% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
5.
Percy0.37%
Held 5th. 210 estimated branded searches, -19.2% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
Compare popularity between Playwright and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Playwright
28 comparisons
- Browser Use vs Playwright
- BrowserStack vs Playwright
- k6 vs Playwright
- Playwright vs Puppeteer
- Playwright vs Sauce Labs
- TestMu AI vs Playwright
- Playwright vs Selenium
- Playwright vs SoapUI
- Playwright vs Postman
- Appium vs Playwright
- Bruno vs Playwright
- HeadSpin vs Playwright
- Katalon vs Playwright
- Insomnia vs Playwright
- Axiom.ai vs Playwright
- Applitools vs Playwright
- Playwright vs Tricentis Tosca
- Cypress vs Playwright
- Kobiton vs Playwright
- Playwright vs WebdriverIO
- Playwright vs TestGrid
- Karate vs Playwright
- Hoppscotch vs Playwright
- Playwright vs TestingBot
- Perfecto vs Playwright
- BackstopJS vs Playwright
- Chromatic vs Playwright
- Percy vs Playwright
How has branded search demand for Playwright changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Playwright worldwide rose from 41.7K to 49.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Playwright’s share of searches among visual regression testing tools worldwide increased from 82.9% to 86.1%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Playwright’s share of searches among visual regression testing tools worldwide peaked at 90.8% in August 2026 and was lowest at 74.6% in January 2026.
How did search popularity change for visual regression testing tools worldwide in September 2026?
4 changes
In September 2026, Applitools gained share of searches among visual regression testing tools worldwide, from 6.8% to 11.6%.
In September 2026, Playwright lost share of searches among visual regression testing tools worldwide, from 90.8% to 86.1%.
BackstopJS’s share of searches among visual regression testing tools worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 1.8% to 1.3% in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Percy worldwide fell 19.2% over 12 measured months, from 260 to 210 in September 2026.
How are Playwright’s branded searches counted?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Playwright’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- playwright automation
- playwright python
- playwright test
Do you work for Playwright? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.
Where does Playwright compete?
| Competitor set | Rank | Share of searches | Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Browser testing platforms | 2nd of 11 | 12.4% | Show ranking |
| Test automation platforms | 2nd of 8 | 13.8% | Show ranking |
| Browser automation tools | 3rd of 7 | 16.4% | Show ranking |
| API testing tools | 2nd of 9 | 21% | Show ranking |
| Visual regression testing tools | 1st of 5 | 86.1% | Shown above |
Is Playwright your brand?
Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.