Brandwave

BackstopJS vs Playwright:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Playwright had more branded searches than BackstopJS among visual regression testing tools worldwide. Playwright had about 49,100 branded searches, while BackstopJS had 720. Playwright made up 86.1% of all visual regression testing tool searches we track, and BackstopJS accounted for 1.3%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about visual regression testing tools, Playwright appeared in all five answers and BackstopJS in two. Playwright was mentioned before BackstopJS in every answer.

Among visual regression testing tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Playwright, about 68 searches for every 1 for BackstopJS

Playwright 49.1K searchesBackstopJS 720 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Playwright, mentioned in every answer we collected

Playwright in 5 of 5BackstopJS in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Playwright, named ahead of BackstopJS in every answer

Playwright first in 4BackstopJS never first

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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. BackstopJS was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Playwright was listed before BackstopJS in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Playwright1st
  2. Chromatic2nd
  3. Percy3rd
  4. Applitools4th
  5. 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

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is BackstopJS or Playwright more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for BackstopJS and Playwright by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all five visual regression testing tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

BackstopJS and Playwright among visual regression testing tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Playwright, BackstopJS. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPlaywrightApplitoolsBackstopJSChromaticPercy
Oct 202582.9%13.1%2.6%0.87%0.52%
Nov 202583.4%12.9%2.5%0.72%0.51%
Dec 202582.9%13.8%2.1%0.63%0.55%
Jan 202674.6%22.5%2%0.59%0.39%
Feb 202682.1%14.3%2.3%0.73%0.57%
Mar 202682.3%13.6%2.7%0.77%0.65%
Apr 202683%13.7%2.2%0.63%0.44%
May 202686.2%10.5%2%0.78%0.51%
Jun 202689.4%7.8%1.8%0.59%0.37%
Jul 202688.3%8.8%1.8%0.66%0.52%
Aug 202690.8%6.8%1.4%0.58%0.49%
Sep 202686.1%11.6%1.3%0.7%0.37%

How has the BackstopJS and Playwright comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for visual regression testing tools worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, Playwright lost share of searches among visual regression testing tools worldwide, from 90.8% to 86.1%.

  2. 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.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using BackstopJS’s and Playwright’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

BackstopJS

1 branded search term

  • backstopjs

Playwright

3 branded search terms

  • playwright automation
  • playwright python
  • playwright test

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among visual regression testing tools

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