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Best / Browser testing

Best open-source Browser testing

The best open-source browser-testing split in the c17.io catalog is Playwright for Apache-2.0 Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit (the published cross-browser path), Selenium when you want that Apache-2.0 Grid lineage — /compare/playwright-vs-selenium, Browser Use when the job is an MIT agent that drives a browser rather than an assertion suite, and Lighthouse when the job is an Apache-2.0 page audit rather than a click path — already on /best/seo-rank-trackers. This is not a hosted device farm or a tester marketplace. API assertions stay on /best/api-testing. Image and lockfile scans stay on /best/security-scanning.

Open the stackStart on Railway

Ranked picks

  1. 1

    Playwright

    Apache-2.0 cross-browser automation (98,081 stars in the catalog) — the c17 Playwright path. /compare/playwright-vs-selenium.

    When to pick it: A spec you run in CI on browsers you already have.

    98,081 stars in the catalog

  2. 2

    Selenium

    Apache-2.0 WebDriver and Grid (34,560 stars in the catalog). /compare/playwright-vs-selenium.

    When to pick it: A Grid if Playwright is not the shape.

    34,560 stars in the catalog

  3. 3

    Browser Use

    MIT agent that drives a browser (117,899 stars in the catalog). Not an assertion suite.

    When to pick it: An agent loop, not a Playwright spec.

    117,899 stars in the catalog

  4. 4

    Lighthouse

    Apache-2.0 page audits already on /best/seo-rank-trackers. Not a click path.

    When to pick it: A score on one URL, not a signup flow.

    30,908 stars in the catalog

How they compare

ToolLicenseSelf-hostBest for
PlaywrightApache License 2.0MediumA spec you run in CI on browsers you already have.
SeleniumApache License 2.0MediumA Grid if Playwright is not the shape.
Browser UseMIT LicenseMediumAn agent loop, not a Playwright spec.
LighthouseApache License 2.0EasyA score on one URL, not a signup flow.

Related pages

FAQ

Playwright or Selenium?
Playwright if you want the published cross-browser spec. Selenium if you want that Grid lineage — /compare/playwright-vs-selenium.
Is this Maze?
A recruited tester desk stays on /replace/maze. This page is automation you run.
Is this Hoppscotch?
HTTP assertions stay on /best/api-testing. This page is a browser.
Are these free?
Playwright, Selenium, and Lighthouse are Apache-2.0. Browser Use is MIT. You pay CI machines. Template users never pay c17.
How do I deploy it?
Run the official CLI in the pipeline that already builds the app. Railway is the wrong box for a browser farm.

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