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TestCafe vs WebdriverIO: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this article, we will discuss the key differences between TestCafe and WebdriverIO.

  1. Installation and Setup: TestCafe is easy to install with a single command and does not require any browser plugins or WebDriver setup. On the other hand, WebdriverIO requires the installation of browser-specific drivers for each browser, making the setup process more complex.

  2. Testing Approach: TestCafe follows a more declarative approach where tests are written in pure JavaScript and do not require any additional libraries or frameworks. WebdriverIO, on the other hand, follows a more traditional imperative approach and supports various testing frameworks like Mocha, Jasmine, and Cucumber.

  3. Cross-browser Testing: TestCafe provides built-in cross-browser testing capabilities without the need for any additional setup. It automatically launches and manages multiple browsers concurrently, making cross-browser testing easier. WebdriverIO also supports cross-browser testing but requires the manual configuration of browser-specific drivers.

  4. Element Identification: TestCafe uses modern CSS selectors for element identification, making it easier to select elements based on various attributes like classes, IDs, and data attributes. WebdriverIO, on the other hand, supports a wide range of element identification strategies including CSS selectors, XPath, and accessibility attributes.

  5. Asynchronous Nature: TestCafe automatically handles waiting for page elements and network requests, eliminating the need for explicit wait statements in the test code. WebdriverIO requires explicit wait statements to handle asynchronous behavior, making the test code more verbose.

  6. Parallel Execution: TestCafe supports parallel test execution out of the box, allowing tests to be executed concurrently across multiple browsers. WebdriverIO also supports parallel test execution but requires additional configuration for setting up a Selenium grid.

In summary, TestCafe offers easy installation and setup, a declarative testing approach, built-in cross-browser testing, modern CSS selectors for element identification, automatic handling of asynchronous behavior, and built-in parallel test execution. On the other hand, WebdriverIO requires more complex installation and setup, supports multiple testing frameworks, requires manual configuration for cross-browser testing, supports various element identification strategies, requires explicit handling of asynchronous behavior, and supports parallel execution with additional configuration.

Advice on TestCafe and WebdriverIO
Needs advice
on
JestJestSeleniumSelenium
and
WebdriverIOWebdriverIO
in

we are having one web application developed in Reacts.js. in the application, we have only 4 to 5 pages that we need to test. I am having experience in selenium with java. Please suggets which tool I should use. and why ............................ ............................ .............................

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Replies (1)
Prashanth Marappa
Senior Software Engineer at Mphasis · | 1 upvotes · 230.7K views
Recommends
on
SeleniumSelenium

with the help of selenium we can automate react js for functional testing

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Needs advice
on
CypressCypressSelenideSelenide
and
WebdriverIOWebdriverIO

Hi, I am starting out to test an application that is currently being developed - FE: React. BE: Node JS. I want the framework to be able to test all UI scenarios (from simple to complex) and also have the capability to test APIs. I also need to run tests across all OSs and Browsers (Windows, Mac, Android, iOS). I have also looked into react-testing-library and @TestProject.io. Any advice you can give as to which framework would be best and why would be so much appreciated! Thank you!!

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Replies (3)
Recommends
on
PlaywrightPlaywright

You should also definitely look into Playwright, which is a new automation tool from Microsoft building on top of the Puppeteer experience and trying to bring this experience in the cross browser space - very exciting project. Great team. Also CodeceptJS as already Playwright support which at a ton of valuable features on top of Playwright, give it a go!

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Jinesh Khimsaria
Test Automation Specialist at Personal · | 3 upvotes · 77.4K views
Recommends
on
WebdriverIOWebdriverIO

I'm also looking for the same, FE: React & BE: NodeJS. Cypress won't help as it lacks cross-browser testing, it doesn't support all the browsers. I'm still investigating it, but looks like WebdriverIO may fulfil what I'm looking for - Cross-browser testing, integration with CI/CD, running it as a docker service, good support on assertions & reporting of test results. Let me know if you found any information on any of the above mentioned points.

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Recommends
on
CodeceptJSCodeceptJS

Hi Esther, if you really need cross OS and cross device automation Cypress wont help, with WebdriverIO you can do it … and check out CodeceptJS, which is a wrapper around several frameworks (like WebdriverIO) and will support future players (currently for example upcoming Playwright) as well.

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Pros of TestCafe
Pros of WebdriverIO
  • 8
    Cross-browser testing
  • 4
    Open source
  • 4
    Easy setup/installation
  • 4
    Built in waits
  • 3
    UI End to End testing
  • 2
    Supports Devices without extra software/package
  • 1
    Both client and server side debug
  • 11
    Various integrations to vendors like Sauce Labs
  • 10
    Open Source
  • 8
    Great community
  • 7
    Easy to setup
  • 4
    Best solution for broad browser support

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Cons of TestCafe
Cons of WebdriverIO
  • 9
    No longer free
  • 8
    High maintenance

Sign up to add or upvote consMake informed product decisions

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What is TestCafe?

It is a pure node.js end-to-end solution for testing web apps. It takes care of all the stages: starting browsers, running tests, gathering test results and generating reports.

What is WebdriverIO?

WebdriverIO lets you control a browser or a mobile application with just a few lines of code. Your test code will look simple, concise and easy to read.

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What companies use TestCafe?
What companies use WebdriverIO?
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What tools integrate with TestCafe?
What tools integrate with WebdriverIO?

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What are some alternatives to TestCafe and WebdriverIO?
Selenium
Selenium automates browsers. That's it! What you do with that power is entirely up to you. Primarily, it is for automating web applications for testing purposes, but is certainly not limited to just that. Boring web-based administration tasks can (and should!) also be automated as well.
Cypress
Cypress is a front end automated testing application created for the modern web. Cypress is built on a new architecture and runs in the same run-loop as the application being tested. As a result Cypress provides better, faster, and more reliable testing for anything that runs in a browser. Cypress works on any front-end framework or website.
Jest
Jest provides you with multiple layers on top of Jasmine.
CodeceptJS
It is a modern end to end testing framework with a special BDD-style syntax. The test is written as a linear scenario of user's action on a site. Each test is described inside a Scenario function with I object passed into it.
Cucumber
Cucumber is a tool that supports Behaviour-Driven Development (BDD) - a software development process that aims to enhance software quality and reduce maintenance costs.
See all alternatives