Happo

Happo is a visual and accessibility regression testing service built around screenshots of interface components. It is best suited to development teams that want those checks inside an existing CI workflow. Its strongest advantage is that accessibility testing is included on every tier; the main constraint is that browser choice and snapshot volume depend on the plan.

Overview

Happo brings pixel-based visual comparisons and accessibility checks together, with integrations for common component, browser-automation, repository, and CI workflows. The product has its roots in a project started by its founders in 2014 and became a commercial service in 2017. For teams comparing UI changes as part of regular builds, it offers a clear path from a free allowance to higher-volume paid plans. Teams needing broad browser coverage at no cost will find the free tier restrictive.

Key features

A snapshot is one screenshot of one component variant in one browser, and a run usually happens once per CI build. That definition matters when estimating usage: covering more variants or browsers, or running builds frequently, increases snapshot consumption. Pixel diffs, cross-browser capture, and an approval workflow support review of visual changes.

Accessibility testing is included on all plans, including Free, so it is not reserved for higher tiers. Teams can connect Storybook, Playwright, Cypress, or a generic API for custom setups. Repository integrations include GitHub, GitHub Enterprise, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps, and GitLab; GitLab support is experimental, including for self-managed instances. The CLI auto-detects CI providers including GitHub Actions, CircleCI, Travis CI, and Azure DevOps.

Happo lists Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Microsoft Edge, and iOS Safari, but browser availability varies by plan. Free provides Chrome only, while the paid tiers progressively add browser options. Happo says data is encrypted in transit and at rest, conducts regular penetration testing, and keeps screenshots and related data confidential with account-level access controls. It delegates payment-card processing to Stripe rather than storing card data. Support is founder-led, with customers communicating directly with Henric Persson or Joe Lencioni.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and includes 5,000 snapshots per month, Chrome, and visual and accessibility testing. It has no credit-card requirement or time limit, making it a practical way to run a modest workflow indefinitely. The trade-off is a Chrome-only browser option and a hard quota: once reached, the account pauses until the next cycle or an upgrade.

Starter costs $149 a month, billed monthly. It raises the allowance to 50,000 snapshots, adds Firefox and API access, and includes unlimited users and concurrent runs. Additional snapshots cost $0.006 each. This is the entry paid tier for teams whose monthly usage exceeds Free or need more than Chrome; overages mean it is important to estimate build and component volume.

Growth costs $399 a month, billed monthly, for 150,000 snapshots, Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, plus the same unlimited users and concurrent runs, API access, and accessibility testing. It suits teams that need Safari coverage or substantially more monthly volume than Starter, but still charges $0.006 per additional snapshot.

Pro costs $749 a month, billed monthly, with annual billing available. Its 300,000 snapshots include Chrome, Firefox, Safari, iOS Safari, and Microsoft Edge, as well as unlimited users and concurrent runs, API access, and accessibility testing. It is the tier for teams needing the widest listed browser set short of Enterprise; extra snapshots remain $0.006 each.

Enterprise has custom pricing, with annual plans available. It starts at 1M+ snapshots and adds SSO, SLAs, enterprise support in US and EU timezones, and all listed browsers, alongside unlimited users and concurrent runs, API access, and accessibility testing. It is the fit for larger organizations that need those enterprise provisions and volume.

Platforms

Happo lists Android, iOS, API, and web platforms. Browser coverage is tier-dependent: Chrome is included in Free, Firefox begins with Starter, Safari with Growth, and iOS Safari and Microsoft Edge with Pro; Enterprise includes all listed browsers.

Who it's for

Happo makes the most sense for teams already using component stories, browser automation, or CI builds and that want accessibility testing alongside visual regression checks. The free tier can suit smaller or less frequent workflows that fit within 5,000 monthly snapshots and need only Chrome. Teams with broader browser requirements or higher build volume should weigh the paid tiers and their per-snapshot overage charges. It is a weaker fit for teams that need a fixed, uncapped paid usage cost or broad browser access without moving up tiers.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Accessibility testing is included even on Free, so teams can pair it with visual checks without paying for that capability separately.
• Pro: Unlimited users and concurrent runs on paid plans avoid seat and concurrency caps as teams expand within a tier.
• Pro: Integrations span popular frameworks, repositories, and CI providers, with a generic API for custom setups.
• Con: Free usage stops when the 5,000-snapshot monthly quota is reached, pausing the account until renewal or upgrade.
• Con: Paid overages cost $0.006 per snapshot, so frequent builds or broad component coverage can increase the bill beyond the plan price.
• Con: Browser availability is gated by tier, with iOS Safari and Edge only appearing at Pro or Enterprise.
• Con: GitLab integration is experimental, which may be a concern for teams relying on it.

Alternatives

Consider Diffy if a free allowance of 500 screenshots per month, two environments, team management, and one-month data retention better match a smaller comparison workflow. Percy may be a better fit for a free tier with 5,000 screenshots per month, unlimited users, and unlimited projects; its listed Desktop plan is $199 a month billed annually for 10,000 screenshots. SmartUI offers a different free model: 2,000 screenshots valid for a lifetime, one month of build history, and limited user seats.

For teams preferring locally run or self-hosted open-source software, BackstopJS is an MIT-licensed project installed with npm, while Frontend Regression Validator is Apache-2.0 licensed and can run locally or with Docker. Screenster is another freemium option with a free tier limited to one user and one concurrent test. Argos is worth considering if an open-source, MIT-licensed SDK and platform is a priority. Chromatic is another option; its Starter plan is $179 a month for 35,000 billed snapshots and lists Safari, Firefox, and Edge testing.

Browse more options in Visual Regression Testing Software or Browser Testing Software.

Verdict

Choose Happo if your team wants visual and accessibility regression checks together, can integrate them into CI, and values unlimited users and concurrent runs on paid tiers. The free plan is a credible starting point for Chrome-only work within its monthly cap. Look elsewhere if your budget requires predictable costs beyond the snapshot allowance or you need broader browser coverage without paying for higher tiers.