Side by side
Katalon Studio vs Playwright
Both stand on gui testing software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan AndroidAPIExtension+6
Choose Katalon Studio if your team wants web, mobile, API and desktop test authoring in a shared project, with recorder and AI-assisted options. The Free plan may be restrictive for teams that need parallel execution or AI script generation; Professional is listed at $1,000 a year, billed annually.
Visit Katalon Studio
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2
Playwright combines cross-browser automation, test authoring tools, and support for agent workflows. Teams can run it locally or in CI on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Visit PlaywrightThe facts
| Katalon Studio | Playwright | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, API, Extension, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Professional: $1,000 per seat a year | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 4 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | katalon.com | playwright.dev |
| On gui testing software | #7 of 34 | #11 of 34 |
Katalon Studio: what it does well
- Supports no-code, low-code, full-code and AI-assisted test authoring.
- Web and mobile recorders create Selenium-based and Appium-based test flows.
- Tests REST, SOAP and GraphQL APIs alongside UI tests.
- Includes integrations such as Jira, Jenkins and GitHub Actions.
- Downloads are available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
What to know first
- Free plan is limited to 40 static test suites.
- Free plan excludes parallel execution and AI script generation.
- Professional costs $1,000 a year, billed annually.
Playwright: what it does well
- Free and available in four languages
- One API controls three browser engines
- Fresh browser context for every test
- Includes test generator and Trace Viewer
- Supports self-hosted runners
What to know first
- CI guidance recommends one worker for stability
- Mobile testing is browser emulation
Alternatives to Katalon Studio Alternatives to Playwright The whole list