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How to Run Lighthouse Performance Tests with Cypress

A practical guide to running Lighthouse audits from Cypress, retaining reports, setting sensible thresholds, and making CI runs reliable.
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To run Lighthouse from a Cypress test, use a Chrome or Chromium browser, prepare it in Cypress’s browser-launch hook, register the integration’s Node task, import its support commands, then call cy.lighthouse() after visiting the page. The cypress-lighthouse-plugin README documents this approach. It is a community plugin, so verify its current compatibility with your Cypress, Lighthouse, Node.js, and browser versions before adopting it.

Set up Lighthouse in Cypress

1. Install the integration

From your project directory, install the package:

npm install cypress-lighthouse-plugin

The plugin README states that Lighthouse is installed as a peer dependency. Check the package metadata and your project’s dependency versions before copying the command unchanged; the available documentation does not establish a current compatibility matrix.

2. Prepare Chrome and register the task

In the Cypress configuration, use the Node event setup to prepare the browser before launch and register the plugin’s Lighthouse task. The README documents this configuration shape:

const { defineConfig } = require('cypress');
const lighthouse = require('lighthouse');
const { prepareAudit } = require('cypress-lighthouse-plugin');

module.exports = defineConfig({
  defaultBrowser: 'chrome',
  e2e: {
    setupNodeEvents(on, config) {
      on('before:browser:launch', (browser = {}, launchOptions) => {
        prepareAudit(launchOptions);
        return launchOptions;
      });

      on('task', {
        lighthouse: lighthouse(),
      });

      return config;
    },
  },
});

Use the structure appropriate to your Cypress configuration file and module system. The essential parts are the Chrome/Chromium launch preparation and the registered Lighthouse task. Lighthouse audits in this integration require Chrome or Chromium.

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3. Load the plugin commands

In the Cypress support file, import the commands:

import 'cypress-lighthouse-plugin/commands';

4. Visit a page and run the audit

Call cy.lighthouse() after cy.visit(). The plugin callback can write the generated report to disk; the README example saves the report JSON as lighthouse-report.json.

describe('Lighthouse performance', () => {
  it('audits the home page', () => {
    cy.visit('http://localhost:3000');

    cy.lighthouse((lighthouseResult) => {
      cy.writeFile('lighthouse-report.json', lighthouseResult.report);
    });
  });
});

Choose a report location your CI job can retain as an artifact. Confirm the callback’s result shape against the installed plugin version if you adapt the example.

Configure thresholds without making noisy gates

The plugin README demonstrates configurable thresholds, including performance and accessibility examples. Those values are examples, not universal targets or industry benchmarks. Start by collecting results under the same browser and CI conditions your team intends to use, then choose thresholds that flag meaningful regressions without routinely failing because of measurement variation.

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For reproducible enforcement, keep the audit conditions consistent: use a controlled browser image, avoid arbitrary server-start sleeps, and establish a baseline before making a score check blocking. Lighthouse CI also recommends gradual rollout as teams learn how to interpret results.

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Run the test reliably in CI

Wait for the app to be ready

Cypress’s CI guide advises starting the application and waiting for its URL to respond before running tests. Launching npm start in the background beside cypress run can create a race: Cypress may begin before the server is accepting requests. The guide documents readiness-check patterns using tools such as start-server-and-test and wait-on; prefer a URL readiness check to a fixed delay.

Pin a suitable browser environment

The plugin requires Chrome or Chromium. Cypress documents browser Docker image variants containing browsers and compatible runtime components; choosing a specific image tag can make the environment more controlled. Keep the Node, Cypress, Lighthouse, plugin, and browser versions visible in your CI configuration, and verify their compatibility rather than assuming a combination is supported.

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The GoogleChrome Lighthouse README currently says that Lighthouse’s Node CLI requires Node 22 LTS or later. Check the requirement for the specific Lighthouse package and integration version you install. In particular, Lighthouse CI’s getting-started examples include Node 16 and Lighthouse CI CLI 0.15.x; those are version examples, not current compatibility guidance.

Keep reports and failures useful

  • Save the plugin’s report output as a CI artifact if you need to inspect a failed audit later.
  • Establish a baseline before turning thresholds into a blocking check.
  • Use the same browser and comparable CI resources between runs; Lighthouse CI notes that larger machines produce more stable results.

Choose between Cypress audits and Lighthouse CI

Use the Cypress integration when the audit belongs at a specific point in an end-to-end flow that Cypress already controls. Use a separate Lighthouse CI job when the main goal is collecting audits for configured URLs, uploading reports, applying assertions, or keeping historical comparisons.

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Decision Lighthouse inside Cypress Separate Lighthouse CI job
Best fit Audit a page as part of a Cypress-controlled user flow. Collect Lighthouse results for configured URLs in a dedicated performance job.
Setup Community integration package, Chrome/Chromium launch preparation, registered Cypress task, support import, and cy.lighthouse(). Lighthouse CI CLI and CI configuration for collection and upload.
Reports The plugin callback can save report output to a file. Upload targets can expose reports; a Lighthouse CI server supports historical reports and diffs.
Thresholds The plugin README demonstrates configurable thresholds. Lighthouse CI supports assertion presets and custom configuration.
Important consideration Confirm the community plugin’s compatibility and maintenance status before adoption. Check runtime and package versions; some getting-started snippets use older pinned versions.

Lighthouse CI’s getting-started guide describes collection and upload workflows. Its temporary public storage provides individual report links but not historical storage, diffs, or build failures. For configuration details, including assertion settings, see the Lighthouse CI configuration guide. For authenticated pages, that guide describes using a Puppeteer script to log in or prepare browser state before Lighthouse runs.

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Troubleshoot common setup problems

  • The audit cannot launch or Chrome is unavailable: run Cypress with Chrome or Chromium and confirm the selected browser exists in the local or CI environment. The plugin’s launch preparation hook must run before the browser starts.
  • cy.lighthouse() is not recognized: check that cypress-lighthouse-plugin/commands is imported by the support file Cypress actually loads, and that the plugin task is registered in setupNodeEvents.
  • The test fails immediately with a connection error: confirm the app server has started and its URL responds before cypress run begins. Add a readiness check instead of relying on a fixed sleep.
  • Results vary enough to trip thresholds: compare runs in a consistent browser and CI environment, gather a baseline, and avoid treating example thresholds as fixed targets. Roll out blocking assertions gradually.
  • Installation or execution fails under the selected Node version: check the installed Lighthouse package’s runtime requirement and the versions in the plugin’s metadata. The Lighthouse project README’s current Node CLI note is Node 22 LTS or later; older Lighthouse CI snippets should not be treated as a current requirement.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Cypress Lighthouse integration work in Firefox?

No. The documented integration requires Chrome or Chromium for its Lighthouse audit.

Can Lighthouse CI audit a page that requires login?

Yes. Its configuration guide describes using a Puppeteer script to log in or prepare browser state before Lighthouse runs.

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