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BackstopJS VS VisualReview

Compare BackstopJS VS VisualReview and see what are their differences

BackstopJS logo BackstopJS

BackstopJS is an open-source tool that allows the user to capture screenshots of a complete webpage or only specific areas of the webpage.

VisualReview logo VisualReview

VisualReview, a human-friendly tool for testing and reviewing visual regressions.
  • BackstopJS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-10
  • VisualReview Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12

BackstopJS features and specs

  • Automated Visual Regression Testing
    BackstopJS automates visual regression testing by comparing DOM screenshots, making it easy to identify visual anomalies after code changes.
  • Configuration Flexibility
    It offers robust configuration options to customize viewports, scenarios, and comparison thresholds, allowing for tailored testing based on project needs.
  • Scenario Management
    Supports the creation of multiple scenarios for different pages and states of the application, providing comprehensive test coverage.
  • Integration with CI/CD
    Easily integrates with continuous integration and deployment pipelines, facilitating automated testing across development stages.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source tool, BackstopJS is free to use and benefits from community contributions and improvements.
  • Support for Puppeteer
    Built on modern tools like Puppeteer, providing reliable headless browser automation features for capturing and comparing visuals.

Possible disadvantages of BackstopJS

  • Complex Setup for Beginners
    The initial setup can be complex for those who are not familiar with headless browsers or visual testing concepts, potentially resulting in a steep learning curve.
  • Performance Overhead
    Running visual tests can be resource-intensive, which might affect performance, especially with a large number of scenarios and comparisons.
  • Maintenance Effort
    Creating and maintaining test scenarios can require ongoing effort as the application evolves, including updating baselines and handling false positives.
  • Limited to Visual Testing
    BackstopJS focuses solely on visual regression testing and doesn't provide broader testing capabilities like functionality or performance testing, necessitating additional tools for comprehensive test coverage.
  • Screenshot Differences
    Slight, acceptable differences in rendering between test runs can lead to false positives, requiring fine-tuning and adjustments for threshold settings.

VisualReview features and specs

  • Open Source
    VisualReview is an open-source tool, meaning it's freely available for modification and use, providing users with the flexibility to customize it according to their needs without any additional licensing costs.
  • Visual Testing Support
    It supports visual regression testing, which can help catch UI changes or inconsistencies that may not be detected by traditional automated tests.
  • Integrations
    Compatible with various CI/CD pipelines, allowing for easy integration into existing development workflows and automating visual checks.
  • Version Control
    Allows for version control of screenshots, helping teams track changes over time, which is essential for maintaining a consistent user interface.

Possible disadvantages of VisualReview

  • Limited Features
    Compared to some commercial tools, VisualReview may lack certain advanced features, such as image diff enhancements or extensive platform support.
  • Maintenance
    As an open-source project, it might not receive regular updates or extensive documentation, which could lead to challenges in troubleshooting or adopting new best practices.
  • Complex Setup
    Initial setup and configuration can be complex and may require a degree of technical expertise, potentially posing a barrier for smaller teams or individuals less familiar with visual testing frameworks.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running visual comparisons can be resource-intensive, requiring adequate processing power and memory, which might be a consideration for teams with limited infrastructure.

Analysis of VisualReview

Overall verdict

  • VisualReview is a solid open-source tool for visual regression testing that helps teams catch unintended UI changes by comparing screenshots across test runs, though it is no longer actively maintained.

Why this product is good

  • Open-source and free to use, allowing full control over your testing infrastructure
  • Integrates with popular testing frameworks like Protractor, WebDriver, and others for automated screenshot capture
  • Provides an intuitive web-based dashboard for reviewing, approving, or rejecting visual differences
  • Stores a history of baseline images so you can track UI changes over time
  • Self-hosted, giving teams full ownership of their data and screenshots

Recommended for

  • Teams that want a self-hosted, open-source visual regression testing solution
  • Projects already using Selenium, WebDriver, or Protractor for end-to-end testing
  • QA engineers who need a visual diff review workflow with approval steps
  • Organizations that prefer to keep test data on their own infrastructure rather than a cloud service

BackstopJS videos

Visual Regression Testing with BackstopJS

More videos:

  • Review - Texas Camp 2019 | Visual Regression Testing with BackstopJS
  • Review - Supercharge your regression testing with BackstopJS

VisualReview videos

No VisualReview videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to BackstopJS and VisualReview)
Browser Testing
75 75%
25% 25
Automated Testing
63 63%
37% 37
Development
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing BackstopJS and VisualReview, you can also consider the following products

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Lost Pixel Platform - Visual Regression Testing for busy engineers

Expo Screen Capture - Expo Screen Capture is a highly efficient tool that empowers users to prevent screens in their applications from being captured or taped.