Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Google Chrome VS Selenium

Compare Google Chrome VS Selenium and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Google Chrome logo Google Chrome

Google Chrome is a fast, secure, and free web browser, built for the modern web. Give it a try on your desktop today.

Selenium logo 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.
  • Google Chrome Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-12
  • Selenium Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-08-22

Google Chrome features and specs

  • Speed
    Google Chrome is known for its fast performance and quick loading times. This allows users to browse the internet efficiently.
  • User Interface
    Chrome offers a clean and intuitive user interface, making it easy to navigate and use for most people, including those who are not tech-savvy.
  • Extensions
    Chrome has a vast library of extensions and add-ons that can enhance the functionality of the browser and tailor it to individual needs.
  • Regular Updates
    Google frequently updates Chrome, which includes security patches, new features, and performance improvements, ensuring that the browser remains up-to-date.
  • Compatibility
    Chrome is compatible with a vast number of websites and web technologies, providing a seamless browsing experience across different online platforms.
  • Syncing
    Chrome allows users to sync bookmarks, history, and settings across multiple devices by logging into their Google account, providing a consistent experience.

Possible disadvantages of Google Chrome

  • Resource Intensive
    Chrome is known to consume a significant amount of system resources (RAM and CPU), which can slow down other applications, especially on devices with limited hardware capabilities.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Being developed by Google, Chrome collects a substantial amount of user data which raises privacy concerns for some users who are cautious about data tracking and collection.
  • Battery Drain
    Chrome can be a substantial battery drain on laptops and mobile devices due to its resource-intensive nature.
  • Limited Customization
    Compared to some other browsers, Chrome offers fewer options for deep customization of the interface and functionalities.
  • Closed Source
    Unlike some other browsers which are open-source, Chrome's codebase is not fully open to the public, limiting transparency and external security auditing.

Selenium features and specs

  • Open Source
    Selenium is an open-source tool, which means it is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. This makes it a cost-effective choice for companies of all sizes.
  • Cross-Browser Compatibility
    Selenium supports multiple browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. This allows testers to ensure that web applications work seamlessly across different browsers.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    Selenium can run on various operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux. This provides flexibility to test on multiple platforms to ensure consistent user experience.
  • Supports Multiple Programming Languages
    Selenium supports multiple programming languages such as Java, C#, Python, and JavaScript. This allows testers to write their scripts in the language they are most comfortable with.
  • Rich Community and Documentation
    Being a widely-used tool, Selenium has extensive community support and a wealth of documentation and tutorials available. This makes it easier for new users to get started and find solutions to problems.
  • Integration with Other Tools
    Selenium integrates well with various testing frameworks and tools like TestNG, JUnit, and Maven, as well as CI/CD tools like Jenkins and Docker. This makes it a versatile and comprehensive automation solution.

Possible disadvantages of Selenium

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Selenium requires knowledge of programming to create and maintain test scripts. For those new to automation or coding, the learning curve can be quite steep.
  • No Built-in Reporting
    Selenium does not come with built-in reporting features. Testers must rely on third-party tools or build custom reporting solutions to generate test reports.
  • Limited Support for Desktop Applications
    Selenium is designed primarily for web application testing and offers limited support for desktop applications. This limits its use in scenarios where desktop application testing is needed.
  • Manual Effort for Maintenance
    Test scripts require regular maintenance to accommodate changes in the web application, such as updates to the UI or changes in element identifiers. This can lead to significant manual effort.
  • Performance Issues
    Selenium can be slower compared to other automation tools, especially when running extensive test suites. This can affect the speed of the overall testing process.
  • Browser Compatibility Issues
    Although Selenium supports multiple browsers, each browser's implementation of WebDriver may have unique quirks and bugs. This occasionally leads to test script compatibility issues across different browsers.

Analysis of Google Chrome

Overall verdict

  • Google Chrome is considered a good choice for a web browser due to its performance, features, and widespread compatibility. However, users concerned about privacy might prefer other options because of Google's data collection practices.

Why this product is good

  • Google Chrome is known for its speed, efficiency, and extensive support for web standards. It has a large library of extensions and provides a seamless browsing experience across devices, thanks to its syncing capabilities with a Google account. Its user-friendly interface and frequent updates also contribute to enhanced security and performance.

Recommended for

  • Users who value speed and performance in a web browser.
  • Individuals looking for a browser with robust extension support.
  • Anyone who is invested in the Google ecosystem and uses multiple Google services.
  • Those who appreciate a simple and intuitive user interface in a browser.

Analysis of Selenium

Overall verdict

  • Selenium is a valuable tool for automated testing of web applications, providing flexibility, broad compatibility, and extensive support. It is particularly beneficial for teams looking for an open-source solution with a wide range of capabilities.

Why this product is good

  • Selenium is a highly popular open-source framework for automating web browsers. It supports multiple programming languages such as Java, C#, Python, and JavaScript, providing flexibility for testers with different coding skills. Selenium WebDriver, a core component, allows for creative and sophisticated testing through direct interaction with web pages. Its broad browser compatibility, community support, and extensive documentation make it a valuable tool for automated testing. It also integrates well with other tools and frameworks like Selenium Grid for parallel testing, and it can be used with CI/CD pipelines to facilitate continuous testing.

Recommended for

  • Software testers and QA engineers
  • Development teams implementing continuous integration and continuous testing
  • Organizations needing cross-browser testing solutions
  • Testers with programming skills in languages like Java, Python, or C#

Google Chrome videos

Google Chromecast 2018 Review

More videos:

  • Review - Quick Review Google Chrome 76 Web Browser released July 30th 2019
  • Review - Google Chrome - Review
  • Tutorial - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqr04XPUUSQ

Selenium videos

What is Selenium | Selenium Explained in 2-minutes | Introduction to Selenium | Intellipaat

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Google Chrome and Selenium)
Web Browsers
100 100%
0% 0
Automated Testing
0 0%
100% 100
Security & Privacy
100 100%
0% 0
Browser Testing
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Google Chrome and Selenium

Google Chrome Reviews

  1. I have used it and will continue to use it

    Most of my time I only use Google. There are no intrusive advertisements or banners that distract me from what I'm looking for. Always up-to-date site ratings, convenient search engine


The 7 best web browsers in 2025
Edge runs on the same tech as Chrome, supports third-party extensions from the Chrome Web Store, and yet it consumes far less power and battery resources. So if you're looking for a power-efficient alternative to Google Chrome, this is the one.
Source: zapier.com
The 11 Best Web Browsers Not Based on Chromium
Generally, non-Chromium-based browsers cannot natively support Chrome extensions because these are developed specifically for the architecture of Chromium-based browsers. However, some non-Chromium browsers, like Firefox, have extensive libraries of their own extensions, and there are often equivalents or alternatives to popular Chrome extensions. Additionally, some browsers...
Source: stackdiary.com
Top browsers: features, comparison and stats (2022)
Google Chrome is the most popular web and mobile browser; it currently holds 64.9% of the web browser market share. It was released in 2008 by Google. Most of its source code comes from Chromium, Google’s free and open source software project.
6 Best Browser Alternatives to Google Chrome
With that in mind, if you’re looking for a completely new experience, Edge isn’t the answer for you. If you want to keep everything you loved about Chrome while gaining a few perks, look no further. The top reasons to use Edge over Chrome are for its more efficient use of resources, particularly your system’s RAM, and its more robust security features (mind you, Chrome sets...
Source: gizmodo.com
The best web browsers for 2022
At first glance, the new Edge browser looks and feels like Google Chrome. It prompts you to import Chrome’s bookmarks toolbar and other settings. This is great if you hated the old Edge browser and want to give Microsoft’s new browser another shot. It also supports Chrome extensions, though the browser leads you to the Microsoft Store for add-ons. You must manually load the...

Selenium Reviews

Top Selenium Alternatives
Nightwatch.js simplifies the setup and use of Selenium WebDriver, providing an abstraction layer that is easier to work with for JavaScript developers. While it offers the broad compatibility and standardization of Selenium WebDriver, it aims to improve the development experience with its simplified syntax and support for the Page Object pattern, making it a middle ground...
Source: bugbug.io
Top 5 Selenium Alternatives for Less Maintenance
And that’s why code-free test automation is important. Implementing codeless Selenium alternatives can address the challenges posed by traditional Selenium testing. They help testers with various skill sets to contribute to the testing process, enhancing collaboration and accelerating the testing lifecycle. For an in-depth discussion on the significance of codeless Selenium,...
Best Automation Testing Tools (Free and Paid) | July 2022
Automation testing is the process of testing the software using an automation tool to find the defects. In this process, executing the test scripts and generating the results are performed automatically by automation tools. Some most popular tools to do automation testing are HP QTP/UFT, Selenium WebDriver, etc.,
20 BEST Selenium Alternatives in 2021
Selenium is an open-source automated testing tool. It can perform functional, regression, load testing on web applications across different browsers and platforms. Selenium is one of the finest tools, but it does have some drawbacks.
Source: www.guru99.com
Top 10 Best Selenium Alternatives You Should Try
Selenium is a convenient and portable software testing tool specifically used for testing web applications. It acts as an API (Application Program Interface) for browser automation. Selenium is the widely used free and open-source tool used for automation testing of web applications through various browsers and platforms.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Google Chrome should be more popular than Selenium. It has been mentiond 13 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Google Chrome mentions (13)

  • Why CrabNebula Cloud? Comparing the Tauri GitHub Action
    CrabNebula Cloud logically separates code from releases and even applications. This means that for a single codebase, you can have multiple applications and multiple releases, including nightly/staging build distribution similar to Chrome Canary vs. Chrome. This allows you to distribute your app to a select group of users without having to duplicate your code. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Why is this happening?
    Quit Chrome and reinstall it from here: google.com/chrome. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Browser unsupported on Edge/Ubuntu
    If you installed chrome from a custom location remove it and install the deb from https://google.com/chrome. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What is the first thing you type into Edge browser when setting up a brand new computer?
    I always go to google.com/chrome and click the Download button and press Alt + F4. Source: over 2 years ago
  • All I Wanted Was Google: A Rant
    Just open edge and go to google.com/chrome. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

Selenium mentions (8)

  • How to write tests in Django for JavaScript fetch
    You won't be able to test the javascript function itself from within python, but you can exercise the front-end code using something like cypress (https://cypress.io) or the older but still respectable selenium (https://selenium.dev). Source: about 2 years ago
  • Having Issues with selenium
    In addition, .find_element_by_class_name is deprecated since selenium 4.3.0 and the replacement is .find_element(By.CLASS_NAME, "class"). Check selenium's site for more info. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Issues with Selenium 4.8.0
    This is the code again after checking selenium's official site :. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Having Issues with selenium
    I also tried the following code seen on the selenium.dev website. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Document Object Model Specification
    The following functions are defined within the Selenium project, at revision 1721e627e3b5ab90a06e82df1b088a33a8d11c20. - Source: dev.to / about 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Google Chrome and Selenium, you can also consider the following products

Brave - Fast and secure, ad and tracker blocking browser.

Cypress.io - Slow, difficult and unreliable testing for anything that runs in a browser. Install Cypress in seconds and take the pain out of front-end testing.

Mozilla Firefox - Get the browsers that put your privacy first — and always have

Katalon - Built on the top of Selenium and Appium, Katalon Studio is a free and powerful automated testing tool for web testing, mobile testing, and API testing.

Opera - Opera is a browser with innovative features, speed and security.

BrowserStack - BrowserStack is a software testing platform for developers to comprehensively test websites and mobile applications for quality.