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Cypress

cypress.io

From $67/mo Free plan Open source WebWindowsmacOSLinuxAPI
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Spec score 9.3 #1 of 63 in Browser Automation Tools

What it is

Cypress is a front-end testing tool for web applications, combining an open-source Cypress App with the cloud-based Cypress Cloud service. The App supports end-to-end and component testing, launching and controlling real browsers from Chrome-family browsers and Firefox; WebKit is experimental. For debugging, it offers time-travel snapshots, readable errors, stack traces, automatic waiting, and network stubbing. Cypress Cloud stores recorded CI test runs and adds debugging, analytics, and orchestration for teams. It connects with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Jira, and its MCP works with AI coding assistants including Claude, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot. The Starter plan costs nothing and includes 10 users, 500 test results per month, 100 prompt executions per month, and 30-day access to paid features. Team costs $67 a month, billed annually at $799. Cypress says Cloud test content is stored in the United States, and material in public projects is publicly accessible. It also says its AI models are not trained on customer data.

Spec sheet

What it does
Cypress combines a locally run open-source testing app with Cypress Cloud for browser application quality testing.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
Product
Cypress is a front-end testing tool with an open-source Cypress App and a cloud-based Cypress Cloud service.Read 30 Sep 2026 · cypress.io
Integrations
Cypress Cloud integrates with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Jira.Read 30 Sep 2026 · docs.cypress.io
Security
Cypress says Cypress Cloud maintains a SOC 2 Type 2 report and encrypts testing content in transit with TLS 1.2 or greater and at rest with AES-256 or greater.Read 30 Sep 2026 · cypress.io
Support
The pricing comparison lists Community support for Starter, Email support for Team and Business, and Premium support for Enterprise.Read 30 Sep 2026 · cypress.io
License
The Cypress App source repository is released under the MIT License.Read 14 Oct 2026 · github.com
Headquarters
Atlanta, Georgia, United StatesRead 23 Sep 2026 · cypress.io
Founded
2014Read 23 Sep 2026 · cypress.io
Accessibility testing
Cypress offers a separate Accessibility solution that reports accessibility violations without additional test authoring or configuration.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
AI data handling
Cypress states that its AI models are not trained on customer data.Read 30 Sep 2026 · cypress.io
AI tools
Cypress Cloud MCP works with AI coding assistants including Claude, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot.Read 30 Sep 2026 · docs.cypress.io
API testing
The cy.request() command sends HTTP requests and checks status, body, headers and response time without rendering a page.Read 14 Oct 2026 · docs.cypress.io
Automatic waiting
Cypress retries queries and assertions until conditions are met, reducing the need for manually timed waits.Read 14 Oct 2026 · docs.cypress.io
Browser architecture
Cypress runs in the same run loop as the application instead of sending commands through Selenium’s remote network protocol.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
Browser automation
The Cypress App launches and controls real browsers, supporting Chrome-family browsers and Firefox, with WebKit listed as experimental.Read 30 Sep 2026 · docs.cypress.io
CI integrations
Official CI guidance covers GitHub Actions, CircleCI, GitLab CI, Jenkins and AWS CodeBuild.Read 14 Oct 2026 · docs.cypress.io
CLI and MCP
Cypress Cloud provides a Cloud CLI and Cloud MCP integration on all listed plans.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
Cloud
Cypress Cloud stores recorded CI test runs and provides debugging, analytics, and orchestration for teams.Read 30 Sep 2026 · docs.cypress.io
Company facts
LinkedIn lists Cypress.io as privately held, founded in 2015, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with 51–200 employees.Read 14 Oct 2026 · linkedin.com
Company history
Cypress's About page dates its story to 2014.Read 30 Sep 2026 · cypress.io
Component testing
Component Testing mounts front-end components in a real browser and supports visual inspection and browser DevTools debugging.Read 14 Oct 2026 · docs.cypress.io
Data location
Cypress says Cloud test content is stored in the United States and content in public projects is publicly accessible.Read 30 Sep 2026 · cypress.io
Debugging
The App provides time-travel snapshots, readable errors, stack traces, automatic waiting, and network stubbing.Read 30 Sep 2026 · docs.cypress.io
Documentation depth
Documentation includes installation, system requirements, component and end-to-end testing, API concepts, CI setup, plugins, migration guides and troubleshooting FAQs.Read 14 Oct 2026 · docs.cypress.io
End-to-end testing
The platform runs end-to-end tests for complete browser workflows such as authentication and purchasing.Read 14 Oct 2026 · docs.cypress.io
Funding
Cypress announced a $40 million Series B led by OpenView Venture Partners on December 17, 2020.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
Independent funding record
CB Insights lists $54.81 million raised across five Cypress funding rounds, including the $40 million December 2020 Series B.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cbinsights.com
Installation methods
The app installs as a project development dependency through npm, Yarn, pnpm or Bun.Read 14 Oct 2026 · docs.cypress.io
Language support
Cypress test code executes as JavaScript and has no language-specific driver bindings.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
Latest release
Cypress 16.2.0 was released October 13, 2026 with cy.getByRole() and a mutual-TLS client-certificate regression fix.Read 14 Oct 2026 · docs.cypress.io
Limit: browser and mobile scope
Capterra reviews report that Cypress is not suitable for native mobile-app testing and has limitations with multiple tabs, cross-domain flows and some browser features.Read 14 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Limit: large-suite performance
A recent Capterra reviewer says large projects can run slowly and CI failures can be difficult to debug.Read 14 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Limit: pricing gap
A Capterra reviewer complained that the pricing jumped from free to a roughly $100-per-user monthly tier, leaving little mid-range choice at that time.Read 14 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Network control
Tests can intercept and modify application network requests with Cypress network commands.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
Node requirement
Supported Node.js versions listed are 22.x, 24.x and 26.x or newer.Read 14 Oct 2026 · docs.cypress.io
Outages
IsDown recorded 10 Cypress-related incidents in its displayed 2026 history, including Cloud incidents, performance degradation, Test Replay errors and an Enterprise Reporting API issue.Read 14 Oct 2026 · isdown.app
Plan limits
Starter, Team, and Business plans are not customizable at the feature level, and reaching a user limit prevents adding more users until the limit changes or someone is removed.Read 30 Sep 2026 · cypress.io
Plugins and SDK extensibility
The official plugin directory lists 132 extensions covering preprocessors, custom commands, API helpers, accessibility, reporters and CI integrations.Read 14 Oct 2026 · docs.cypress.io
Praise: speed and community
Gartner reviewers describe fast execution, automatic waits, network interception, parallel testing and an active community as strengths.Read 14 Oct 2026 · gartner.com
Praise: usability and debugging
Capterra reviewers repeatedly praise easy installation, simple test authoring, time-travel debugging, screenshots, video and automatic waiting.Read 14 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Public API
The Enterprise plan includes a Data Extract API, and Cypress documents experimental run-cancellation API functionality.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
Rating on Capterra
4.7 out of 5 from 67 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · capterra.com
Rating on G2
4.7 out of 5 from 107 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Rating on Gartner Peer Insights
The currently opened Gartner page shows 0.0 out of 5 from 0 reviews.Read 14 Oct 2026 · gartner.com
Rating on TrustRadius
7.6 out of 10; the page displays customer pricing feedback but does not state a review count there.Read 14 Oct 2026 · trustradius.com
Security controls
Cypress Cloud states TLS 1.2-plus transit encryption, AES-256-plus at-rest encryption, annual penetration testing and SOC 2 Type 2 reporting.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
Security incident
Cypress reported an August 2026 incident involving a third-party Metabase analytics environment; it said test bodies and hooks were involved while artifacts and record keys were not affected.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
Self-hosting and local execution
The Cypress App runs locally on a developer machine or CI pipeline, while Cypress Cloud is the hosted service that stores recorded results.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
Supported systems
Current requirements include macOS 13.5 or newer, Ubuntu 22.04 or newer, Debian 12 or newer, Fedora 43 or newer, Windows 10/11 and specified Windows Server releases.Read 14 Oct 2026 · docs.cypress.io
Testing
Cypress supports end-to-end and component testing for web applications.Read 30 Sep 2026 · docs.cypress.io
Time-travel debugging
The Cypress runner records command snapshots so users can inspect the DOM state at each test step.Read 14 Oct 2026 · chromium.cypress.io
Workflow integrations
Cloud plans include integrations for GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, webhooks and CI/CD workflows, with some gated by plan.Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io

Plans and prices

Starter Free Free; no credit card required 10 users · 500 test results/month · 100 prompt executions/month · 30-day data retention · community support Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
Team $67 a month Billed annually at $799 50 users · 120,000 test results/year · 9,000 prompt executions/year · 90-day retention · email support Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
Business $267 a month Billed annually at $3,199 50 users · 120,000 test results/year · 24,000 prompt executions/year · 90-day retention · email support Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io
Enterprise Priced on request Custom pricing Unlimited users · 1.8M test results/year · 60,000 prompt executions/year · 180-day retention · premium support Read 14 Oct 2026 · cypress.io

Every Cypress plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports end-to-end and component testing.
  • Controls real Chrome-family browsers and Firefox.
  • Offers snapshots, stack traces, and network stubbing.
  • Cloud integrates with common code and team tools.
  • Starter plan includes 30-day access to paid features.

Limits

  • WebKit support is experimental.
  • Public-project content is publicly accessible.
  • Starter is limited to 10 users.
  • Team costs $67 a month, billed annually at $799.

Who it suits

Cypress suits developers testing web applications with code, and teams that want to record and analyze CI test runs. Its free Starter plan has defined user and monthly result limits.

Cypress in depth

Read the full write-up

Cypress is a code-first web testing stack that combines an open-source desktop app with a cloud service for recorded CI runs. It is best suited to development teams testing web applications end to end and at the component level, especially when browser debugging and shared CI visibility matter. The strongest case is its integrated authoring and diagnostics; the main cautions are plan quotas, public-project exposure, and experimental WebKit support.

Overview

Cypress controls real browsers from its app and keeps collaborative CI work in Cypress Cloud. That division gives individual developers a focused place to write and diagnose tests while giving teams stored runs, analytics, debugging data, and orchestration. Cypress dates its story to 2014 and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

The product covers end-to-end and component testing for web applications. It also supports visual testing and mobile web testing, placing it across several testing use cases rather than limiting it to one test layer. Tests are authored in code, and a self-hosted runner is available for teams that need to run execution in their own environment.

Key features

Browser control and diagnosis

The Cypress App launches and controls Chrome-family browsers and Firefox. WebKit is experimental, so it is a poor fit as the sole choice for a browser matrix that must treat WebKit as a fully supported target. Multi-engine coverage is useful, but that qualification should shape release and compatibility planning.

Time-travel snapshots let developers inspect application state around a failing step, while readable errors and stack traces shorten the path from failure to cause. Automatic waiting reduces synchronization work, and network stubbing helps isolate frontend behavior from external services. Together, these features favor developers who want tests and diagnosis close to the browser rather than a separate reporting workflow.

Cloud collaboration and integrations

Cypress Cloud stores recorded CI runs and adds debugging, analytics, and orchestration for teams. It connects with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Jira, making it practical for organizations that already route code, notifications, and work tracking through those services. Cypress Cloud MCP works with Claude, Cursor, and GitHub Copilot, extending test-related workflows into supported AI coding assistants.

Cypress says Cloud holds a SOC 2 Type 2 report, encrypts content in transit with TLS 1.2 or greater and at rest with AES-256 or greater, and does not train its AI models on customer data. Cloud test content is stored in the United States. Content in public projects is publicly accessible, an important constraint for open projects and any team handling sensitive test material.

Pricing

Cypress uses a freemium model. Starter costs nothing and allows 10 users, 500 test results per month, and 100 prompt executions per month. It includes 30-day access to paid features and Community support. This is a useful evaluation and small-team tier, but the monthly result and prompt caps make it unsuitable for a busy CI estate.

Team costs $67 a month, billed annually at $799. It raises capacity to 50 users, 120,000 test results per year, and 9,000 prompt executions per year, with 90-day data retention and email support. It is the sensible starting point for an established team that needs retained CI history and collaboration without enterprise administration.

Business costs $267 a month, billed annually at $3,199. It keeps the 50-user and 120,000-result limits, increases prompt executions to 24,000 per year, retains data for 90 days, and adds SSO plus GitHub Enterprise and GitLab Enterprise integrations. Those additions justify the step up mainly for organizations with centralized identity and enterprise source-control estates.

Enterprise uses custom pricing and supports unlimited users, 1.8 million test results per year, 60,000 prompt executions per year, 180-day retention, and Premium support. Starter, Team, and Business are not customizable at the feature level; reaching a user limit prevents adding users until the limit changes or someone is removed. Paid plans are therefore capacity commitments, not menus of individually selectable features.

Platforms

Cypress runs on Linux, macOS, Windows, and the web. Its browser application and Cloud service cover local authoring through CI collaboration, while the self-hosted runner gives infrastructure teams control over execution placement.

Who it's for

Choose Cypress if your team builds web applications and wants code-authored end-to-end and component tests with unusually direct browser diagnostics. It is particularly compelling when CI run history, integrations, and shared debugging are part of the workflow, or when visual and mobile-web testing sit alongside core web coverage.

Look elsewhere if dependable WebKit support is central, if United States storage or public visibility rules conflict with your data requirements, or if your test volume and user count do not fit fixed Starter, Team, or Business ceilings.

Pros and cons

Pro: Time-travel snapshots, stack traces, readable errors, automatic waiting, and network stubbing give developers concrete tools for isolating browser failures.

Pro: End-to-end and component testing share one code-based workflow, with visual and mobile web testing also supported.

Pro: Cloud integrations across major repositories, chat, Jira, and AI coding assistants support established team pipelines.

Con: WebKit is experimental, limiting confidence for teams that require it as a first-class browser target.

Con: Fixed user, result, prompt, and retention limits can force a plan change as a team or CI workload grows.

Con: Public-project content is publicly accessible, and Cloud test content is stored in the United States.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison of purposes, see End-to-End Testing Software, Browser Automation Tools, Functional Testing Software, GUI Testing Software, and Test Flakiness Management Software.

Choose HyperExecute instead when a free tier with 300 testing minutes, two concurrent sessions, and Windows or Linux VMs better matches a small execution workload. TeamCity is the alternative to consider for an on-premises-oriented setup with a free Professional tier, three build agents, and 100 build configurations.

Bitbucket Pipelines fits teams already centered on Bitbucket that want a free tier with up to five users and 50 build minutes per month. Pick Qualflare when test-case and test-report management, rather than browser automation, is the immediate priority. Buildkite is an option when hosted orchestration around concurrent jobs and compute-minute allowances is the deciding factor.

Captain is the more focused choice for flaky-test tracking, quarantine, retries, and parallel suite partitioning. GitLab Duo Code Suggestions is aimed at code suggestions rather than a complete browser-testing stack. Testery suits teams seeking usage-based execution, with a Growth plan covering 10 test hours per month before hourly charges.

Verdict

Cypress is a strong choice for web development teams that want code-based end-to-end and component testing tied to clear browser diagnostics and shared CI records. Choose it for that integrated developer-to-Cloud workflow, but look elsewhere when WebKit certainty, stricter data-location requirements, or more flexible scaling matters more than Cypress’s unified experience.

Verdict

Cypress combines browser-based test authoring with cloud storage and team-oriented CI features. Check browser support, plan limits, and public-project visibility against your workflow before choosing a plan.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to CypressAll alternatives →