BackstopJS vs Roborazzi
BackstopJS
github.comRoborazzi
github.comSide by side
| Figure | BackstopJS | Roborazzi |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Spec score · Visual Regression Testing Software | 8.0 (#11) | 8.5 (#5) |
| Integrations | The README describes CI reporting in JUnit format and integration with build systems such as Jenkins, Travis, and gulp. | Roborazzi is available on Maven Central and provides Gradle tasks for recording, comparing, and verifying screenshots. |
| License | GitHub identifies the project as MIT licensed. | The repository identifies Roborazzi as licensed under Apache License 2.0. |
| Purpose | BackstopJS automates visual regression testing of web apps by comparing screenshots over time. | Roborazzi is an open-source library for making JVM Android integration tests visible through screenshot testing. |
| Security | The README recommends matching the Docker container user to the local environment to improve security and avoid file ownership problems. | The AI assertion documentation advises passing API keys through environment variables rather than hard-coding them in code. |
Plans
In their own words
BackstopJS
BackstopJS is a free, MIT-licensed tool for visual regression testing of web applications. It captures screenshots and compares them with reference images over time. An in-browser report shows reference, test and visual-difference views, with additional CLI and JUnit reports. BackstopJS supports Puppeteer and Playwright; Playwright can use Chromium, Firefox or WebKit. Scenarios can script clicks, scrolling, hovering, key presses and cookie state. Captures can cover a full document, viewport or selected DOM elements at configured viewport sizes. The documented workflow uses `backstop init`, `backstop test` and `backstop approve` to configure tests, compare captures and update references. Installation works globally or locally through npm, as a standalone CLI or from a Node.js app. CI reporting and integrations include Jenkins, Travis and gulp. Docker can reduce rendering differences, though Chrome Headless in Docker needs substantial memory.
Roborazzi
Roborazzi is an open-source library for screenshot testing in JVM-based Android integration tests. It records images, compares them with saved baselines and can fail verification when a screenshot differs. Through Robolectric, Android tests can run as JVM tests without a device or emulator. Capture options include Jetpack Compose nodes, Espresso views, Android Views and Compose lambdas; the library can also create screenshot tests for Compose previews and common Compose Multiplatform previews. It supports Compose Desktop and JVM preview tests, rendering images with the host’s Skia, while Compose Multiplatform iOS support is experimental. Gradle tasks cover recording, comparison and verification, and the project documents GitHub Actions workflows for screenshot checks in CI. An IDE plugin shows test screenshots in IntelliJ IDEA and Android Studio. Optional capabilities include UI-tree JSON output, accessibility checks, animated GIF or APNG capture, and experimental AI image assertions. Roborazzi is free, available on Maven Central and licensed under Apache License 2.0. It has no direct Bazel support, and graphics may render differently across operating systems.