Browserling vs Percy

Browserling provides cloud-hosted virtual browsers for checking websites and links across browsers and operating systems. Its listed browser coverage includes Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, and Internet Explorer on real operating systems, as well as mobile browsers on Android and iOS devices, including iPhones and iPads. Users can inspect pages at different screen sizes, resolutions, and device viewports. SSH tunnels provide access to private or local development sites. Other listed tools include screenshots, file uploads and downloads, geo-browsing, browser extensions, and bookmarklets. A free sandbox opens a URL in a remote isolated browser session. The Live API can embed interactive browsers in applications and supports automation, continuous integration, and SIEM/SOAR workflows. Browserling says each session runs in an isolated virtual machine that is destroyed afterward; traffic uses TLS 1.2 or higher, and URLs, session content, and files are not persistently retained. Paid plans begin at $9 a month billed annually. Listed options include Starter at $9 a month billed annually, Developer at $19 a month billed annually, and Live API at $99 a month as a starting price.

Percy is a visual testing tool that captures DOM snapshots and assets, renders them, and checks them against earlier snapshots to identify visual changes. It can render pages across browsers and platforms, including desktop and mobile, and compare responsive layouts at configurable widths. Percy groups visual changes while filtering noise and freezes animations and other dynamic elements to reduce false positives. Snapshots from tests running on different processes or machines can be grouped into a single build. Its review workflow includes status updates, notifications, comments, baseline management, branch logic, and approval carryforwards. Percy supports web applications, component libraries, end-to-end testing frameworks, static sites, custom SDK integrations, and native mobile applications. The CLI can capture and upload snapshots without an automation script. A free plan includes 5,000 screenshots per month; paid plans have fixed screenshot allocations, with extra screenshots charged at an overage rate. Desktop costs $199 a month billed annually, and Desktop & Mobile costs $599 a month billed annually.