Loki vs Screenster
Loki
loki.js.orgScreenster
screenster.ioSide by side
| Figure | Loki | Screenster |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $25/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 6 |
| Spec score · Visual Regression Testing Software | 8.6 (#4) | 8.7 (#2) |
| Security | The command-line reference documents a `chromeDockerWithoutSeccomp` option, which defaults to false. | The privacy policy says Screenster uses encryption, firewalls, and SSL technology as security measures, while noting these do not guarantee against breaches. |
| Support | The project provides documentation and a GitHub repository for its community and development. | The support page offers paid plans with web or web and phone support, annual hour quotas, and stated response times. |
Plans
Screenster
- FreeFree
- FreeFree
- Local ScreensterFree
- Basic$25 a month
- Standard$45 a month
- Premium$75 a month
In their own words
Loki
Loki is a free, MIT-licensed tool for checking Storybook projects for visual regressions. It captures story screenshots and compares them with reference images, producing visual differences for review. The workflow is to create reference screenshots, run comparisons, review the differences, and approve updated references. Loki is designed for continuous integration, where tests can fail if reference images are missing. Capture targets include Chrome in Docker or locally, Chrome in AWS Lambda, the iOS simulator, and the Android emulator; an AWS Lambda renderer is available for large test suites. Node 16 or later is required. Recent Storybook versions need no extra integration for non-React Native projects, while React Native setup uses an import in `storybook/storybook.js`. Projects can configure Loki in a `package.json` section or supported Loki configuration files. Loki does not start Storybook or simulator and emulator servers, so they need to be running before tests. Documented animation limitations include looping requestAnimationFrame animations, GIFs, SVG animations, native Lottie animations, and React Native Animated.
Screenster
Screenster is a UI regression testing tool for automating tests of web interfaces. Its no-code recorder captures actions on web pages without requiring code, element IDs, checks, or assertions. Test runs can be compared with a baseline to identify new, deleted, or changed visual and page content. Smart selectors can find page elements after they move or change and adjust timeouts automatically. Users can also write JavaScript or Java tests against the Selenium API within Screenster. The locally installed server can run offline. Screenster says it stopped running its online servers after August 1, 2023, and made local use free without restrictions. The installation guide requires Windows and lists Windows 8, 8.1, 10, Server 2012, and Server 2016; local browser documentation lists Chrome, Firefox, and Internet Explorer. Plans include Free at free, Basic at $25 a month, Standard at $45 a month, and Premium at $75 a month, each billed per tester per month.