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Pure Test vs Web Test Runner

Pure Test

github.com

Web Test Runner

modern-web.dev

Side by side

FigurePure TestWeb Test Runner
Price fromFreeFree
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Open source——
WebYesYes
WindowsYesYes
macOSYesYes
LinuxYesYes
Self-hostedYesYes
Plans published11
Spec score · JavaScript Testing Frameworks8.0 (#6)8.2 (#4)
InstallationThe README gives `npm install @igorjs/pure-test --save-dev` as the installation command.The official installation instructions use npm to add @web/test-runner as a development dependency.
LicenseThe repository identifies the project as Apache-2.0 licensed.The project's GitHub page identifies the repository license as MIT.
Project statusThe README identifies the project as beta and says its APIs may change.Modern Web says its code is open source and publicly available on GitHub, with packages published under the @web npm namespace.
PurposePure Test is a minimal, zero-dependency, cross-runtime test runner.Web Test Runner is a test runner for web applications.

Plans

Pure Test

  • Apache-2.0 open-source softwareFree

Pure Test pricing →

Web Test Runner

  • Open sourceFree

Web Test Runner pricing →

In their own words

Pure Test

Pure Test is a free, minimal test runner for projects using JavaScript runtimes and browsers. It supports Node.js, Deno, Bun, Cloudflare Workers, and browsers, and its API includes test suites, assertions, lifecycle hooks, spies, fake timers, and retry and timeout options. The CLI provides multiple reporters, test filters, file watching, sharding, and fail-fast execution. For CI, `--shard` splits test files across jobs and exits cleanly when a shard has no files. TypeScript test discovery requires `--ts` on Node.js; it is automatic on Deno and Bun. A Deno adapter registers tests as `Deno.test()` calls for use with `deno test` and its filtering and IDE workflows. The README includes migration guides for Jest and Vitest and notes compatibility with common mock methods. Pure Test does not isolate tests, so lifecycle hooks are recommended for managing state. The project is beta, and its APIs may change. It is Apache-2.0 licensed, with no paid plans stated.

Visit github.com

Web Test Runner

Web Test Runner is a test runner for web applications, installable as an npm development dependency. It runs tests in parallel and isolation, giving each test file its own browser environment. Headless testing is supported through launchers including Puppeteer, Playwright, Selenium, BrowserStack, and WebdriverIO. Playwright can use Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit; BrowserStack runs tests remotely, including against older browser versions. Debug mode opens a browser window with developer tools, and the runner reports browser logs, 404 responses, and errors. Its command line offers interactive watch mode that reruns tests when files change, plus code coverage with configurable thresholds and reports. Default coverage instrumentation uses Chromium. Other features include ES module mocking through import maps and Mocha integration, with guidance for a custom test framework. The project is MIT-licensed, powered by esbuild and Rollup plugins, and directs users to GitHub and Discord for help and discussion. It is free and open source.

Visit modern-web.dev