Catalog comparison
SeleniumCypress
Side-by-side facts from the TestGuild Tool Matcher catalog. Empty cells mean the catalog does not list that attribute — not that the product lacks it.
At a glance
Primary testing surface
Selenium
Web
Cypress
Web
Primary capability
Selenium
Automation
Cypress
Automation
License and pricing
Selenium
free · open source
Cypress
free · open source
Free trial
Selenium
No
Cypress
No
Complexity
Selenium
intermediate
Cypress
beginner
Team fit
Selenium
large, medium, small
Cypress
large, medium, small
Test authoring languages
Selenium
C#, Java, JavaScript, Kotlin, PHP, Python, Ruby
Cypress
JavaScript, TypeScript
Supported platforms
Selenium
Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari
Cypress
Chrome, Edge, Electron, Firefox
MCP server
Selenium
Yes
Cypress
No
Key features (catalog)
Selenium
Action chains, Browser automation, Cookie management, Cross-browser testing, Element location strategies, End-to-end testing, Functional testing, Grid for distributed testing, JavaScript execution, Multiple language bindings +8 more
Cypress
API testing, Automatic waiting, Browser automation, Built-in test runner, CI/CD integration, Component testing, Cross-browser testing, Custom commands, End-to-end testing, Fixture support +14 more
Limitations (catalog)
Selenium
Browser driver management, No built-in reporting, No built-in test runner, Setup complexity, Slower than modern alternatives, Web-only automation (no desktop or mobile support)
Cypress
JavaScript/TypeScript only, Limited browser support compared to Selenium, Limited mobile testing, No multi-tab support, Same-origin policy limitations, Web-only automation (no desktop or mobile support)
| Attribute | Selenium | Cypress |
|---|---|---|
| Primary testing surface | Web | Web |
| Primary capability | Automation | Automation |
| License and pricing | free · open source | free · open source |
| Free trial | No | No |
| Complexity | intermediate | beginner |
| Team fit | large, medium, small | large, medium, small |
| Test authoring languages | C#, Java, JavaScript, Kotlin, PHP, Python, Ruby | JavaScript, TypeScript |
| Supported platforms | Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari | Chrome, Edge, Electron, Firefox |
| MCP server | Yes | No |
| Key features (catalog) | Action chains, Browser automation, Cookie management, Cross-browser testing, Element location strategies, End-to-end testing, Functional testing, Grid for distributed testing, JavaScript execution, Multiple language bindings +8 more | API testing, Automatic waiting, Browser automation, Built-in test runner, CI/CD integration, Component testing, Cross-browser testing, Custom commands, End-to-end testing, Fixture support +14 more |
| Limitations (catalog) | Browser driver management, No built-in reporting, No built-in test runner, Setup complexity, Slower than modern alternatives, Web-only automation (no desktop or mobile support) | JavaScript/TypeScript only, Limited browser support compared to Selenium, Limited mobile testing, No multi-tab support, Same-origin policy limitations, Web-only automation (no desktop or mobile support) |
How the trade-offs apply to your team
Guidance below is inferred only from catalog differences. It is not a winner pick.
Consider Selenium if…
- you need coverage for Internet Explorer, Opera, Safari
- your team writes tests in C#, Java, Kotlin, PHP
- you want an MCP server for AI assistants
- you care about Action chains and Cookie management
Consider Cypress if…
- you need coverage for Electron
- your team writes tests in TypeScript
- you want a lower-complexity tool
- you care about API testing and Automatic waiting
Questions to verify before choosing
- Confirm current pricing and packaging on the Selenium and Cypress websites.
- Trial both tools against a real slice of your application, not a demo site.
- Verify the exact browser, device, or OS matrix you must support.