Comparison

Rihario vs Playwright: Which Should You Choose?

Quick answer: Use Playwright if you have developers who can write and maintain test scripts. Use Rihario if you want AI to handle everything without code.

Quick Comparison

Feature	Rihario	Playwright
Coding Required	❌ No code	✅ JavaScript/TypeScript
Setup Time	3 minutes	30+ minutes
Test Maintenance	AI handles it	Manual updates
Self-Healing	✅ Yes	❌ No
God Mode Intervention	✅ Yes	❌ No
Cross-Browser Testing	✅ 50+ combinations	✅ 3 browsers
Visual Testing	✅ Built-in	⚠️ Plugin required
Security Testing	✅ Built-in	❌ No
Accessibility Testing	✅ Built-in	⚠️ Plugin required
Price	$19-99/month	Free (self-hosted)
Best For	Indie Hackers, Solo Devs	Dev Teams, Engineers

When Should You Use Each?

✅ Choose Rihario If:

• You're a solo developer or indie hacker
• You don't want to write or maintain test code
• You built your app with no-code tools or AI
• You need testing results in minutes, not hours
• You want security and accessibility testing included
• You need God Mode for when AI gets stuck

Choose Playwright If:

• You have developers who can write JavaScript
• You need complete control over every test step
• You're integrating with existing CI/CD pipelines
• Budget is the primary concern (it's free)
• You need to test complex, custom interactions
• Your team can maintain test code long-term

The Difference in Practice

Here's how testing the same login flow looks in each tool:

Playwright (Code Required)

test('user can login', async ({ page }) => {
  await page.goto('/login');
  
  // Find email input
  await page.fill('#email', 'test@example.com');
  
  // Find password input  
  await page.fill('#password', 'password123');
  
  // Click login button
  await page.click('#submit-btn');
  
  // Assert redirect
  await expect(page).toHaveURL('/dashboard');
});

⚠️ If any selector changes, the test breaks and requires manual fixing.

Rihario (No Code)

"Test the login flow: enter email test@example.com and password password123, then verify the user lands on the dashboard."

✅ AI finds elements by purpose. If selectors change, tests self-heal automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Rihario replace Playwright completely?

For most indie hackers and solo developers, yes. Rihario covers functional, visual, performance, security, and accessibility testing without code. However, if you need extremely custom test logic or are already invested in Playwright, it may complement rather than replace. See the detailed comparison.

Is Playwright really free?

The library is free, but you pay in developer time. Writing and maintaining tests takes significant effort. You also need infrastructure to run tests (CI minutes, servers). Rihario's pricing includes all infrastructure.

Can I migrate from Playwright to Rihario?

Yes. Since Rihario uses plain English test descriptions, you can start fresh without migrating code. Most users run both in parallel during transition, then phase out Playwright as Rihario covers more.

Which is faster for getting started?

Rihario: 3 minutes to first test. Playwright: 30+ minutes for setup, then hours writing your first complete test suite.

Ready to Try the No-Code Alternative?

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