Percy

Percy is a visual testing tool for finding changes in web pages and mobile applications. It captures DOM snapshots and assets, renders them, and compares results with prior snapshots. Teams can inspect pages across browsers and platforms, including desktop and mobile, and check responsive layouts at configurable widths. Percy groups visual changes and freezes animations and other dynamic elements to reduce false positives. Snapshots from tests running on separate processes or machines can be collected into the same build. Its review workflow includes status updates, notifications, comments, baseline management, branch logic, and approval carryforwards. Integrations include GitHub, GitLab, Slack, Storybook, WebdriverIO, and Jenkins. Percy supports web apps, component libraries, end-to-end testing frameworks, static sites, custom SDK integrations, and native mobile apps. The CLI can capture and upload snapshots without an automation script. A free plan includes 5,000 screenshots per month, unlimited users, and unlimited projects. Paid plans have fixed screenshot allowances, with overage charges for additional screenshots. Documentation notes limitations with horizontal scrolling and scrollable divs.

Percy combines visual comparisons with build grouping and review tools for teams working across browsers and mobile environments. Check its documented scrolling limitations and screenshot allowances when deciding whether it fits your workflow.

Percy suits teams checking visual changes across web and mobile interfaces, including those using browser or native app testing workflows. It may also fit teams that want snapshots collected from distributed test runs and a shared review process.

Overview

Percy is a visual testing platform for teams that need to catch interface changes across browsers, responsive layouts and mobile apps. It suits engineering teams with automated test workflows and structured review needs. Its broad snapshot and approval tooling is valuable, but scrolling constraints and screenshot-based billing matter when deciding whether it fits.

Key features

Percy captures DOM snapshots and assets, renders them, and compares each result with previous snapshots to detect visual changes. Cross-browser rendering shows how the same page differs across desktop and mobile environments, while configurable responsive widths help teams inspect layout changes at specific sizes. Grouping changes and filtering noise keeps review focused; automatically freezing animations and other dynamic elements further reduces false positives.

Snapshots from tests running on separate processes or machines can be grouped into one build, which supports parallel test workflows. Percy provides status updates, notifications, comments, baseline management, branch logic and approval carryforwards, giving teams a defined path from detected change to review. It integrates with GitHub, GitLab, Slack, Storybook, WebdriverIO and Jenkins. SDK coverage spans web apps, component libraries, end-to-end frameworks, static sites and custom integrations; the CLI can capture and upload snapshots without an automation script.

Percy supports visual testing for desktop browsers, real mobile browsers and native mobile applications, as well as real-device testing and automated test execution. It does not offer live browser testing. Teams whose sites depend on horizontal scrolling or scrollable divs should assess the documented support limitations before adopting it.

Pricing

Percy is freemium, with a free plan and a free trial. Free has no published price and includes 5,000 screenshots per month, unlimited users and unlimited projects. That makes it a generous starting point for teams that can stay within the monthly screenshot cap, but the cap is the key constraint as testing grows.

Desktop costs $199 a month (billed billed annually) and includes 10,000 screenshots per month. Desktop & Mobile costs $599 a month (billed billed annually) and includes 25,000 screenshots per month. The latter is the relevant paid tier for teams needing mobile coverage; Desktop is a lower-cost option for teams focused on desktop. Paid plans have fixed screenshot allocations, and usage beyond them incurs overage charges, so volume forecasting is important. Enterprise has custom pricing and custom screenshot allowances for teams that need a tailored allocation.

Platforms

Percy supports Android, iOS, web and API platforms. Its device coverage includes desktop, mobile and tablet. BrowserStack states that it is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant, including its data centers and platform, and that HTTPS is the default, with TLS encrypting communications with its servers. BrowserStack support provides 24x7 help.

Who it's for

Percy is a strong fit for product and engineering teams that need repeatable visual regression checks across browsers, responsive widths and mobile environments, especially those running parallel automated tests and routing visual changes through approval workflows. It is less suitable as a live-browser testing service or for pages whose scrolling behavior depends heavily on horizontal movement or scrollable divs.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Snapshot comparison across browsers and responsive widths helps identify platform-specific interface regressions.
• Pros: Build grouping, dynamic-content stabilization and review controls support parallel pipelines and collaborative approvals.
• Pros: The free plan includes 5,000 monthly screenshots with unlimited users and projects.
• Cons: Paid screenshot allocations are capped, and overages are charged, making high-volume usage less predictable.
• Cons: There is no live browser testing, and documented scrolling limitations may rule out some sites.

Alternatives

Happo is worth considering for teams comparing visual and accessibility testing: its free plan includes 5,000 snapshots per month on Chrome, with no credit card or time limit. TestCafe is the alternative to consider when a free, open-source test runner is the priority; its framework is distributed under the MIT license. Browserling may suit readers seeking a lower-priced browser-testing plan, with its Starter plan at $9 a month (billed annually; page also shows $12).

Mobitru is another paid option for readers evaluating software testing platforms. TestingBot is a paid alternative with a Live plan at €20 a year (billed Billed annually; or €30 month-to-month). TestMu AI is a freemium option with a KaneAI Starter plan at $17 a month (billed annually). Testsigma is a paid alternative whose Test Management Pro plan is $14 a month (billed $14/user/month). Applitools Ultrafast Grid is a paid alternative with a Starter plan at $667 a month (billed paid annually).

Browse more options in Browser Testing Software.

Verdict

Choose Percy if your team needs visual regression checks across desktop, mobile and responsive layouts, with snapshot grouping and a structured approval workflow. Its strongest case is the combination of rendering coverage and review controls; look elsewhere if you need live browser testing, depend on unsupported scrolling patterns or cannot comfortably manage screenshot caps and overages.