Knapsack Pro

WebdriverIO vs TestCafe comparison of testing frameworks
What are the differences between WebdriverIO and TestCafe?

WebdriverIO

https://webdriver.io/

TestCafe

https://devexpress.github.io/testcafe/
Programming language

JavaScript

JavaScript

Category

Browser Automation, Unit Testing, Functional Testing

End-to-End Testing, Regression Testing

General info

WebdriverIO is the next-gen WebDriver test framework for Node.js made upon Selenium

WebdriverIO is written in JavaScript and uses Selenium under the hood. It also comes with its own inbuilt test runner and supports other testing frameworks like Jasmine, Cucumber, and Mocha

TestCafe is a Node.js tool to automate end-to-end web testing.

TestCafe runs on Windows, MacOs, and Linux and supports mobile, remote and cloud browsers (UI or headless). It is also free and open source
xUnit
Set of frameworks originating from SUnit (Smalltalk's testing framework). They share similar structure and functionality.

Yes

No

Client-side
Allows testing code execution on the client, such as a web browser

Yes

WebdriverIO allows the use of advanced CSS selectors and makes it easy to find elements for front-end testing

Yes

TestCafe is primarily a front-end testing tool
Server-side
Allows testing the bahovior of a server-side code

Yes

It can be used to test server side behaviour and functionality

No

Fixtures
Allows defining a fixed, specific states of data (fixtures) that are test-local. This ensures specific environment for a single test

Yes

WebdriverIO supports the creation of fixtures

Yes

You can create fixtures with TestCafe
Group fixtures
Allows defining a fixed, specific states of data for a group of tests (group-fixtures). This ensures specific environment for a given group of tests.

Yes

WebdriverIO supports the creation of group fixtures

N/A

Generators
Supports data generators for tests. Data generators generate input data for test. The test is then run for each input data produced in this way.

N/A

N/A

Licence
Licence type governing the use and redistribution of the software

MIT License

MIT License

Mocks
Mocks are objects that simulate the behavior of real objects. Using mocks allows testing some part of the code in isolation (with other parts mocked when needed)

Yes

It contains a mocking service called 'wdio-wiremock-service'

Yes

We can mock requests with the 'RequestMock' hook
Grouping
Allows organizing tests in groups

Yes

WebdriverIO allows one to build test suites, you can run these test in parallel and organize them by adjusting the 'maxInstances' property in your config file

N/A

Other
Other useful information about the testing framework