Automation Showdown: Selenium vs Playwright – And the Battle Begins 

Let’s take a closer look at what sets these frameworks apart

—and how they can support your automation goals.

Meet the Frameworks

Selenium: The Established Leader

Selenium has long been a cornerstone of web automation.

As an open-source framework, it offers broad compatibility across programming languages—Java, Python, C#, Ruby—and supports all major browsers.

Key Features:

• Cross-browser and cross-platform support
• Integration with CI/CD pipelines
• Headless and headed execution
• Selenium Grid for parallel testing
• Extensive community and documentation

Pros:

• Mature and well-supported
• Flexible language options
• Rich ecosystem of plugins and tools

Cons:

• Slower execution speeds
• Tests can be brittle with dynamic DOMs
• Limited support for desktop applications

Playwright: The Agile Innovator

Playwright, developed by Microsoft, is designed for modern web applications. It supports JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, C#, and Java, and automates Chromium, Firefox, and WebKit browsers.

Key Features:

• Auto-waiting for elements
• Native support for tabs, frames, and events
• Built-in test runner and tracing
• Headless and headed execution

Pros:

• Fast and reliable execution
• Excellent support for modern web features
• Streamlined setup and debugging
• Rich API for advanced scenarios

Cons:

• Smaller community (but growing rapidly)
• Fewer third-party integrations (currently)

Framework Comparison at a Glance

🧭Which One Should You Choose?

✅ Selenium may be the right fit if:

• You’re working with legacy systems
• You need broad language support
• You prefer a mature, well-established framework

🚀 Playwright could be ideal if:

• You’re testing modern, dynamic web applications
• You value speed and reliability
• You’re starting a new project and want cutting-edge capabilities

How Sogeti Can Help

At Sogeti, our QE&T services are designed to help you make informed, strategic decisions about your automation journey. Whether you’re modernising legacy platforms or building future-ready digital experiences, our experts bring deep technical knowledge and industry insight to every engagement.

We don’t just implement tools—we tailor solutions. From framework selection to full-scale automation strategies, we work alongside your teams to deliver quality at speed.

The choice between Selenium and Playwright isn’t about declaring a winner—it’s about finding the right fit for your unique context. Selenium continues to be a reliable choice for enterprise-grade automation, while Playwright offers a fresh, fast, and flexible approach for modern web testing.

Ready to elevate your automation strategy?
Let’s talk. Sogeti’s QE&T experts are here to help you lead with confidence.