Diffy vs Screenster

Technical approach

 

Screenster is a cloud solution for automating both functional and visual testing. To start you need create a project and record the actions inside of the UI.

Service allows to record actions, manually create steps or use java to code Selenium actions. Main idea is to create a baseline set of images and approving them along the way of running tests.

 

Even Better Results

Screenster has become a great solution when it comes to visual testing. However, Diffy has raised the bar
by combining Pixel Perfect with Vertical Shift Detection approach. This combination allows Diffy to weed out the
false positives automatically and makes the whole process a lot smoother for you and your team.

The UI testing of Screenster can be helpful in complicated cases. But in terms of purely visual
testing, Screenster’s Pixel Perfect isn’t a match for Diffy’s combined approach.

 

Intuitive UI

Diffy is made to take the load off the user’s shoulders. One way it does this is by making the UI extremely user-centered. Everything is easily accessible. From editing tools to testing, everything is just a click away.

Screenster – like Diffy – has automated testing available. But its UI makes the experience tedious and unnecessary complex. Overall, only an experienced user can work efficiently on Screenster while Diffy is perfect for any level.
 

Stress-Free Billing

Screenster gives its users a number of Cloud and Local Tests per month and uses this as its billing criteria. It can be sometimes hard to keep track of the number of tests – especially in bulk projects where several tests are run daily.

Diffy takes the stress away by providing a project-based billing system. This way, all you need to do is know the number of projects you’ve tested and you’re good to go. Overall. Diffy makes it easier for you to keep track of your monthly expenditure.
 

Feature	Screenster	Diffy
Coding required	No but you can code Selenium actions with java	No. Simply provide list of URLs and you are good to go
Integration with functional testing frameworks	No	No
Take screenshots as authenticated user	Yes. As a part of functional test.	Yes. Via configuration.
Manipulate DOM prior taking screenshots: masking, removing, isolating elements	Yes	Yes
Image comparison	Pixel perfect	Pixel perfect and custom (recognizes vertical shifts)
Performance	Can be run both in the cloud and locally (you can install server)	Based on Diffy’s infrastructure.
Billing model	Based on number of test runs per month	Based on number of pages all your projects have altogether

 

I found Screenster a more advanced tool to start visual testing. It has great functionality set and support for multiple browsers. Meanwhile, it is getting a bit slow during the recording of tests and has pretty complex UI.