Quick answer
BrowserCat - BrowserCat wins for most builders who need an always-available free tier for browser automation, while TestingBot is better if you want a short no-card trial of a broader testing platform.
How the free tiers compare
These products solve overlapping but different problems. BrowserCat is a hosted headless browser API for Playwright, Puppeteer, and CDP workflows, so the free tier is meant for ongoing use: 1,000 credits a month, 1,000 concurrent requests, and basic email support. TestingBot is a broader cross-browser and mobile testing platform, but its free offering is a 14-day trial, not a continuing free tier. It is better suited to teams evaluating real devices, live/manual testing, and multiple automation frameworks, but free access ends quickly unless you qualify for the open-source plan. If you want something you can keep using at zero cost, BrowserCat is the cleaner fit. If you are deciding whether to adopt a larger test lab and just need a short evaluation window, TestingBot is the stronger free entry point.
BrowserCat vs TestingBot free tier, side by side
| BrowserCatFTV 35 | TestingBotFTV 46 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free access durationBrowserCat is a recurring free tier; TestingBot is a trial unless you qualify for the open-source offer. | Ongoing monthly free tier | 14-day free plan |
| Included usageTestingBot's free plan is time-limited rather than quota-based in the provided data. | 1,000 credits per month | Trial access, no monthly quota listed |
| Concurrency / parallelismBrowserCat's free tier includes concurrency; TestingBot's paid plans show low parallelism unless you move up. | Up to 1,000 concurrent requests | 1 parallel test on Live and Automated plans; Enterprise 10+ |
| Support included on free accessTestingBot explicitly states no-card registration; BrowserCat's no-card status is not provided. | Basic email support | No credit card required to register |
| Primary tool coverageTestingBot covers more frameworks and mobile tooling. | Playwright, Puppeteer, and CDP | Selenium, Appium, Playwright, Cypress, Puppeteer, Espresso, XCUITest, Maestro |
After you outgrow the free tier
BrowserCat uses usage-based pricing: the free Hobby plan includes 1,000 credits, then Business starts at $50/month with cheaper extra-credit rates than Hobby, and Enterprise is contact sales. TestingBot uses per-seat style pricing for its paid plans: Live starts at $20/month billed annually or $30 month-to-month, Automated at $50/month billed annually or $70 month-to-month, and Automated Pro at $90/month billed annually or $120 month-to-month. BrowserCat is usually cheaper for small automation jobs that fit within credits, while TestingBot gets expensive faster if you need automated minutes or multiple capabilities, but it also bundles broader testing features.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | BrowserCat | TestingBot |
|---|---|---|
| Light ongoing automation within included free allowanceTestingBot's free access is time-limited, so this is the first paid state after the trial expires. | Free (within 1,000 credits/month) | $20/mo billed annually or $30/mo month-to-month for Live, if you need ongoing access after the trial |
| 2,000 credits/monthBrowserCat Hobby includes 1,000 credits and charges $0.0025 per extra credit, so 1,000 extra credits adds about $2.50. The Business plan starts at $50/month and has a lower extra-credit rate, but the exact total depends on whether the account stays on Hobby or moves to Business. | est. $52.50/mo | $20/mo billed annually or $30/mo month-to-month for Live, or $50/mo billed annually / $70/mo month-to-month for Automated |
| 10,000 automated minutes/monthBrowserCat prices in credits, not automated minutes, so the provided data does not support a direct minute comparison. | No direct minute-based pricing provided | $90/mo billed annually or $120/mo month-to-month for Automated Pro |
| Need live testing plus automated testing on one vendorTestingBot bundles live, visual, and device access across its paid tiers; BrowserCat is a browser automation API rather than a full testing lab. | Available, but pricing depends on credits and plan choice | $50/mo billed annually or $70/mo month-to-month for Automated, or $90/mo billed annually / $120/mo month-to-month for Automated Pro |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick BrowserCat when…
- You need ongoing free browser automation for scraping, monitoring, or agent workflows.
- You mainly use Playwright, Puppeteer, or CDP and do not need a full device lab.
- You want a free tier you can leave running month after month without a trial deadline.
- You care more about browser sessions and concurrency than about manual testing or mobile coverage.
Pick TestingBot when…
- You need real iOS and Android device testing, not just headless browser sessions.
- You want to try a cross-browser testing suite for a short period before paying.
- Your team uses Selenium, Appium, Cypress, Espresso, XCUITest, or Maestro.
- You need live interactive testing or visual testing in addition to automation.
- You are an open-source project that may qualify for a free plan after applying.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, BrowserCat is the better free-tier pick because it is a real ongoing tier, not a short trial, and it gives you enough monthly credits and concurrency to run browser automation without paying right away. TestingBot is the better choice only if your decision hinges on trying a larger testing stack, especially real devices and multiple frameworks, and you are fine with a 14-day window. If you need free access that can stick around, BrowserCat wins.
Read the full listings: BrowserCat and TestingBot. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.