OpenAdaptOpenAdapt vs Playwright
Use Playwright when a developer owns a browser-only task and can maintain the code; its locators and automatic waiting make it the first tool we'd reach for. Use OpenAdapt when the person who does the task should show it instead, when the screen isn't a browser, or when each save should be read back and a mismatch should stop.
Updated 2026-10-18
At a glance
| Playwright | OpenAdapt | |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Developer-owned browser automation and tests | Repeated entries into a system with no usable API, where a wrong save matters |
| Who builds it | A developer, in code | We build it with you from a demonstration |
| How a normal run works | Runs the script's explicit steps | A program learned from a demonstration repeats the same steps (tested on open-source systems) |
| AI model calls on a normal run | None unless the author adds one | 0 in every recorded OpenAdapt run (measured) |
| Proof the record saved | Assertions the developer writes | Reads the saved record back, where your system allows a second read (tested) |
| When it isn't sure | Fails the step when its checks or timeouts don't pass | Stops and asks a person; never retries a save it couldn't confirm (tested) |
| Where it runs | Your machines | A computer you control; MIT-licensed engine |
| Citrix and remote desktop | Browsers only | Remote desktop tested, including a real Windows 11 computer (3 of 3) |
| Published price | Free, open source | Free to run locally. Team $499 a month. Healthcare and enterprise qualification sprints from $15k. The engine is free. |
Where Playwright is stronger
- User-facing locators: roles, labels, text and test IDs.
- Automatic waits for visibility, stability and enabled state before actions.
- Chromium, Firefox and WebKit from one API.
- TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, Java and .NET, with a test runner and trace viewer.
Which to choose
- Choose Playwright when the task is browser-only, a developer maintains the code, and normal assertions can prove the result.
- Choose OpenAdapt when the person who does the task should be able to show it, or when each save should be read back and a mismatch should stop.
Related: Hand-written scripts · API or screen automation · How it works · All comparisons
Sources
- Playwright documentation (playwright.dev): locators, actionability, languages; read August 2026.
See it on your process
Bring one task your team types every day. We'll tell you whether it fits, and what a test on your own system would cover.