Skip to main content

Comparison guide

Playwright vs Puppeteer

Side-by-side NPM package comparison

Hero image for Playwright vs Puppeteer
  1. playwright

    A high-level API to automate web browsers

    Downloads unavailable · 912.1 KB gzip · Health 67/100

    0
  2. puppeteer

    A high-level API to control headless Chrome over the DevTools Protocol

    Downloads unavailable · 107.9 KB gzip · Health 67/100

    0

Choosing between Playwright and Puppeteer? Here's a data-driven comparison based on real npm data — downloads, bundle size, health scores, and more — to help you decide which package fits your project best.

Downloads & Popularity

Weekly download data is unavailable for Playwright. Weekly download data is unavailable for Puppeteer. Missing data is not zero downloads. We cannot compare download activity until all counts are available.

Bundle Size

Puppeteer has the smallest gzipped bundle at 107.9 KB. Playwright comes in at 912.1 KB. A smaller bundle size means faster page loads, which improves user experience and Core Web Vitals scores.

Health Score Comparison

Playwright has an overall health score of 67/100 (good), with strong maintenance, security scores. Puppeteer has an overall health score of 67/100 (good), with strong maintenance, security scores. Health scores are calculated from maintenance activity, code quality, security posture, popularity, and stability metrics. Download data is incomplete; these composite scores include a fallback popularity input and should not determine an overall winner.

When to Choose Each

Choose Playwright if you value actively maintained, strong security track record. Choose Puppeteer if you value actively maintained, strong security track record.

Our Verdict

Download data is incomplete for this comparison of Playwright and Puppeteer. We are not selecting an overall winner from incomplete metrics. Compare the available bundle, maintenance, and quality information against your project's requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is playwright better than puppeteer?
It depends on your needs. Playwright has a health score of 67/100 while Puppeteer scores 67/100. Weekly download data is incomplete, so no popularity ranking is available. Consider your specific requirements — bundle size, community support, and feature set — to decide which is the better fit.
Which has a smaller bundle size, playwright or puppeteer?
Puppeteer has the smaller gzipped bundle at 107.9 KB. A smaller bundle means faster load times for your users, which can positively impact SEO and user experience.
How many developers use playwright vs puppeteer?
Weekly download data is incomplete, so no popularity ranking is available. Download counts reflect package installations, not unique developers.
Which is better maintained, playwright or puppeteer?
Playwright has a maintenance score of 100/100. Playwright scores 100/100 and Puppeteer scores 100/100 on maintenance.

Related Comparisons

The 2026 JavaScript Stack Cheatsheet

One PDF: the best package for every category (ORMs, bundlers, auth, testing, state management). Used by 500+ devs. Free, updated monthly.