BackstopJS
Metrics as of , from the GitHub or GitLab API of each repository. Refreshed monthly.
What BackstopJS is
BackstopJS is a visual regression testing tool for web apps that compares screenshots over time. Scenarios live in a backstop.json or JavaScript config listing URLs, viewports, selectors, cookies and interactions. The CLI workflow uses init, test and approve commands, and approved screenshots become the new references. Rendering uses Puppeteer with Chrome Headless by default, or Playwright for Chromium, Firefox or WebKit. Interaction scripts can simulate clicks, hovers and key presses. Results appear in an in-browser report with a diff inspector, in CLI output and as JUnit reports. Built-in Docker rendering is intended to remove cross-platform rendering differences. BackstopJS can also be required as a Node module.
Written from the project's README, read .
- Category
- Visual regression
- License
- MIT
- Language
- JavaScript
- Changelog
- Releases on GitHub
Repository metrics
Status
activeLast commit within 90 days of the fetch date.Computed from the last commit date and the archive flag on the fetch date. See the status rules.
Alternatives
Listed visual regression tools, same primary language first, then by GitHub stars. Each line gives one fact from the tool's documentation where it differs from BackstopJS's, with its source.
pixelmatch: Test authoring format: Code (JavaScript function on raw image data); CLI binary for PNG images. source: README
jest-image-snapshot: Framework integrations: Jest (matcher; stored images update with jest --updateSnapshot). source: README
Loki: Browsers: Chrome (in Docker, in AWS Lambda, or local app); iOS simulator; Android emulator. source: README
Lost Pixel: Browsers: Chromium, Firefox, WebKit (browser config option). source: Docs: lost-pixel.config.js|ts
reg-suit: Test authoring format: Image files in a configured directory (actualDir); settings in regconfig.json. source: README
Testplane: Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari; local, Docker grid (Selenoid) or remote cloud (BrowserStack, Sauce Labs). source: Docs: Browsers
Visual Regression Tracker: Browsers: Any platform that produces a screenshot: web, mobile, desktop. source: README
Comparisons
How to install
npm install -g backstopjsQuestions
Is BackstopJS open source?
Yes. BackstopJS is released under MIT, an OSI-approved license, as reported by the GitHub API on 2026-09-22.
Is BackstopJS maintained?
On 2026-09-22, the last commit to the default branch was on 2026-09-08, so the listed status is active. Rule: Last commit within 90 days of the fetch date.
How many GitHub stars does BackstopJS have?
7,181 stars on 2026-09-22, from the GitHub API. The number is refreshed at each monthly update.
What language is BackstopJS written in?
The repository's primary language, as reported by the GitHub API, is JavaScript.
How do I install BackstopJS?
The README gives this command: npm install -g backstopjs
Sources
- GitHub REST API: repository, read
- GitHub REST API: commits, read
- GitHub REST API: latest release, read
- GitHub REST API: contributors, read
- README, read