cypress vs jest
Side-by-side comparison of cypress and jest
- Weekly Downloads
- 6.6M
- Stars
- 49.6K
- Gzip Size
- 186 B
- License
- MIT
- Last Updated
- 3h ago
- Open Issues
- 1.2K
- Forks
- 3.4K
- Unpacked Size
- 4.5 MB
- Dependencies
- 1
- Weekly Downloads
- 38.1M
- Stars
- 45.3K
- Gzip Size
- —
- License
- MIT
- Last Updated
- 2d ago
- Open Issues
- 237
- Forks
- 6.6K
- Unpacked Size
- 6.3 kB
- Dependencies
- —
Download Trends
Verdict
Cypress is a specialized front-end testing framework designed for modern web applications, providing capabilities for end-to-end testing with a user-friendly interface. It excels in component testing and integrates well with various modern frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue, making it particularly suitable for complex applications needing robust end-to-end tests.
Jest, on the other hand, is a versatile testing framework developed by Facebook, primarily used for unit testing but also capable of doing integration testing. Its minimal setup and fast performance make it ideal for projects with a focus on quick feedback cycles, especially for teams that value snapshot testing and simplicity in their JavaScript projects. Choosing between them largely depends on whether your focus is on comprehensive front-end testing or unit/integration testing of JavaScript components.
Migrating from one to the other could involve a significant learning curve due to their different philosophies in testing approach. Cypress provides a more visual testing experience, while Jest emphasizes speed and simplicity, which might require teams to adapt their testing strategies when switching frameworks.
Detailed Comparison
| Criteria | cypress | jest |
|---|---|---|
| Open Issues | 1.2K open issues may indicate areas of improvement for Cypress. | ✓Only 237 open issues for Jest suggest a more stable framework. |
| GitHub Forks | 3.4K forks suggest robust community engagement with Cypress. | ✓6.6K forks imply extensive experimentation with Jest. |
| GitHub Stars | ✓49.6K stars show strong community approval for Cypress. | 45.3K stars indicate a healthy community for Jest. |
| Last Updated | Last updated on 2026-02-07 indicates active maintenance. | Last updated on 2026-02-05 also shows ongoing support. |
| Unpacked Size | Cypress has a larger size of 4.5 MB, indicating more features. | ✓Jest is lightweight at 6.3 kB, which aids fast installations. |
| Learning Curve | Cypress may have a steeper learning curve due to its UI and functionality. | ✓Jest is generally easy to learn, suited for new developers. |
| Weekly Downloads | 6.6M downloads suggest solid usage within front-end testing. | ✓38.0M downloads indicate higher popularity for general testing. |
| Bundle Size (gzip) | Cypress is very minimal at 186 B, supporting efficient loading. | ✓Jest benefits from an extremely low bundle size, enhancing performance. |
| TypeScript Support | Cypress has good TypeScript support for modern applications. | Jest also offers robust TypeScript compatibility, making it developer-friendly. |
| Overall Positioning | Optimized for end-to-end testing, ideal for modern web applications. | Versatile framework suitable for unit and integration testing. |
| Integration with Frameworks | ✓Cypress offers seamless integration with various modern frameworks. | Jest is somewhat framework-agnostic, supporting any JavaScript-based project. |