Visual testing
Composal vs Applitools
Applitools answers whether a rendered screen differs meaningfully from a baseline; Composal answers whether a browser journey reaches the intended user outcome and can explore beyond saved steps.
Two workflows, side by side
Composal
Composal sends AI browser agents to use your running web app and check the outcomes you care about. Define journeys as plain-English Scenarios, map existing flows with Discovery, or explore for bugs with Deep Scan. Runs keep recordings and reproduction steps so your team or coding agent can investigate a Finding.
Verify documentation →Applitools
Visual AI testing across applications and components
Applitools applies Visual AI to screenshots and rendered interfaces, comparing new results with approved baselines.
What each tool does
“With setup” means you supply code or configuration. “Not confirmed” means support for this workflow needs checking with the vendor.
| Workflow | Composal | Applitools |
|---|---|---|
| Run browser journeys | Yes Run saved browser Scenarios and return recordings and reproducible Findings. | With setup Captures or compares rendered pages through a configured test or visual workflow; confirm the supported runner. |
| Map application workflows | Yes Discovery maps key application areas and user journeys. | Not confirmed Check whether this product includes this workflow in your intended plan and setup. |
| Explore for unexpected issues | Yes Deep Scan explores the running application and reports reproducible issues. | Not confirmed Check whether this product includes this workflow in your intended plan and setup. |
| Describe checks in plain English | Yes Author Scenarios around the intended user outcome, then review the steps and expected results. | Not confirmed Check whether this product includes this workflow in your intended plan and setup. |
| Run or inspect from a terminal | Yes Use the CLI to start and inspect verification runs and their Findings. | Not confirmed Check whether this product includes this workflow in your intended plan and setup. |
| Visual regression baselines | No Use a dedicated tool for this specialist workflow alongside Composal’s browser verification. | Yes Applitools applies Visual AI to screenshots and rendered interfaces, comparing new results with approved baselines. |
Where each fits
Choose Applitools when visual regression across browsers, components, designs, or mobile screens is a release gate.
Try this evaluation
Select a page with a stable visual baseline and a meaningful action such as submitting a form. Run the journey in Composal and capture the resulting Finding or successful Scenario evidence.
- Coverage
- Which user outcomes must this release prove, and which specialist checks must stay in your existing stack?
- Setup
- Who prepares accounts, test data, permissions and access to the deployment being tested?
- Evidence
- Can the engineer reproduce a reported failure from the recording and steps, without asking the tester to investigate again?
- Ownership
- Who updates the checks when the product changes, and can the team review what a passing result actually proves?