# Composal vs Karate

Karate is a programmable framework for service-level checks and automation.

## 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](https://composal.com/docs/verify)

## Karate

Code-based API test automation and service tooling

Karate is a framework for API testing with a readable feature-file syntax, request construction, response assertions, data-driven scenarios, and parallel execution.

## What each tool does

| Workflow | Composal | Karate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Run browser journeys](https://composal.com/product/scenarios) | ✓ Yes: Run saved browser Scenarios and return recordings and reproducible Findings. | ✓ Yes: Karate UI Testing provides browser automation in addition to API tests. |
| [Map application workflows](https://composal.com/product/discovery) | ✓ 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](https://composal.com/product/deep-scan) | ✓ 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](https://composal.com/product/scenarios) | ✓ Yes: Author Scenarios around the intended user outcome, then review the steps and expected results. | – With setup: Define steps and assertions in structured feature files. |
| [Run or inspect from a terminal](https://composal.com/product/cli) | ✓ Yes: Use the CLI to start and inspect verification runs and their Findings. | ✓ Yes: Execute Karate tests from its command-line runner. |
| API and protocol testing | × No: Use a dedicated tool for this specialist workflow alongside Composal’s browser verification. | ✓ Yes: Karate is a framework for API testing with a readable feature-file syntax, request construction, response assertions, data-driven scenarios, and parallel execution. |

With setup means you supply code or configuration. Not confirmed means support for this workflow needs checking with the vendor.

## Where each fits

Choose Karate when API tests need code-level control, readable scenarios, reusable features, or integration into an existing JVM/CI setup.

## Try this evaluation

Model one checkout or approval flow in Karate with response and authorization assertions, then define the matching web outcome in Composal. Introduce an API contract defect and a frontend state defect separately.

### 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?

## Related comparisons

- [Composal vs Grafana k6](https://composal.com/compare/composal-vs-grafana-k6.md)
- [Composal vs Apache JMeter](https://composal.com/compare/composal-vs-apache-jmeter.md)
- [Composal vs Gatling](https://composal.com/compare/composal-vs-gatling.md)

[All comparisons](https://composal.com/compare.md)