# Applitools vs Argos

> Choose Argos if you want deterministic pixel diffs you can inspect, a published monthly price and open-source code. Choose Applitools if you run very large cross-browser suites, want Visual AI to judge the noise, and an annual contract fits your budget.

Canonical: https://argos-ci.com/compare/applitools

Migration guide: https://argos-ci.com/docs/learn/how-to-guides/migrate-to-argos/from-applitools

## Verdict

Choose Argos if:

- You want to see exactly which pixels changed, with a threshold you set.
- You want a published price, billed monthly: $100/month for 35,000 screenshots.
- You want screenshots captured in your own CI browser.
- You want open-source code.

Choose Applitools if:

- You run very large suites across many browsers and devices, and want Visual AI to filter rendering noise.
- You need an enterprise plan with a dedicated or private cloud.
- You want AI-driven functional testing and codeless authoring in the same platform.

## Feature comparison

| Feature | Argos | Applitools |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **[Monthly pricing](https://argos-ci.com/pricing)** — How much it costs per month | $100/mo | From $667/mo |
| **[Snapshot testing for any file](https://argos-ci.com/diff)** — Diff Markdown, JSON, HTML and more, not just images | Yes | No |
| **[Deployments & PR previews](https://argos-ci.com/deploy)** — Host Storybook or any static build on a live URL | Yes | No |
| **[Collaborative reviews](https://argos-ci.com/review)** — Pinned comments, threads, reactions, real-time presence | Yes | Yes |
| **[Agent-ready CLI & API](https://argos-ci.com/ai-agents)** — Agents inspect and review builds from the CLI and REST API | Yes | MCP (Playwright) |
| **[Playwright debugging](https://argos-ci.com/stabilize#debug)** — Playwright trace viewer and failure screenshots | Yes | No |
| **[Playwright test retries](https://argos-ci.com/changelog/2024-04-29-retried-failures)** — Separate test retries to have a clear overview | Yes | No |
| **[GitHub SSO](https://argos-ci.com/changelog/2024-02-28-github-sso)** — Synchronize your GitHub users with Argos | Yes | No |
| **[Spend Management](https://argos-ci.com/docs/learn/billing-and-subscription/spend-management)** — Control your spendings by setting a budget limit | Yes | No |
| **[Open Source](https://github.com/argos-ci)** — SDK and platform code available | Yes | No |
| **[GitHub integration without code access](https://argos-ci.com/docs/learn/integrations/github-integration)** — Offer a mode without content permission required | Yes | No |
| **[Sensitivity threshold per screenshot](https://argos-ci.com/changelog/2024-07-09-sensitivity-threshold)** — Set a threshold by screenshot to reduce flakiness | Yes | Match levels |
| **[GitHub Actions partial re-runs](https://argos-ci.com/changelog/2024-06-17-partial-re-runs-github-actions)** — Save time and resources with partial re-runs | Yes | No |
| **[Monitoring mode](https://argos-ci.com/changelog/2024-05-28-monitoring-mode)** — Run periodic checks on your website | Yes | Yes |

Sources for Applitools: [Applitools pricing](https://applitools.com/pricing/), [Match levels](https://applitools.com/docs/eyes/concepts/best-practices/match-levels), [Remarks and issues](https://applitools.com/docs/eyes/concepts/team-collaboration/remarks-&-issues), [Applitools MCP server](https://applitools.com/docs/eyes/integrations/mcp-servers/applitools-mcp) (checked 2026-10-04).

## Pricing

Argos Pro is $100/month including 35,000 screenshots, then $0.004 per extra screenshot ($0.0015 for Storybook screenshots).

Applitools Starter is $667/month, paid annually, for 100,000 component or 1,000 page checkpoints (applitools.com/pricing, checked October 2026).

Argos pricing in full: https://argos-ci.com/pricing

## Frequently asked questions

### Is Argos a good Applitools alternative?

For product teams that want visual review on every pull request, yes: Argos captures screenshots in your CI browser, diffs them deterministically and puts the review on the pull request, at a published monthly price. Applitools is the better fit for very large suites across many browsers and devices, where its Visual AI and enterprise plans earn their cost.

### How does Visual AI compare with Argos's pixel diffing?

Applitools' Visual AI decides which differences matter, with match levels (Strict, Layout, Content, Exact) set per checkpoint or region. Argos compares pixels with the open-source odiff engine and a threshold from 0 to 1 that you set, after stabilizing the page before capture. Same input, same result, and you can see exactly which pixels changed.

### How much does Applitools cost compared to Argos?

Applitools publishes one price: Starter at $667 a month, paid annually, for 100,000 component checkpoints or 1,000 page checkpoints. Professional and Enterprise plans are quoted by sales. Argos publishes all of its prices: a free Hobby plan for personal projects with 5,000 screenshots a month, and Pro at $100/month flat with 35,000 screenshots included, billed monthly. Custom plans are available for large volumes.

### Where are screenshots captured?

Applitools' SDKs either upload screenshots taken locally (the Classic runner) or send DOM snapshots that Applitools renders in its cloud (the Ultrafast Grid). Argos always uses the screenshot your test took, in your CI browser.

### Can AI agents use Applitools and Argos?

Both have an MCP server. The Applitools Eyes MCP server sets up Eyes, adds checkpoints and fetches results, for Playwright in JavaScript and TypeScript. Argos has an [MCP server, a CLI and a REST API](https://argos-ci.com/ai-agents) with JSON output, for any SDK, so an agent can inspect a build and submit a review.

### How do I migrate from Applitools to Argos?

Replace the Eyes checkpoints in your tests with argosScreenshot() calls from the Argos SDK for your framework, and set ARGOS_TOKEN in CI. The [migration guide](https://argos-ci.com/docs/learn/how-to-guides/migrate-to-argos/from-applitools) maps the concepts step by step.

Ready to switch to Argos? Get started for free, no credit card required: https://app.argos-ci.com/signup