# Chromatic vs Argos

> Learn how Argos compares to Chromatic and why Argos is the best alternative for visual testing.

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

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

## Feature comparison

| Feature | Argos | Chromatic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **[Monthly pricing](https://argos-ci.com/pricing)** — How much it costs per month | $100/mo | $179/mo |
| **[Snapshot testing for any file](https://argos-ci.com/visual-testing)** — Diff Markdown, JSON, HTML and more, not just images | Yes | No |
| **[Deployments & PR previews](https://argos-ci.com/deployments)** — Host Storybook or any static build on a live URL | Yes | Storybook only |
| **[Collaborative reviews](https://argos-ci.com/collaborative-reviews)** — 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 | No |
| **[Screenshot in Play function](https://argos-ci.com/docs/sdks-reference/storybook#interactions-using-the-play-function)** — Take screenshots during the test | Yes | No |
| **No time-limit for Play function** — Take screenshots of long-running tests | Yes | No |
| **[Playwright debugging](https://argos-ci.com/test-debugging)** — 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 | No |
| **[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 |
| **[High screenshot quality](https://argos-ci.com/changelog/2024-06-13-enhanced-screenshot-quality)** — Don’t miss any detail with enhanced quality | Yes | No |
| **[Monitoring mode](https://argos-ci.com/changelog/2024-05-28-monitoring-mode)** — Run periodic checks on your website | Yes | Yes |
| **Beautiful and intuitive UI** — Designed to be effective | Yes | Yes |

## Pricing

Argos Pro is $100/month including 35,000 screenshots, then $0.004 per extra screenshot ($0.0015 for Storybook screenshots). The estimate uses the same assumptions as the calculator on the page: Chromatic at $179/month for 35,000 screenshots, then $399/month for 85,000 screenshots, and $0.008 per additional screenshot.

| Screenshots per month | Argos | Chromatic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 10,000 | $100 | $179 |
| 50,000 | $160 | $299 |
| 100,000 | $360 | $519 |

Our estimation is based on the assumption that you have 80% Turbosnap.

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

## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between a snapshot and a screenshot?

Chromatic uses snapshots generated from Storybook stories and renders them in cloud browsers. This method ensures consistency but can sometimes result in minor variations, especially with dynamic content. Argos works by comparing screenshots sent by the user. If a difference is detected, you can easily update your test to avoid false positives.

### Are Chromatic tests flaky?

Flaky tests are a significant issue in visual testing, and each product has its own way of addressing this problem. Chromatic uses a combination of techniques to minimize flakiness, including automatic retries and advanced algorithms to detect and ignore minor variations. Argos uses an algorithm that waits for page stabilization before taking a screenshot. This algorithm is open-source and embedded in every Argos integration.

### How do Chromatic and Argos manage baselines?

Both Chromatic and Argos allow you to manage baselines relative to git pull requests for feature development or to plan comparison workflows, recommended for QA / SDET involved in testing.

### Can I parallelize uploads?

Chromatic supports parallelized tests by default, but additional configurations may be needed for optimized performance. Argos also supports parallel uploads, and it's included in the standard pricing.

### Are Chromatic and Argos compatible with my CI?

Both Chromatic and Argos are compatible with most CI systems on the market.

### Can I control team members' access?

Both Chromatic and Argos allow you to control team members' access and permissions for each project.

### Why is Chromatic pricing higher than Argos?

Chromatic provides extensive integration with Storybook, Playwright, and Cypress, and offers features like TurboSnap, responsive viewport testing, and broad browser coverage, which can contribute to higher operational costs. Argos offers transparent and affordable pricing, designed to be accessible for projects of all sizes. Custom pricing options are available for specific features or dedicated support requests.

### What makes Argos community-driven?

Argos was founded by passionate developers. We actively engage with our users to discuss feature requests and understand their usage, ensuring our product roadmap aligns with real-world needs.

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