Chromatic

Freemium

Visual testing and review platform built on Storybook.

Visit website GitHub

Pricing

Freemium

Type

Automation

Languages

JavaScript, TypeScript

// VERDICT

Reach for Chromatic when you use Storybook and want managed visual + interaction testing with review workflows and hosted docs. Skip it when you don't use Storybook, want free self-run visual testing (BackstopJS/Loki), or page-level AI diffing (Applitools).

Best for

A managed visual and interaction testing service built for Storybook (by its maintainers) - snapshotting every story across browsers/viewports, with review workflows and component documentation hosting.

Avoid when

You don't use Storybook, you want a free self-run tool, or AI-based diffing across arbitrary pages.

CI/CD fit

CI integration · snapshots per story · review/approval workflow

Languages

JavaScript · TypeScript

Team fit

Storybook teams · Frontend QA · Component-driven teams

Setup

Easy

Maintenance

Low

Learning

Beginner

Licence

Freemium

// BEST FOR

Visual + interaction testing for every Storybook story
Cross-browser/viewport snapshots in the cloud
Review and approval workflows for visual changes
Hosting Storybook as living documentation
Catching component visual regressions per PR
Built by the Storybook maintainers

// AVOID WHEN

You don't use Storybook
You want a free, self-run tool (BackstopJS/Loki)
Page-level AI diffing is the need (Applitools)
You can't send snapshots to a cloud service
Minimal/no-platform is preferred
Non-component, full-page testing is the goal

// QUICK START

Connect Chromatic to your Storybook + CI (project token) -> it snapshots stories
on each build -> review/approve visual changes -> gate PRs on the workflow.

// ALTERNATIVES TO CONSIDER

Tool	Choose it when
Percy	You want visual testing across pages/frameworks, not just Storybook.
Loki	You want free, self-run Storybook visual testing.
Applitools	You want AI visual diffing across browsers/devices.