Side-by-side at a glance
| Criteria | No-code AI Tests | Stably SDK | 
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Fastest path to reliable tests without code | Full Playwright API plus Stably’s AI layer | 
| Setup effort | None—everything runs in Stably’s cloud | Install NPM package and manage Playwright config | 
| How you build | Record flows, generate with AI, drag-and-drop steps | Code in your IDE with Playwright fixtures and helpers | 
| Collaboration | Great for QA, PMs, and engineers working together | Ideal for engineering-led teams building reusable modules | 
| Where it runs | Managed cloud runners with zero infra | Your CI/CD, local machines, or Stably cloud | 
| Best for | Quick coverage, exploratory or UI workflows | Complex apps, custom data setup, deep integrations | 
When to stay in the no-code editor
- Launch your first suite quickly with recording and AI-generated steps—no repository or tooling required.
- Rely on Stably’s cloud scale to run tests in parallel without maintaining infrastructure.
- Use AI assertions, AI actions, and auto-heal to express intent at a high level and reduce flakiness.
- Collaborate with teammates who prefer a visual editor while still exporting results, logs, and screenshots.
- Iterate on flows that change often; the editor’s abstraction and healing keep maintenance low.
When to adopt Stably SDK
- You need the entire Playwright API along with custom fixtures, helpers, or page objects.
- Tests must live alongside application code with version control, code review, and branching.
- Your CI/CD pipeline, local debugging, or advanced test data orchestration demands code.
- You want to reuse existing Playwright suites while adding AI assertions, AI actions, and auto-heal.
- Teams require granular control over dependencies, secrets, and runtime environments.
Transition without rewrites
- Build or prototype flows in the no-code editor to move fast and validate coverage.
- Export any no-code test to Playwright when you need code-level control.
- Replace @playwright/testwith@stablyai/playwright-testto keep AI features in code.
- Continue running tests in Stably’s cloud or in your own infrastructure—the runners are interchangeable.
Recommended starting point
- Start in no-code for fast wins, onboarding non-developers, and validating core user journeys.
- Graduate individual tests—or entire suites—to Stably SDK when customization, reuse, or deep integrations outweigh the simplicity of the editor.
- Revisit no-code for exploratory coverage or when product teams want to contribute tests without writing code.