Playwright vs Selenium in 2026: Which Should You Choose? — Playwright has overtaken Selenium as the preferred browser automation tool for most Python developers in 2026.
Head-to-Head Comparison
| Feature | Playwright | Selenium |
|---|---|---|
| Speed | Very Fast | Slower |
| Auto-wait | Built-in | Manual |
| Browser Support | Chromium, Firefox, WebKit | Many (but heavier) |
| Async Support | Excellent | Limited |
Modern Setup with uv
uv add playwright
playwright install
Basic Example
from playwright.async_api import async_playwright
async with async_playwright() as p:
browser = await p.chromium.launch(headless=False)
page = await browser.new_page()
await page.goto("https://example.com")
await page.screenshot(path="screenshot.png")
Conclusion
In 2026, **Playwright is the clear winner** for new projects — faster, more reliable, and actively maintained.
Link to your other automation & modern tools articles.