Manta vs Reflect
Reflect — acquired by SmartBear in 2024 and now sold as SmartBear Reflect — is a no-code recorder that runs entirely in the cloud, plus visual testing, scheduling, and an AI Prompt feature for writing individual steps in plain English instead of recording them. Manta doesn't record or prompt per step — it explores your app on its own and re-learns it each run, with plain-English checks for whole flows. Choose Reflect for a defined suite (recorded or prompted) with no infrastructure; choose Manta to get coverage without building one.
Manta is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Reflect. All trademarks are property of their respective owners. Feature and pricing details reflect our research as of the date above and may not reflect recent changes — see Reflect's site for current information.
Where Manta wins
- Nothing to record or write per step — Manta explores from a URL instead of capturing steps or authoring AI Prompt steps.
- No suite to maintain as the UI evolves.
- Coverage grows every run, not only where a test was recorded or prompted.
- Autonomous exploration finds breakage in flows nobody recorded.
- A navigation map of the app's real structure, built from each run.
Where Reflect wins
- A polished, approachable no-code recorder with fast test creation.
- An AI Prompt option for writing tricky steps in plain English instead of recording them.
- Fully cloud-hosted execution — no infrastructure to run.
- Visual regression testing and test scheduling built in.
- Scheduled runs and CI integration available today.
- Explicit, editable steps and precise assertions.
Pricing at a glance
| Manta | Reflect | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Usage-based credits per run | Paid SaaS, plan-based (by test count / runs) |
| Free tier | 5 run credits every month, no card | Free trial; no permanent free tier |
| How tests are created | Autonomous exploration + plain-English plans | Record in the browser, or write an AI Prompt step in plain English — no code either way |
| Scheduling / CI | Scheduling and API triggers on the roadmap | Both available today |
| Ongoing maintenance | None — Manta re-explores each run | You maintain the recorded/prompted suite |
Pricing is our reading of public information as of September 13, 2026 and may have changed — confirm current plans directly with Reflect.
What Reflect is
Reflect — acquired by SmartBear in 2024 and now marketed as SmartBear Reflect — is a no-code end-to-end testing tool that runs entirely in the cloud. You record a flow in a browser and Reflect captures it as an editable test, or you write an individual step as an "AI Prompt" in plain English (e.g. "click the login button") and Reflect figures out how to execute it. Either way it handles execution, scheduling, and visual regression checks without any infrastructure on your side.
The model is a defined suite: you build the tests — recorded, prompted, or both — and you keep them current as the app changes.
What Manta is
Manta is an autonomous testing agent. Point it at a URL and it explores your app like a user, builds a behavioural model, and reports what broke — with screenshots and reproduction steps. Nothing is recorded. For flows you want checked every release, you describe them in plain English. See the autonomous testing guide.
How they actually differ
| Manta | Reflect | |
|---|---|---|
| How tests start | Autonomous exploration from a URL | You record a flow, or write an AI Prompt step — no code |
| What you maintain | Nothing | A recorded/prompted test suite |
| Coverage growth | Every run reaches more of the app | Only where a test was recorded or prompted |
| Finds the unexpected | Yes | No — runs the defined set |
| Scheduling / CI | On the roadmap | Available today |
| Extra output | Navigation map of the app | Visual regression diffs |
Where Manta pulls ahead
No recording, no prompting, no suite. Reflect makes recording — or writing an AI Prompt step — easy; it doesn't remove the tests you then own and maintain. Manta re-explores each run. Why script maintenance doesn't scale applies.
Breadth. Every Manta run maps more of the app and catches breakage nobody recorded a test for.
Time to value. Reflect needs recorded flows first. Manta needs a URL — first run here.
Where Reflect is the stronger choice
- Scheduling and CI today. If you need tests running on a schedule or in your pipeline right now, Reflect has it and Manta doesn't yet.
- A precise recorded suite. Explicit steps and assertions you can open and edit.
- An AI Prompt option for writing a tricky step in plain English instead of recording it — still one step in one test you own.
- Dedicated visual testing controls.
- A very approachable recorder for teams that want the recorded-test model without hosting anything.
Using them together
Keep Reflect for a set of scheduled, precise recorded checks; add Manta for autonomous regression breadth across the rest of the app.
The bottom line
Reflect is a good fit if you want a clean no-code recorder with scheduling and no infrastructure. Manta is the better fit if you'd rather skip recording entirely and let an agent re-learn your app each run — with plain-English checks where you need them.
Manta vs Reflect: frequently asked questions
See what Manta finds in your app
Point it at a URL — no scripts, no selectors, no setup. Start free, no credit card.