HeadSpin vs XCUITest

Quote on request

Free

Enterprise quote-based licensing.

Free with Xcode, but requires macOS hardware for every CI runner — that is the real cost.

Trial on request.

Included with Xcode.

Emerging

HeadSpin · since 2015

Category standard

Apple · since 2015

• Genuine real-carrier-network testing across many countries.
• Performance and media-quality instrumentation no functional tool provides.
• Strong fit for streaming, gaming and telecom use cases.

• Fastest and most reliable option on iOS, with no third-party layer to break.
• Native accessibility-hierarchy access and built-in test recording.
• Guaranteed to keep working with each iOS release.

• Expensive and enterprise-only.
• Overspecified for teams that only need functional pass/fail.
• Complex platform requiring onboarding effort.

• iOS and macOS only, and Swift only.
• Requires macOS CI runners, which are expensive to rent or own.
• Element queries are less expressive than modern web locators.

Media, gaming and telecom companies where network-dependent quality is the product.

iOS teams that ship native and want first-party reliability.