regex101 vs BrowserUtils

regex101 is an online regex tester and debugger that supports 10 regex flavors, including PCRE2, JavaScript, Python, Go, Java, .NET and Rust. It explains patterns token by token, and a paid Pro plan adds extra tools.

Quick comparison

Factregex101BrowserUtils
Runs whereIn the browserIn the browser (1 tool needs a server and is labeled)
Sign-upOptionalNot needed
AdsSomeNo third-party ads (one small note per page about our own products)
PlatformWeb (works offline once cached)Web, works on mobile
Open sourceNoNo
PriceFree; Pro €4.99/mo billed yearlyFree
Tools1 tool299

Checked

Where regex101 is better

  • Tests against 10 regex flavors (PCRE2, JavaScript, Python, Go, Java, .NET, Rust, POSIX ERE and BRE, legacy PCRE). BrowserUtils' tester uses your browser's JavaScript engine only.
  • Substitution, unit tests, a step-by-step debugger and a code generator in one workspace.
  • Save a regex to a shareable link, or browse and publish to a public library of community patterns.

Where BrowserUtils is better

  • Railroad diagrams are free: the regex visualizer draws any pattern as a diagram, which regex101 keeps for Pro.
  • No ads and no paid tier. regex101 shows a Carbon ad on its free plan and puts benchmarking, formatting and more than two test strings behind Pro.
  • Separate pages for testing, plain-English explanation, diagrams, common ready-made patterns and a cheatsheet, each with its own URL.
  • Paste a /pattern/flags literal into the search box on any page and choose to test, explain or draw it.

Tools on both

Regex Tester
Test and debug regular expressions with live matching
Regex Explainer
Get plain English explanations of regex patterns
Regex Visualizer
Visualize regex as a railroad diagram with explanations
Regex Cheatsheet
Regex syntax quick reference

Try BrowserUtils, free.

299 tools. No sign-up. Almost all of them run entirely in your browser.

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