Browserbase vs Playwright

Browserbase and Playwright are both in Browser and automation in this directory. The table repeats the description, category, transport, auth, publisher mark, and links stored on each listing. A field this directory does not have says Not listed. This page is not a ranking and does not add features, prices, or test results.

Browserbase listing Playwright listing

Browserbase vs Playwright
Field	Browserbase	Playwright
Description	Browserbase is an MCP server for browser automation in the cloud, including navigation and data extraction. The README says the published server copy is archived and is not the current production service.	Microsoft's official Playwright MCP server for browser automation through structured accessibility snapshots.
Category	Browser and automation	Browser and automation
Transport	STDIO and SHTTP. The hosted example uses type http. The self-hosted --port flag is described as HTTP/SHTTP.	The standard config is a local npx command. A Cline example sets type stdio. The options table says --port listens for SSE transport. The standalone section says --port enables HTTP at http://localhost:8931/mcp.
Auth	The hosted example sets no API key in the client JSON. The README says Browserbase hosts that server and provides the LLM costs for Gemini. Self-hosted config sets BROWSERBASE_API_KEY, BROWSERBASE_PROJECT_ID, and GEMINI_API_KEY. A custom model requires --modelApiKey.	The standard config and the --port example set no API key. The README documents a --secrets flag for a dotenv file and does not describe an MCP login.
Publisher	Not listed	Official
Listing link	https://github.com/browserbase/mcp-server-browserbase	https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp
Repository	https://github.com/browserbase/mcp-server-browserbase	https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp
Homepage	https://www.browserbase.com/	Not listed
Source	https://github.com/browserbase/mcp-server-browserbase/blob/main/README.md	https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp/blob/main/README.md

Connect it: Browserbase

from vendor docs, not tested by us

Source: Browserbase MCP server README

The README recommends the hosted URL and names npx @browserbasehq/mcp for the self-hosted server.

Remote URL

Claude Desktop

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "browserbase": {
      "url": "https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

claude mcp add --transport http browserbase "https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp"

Cursor

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "browserbase": {
      "url": "https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

VS Code

{
  "servers": {
    "browserbase": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Local command

Claude Desktop

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "browserbase": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@browserbasehq/mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

claude mcp add browserbase -- npx @browserbasehq/mcp

Cursor

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "browserbase": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@browserbasehq/mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

VS Code

{
  "servers": {
    "browserbase": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@browserbasehq/mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Connect it: Playwright

from vendor docs, not tested by us

Source: Playwright MCP README

Local command

Claude Desktop

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

claude mcp add playwright -- npx @playwright/mcp@latest

Cursor

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

VS Code

{
  "servers": {
    "playwright": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}