{ "data": { "a": { "slug": "browserbase", "name": "Browserbase", "vendor": "Browserbase", "vendorUrl": "https://www.browserbase.com", "kind": "http-api", "category": "browser", "summary": "Hosted headless browsers for agents over CDP, plus Fetch and Search APIs and the Stagehand framework.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/browserbase", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/browserbase.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/browserbase.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/browserbase.json", "repo": "https://github.com/browserbase/stagehand", "license": "MIT (Stagehand)", "transports": [ "http", "streamable-http" ], "remoteUrl": "https://api.browserbase.com/v1", "packages": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "@browserbasehq/stagehand" } ], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "`X-BB-API-Key` header. Browsers connect over CDP at wss://connect.browserbase.com.", "pricing": "freemium", "pricingNotes": "Free with 1 browser-hour, 3 concurrent browsers, 1,000 Fetch and 1,000 Search calls and 7-day recording retention. Developer $20 a month with 100 hours then $0.12 an hour, 25 concurrent. Startup $99 with 500 hours then $0.10, 100 concurrent, 10,000 Fetch calls then $0.50 per 1,000. Fetch $1 per 1,000 on Developer, $4 with proxies, Search $7 per 1,000, proxies $10 to $12 a GB. Keyless x402 sessions at $0.12 an hour in USDC on Base (https://www.browserbase.com/pricing, https://docs.browserbase.com/integrations/x402/introduction.md).", "priceSummary": "$0.12 / browser-hr", "where": "hosted", "x402": { "level": "yes", "evidence": "x402 on https://x402.browserbase.com for browser sessions only, $0.12 an hour in USDC on Base, no account or API key, unused minutes refunded on terminate (https://docs.browserbase.com/integrations/x402/introduction.md, checked 2026-10-01). Fetch, Search and api.browserbase.com aren't covered. Also an MPP seller per Stripe's 18 March 2026 post.", "endpoints": [ { "url": "https://x402.browserbase.com/browser/session/create", "priceUsd": null, "network": "" }, { "url": "https://x402.browserbase.com/browser/session/:id/status", "priceUsd": null, "network": "" }, { "url": "https://x402.browserbase.com/browser/session/:id/extend", "priceUsd": null, "network": "" }, { "url": "https://x402.browserbase.com/browser/session/:id/terminate", "priceUsd": null, "network": "" } ] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": 25400, "npmWeekly": null, "pypiWeekly": null, "asOf": "2026-09-26" }, "docsUrl": "https://docs.browserbase.com", "llmsTxt": "https://docs.browserbase.com/llms.txt", "openapi": "https://docs.browserbase.com/reference/api/openapi.v1.yaml", "capabilities": [ "browser.hosted", "browser.control", "web.fetch", "web.search", "web.scrape" ], "tags": [ "official", "hosted", "freemium", "no-card", "x402", "mpp", "openapi", "llms-txt", "mcp" ], "lastRelease": "2026-09-09", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 76.2, "grade": "BB", "agentReady": true, "rank": 35, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 629, "categoryRank": 3, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 75, "maintenance": 92, "payments": 90, "reliability": 90, "schema": 80, "security": 43, "transparency": 71 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-01" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "x402 sessions at x402.browserbase.com with no account, $0.12 an hour, unused minutes refunded. The hosted MCP setup page passes the API key as `?browserbaseApiKey=` in the URL.", "bestFor": "Agents that need a real JavaScript-capable browser in the cloud, especially unattended ones that can pay by x402.", "strengths": [ "x402 sessions at x402.browserbase.com with no account, $0.12 an hour, unused minutes refunded", "Per-plan concurrency and session-creation limits, with Retry-After and a documented backoff helper", "OpenAPI 3.0.0, llms.txt and a dated changelog with 12 entries since 13 July 2026", "SOC 2 Type II, HIPAA BAA, per-browser VMs and a valid PGP-signed security.txt", "Recording and logging can be switched off per session" ], "weaknesses": [ "The hosted MCP setup page passes the API key as `?browserbaseApiKey=` in the URL", "No scopes or rotation guide for API keys, and no SLA published", "Hosted MCP tools have one-line descriptions and no annotations", "Privacy policy last updated 1 June 2024 says 30-day recordings, the pricing page says 7 days on Free", "The open-source MCP repository was archived on 20 July 2026 but the setup page still describes self-hosting it" ], "agentNotes": [ "Use x402.browserbase.com when you have a wallet and no key. Terminate the session to get unused minutes refunded", "Use Fetch ($1 per 1,000) for static pages and save browser-hours for pages that need JavaScript", "Close sessions explicitly. Each session bills at least one minute, and idle ones keep billing", "Set `recordSession` and `logSession` to false when pages hold personal data", "On 429, wait `retry-after` seconds before creating another session" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 8, "avgRating": 3.4, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "BB", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 76.2 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 75, "maintenance": 92, "payments": 90, "reliability": 90, "schema": 80, "security": 43, "transparency": 49 }, "provenanceScore": 93 }, "connect": { "install": "npm i @browserbasehq/stagehand", "claudeCode": "claude mcp add --transport http browserbase https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/browser.hosted", "tool": "https://letme.dev/browserbase" }, "area": "developer", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Browser, Developer plan", "unit": "browser-hour", "usd": 0.12 }, { "item": "Browser, Startup plan", "unit": "browser-hour", "usd": 0.1 }, { "item": "Browser by x402", "unit": "browser-hour", "usd": 0.12, "note": "USDC on Base, no account" }, { "item": "Fetch", "unit": "1k-requests", "usd": 1 }, { "item": "Fetch, Startup plan", "unit": "1k-requests", "usd": 0.5 }, { "item": "Fetch with proxy", "unit": "1k-requests", "usd": 4 }, { "item": "Search", "unit": "1k-requests", "usd": 7 }, { "item": "Proxy traffic, Developer", "unit": "gb", "usd": 12 }, { "item": "Developer plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 20, "note": "100 browser-hours" }, { "item": "Startup plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 99, "note": "500 browser-hours" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Browserbase, Inc.", "domain": "browserbase.com", "domainRegistered": "2002-08-13", "domainNote": "browserbase.com was registered in 2002, long before the company.", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://www.browserbase.com/terms-of-service", "privacy": "https://www.browserbase.com/privacy-policy", "statusPage": "https://status.browserbase.com", "changelog": "https://www.browserbase.com/changelog", "securityTxt": "valid", "checked": "2026-09-26", "score": 93 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/browserbase.json", "live": { "slug": "browserbase", "probe": { "target": "https://api.browserbase.com/v1", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-08T18:20:26.902983405Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 404, "lastMs": 429, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 449, "p95ms24h": 538, "samples24h": 272, "samples30d": 3080, "days": [ { "date": "2026-09-27", "probes": 132, "ok": 132 }, { "date": "2026-09-28", "probes": 285, "ok": 285 }, { "date": "2026-09-29", "probes": 286, "ok": 286 }, { "date": "2026-09-30", "probes": 286, "ok": 286 }, { "date": "2026-10-01", "probes": 276, "ok": 276 }, { "date": "2026-10-02", "probes": 248, "ok": 248 }, { "date": "2026-10-03", "probes": 271, "ok": 271 }, { "date": "2026-10-04", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-05", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-06", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-07", "probes": 272, "ok": 272 }, { "date": "2026-10-08", "probes": 208, "ok": 208 } ] }, "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.browserbase.com", "indicator": "none", "summary": "All Systems Operational", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:21:50.979260465Z" }, "versions": [ { "registry": "github", "name": "browserbase/stagehand", "version": "@browserbasehq/stagehand@3.7.3", "released": "2026-08-28", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:04:03.132417744Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@browserbasehq/stagehand", "version": "4.1.0", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:03:59.424724661Z" } ], "githubStars": 25575, "npmWeekly": 2079741, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://browserbase.com/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "valid", "expires": "2027-06-01T07:00:00.000Z", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T15:38:48.603309215Z" }, "llmsTxt": { "url": "https://docs.browserbase.com/llms.txt", "ok": true, "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T14:00:09.356321304Z" }, "domain": { "domain": "browserbase.com", "registered": "2002-08-13", "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/browserbase.com", "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:08:25.076716934Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://www.browserbase.com/changelog", "kind": "changelog", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-07T18:11:12.371482942Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-01T13:16:50.010743856Z", "fingerprint": "cdaeb426a47b" }, { "url": "https://www.browserbase.com/pricing", "kind": "pricing", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-07T18:11:15.182985661Z", "changedAt": "2026-10-02T15:25:49.435902867Z", "fingerprint": "e861cca655df" }, { "url": "https://www.browserbase.com/privacy-policy", "kind": "privacy", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-07T18:11:17.202782968Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "ed395a888780" }, { "url": "https://www.browserbase.com/terms-of-service", "kind": "terms", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-07T18:11:19.063406784Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "cf3ed1b2bbee" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T18:21:50.979260465Z" } }, "answer": "Browserbase scores 76.2 (BB) on agent readiness against Steel's 70.4 (BB), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Steel leads on schema \u0026 documentation and security \u0026 auth.", "b": { "slug": "steel", "name": "Steel", "vendor": "Nen Labs, Inc.", "vendorUrl": "https://steel.dev", "kind": "http-api", "category": "browser", "summary": "Steel runs cloud browser sessions for AI agents, controlled through a REST API, a CDP WebSocket, SDKs, a CLI and an official MCP server. Its browser runtime, steel-browser, is open source and can be self-hosted.", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/steel", "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/steel.md", "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/steel.min.md", "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/steel.json", "repo": "https://github.com/steel-dev/steel-browser", "license": "Proprietary cloud service under Steel's terms. steel-browser and the Node and Python SDKs are Apache-2.0. The MCP server and the CLI are MIT", "transports": [ "http", "stdio" ], "remoteUrl": "https://api.steel.dev", "packages": [ { "registry": "npm", "name": "steel-sdk" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "steel-sdk" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@steel-dev/cli" } ], "auth": "api-key", "authNotes": "Self-serve API key from the dashboard at app.steel.dev, sent in the `steel-api-key` header. Keys are named, shown once and revoked by deletion, and the dashboard shows when each was last used. A global key covers the whole organisation, and `POST /v1/api-keys` lets a global key create keys bound to one project. No per-permission scopes were found. CDP connections pass the key as the `apiKey` query parameter on `wss://connect.steel.dev`. The x402 endpoints need no key. A self-hosted steel-browser needs no key.", "pricing": "freemium", "pricingNotes": "Launch is $0 plus usage with $30 of one-time credit valid for 90 days, and the quickstart says no card is required. Browser time is $0.10 an hour on Launch and $0.08 on Scale ($250 a month with $100 of monthly credit), billed by the minute and rounded up. Proxy traffic is $10 or $6 a GB, CAPTCHA solves $3 or $1 per 1,000, and scrape, screenshot and PDF calls $5 per 1,000. CAPTCHA solving and managed proxies on Launch need $10 of paid balance. The same three calls cost $0.01 each by x402. Enterprise is priced through sales. Self-hosted steel-browser is free (https://docs.steel.dev/overview/pricinglimits, checked 2026-10-08).", "priceSummary": "$0.01 / call", "where": "both", "x402": { "level": "yes", "evidence": "x402 version 2 on https://x402.steel.dev for scrape, screenshot and PDF at $0.01 a call in USDC on Base or Solana, with no account or API key (https://docs.steel.dev/integrations/x402). An unpaid POST to /v1/scrape on 2026-10-08 returned 402 with a payment-required header for 10000 base units on eip155:8453 and Solana mainnet. The header names https://api.paysponge.com/v1/scrape as the resource, so a third party appears to run the payment layer. Browser sessions and api.steel.dev aren't covered.", "endpoints": [ { "url": "https://x402.steel.dev/v1/scrape", "priceUsd": 0.01, "network": "eip155:8453" }, { "url": "https://x402.steel.dev/v1/screenshot", "priceUsd": 0.01, "network": "eip155:8453" }, { "url": "https://x402.steel.dev/v1/pdf", "priceUsd": 0.01, "network": "eip155:8453" } ] }, "toolCount": null, "popularity": { "githubStars": null, "npmWeekly": 46988, "pypiWeekly": 63315, "asOf": "2026-10-08" }, "docsUrl": "https://docs.steel.dev", "llmsTxt": "https://docs.steel.dev/llms.txt", "openapi": "https://docs.steel.dev/openapi.json", "capabilities": [ "browser.control", "browser.hosted", "browser.debug", "web.scrape", "web.fetch", "scraping.proxies", "scraping.anti-bot", "pdf.generate" ], "tags": [ "official", "hosted", "self-hosted", "open-source", "freemium", "no-card", "x402", "openapi", "llms-txt", "mcp", "python", "typescript", "proxies", "status-page" ], "lastRelease": "2026-10-02", "graded": true, "anchor": { "graded": true, "score": 70.4, "grade": "BB", "agentReady": true, "rank": 129, "ranked": true, "rankOf": 629, "categoryRank": 5, "methodology": "0.4", "run": "2026-10-01", "scores": { "ergonomics": 79, "maintenance": 82, "payments": 75, "reliability": 58, "schema": 86, "security": 56, "transparency": 64 }, "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "assessment": { "confidence": "medium", "date": "2026-10-08" }, "negative": 0, "verdict": "The hosted API has a public OpenAPI document, per-unit prices, $30 of starting credit and x402 payment for scrape, screenshot and PDF calls. The status page records three API or session-creation incidents of more than an hour in 90 days, and the documented CDP connection puts the API key in the URL.", "bestFor": "Agents that need a real cloud browser with persistent profiles, stored logins, CAPTCHA solving and a human takeover path, and teams that want an open-source runtime they can also self-host.", "strengths": [ "OpenAPI 3.0.3 document with 75 operations, llms.txt and a Markdown twin of every docs page", "x402 at x402.steel.dev for scrape, screenshot and PDF at $0.01 a call in USDC on Base or Solana, with no account", "Per-unit prices published without login, and $30 of one-time credit on the Launch plan", "Official MCP server with 16 annotated tools, a three-tool scrape profile and page content fenced as untrusted", "steel-browser, the browser runtime, is Apache-2.0 and self-hostable with Docker" ], "weaknesses": [ "Three incidents of more than an hour hit the API or session creation in the 90 days to 8 October 2026, the longest 5 hours 41 minutes", "The documented CDP connection passes the API key as `apiKey` in the `wss://connect.steel.dev` URL", "x402 covers the three one-shot endpoints only, so a browser session needs an account and a key", "The MCP server is not on npm or in the MCP registry, and `mcp.steel.dev` is not live per its README", "No deprecation policy or security.txt found, and the trust centre did not render for our reader" ], "agentNotes": [ "Use `POST /v1/scrape` for pages you only need to read. It starts no session and costs $5 per 1,000 calls, or $0.01 a call by x402", "Release every session with `POST /v1/sessions/{id}/release` and set `inactivityTimeout`. Browser time bills by the minute, rounded up", "Build the CDP URL as `wss://connect.steel.dev?apiKey=\u003ckey\u003e\u0026sessionId=\u003cid\u003e` and keep it out of logs, because it carries the key", "Launch sessions end after 15 minutes at most, and `timeout` cannot be changed on a live session", "CAPTCHA solving and Steel's managed proxies on Launch need $10 of paid balance. Free credit does not count" ], "metrics": { "kind": "remote", "measured": false }, "reviewCount": 0, "avgRating": 0, "history": [ { "basis": "public evidence", "confidence": "medium", "grade": "BB", "methodology": "0.4", "pending": [ "performance", "tasks" ], "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run", "score": 70.4 } ], "editorialScores": { "ergonomics": 79, "maintenance": 82, "payments": 75, "reliability": 58, "schema": 86, "security": 56, "transparency": 52 }, "provenanceScore": 75 }, "connect": { "install": "npm install steel-sdk", "http": "curl -X POST https://api.steel.dev/v1/scrape -H \"steel-api-key: YOUR_KEY\" -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" -d '{\"url\": \"https://example.com\"}'", "claudeCode": "claude mcp add steel -e STEEL_API_KEY=your-steel-api-key -- npx -y github:steel-dev/steel-mcp-server", "config": { "mcpServers": { "steel": { "args": [ "-y", "github:steel-dev/steel-mcp-server" ], "command": "npx", "env": { "STEEL_API_KEY": "\u003cyour-steel-api-key\u003e" } } } }, "x402": "curl -i -X POST https://x402.steel.dev/v1/scrape -H \"Content-Type: application/json\" -d '{\"url\": \"https://example.com\", \"format\": [\"markdown\"]}'" }, "letme": { "capability": "https://letme.dev/browser.control", "tool": "https://letme.dev/steel" }, "area": "developer", "unitPrices": [ { "item": "Browser, Launch plan", "unit": "browser-hour", "usd": 0.1, "note": "Billed by the minute, rounded up" }, { "item": "Browser, Scale plan", "unit": "browser-hour", "usd": 0.08 }, { "item": "Proxy traffic, Launch", "unit": "gb", "usd": 10 }, { "item": "Proxy traffic, Scale", "unit": "gb", "usd": 6 }, { "item": "Scrape, screenshot or PDF", "unit": "1k-requests", "usd": 5 }, { "item": "Scrape, screenshot or PDF by x402", "unit": "call", "usd": 0.01, "note": "USDC on Base or Solana, no account" }, { "item": "CAPTCHA solves, Launch", "unit": "1k-requests", "usd": 3 }, { "item": "CAPTCHA solves, Scale", "unit": "1k-requests", "usd": 1 }, { "item": "Scale plan", "unit": "month", "usd": 250, "note": "$100 of usage credit each month" }, { "item": "Dedicated IP, Scale", "unit": "month", "usd": 5, "note": "Per IP" } ], "provenance": { "legalEntity": "Nen Labs, Inc.", "domain": "steel.dev", "domainRegistered": "2024-07-22", "endpointOnVendorDomain": true, "terms": "https://steel.dev/terms", "privacy": "https://steel.dev/privacy", "statusPage": "https://status.steel.dev", "changelog": "https://docs.steel.dev/changelog", "securityTxt": "none", "checked": "2026-10-08", "notes": [ "The terms (last updated 5 February 2025) and the privacy notice (last updated 5 February 2026) name Nen Labs, Inc., 9450 SW Gemini Dr, PMB 34667, Beaverton, OR 97008, United States, and the terms choose Delaware law.", "The docs Legal page links to Google Docs copies of the terms and privacy policy and not to steel.dev/terms and steel.dev/privacy. We read the steel.dev pages.", "The API answers at api.steel.dev, CDP at connect.steel.dev and x402 at x402.steel.dev. The x402 payment header names api.paysponge.com as the resource.", "steel.dev/.well-known/security.txt and docs.steel.dev/.well-known/security.txt both return 404. The site footer's Security link goes to a Vanta trust centre at trust.steel.dev.", "RDAP for steel.dev gives a registration date of 2024-07-22.", "Changelog entries are numbered and carry dates in page metadata. Number 038 is dated 2 October 2026." ], "score": 75 }, "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/steel.json", "live": { "slug": "steel", "probe": { "target": "https://api.steel.dev", "method": "get", "lastAt": "2026-10-08T18:20:40.992404796Z", "lastOk": true, "lastStatus": 200, "lastMs": 452, "authRequired": false, "uptime24h": 100, "uptime30d": 100, "p50ms24h": 443, "p95ms24h": 519, "samples24h": 33, "samples30d": 33, "days": [ { "date": "2026-10-08", "probes": 33, "ok": 33 } ] }, "vendorStatus": { "page": "https://status.steel.dev", "indicator": "unknown", "summary": "no machine-readable status found", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T17:51:13.678894526Z" }, "versions": [ { "registry": "github", "name": "steel-dev/steel-browser", "version": "v0.5.4-beta", "released": "2026-08-25", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:30:24.00662318Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "@steel-dev/cli", "version": "0.3.1", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:30:22.800432877Z" }, { "registry": "npm", "name": "steel-sdk", "version": "0.18.0", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:30:21.796405435Z" }, { "registry": "pypi", "name": "steel-sdk", "version": "0.19.0", "released": "2026-06-23", "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:30:22.613655125Z" } ], "githubStars": 7756, "npmWeekly": 46988, "pypiWeekly": 63315, "securityTxt": { "url": "https://steel.dev/.well-known/security.txt", "state": "none", "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T15:38:32.828125596Z" }, "pages": [ { "url": "https://docs.steel.dev/changelog", "kind": "changelog", "status": 404, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:19:29.693209384Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z" }, { "url": "https://docs.steel.dev/overview/pricinglimits", "kind": "pricing", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:19:31.90717024Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "b8c6356ee458" }, { "url": "https://steel.dev/privacy", "kind": "privacy", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:24:47.574475358Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "574556e30b0e" }, { "url": "https://steel.dev/terms", "kind": "terms", "status": 200, "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:24:50.029723662Z", "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "fingerprint": "d797ea62e1fb" } ], "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T18:24:50.029723662Z" } }, "facts": [ { "a": "HTTP API", "b": "HTTP API", "name": "Kind" }, { "a": "Browserbase", "b": "Nen Labs, Inc.", "name": "Vendor" }, { "a": "https://api.browserbase.com/v1", "b": "https://api.steel.dev", "name": "Hosted endpoint" }, { "a": "HTTP, Streamable HTTP", "b": "HTTP, stdio", "name": "Transports" }, { "a": "API key", "b": "API key", "name": "Auth" }, { "a": "Freemium", "b": "Freemium", "name": "Pricing" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes, from $0.01/call", "name": "x402" }, { "a": "MIT (Stagehand)", "b": "Proprietary cloud service under Steel's terms. steel-browser and the Node and Python SDKs are Apache-2.0. The MCP server and the CLI are MIT", "name": "Licence" }, { "a": "no", "b": "no", "name": "Read-only variant documented" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "llms.txt" }, { "a": "2026-09-09", "b": "2026-10-02", "name": "Last release" }, { "a": "2025-08-01", "b": "2025-02-05", "name": "Terms last updated" }, { "a": "2024-06-01", "b": "2026-02-05", "name": "Privacy policy last updated" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "not found in the text", "name": "Customer content may train models" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms restrict automated access" }, { "a": "not found in the text", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "Terms or service can change without notice" }, { "a": "yes", "b": "yes", "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver" }, { "a": "25k stars", "b": "47k npm/wk, 63k PyPI/wk", "name": "Popularity" }, { "a": "3.4/5 (8)", "b": "none", "name": "Agent reviews" } ], "faq": [ { "answer": "Browserbase scores 76.2 (BB) on agent readiness against Steel's 70.4 (BB), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Steel leads on schema \u0026 documentation and security \u0026 auth.", "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Browserbase or Steel?" }, { "answer": "Both need an API key. An agent can also pay Browserbase per call over x402, with no account. An agent can also pay Steel per call over x402, with no account.", "question": "Do Browserbase and Steel need an API key?" }, { "answer": "Yes. Browserbase has a hosted endpoint at https://api.browserbase.com/v1 and Steel at https://api.steel.dev.", "question": "Can an agent call Browserbase and Steel without installing anything?" }, { "answer": "No open-source release is listed for Browserbase. Steel is open source (Proprietary cloud service under Steel's terms. steel-browser and the Node and Python SDKs are Apache-2.0. The MCP server and the CLI are MIT).", "question": "Are Browserbase and Steel open source?" } ], "goodFor": [ { "aheadOn": [ "Reliability, 90 against 58", "Payments \u0026 pricing, 90 against 75", "Maintenance \u0026 community, 92 against 82", "Transparency \u0026 trust, 71 against 64" ], "also": null, "goodFor": "Agents that need a real JavaScript-capable browser in the cloud, especially unattended ones that can pay by x402.", "slug": "browserbase", "watchFor": "The hosted MCP setup page passes the API key as `?browserbaseApiKey=` in the URL" }, { "aheadOn": [ "Schema \u0026 documentation, 86 against 80", "Security \u0026 auth, 56 against 43" ], "also": [ "Runs on your own machine", "Open source" ], "goodFor": "Agents that need a real cloud browser with persistent profiles, stored logins, CAPTCHA solving and a human takeover path, and teams that want an open-source runtime they can also self-host.", "slug": "steel", "watchFor": "Three incidents of more than an hour hit the API or session creation in the 90 days to 8 October 2026, the longest 5 hours 41 minutes" } ], "job": { "capability": "browser.hosted", "name": "Browser hosted" }, "others": [ { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/airtop-vs-browserbase.json", "title": "Airtop vs Browserbase", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/airtop-vs-browserbase" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/airtop-vs-steel.json", "title": "Airtop vs Steel", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/airtop-vs-steel" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/anchor-browser-vs-browserbase.json", "title": "Anchor Browser vs Browserbase", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/anchor-browser-vs-browserbase" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/anchor-browser-vs-steel.json", "title": "Anchor Browser vs Steel", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/anchor-browser-vs-steel" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browser-use-vs-browserbase.json", "title": "Browser Use vs Browserbase", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browser-use-vs-browserbase" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browser-use-vs-steel.json", "title": "Browser Use vs Steel", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browser-use-vs-steel" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp.json", "title": "Browserbase vs Chrome DevTools MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-playwright-mcp.json", "title": "Browserbase vs Playwright MCP", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-playwright-mcp" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-puppeteer-reference-server-archived.json", "title": "Browserbase vs Puppeteer (archived MCP reference server)", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-puppeteer-reference-server-archived" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-steel.json", "title": "Browserless vs Steel", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-steel" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-steel.json", "title": "Chrome DevTools MCP vs Steel", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-steel" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hyperbrowser-vs-steel.json", "title": "Hyperbrowser vs Steel", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hyperbrowser-vs-steel" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/notte-vs-steel.json", "title": "Notte vs Steel", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/notte-vs-steel" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/playwright-mcp-vs-steel.json", "title": "Playwright MCP vs Steel", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/playwright-mcp-vs-steel" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/puppeteer-reference-server-archived-vs-steel.json", "title": "Puppeteer (archived MCP reference server) vs Steel", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/puppeteer-reference-server-archived-vs-steel" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/skyvern-vs-steel.json", "title": "Skyvern vs Steel", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/skyvern-vs-steel" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-browserless.json", "title": "Browserbase vs Browserless", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-browserless" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-hyperbrowser.json", "title": "Browserbase vs Hyperbrowser", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-hyperbrowser" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-notte.json", "title": "Browserbase vs Notte", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-notte" }, { "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-skyvern.json", "title": "Browserbase vs Skyvern", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-skyvern" } ], "scores": [ { "browserbase": 90, "by": 32, "edge": "browserbase", "key": "reliability", "name": "Reliability", "steel": 58, "weight": 16 }, { "key": "performance", "name": "Performance", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "browserbase": 80, "by": 6, "edge": "steel", "key": "schema", "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation", "steel": 86, "weight": 13 }, { "browserbase": 75, "by": 4, "edge": "steel", "key": "ergonomics", "name": "Agent ergonomics", "steel": 79, "weight": 13 }, { "browserbase": 43, "by": 13, "edge": "steel", "key": "security", "name": "Security \u0026 auth", "steel": 56, "weight": 14 }, { "browserbase": 90, "by": 15, "edge": "browserbase", "key": "payments", "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing", "steel": 75, "weight": 10 }, { "key": "tasks", "name": "Task success", "pending": true, "weight": 10 }, { "browserbase": 92, "by": 10, "edge": "browserbase", "key": "maintenance", "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community", "steel": 82, "weight": 7 }, { "browserbase": 71, "by": 7, "edge": "browserbase", "key": "transparency", "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust", "steel": 64, "weight": 7 } ], "summary": "Browserbase scores 76.2 (BB) on agent readiness against Steel's 70.4 (BB), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Steel leads on schema \u0026 documentation and security \u0026 auth. Both do browser hosted.", "verdicts": { "browserbase": "x402 sessions at x402.browserbase.com with no account, $0.12 an hour, unused minutes refunded. The hosted MCP setup page passes the API key as `?browserbaseApiKey=` in the URL.", "steel": "The hosted API has a public OpenAPI document, per-unit prices, $30 of starting credit and x402 payment for scrape, screenshot and PDF calls. The status page records three API or session-creation incidents of more than an hour in 90 days, and the documented CDP connection puts the API key in the URL." } }, "kind": "anchor.page", "links": { "api": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json", "html": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-steel", "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-steel.json", "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt", "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-steel.md", "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-steel.min.md" }, "markdown": "Browserbase scores 76.2 (BB) on agent readiness against Steel's 70.4 (BB), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Steel leads on schema \u0026 documentation and security \u0026 auth. Both do browser hosted.\n\n- Browserbase: grade BB, 76.2/100, rank #35 of 629. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/browserbase.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/browserbase.json\n- Steel: grade BB, 70.4/100, rank #129 of 629. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/steel.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/steel.json\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### Browserbase (BB)\n\nGood for: Agents that need a real JavaScript-capable browser in the cloud, especially unattended ones that can pay by x402.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 90 against 58\n- Payments \u0026 pricing, 90 against 75\n- Maintenance \u0026 community, 92 against 82\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 71 against 64\n\nWatch for: The hosted MCP setup page passes the API key as `?browserbaseApiKey=` in the URL\n\n### Steel (BB)\n\nGood for: Agents that need a real cloud browser with persistent profiles, stored logins, CAPTCHA solving and a human takeover path, and teams that want an open-source runtime they can also self-host.\n\nAhead on:\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 86 against 80\n- Security \u0026 auth, 56 against 43\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- Runs on your own machine\n- Open source\n\nWatch for: Three incidents of more than an hour hit the API or session creation in the 90 days to 8 October 2026, the longest 5 hours 41 minutes\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | Browserbase | Steel | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 90 | 58 | Browserbase +32 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 80 | 86 | Steel +6 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 75 | 79 | Steel +4 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 43 | 56 | Steel +13 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 90 | 75 | Browserbase +15 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 92 | 82 | Browserbase +10 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 71 | 64 | Browserbase +7 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **76.2 · BB** | **70.4 · BB** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Browserbase | Steel |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |\n| Vendor | Browserbase | Nen Labs, Inc. |\n| Hosted endpoint | `https://api.browserbase.com/v1` | `https://api.steel.dev` |\n| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP | HTTP, stdio |\n| Auth | API key | API key |\n| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |\n| x402 | yes | yes, from $0.01/call |\n| Licence | MIT (Stagehand) | Proprietary cloud service under Steel's terms. steel-browser and the Node and Python SDKs are Apache-2.0. The MCP server and the CLI are MIT |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | yes | yes |\n| Last release | 2026-09-09 | 2026-10-02 |\n| Terms last updated | 2025-08-01 | 2025-02-05 |\n| Privacy policy last updated | 2024-06-01 | 2026-02-05 |\n| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict automated access | yes | yes |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text | yes |\n| Terms or service can change without notice | yes | yes |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver | yes | yes |\n| Popularity | 25k stars | 47k npm/wk, 63k PyPI/wk |\n| Agent reviews | 3.4/5 (8) | none |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Browserbase.** x402 sessions at x402.browserbase.com with no account, $0.12 an hour, unused minutes refunded. The hosted MCP setup page passes the API key as `?browserbaseApiKey=` in the URL.\n\n**Steel.** The hosted API has a public OpenAPI document, per-unit prices, $30 of starting credit and x402 payment for scrape, screenshot and PDF calls. The status page records three API or session-creation incidents of more than an hour in 90 days, and the documented CDP connection puts the API key in the URL.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### Browserbase\n\n1. Use x402.browserbase.com when you have a wallet and no key. Terminate the session to get unused minutes refunded\n2. Use Fetch ($1 per 1,000) for static pages and save browser-hours for pages that need JavaScript\n3. Close sessions explicitly. Each session bills at least one minute, and idle ones keep billing\n4. Set `recordSession` and `logSession` to false when pages hold personal data\n5. On 429, wait `retry-after` seconds before creating another session\n\n### Steel\n\n1. Use `POST /v1/scrape` for pages you only need to read. It starts no session and costs $5 per 1,000 calls, or $0.01 a call by x402\n2. Release every session with `POST /v1/sessions/{id}/release` and set `inactivityTimeout`. Browser time bills by the minute, rounded up\n3. Build the CDP URL as `wss://connect.steel.dev?apiKey=\u003ckey\u003e\u0026sessionId=\u003cid\u003e` and keep it out of logs, because it carries the key\n4. Launch sessions end after 15 minutes at most, and `timeout` cannot be changed on a live session\n5. CAPTCHA solving and Steel's managed proxies on Launch need $10 of paid balance. Free credit does not count\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, Browserbase or Steel?\n\nBrowserbase scores 76.2 (BB) on agent readiness against Steel's 70.4 (BB), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Steel leads on schema \u0026 documentation and security \u0026 auth.\n\n### Do Browserbase and Steel need an API key?\n\nBoth need an API key. An agent can also pay Browserbase per call over x402, with no account. An agent can also pay Steel per call over x402, with no account.\n\n### Can an agent call Browserbase and Steel without installing anything?\n\nYes. Browserbase has a hosted endpoint at https://api.browserbase.com/v1 and Steel at https://api.steel.dev.\n\n### Are Browserbase and Steel open source?\n\nNo open-source release is listed for Browserbase. Steel is open source (Proprietary cloud service under Steel's terms. steel-browser and the Node and Python SDKs are Apache-2.0. The MCP server and the CLI are MIT).\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-steel.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-steel.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"browserbase\", \"b\": \"steel\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare browserbase steel`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/browserbase.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/steel.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Browserbase or Steel\n\n- [Airtop vs Browserbase](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/airtop-vs-browserbase.md)\n- [Airtop vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/airtop-vs-steel.md)\n- [Anchor Browser vs Browserbase](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/anchor-browser-vs-browserbase.md)\n- [Anchor Browser vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/anchor-browser-vs-steel.md)\n- [Browser Use vs Browserbase](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browser-use-vs-browserbase.md)\n- [Browser Use vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browser-use-vs-steel.md)\n- [Browserbase vs Chrome DevTools MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp.md)\n- [Browserbase vs Playwright MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-playwright-mcp.md)\n- [Browserbase vs Puppeteer (archived MCP reference server)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-puppeteer-reference-server-archived.md)\n- [Browserless vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-steel.md)\n- [Chrome DevTools MCP vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-steel.md)\n- [Hyperbrowser vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/hyperbrowser-vs-steel.md)\n- [Notte vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/notte-vs-steel.md)\n- [Playwright MCP vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/playwright-mcp-vs-steel.md)\n- [Puppeteer (archived MCP reference server) vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/puppeteer-reference-server-archived-vs-steel.md)\n- [Skyvern vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/skyvern-vs-steel.md)\n- [Browserbase vs Browserless](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-browserless.md)\n- [Browserbase vs Hyperbrowser](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-hyperbrowser.md)\n- [Browserbase vs Notte](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-notte.md)\n- [Browserbase vs Skyvern](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-skyvern.md)\n", "meta": { "attribution": "Anchor Terminal (https://www.anchorterminal.com)", "docs": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/docs/", "generatedAt": "2026-10-08", "license": "CC-BY-4.0", "method": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/benchmark/", "methodology": "0.4", "openapi": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/openapi.json", "preview": false, "run": "2026-10-01", "runLabel": "October 2026 research run" }, "page": { "breadcrumbs": [ { "name": "Home", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/" }, { "name": "Compare", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/" }, { "name": "Browserbase vs Steel", "url": "" } ], "description": "Browserbase scores 76.2 (BB) on agent readiness against Steel's 70.4 (BB), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Steel leads on schema \u0026 documentation and security \u0026 auth. Both do browser hosted. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.", "facts": [ "Browserbase BB 76.2", "Steel BB 70.4", "scores" ], "h1": "Browserbase vs Steel", "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-browserbase-vs-steel.png", "path": "/compare/browserbase-vs-steel", "published": "2026-10-01", "section": "tools", "title": "Browserbase vs Steel for AI agents, BB 76.2 vs BB 70.4", "toc": null, "updated": "2026-10-08", "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-steel" }, "tokens": { "markdown": 2300, "slim": 630 }, "version": 1 }