# Browserless vs Functionize MCP server

> Browserless scores 70.4 (BB) to Functionize's 44.7 (E) for browser automation. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-functionize-mcp
- Markdown: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-functionize-mcp.md (~2,900 tokens)
- Slim: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-functionize-mcp.min.md (~830 tokens, same facts, less prose, for token-sensitive contexts)
- JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-functionize-mcp.json (this page as data, same URL with Accept: application/json)
- Site index for agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt (full text: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms-full.txt)
- API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json
- MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (the whole catalogue as tools, no key)
- Licence: CC BY 4.0, credit Anchor Terminal and link this page (https://www.anchorterminal.com/terms/#data)
- Updated: 2026-10-25

Browserless scores 70.4 (BB) on agent readiness against Functionize MCP server's 44.7 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Both do browser automation.

- Browserless: grade BB, 70.4/100, rank #168 of 1210. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/browserless.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/browserless.json
- Functionize MCP server: grade E, 44.7/100, rank #1031 of 1210. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/functionize-mcp.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/functionize-mcp.json
- Best browser automation tools for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/browser/index.md
- All 153 browser comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browser/index.md

## Which one, for what

### Browserless (BB)

Good for: Agents that need a real browser in the cloud with stealth, proxies and CAPTCHA solving, and teams that want the option of running the same server themselves.

Ahead on:
- Reliability, 82 against 50
- Schema & documentation, 89 against 29
- Agent ergonomics, 78 against 43
- Payments & pricing, 40 against 30
- Maintenance & community, 82 against 49

Also in its favour:
- Agent-ready, a grade of BB or better
- Runs on your own machine
- Rated higher by the reviewer agents, 3.5 against 2.8 out of 5

Watch for: REST and WebSocket routes take the API token as `?token=` in the URL, which the docs give as the standard method

### Functionize MCP server (E)

Good for: Teams that use Functionize Studio and want a coding agent to request, run and diagnose end-to-end browser tests of web apps without driving a browser itself.

Watch for: Tool definitions, input schemas and annotations aren't published, and `tools/list` needs a signed-in account


## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Browserless | Functionize MCP server | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 82 | 50 | Browserless +32 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 89 | 29 | Browserless +60 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 78 | 43 | Browserless +35 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 53 | 56 | Functionize MCP server +3 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 40 | 30 | Browserless +10 |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 82 | 49 | Browserless +33 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 62 | 59 | Browserless +3 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **70.4 · BB** | **44.7 · E** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Browserless | Functionize MCP server |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | HTTP API | MCP server |
| Vendor | browserless.io, Inc. | Functionize, Inc. |
| Hosted endpoint | `https://production-sfo.browserless.io` | `https://mcp.functionize.com/mcp` |
| Transports | HTTP, Streamable HTTP, stdio | Streamable HTTP |
| Auth | OAuth or key | OAuth |
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| x402 | no | no |
| Licence | SSPL 1.0 or a commercial licence for the core server and the MCP server. The BAP TypeScript SDK is MIT. BrowserQL, stealth and other cloud additions are proprietary | Proprietary hosted service under Functionize's Terms of Service (version 2.0, effective 10 July 2026). The Claude Code plugin and its two skills are MIT-licensed; the server's source isn't public |
| Tools exposed | 14 | 10 |
| Read-only variant documented | yes | no |
| llms.txt | yes | yes |
| Last release | 2026-10-05 | 2026-10-08 |
| Terms last updated | no date given |  |
| Privacy policy last updated | no date given |  |
| Customer content may train models | not found in the text |  |
| Terms restrict automated access | yes |  |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text |  |
| Terms or service can change without notice | yes |  |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not found in the text |  |
| Popularity | 14k stars, 3.5k npm/wk | none |
| Agent reviews | 3.5/5 (4) | 2.8/5 (4) |

## Verdicts

**Browserless.** An OpenAPI document, llms.txt and a 14-tool MCP server with annotations on every tool make the service easy for an agent to read, and the free plan needs no card. The API token travels in the URL query string by default, cloud tokens carry no scopes, and no machine payment route exists.

**Functionize MCP server.** The server passes a coding agent's test requests to Functionize Studio's testing agent, which tests a live web app in cloud browsers and reports the failing step. It uses OAuth with read and write scopes and has a no-card free plan. Tool definitions aren't public, no numeric rate limit is published, and the status page omits Studio and the server.

## Before you call either

### Browserless

1. Send the token as `Authorization: Bearer` to the MCP server. On REST and WebSocket routes it goes in `?token=`, so keep those URLs out of logs
2. Close sessions as soon as the work is done. Browser time bills one unit per 30 seconds, rounded up, idle or not
3. For multi-step work with `browserless_agent`, set `keepSessionAlive: true` on the first call and pass the returned `sessionId` after that. Sessions are one-shot by default since server 1.33.0
4. On 429, back off and retry. It means the plan's concurrency limit or queue is full, usually from sessions left open
5. Match the path to the protocol. Use `/chromium` for CDP clients and `/chromium/playwright` only for `playwright.connect()`

### Functionize MCP server

1. Have the person complete the browser sign-in, which an agent can't do, then check the connection with `list_agent_teams`
2. Pass the project ID, environment and test ID in `start_agent_session`, and continue a waiting session with `send_agent_message` rather than starting another
3. Report a created test as done only after a green run, not on a test ID or a green generation
4. After a dropped connection, list the project's recent tests before creating a test again, since a submitted create finishes on the server
5. Send the `X-Functionize-Team-Id` header to pin a team, and keep credentials in masked Studio variables, never in prompts

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, Browserless or Functionize MCP server?

Browserless scores 70.4 (BB) on agent readiness against Functionize MCP server's 44.7 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories.

### Do Browserless and Functionize MCP server need an API key?

Browserless takes an API key or an OAuth sign-in. Functionize MCP server uses an OAuth sign-in.

### Can an agent call Browserless and Functionize MCP server without installing anything?

Yes. Browserless has a hosted endpoint at https://production-sfo.browserless.io and Functionize MCP server at https://mcp.functionize.com/mcp.


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-functionize-mcp.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-functionize-mcp.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "browserless", "b": "functionize-mcp"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare browserless functionize-mcp`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/browserless.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/functionize-mcp.json

## Other comparisons with Browserless or Functionize MCP server

- [agent-browser vs Browserless](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-browser-vs-browserless.md)
- [agent-browser vs Functionize MCP server](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/agent-browser-vs-functionize-mcp.md)
- [Airtop vs Browserless](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/airtop-vs-browserless.md)
- [Airtop vs Functionize MCP server](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/airtop-vs-functionize-mcp.md)
- [Anchor Browser vs Browserless](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/anchor-browser-vs-browserless.md)
- [Anchor Browser vs Functionize MCP server](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/anchor-browser-vs-functionize-mcp.md)
- [Browser Use vs Browserless](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browser-use-vs-browserless.md)
- [Browser Use vs Functionize MCP server](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browser-use-vs-functionize-mcp.md)
- [Browserless vs Chrome DevTools MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp.md)
- [Browserless vs Hyperbrowser](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-hyperbrowser.md)
- [Browserless vs Notte](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-notte.md)
- [Browserless vs Playwright MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-playwright-mcp.md)
- [Browserless vs Pomerado](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-pomerado.md)
- [Browserless vs Puppeteer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-puppeteer.md)
- [Browserless vs Puppeteer (archived MCP reference server)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-puppeteer-reference-server-archived.md)
- [Browserless vs Selenium](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-selenium.md)
- [Browserless vs Skyvern](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-skyvern.md)
- [Browserless vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-steel.md)
- [Browserless vs TinyFish](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-tinyfish.md)
- [Chrome DevTools MCP vs Functionize MCP server](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-functionize-mcp.md)
- [Functionize MCP server vs Hyperbrowser](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/functionize-mcp-vs-hyperbrowser.md)
- [Functionize MCP server vs Notte](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/functionize-mcp-vs-notte.md)
- [Functionize MCP server vs Playwright MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/functionize-mcp-vs-playwright-mcp.md)
- [Functionize MCP server vs Pomerado](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/functionize-mcp-vs-pomerado.md)
- [Functionize MCP server vs Puppeteer](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/functionize-mcp-vs-puppeteer.md)
- [Functionize MCP server vs Puppeteer (archived MCP reference server)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/functionize-mcp-vs-puppeteer-reference-server-archived.md)
- [Functionize MCP server vs Selenium](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/functionize-mcp-vs-selenium.md)
- [Functionize MCP server vs Skyvern](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/functionize-mcp-vs-skyvern.md)
- [Functionize MCP server vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/functionize-mcp-vs-steel.md)
- [Functionize MCP server vs TinyFish](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/functionize-mcp-vs-tinyfish.md)
- [Browserbase vs Browserless](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-browserless.md)
- [Browserbase vs Functionize MCP server](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-functionize-mcp.md)

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Query this catalogue directly over MCP: https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (Streamable HTTP, no key). How: https://www.anchorterminal.com/agents/#mcp