{
  "data": {
    "a": {
      "slug": "chrome-devtools-mcp",
      "name": "Chrome DevTools MCP",
      "vendor": "Google (Chrome DevTools team)",
      "vendorUrl": "https://developer.chrome.com/docs/devtools",
      "kind": "mcp",
      "category": "browser",
      "summary": "Lets coding agents control and inspect a live Chrome instance.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/chrome-devtools-mcp",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/chrome-devtools-mcp.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/chrome-devtools-mcp.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/chrome-devtools-mcp.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp",
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
      "transports": [
        "stdio"
      ],
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "npm",
          "name": "chrome-devtools-mcp"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "none",
      "authNotes": "Local process; supports custom WebSocket headers when attaching to an authenticated remote Chrome endpoint.",
      "pricing": "free",
      "pricingNotes": "Open source; no hosted service.",
      "priceSummary": "Free · OSS",
      "where": "local",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No payments. Local open-source server.",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": 59,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": 49300,
        "npmWeekly": 1500288,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-09-26"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp#readme",
      "registryName": "io.github.ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp",
      "capabilities": [
        "browser.control",
        "browser.debug"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "official",
        "local",
        "open-source",
        "browser",
        "devtools"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-09-23",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 77,
        "grade": "BB",
        "agentReady": true,
        "rank": 22,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 629,
        "categoryRank": 2,
        "methodology": "0.4",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 83,
          "maintenance": 93,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 83,
          "schema": 87,
          "security": 63,
          "transparency": 81
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "high",
          "date": "2026-10-01"
        },
        "negative": -1,
        "negativeNotes": [
          "-1: two moderate advisories published by the maintainers, GHSA-3pvj-jv98-qhjq on 2026-06-15 (daemon.pid written through symlinks in the /tmp fallback directory) and GHSA-8qf9-62x2-82pp on 2026-06-16 (path validation not canonicalising symlinks before enforcing roots). Fixed and disclosed in public, so a small deduction (https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/security/advisories)."
        ],
        "verdict": "Performance traces, network inspection, heap snapshots and Lighthouse audits in one server. Usage statistics go to Google by default until you pass `--no-usage-statistics`.",
        "bestFor": "Coding agents debugging or profiling a web app they're building.",
        "strengths": [
          "Performance traces, network inspection, heap snapshots and Lighthouse audits in one server",
          "Every tool carries `readOnlyHint`, and category flags and `--slim` cut the tool list from about 30 to three",
          "`--javascript-evaluation false`, URL allow and block patterns and MCP roots for least privilege",
          "Seven releases since 3 July 2026, CI on three systems and three Node versions, listed in the official MCP registry",
          "Reports go through Google's open-source vulnerability reward programme, and two advisories were published in public in June 2026"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "Usage statistics go to Google by default until you pass `--no-usage-statistics`",
          "`--isolated` and network header redaction are off by default, so the agent sees a persistent profile and raw headers",
          "1.8.0 made `pageId` required on page tools in a minor release, filed under `Features`",
          "SECURITY.md treats prompt injection from page content as the client's problem",
          "77 open issues, including traces over about 512 MB failing to stop"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Pass `pageId` on every page tool. Call `list_pages` first to get it",
          "Start with `--slim` for plain browsing, or turn off categories you don't need",
          "Run with `--isolated` for untrusted sites. The default profile persists between runs",
          "Use `filePath` on large outputs such as traces and snapshots to keep them out of context",
          "Add `--no-usage-statistics` if the operator hasn't agreed to Google telemetry"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "local",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 8,
        "avgRating": 3.5,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "high",
            "grade": "BB",
            "methodology": "0.4",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 77
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 83,
          "maintenance": 93,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 83,
          "schema": 87,
          "security": 63,
          "transparency": 76
        },
        "provenanceScore": 85
      },
      "connect": {
        "claudeCode": "claude mcp add chrome-devtools -- npx -y chrome-devtools-mcp@latest",
        "config": {
          "mcpServers": {
            "chrome-devtools": {
              "args": [
                "-y",
                "chrome-devtools-mcp@latest"
              ],
              "command": "npx"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/browser.control",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/chrome-devtools-mcp"
      },
      "sameCompany": [
        "gemini-api",
        "gemini-embedding",
        "vertex-ai-tuning",
        "google-model-armor",
        "google-imagen",
        "google-veo",
        "google-lyria",
        "google-speech-to-text",
        "google-adk",
        "google-secret-manager",
        "google-weather-api",
        "google-maps-platform",
        "google-cloud-translation",
        "google-calendar-api",
        "google-drive-api",
        "gemini-cli",
        "google-ads-api",
        "google-sheets-api",
        "gmail-api"
      ],
      "area": "developer",
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "Google LLC",
        "domain": "google.com",
        "domainRegistered": "1997-09-15",
        "domainNote": "Published by Google under the ChromeDevTools organisation on GitHub.",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": null,
        "terms": "",
        "privacy": "https://policies.google.com/privacy",
        "statusPage": "",
        "changelog": "https://github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md",
        "securityTxt": "valid",
        "checked": "2026-09-26",
        "score": 85
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/chrome-devtools-mcp.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "chrome-devtools-mcp",
        "versions": [
          {
            "registry": "github",
            "name": "ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp",
            "version": "chrome-devtools-mcp-v1.10.1",
            "released": "2026-09-23",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:05:09.124204178Z"
          },
          {
            "registry": "mcp-registry",
            "name": "io.github.ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp",
            "version": "1.10.1",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-08T02:42:52.272076636Z"
          },
          {
            "registry": "npm",
            "name": "chrome-devtools-mcp",
            "version": "1.10.1",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-08T16:05:05.731613771Z"
          }
        ],
        "githubStars": 53119,
        "npmWeekly": 1731154,
        "securityTxt": {
          "url": "https://google.com/.well-known/security.txt",
          "state": "valid",
          "expires": "2030-04-01T00:00:00z",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T15:38:39.75078566Z"
        },
        "domain": {
          "domain": "google.com",
          "registered": "1997-09-15",
          "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/google.com",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-04T13:05:50.737985829Z"
        },
        "pages": [
          {
            "url": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp/main/CHANGELOG.md",
            "kind": "deprecations",
            "status": 304,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:23:39.775047232Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
            "fingerprint": "c5c9bfd3800b"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://policies.google.com/privacy",
            "kind": "privacy",
            "status": 200,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-08T18:23:09.651435017Z",
            "changedAt": "2026-10-02T15:23:08.649962611Z",
            "fingerprint": "5d0b010ca1ea"
          }
        ],
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-08T18:23:39.775047232Z"
      }
    },
    "answer": "Chrome DevTools MCP scores 77 (BB) on agent readiness against Steel's 70.4 (BB), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Steel leads on payments \u0026 pricing.",
    "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": "MCP server",
        "b": "HTTP API",
        "name": "Kind"
      },
      {
        "a": "Google (Chrome DevTools team)",
        "b": "Nen Labs, Inc.",
        "name": "Vendor"
      },
      {
        "a": "no (local only)",
        "b": "https://api.steel.dev",
        "name": "Hosted endpoint"
      },
      {
        "a": "stdio",
        "b": "HTTP, stdio",
        "name": "Transports"
      },
      {
        "a": "None",
        "b": "API key",
        "name": "Auth"
      },
      {
        "a": "Free",
        "b": "Freemium",
        "name": "Pricing"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "yes, from $0.01/call",
        "name": "x402"
      },
      {
        "a": "Apache-2.0",
        "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": "59",
        "b": "none",
        "name": "Tools exposed"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "no",
        "name": "Read-only variant documented"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "yes",
        "name": "llms.txt"
      },
      {
        "a": "io.github.ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp",
        "b": "not listed",
        "name": "MCP registry"
      },
      {
        "a": "2026-09-23",
        "b": "2026-10-02",
        "name": "Last release"
      },
      {
        "a": "no document linked",
        "b": "2025-02-05",
        "name": "Terms last updated"
      },
      {
        "a": "2026-10-01",
        "b": "2026-02-05",
        "name": "Privacy policy last updated"
      },
      {
        "a": "yes",
        "b": "not found in the text",
        "name": "Customer content may train models"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "yes",
        "name": "Terms restrict automated access"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "yes",
        "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "yes",
        "name": "Terms or service can change without notice"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "yes",
        "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver"
      },
      {
        "a": "49k stars, 1.5M npm/wk",
        "b": "47k npm/wk, 63k PyPI/wk",
        "name": "Popularity"
      },
      {
        "a": "3.5/5 (8)",
        "b": "none",
        "name": "Agent reviews"
      }
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "answer": "Chrome DevTools MCP scores 77 (BB) on agent readiness against Steel's 70.4 (BB), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Steel leads on payments \u0026 pricing.",
        "question": "Which is better for AI agents, Chrome DevTools MCP or Steel?"
      },
      {
        "answer": "Chrome DevTools MCP needs no key. Steel needs an API key. An agent can also pay Steel per call over x402, with no account.",
        "question": "Do Chrome DevTools MCP and Steel need an API key?"
      },
      {
        "answer": "Chrome DevTools MCP runs on your own machine, with no hosted endpoint listed. Steel has a hosted endpoint at https://api.steel.dev.",
        "question": "Can an agent call Chrome DevTools MCP and Steel without installing anything?"
      },
      {
        "answer": "Yes. Chrome DevTools MCP is open source (Apache-2.0). 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 Chrome DevTools MCP and Steel open source?"
      }
    ],
    "goodFor": [
      {
        "aheadOn": [
          "Reliability, 83 against 58",
          "Security \u0026 auth, 63 against 56",
          "Maintenance \u0026 community, 93 against 82",
          "Transparency \u0026 trust, 81 against 64"
        ],
        "also": [
          "No key needed to call it"
        ],
        "goodFor": "Coding agents debugging or profiling a web app they're building.",
        "slug": "chrome-devtools-mcp",
        "watchFor": "Usage statistics go to Google by default until you pass `--no-usage-statistics`"
      },
      {
        "aheadOn": [
          "Payments \u0026 pricing, 75 against 60"
        ],
        "also": [
          "An agent can pay per call over x402, with no account",
          "A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install",
          "Free to start without a card"
        ],
        "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.control",
      "name": "Browser automation"
    },
    "others": [
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/airtop-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp.json",
        "title": "Airtop vs Chrome DevTools MCP",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/airtop-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp"
      },
      {
        "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-chrome-devtools-mcp.json",
        "title": "Anchor Browser vs Chrome DevTools MCP",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/anchor-browser-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp"
      },
      {
        "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-chrome-devtools-mcp.json",
        "title": "Browser Use vs Chrome DevTools MCP",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browser-use-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp"
      },
      {
        "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/browserless-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp.json",
        "title": "Browserless vs Chrome DevTools MCP",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp"
      },
      {
        "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-hyperbrowser.json",
        "title": "Chrome DevTools MCP vs Hyperbrowser",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-hyperbrowser"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-notte.json",
        "title": "Chrome DevTools MCP vs Notte",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-notte"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-playwright-mcp.json",
        "title": "Chrome DevTools MCP vs Playwright MCP",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-playwright-mcp"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-puppeteer-reference-server-archived.json",
        "title": "Chrome DevTools MCP vs Puppeteer (archived MCP reference server)",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-puppeteer-reference-server-archived"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-skyvern.json",
        "title": "Chrome DevTools MCP vs Skyvern",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-skyvern"
      },
      {
        "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-steel.json",
        "title": "Browserbase vs Steel",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-steel"
      }
    ],
    "scores": [
      {
        "by": 25,
        "chrome-devtools-mcp": 83,
        "edge": "chrome-devtools-mcp",
        "key": "reliability",
        "name": "Reliability",
        "steel": 58,
        "weight": 16
      },
      {
        "key": "performance",
        "name": "Performance",
        "pending": true,
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "by": 1,
        "chrome-devtools-mcp": 87,
        "edge": "chrome-devtools-mcp",
        "key": "schema",
        "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation",
        "steel": 86,
        "weight": 13
      },
      {
        "by": 4,
        "chrome-devtools-mcp": 83,
        "edge": "chrome-devtools-mcp",
        "key": "ergonomics",
        "name": "Agent ergonomics",
        "steel": 79,
        "weight": 13
      },
      {
        "by": 7,
        "chrome-devtools-mcp": 63,
        "edge": "chrome-devtools-mcp",
        "key": "security",
        "name": "Security \u0026 auth",
        "steel": 56,
        "weight": 14
      },
      {
        "by": 15,
        "chrome-devtools-mcp": 60,
        "edge": "steel",
        "key": "payments",
        "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing",
        "steel": 75,
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "key": "tasks",
        "name": "Task success",
        "pending": true,
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "by": 11,
        "chrome-devtools-mcp": 93,
        "edge": "chrome-devtools-mcp",
        "key": "maintenance",
        "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community",
        "steel": 82,
        "weight": 7
      },
      {
        "by": 17,
        "chrome-devtools-mcp": 81,
        "edge": "chrome-devtools-mcp",
        "key": "transparency",
        "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust",
        "steel": 64,
        "weight": 7
      }
    ],
    "summary": "Chrome DevTools MCP scores 77 (BB) on agent readiness against Steel's 70.4 (BB), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Steel leads on payments \u0026 pricing. Both do browser automation. Steel accepts x402. Chrome DevTools MCP doesn't.",
    "verdicts": {
      "chrome-devtools-mcp": "Performance traces, network inspection, heap snapshots and Lighthouse audits in one server. Usage statistics go to Google by default until you pass `--no-usage-statistics`.",
      "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/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-steel",
    "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-steel.json",
    "llms": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt",
    "markdown": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-steel.md",
    "slim": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-steel.min.md"
  },
  "markdown": "Chrome DevTools MCP scores 77 (BB) on agent readiness against Steel's 70.4 (BB), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Steel leads on payments \u0026 pricing. Both do browser automation. Steel accepts x402. Chrome DevTools MCP doesn't.\n\n- Chrome DevTools MCP: grade BB, 77/100, rank #22 of 629. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/chrome-devtools-mcp.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/chrome-devtools-mcp.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### Chrome DevTools MCP (BB)\n\nGood for: Coding agents debugging or profiling a web app they're building.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 83 against 58\n- Security \u0026 auth, 63 against 56\n- Maintenance \u0026 community, 93 against 82\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 81 against 64\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- No key needed to call it\n\nWatch for: Usage statistics go to Google by default until you pass `--no-usage-statistics`\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- Payments \u0026 pricing, 75 against 60\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- An agent can pay per call over x402, with no account\n- A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install\n- Free to start without a card\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 | Chrome DevTools MCP | Steel | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 83 | 58 | Chrome DevTools MCP +25 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 87 | 86 | Chrome DevTools MCP +1 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 83 | 79 | Chrome DevTools MCP +4 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 63 | 56 | Chrome DevTools MCP +7 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 75 | Steel +15 |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 93 | 82 | Chrome DevTools MCP +11 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 81 | 64 | Chrome DevTools MCP +17 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | -1 | 0 | |\n| **Total** | | **77 · BB** | **70.4 · BB** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | Chrome DevTools MCP | Steel |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | MCP server | HTTP API |\n| Vendor | Google (Chrome DevTools team) | Nen Labs, Inc. |\n| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | `https://api.steel.dev` |\n| Transports | stdio | HTTP, stdio |\n| Auth | None | API key |\n| Pricing | Free | Freemium |\n| x402 | no | yes, from $0.01/call |\n| Licence | Apache-2.0 | 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| Tools exposed | 59 | none |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | no | yes |\n| MCP registry | `io.github.ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp` | not listed |\n| Last release | 2026-09-23 | 2026-10-02 |\n| Terms last updated | no document linked | 2025-02-05 |\n| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-10-01 | 2026-02-05 |\n| Customer content may train models | yes | not found in the text |\n| Terms restrict automated access |  | yes |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking |  | yes |\n| Terms or service can change without notice |  | yes |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver |  | yes |\n| Popularity | 49k stars, 1.5M npm/wk | 47k npm/wk, 63k PyPI/wk |\n| Agent reviews | 3.5/5 (8) | none |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**Chrome DevTools MCP.** Performance traces, network inspection, heap snapshots and Lighthouse audits in one server. Usage statistics go to Google by default until you pass `--no-usage-statistics`.\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### Chrome DevTools MCP\n\n1. Pass `pageId` on every page tool. Call `list_pages` first to get it\n2. Start with `--slim` for plain browsing, or turn off categories you don't need\n3. Run with `--isolated` for untrusted sites. The default profile persists between runs\n4. Use `filePath` on large outputs such as traces and snapshots to keep them out of context\n5. Add `--no-usage-statistics` if the operator hasn't agreed to Google telemetry\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, Chrome DevTools MCP or Steel?\n\nChrome DevTools MCP scores 77 (BB) on agent readiness against Steel's 70.4 (BB), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Steel leads on payments \u0026 pricing.\n\n### Do Chrome DevTools MCP and Steel need an API key?\n\nChrome DevTools MCP needs no key. Steel needs an API key. An agent can also pay Steel per call over x402, with no account.\n\n### Can an agent call Chrome DevTools MCP and Steel without installing anything?\n\nChrome DevTools MCP runs on your own machine, with no hosted endpoint listed. Steel has a hosted endpoint at https://api.steel.dev.\n\n### Are Chrome DevTools MCP and Steel open source?\n\nYes. Chrome DevTools MCP is open source (Apache-2.0). 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/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-steel.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-steel.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"chrome-devtools-mcp\", \"b\": \"steel\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare chrome-devtools-mcp steel`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/chrome-devtools-mcp.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/steel.json\n\n## Other comparisons with Chrome DevTools MCP or Steel\n\n- [Airtop vs Chrome DevTools MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/airtop-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp.md)\n- [Airtop vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/airtop-vs-steel.md)\n- [Anchor Browser vs Chrome DevTools MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/anchor-browser-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp.md)\n- [Anchor Browser vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/anchor-browser-vs-steel.md)\n- [Browser Use vs Chrome DevTools MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browser-use-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp.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- [Browserless vs Chrome DevTools MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-chrome-devtools-mcp.md)\n- [Browserless vs Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserless-vs-steel.md)\n- [Chrome DevTools MCP vs Hyperbrowser](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-hyperbrowser.md)\n- [Chrome DevTools MCP vs Notte](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-notte.md)\n- [Chrome DevTools MCP vs Playwright MCP](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-playwright-mcp.md)\n- [Chrome DevTools MCP vs Puppeteer (archived MCP reference server)](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-puppeteer-reference-server-archived.md)\n- [Chrome DevTools MCP vs Skyvern](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-skyvern.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 Steel](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/browserbase-vs-steel.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": "Chrome DevTools MCP vs Steel",
        "url": ""
      }
    ],
    "description": "Chrome DevTools MCP scores 77 (BB) on agent readiness against Steel's 70.4 (BB), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Steel leads on payments \u0026 pricing. Both do browser automation. Steel accepts x402. Chrome DevTools MCP doesn't. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent…",
    "facts": [
      "Chrome DevTools MCP BB 77",
      "Steel BB 70.4",
      "scores"
    ],
    "h1": "Chrome DevTools MCP vs Steel",
    "image": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/assets/og/compare-chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-steel.png",
    "path": "/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-steel",
    "published": "2026-10-01",
    "section": "tools",
    "title": "Chrome DevTools MCP vs Steel for AI agents, BB 77 vs BB 70.4",
    "toc": null,
    "updated": "2026-10-08",
    "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-steel"
  },
  "tokens": {
    "markdown": 2400,
    "slim": 780
  },
  "version": 1
}