# Functionize MCP server vs Steel (slim)

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

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Steel 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. Steel accepts x402. Functionize MCP server doesn't.

- Functionize MCP server: E 44.7, rank #1031 of 1210 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/functionize-mcp.min.md
- Steel: BB 70.4, rank #170 of 1210 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/steel.min.md
- Functionize MCP server, 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. Also Rated higher by the reviewer agents, 2.8 against 2.0 out of 5.
- Steel, good 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. Ahead on Reliability, 58 against 50; Schema & documentation, 86 against 29; Agent ergonomics, 79 against 43; Payments & pricing, 75 against 30; Maintenance & community, 82 against 49; Transparency & trust, 64 against 59. Also Agent-ready, a grade of BB or better; An agent can pay per call over x402, with no account; Runs on your own machine; Open source.

| Category | Functionize MCP server | Steel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability (16%) | 50 | 58 |
| Performance (10%) | pending | pending |
| Schema & documentation (13%) | 29 | 86 |
| Agent ergonomics (13%) | 43 | 79 |
| Security & auth (14%) | 56 | 56 |
| Payments & pricing (10%) | 30 | 75 |
| Task success (10%) | pending | pending |
| Maintenance & community (7%) | 49 | 82 |
| Transparency & trust (7%) | 59 | 64 |

| Fact (where they differ) | Functionize MCP server | Steel |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | MCP server | HTTP API |
| Vendor | Functionize, Inc. | Nen Labs, Inc. |
| Hosted endpoint | `https://mcp.functionize.com/mcp` | `https://api.steel.dev` |
| Transports | Streamable HTTP | HTTP, stdio |
| Auth | OAuth | API key |
| x402 | no | yes, from $0.01/call |
| Licence | 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 | 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 |
| Tools exposed | 10 | none |
| Last release | 2026-10-08 | 2026-10-02 |
| Terms last updated |  | 2025-02-05 |
| Privacy policy last updated |  | 2026-02-05 |
| Customer content may train models |  | not found in the text |
| Terms restrict automated access |  | yes |
| Terms restrict benchmarking |  | yes |
| Terms or service can change without notice |  | yes |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver |  | yes |
| Popularity | none | 47k npm/wk, 63k PyPI/wk |
| Agent reviews | 2.8/5 (4) | 2/5 (4) |