Field-by-field comparison
Compare the evidence before choosing an MCP.
Each signal stays separate, missing facts remain visible, and the column order follows your selection.
| Evidence field | Browser UseWatchlist candidate | Playwright MCPMCP100 Selected |
|---|---|---|
| Task fit | ||
| Best for |
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| Not ideal for |
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| Avoid when |
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| Provenance | ||
| Provenance details | First-party MCP com.browser-use · Publisher source ↗ | First-party MCP Microsoft · Publisher source ↗ |
| Maintenance | ||
| Maintenance details | Stale Repo: Not documented Package: Not documented | Repo: Aug 12, 2026 Package: Jul 9, 2026 |
| Popularity evidence | ||
| GitHub stars | Not documented | 36,125 GitHub stars · checked 2026-08-14T18:46:26.000Z |
| Package downloads / 30 days | No reliable download data | 6,369,865 package downloads / 30 days · checked 2026-07-29T17:30:00.000Z |
| Client coverage | ||
| Client coverage details | Not documented | Claude Code✓ Local stdio Claude Desktop✓ Local stdio Codex✓ Local stdio VS Code✓ Local stdio Cursor✓ Local stdio OpenCode✓ Local stdio |
| Client coverage note | Local stdio runs on your computer. Streamable HTTP connects to a remotely hosted MCP server. | |
| Access and data | ||
| Authentication | Local MCP process authentication is not a hosted account boundary; browser/model-provider credentials depend on configuration. | The server itself does not require a service account for local stdio use, but websites opened in the controlled browser may use cookies or other authenticated browser state. |
| Cost | Open-source software; model providers, browser/cloud services and websites may incur costs. | The first-party open-source package lists no MCP server usage fee. Normal internet, hosted-client, proxy, or third-party website costs can still apply. |
| Permissions | Can exercise browser/session authority available to browser-use, including authenticated web sessions when configured. | The exposed tools can navigate pages, interact with elements, enter text, upload files, inspect network activity, and optionally use additional browser capabilities. |
| Data handling | Visited page content and browser state may be sent to configured model/provider services; retention follows those services and local browser setup. | Page text, accessibility snapshots, console output, network details, uploaded paths, and browser state may be returned to the connected MCP client. Isolated mode keeps the temporary profile in memory; persistent mode stores browser state on disk. |
| Limitations | ||
| Tradeoffs |
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| Risk context | Authenticated-session and web-action blast radius needs stronger Selected-grade safety and production evidence. | Playwright MCP is not a security boundary. Prefer an isolated browser profile, non-sensitive test accounts, narrow destinations, minimal optional permissions, and client-side approval controls. |
| Evidence date | ||
| Editorial review | 2026-09-13T00:00:00Z | 2026-07-24 |
| Candidate evidence | 2026-09-13T00:00:00Z | 2026-08-14T18:46:26.000Z |
Popularity, maintenance, fit, permissions, and client support are independent evidence fields.
Read the evidence method →