Browser Use vs Codex

We make Yab, the third column.facts checked Oct 9 ↓

Browser Use is an open-source Python library, command line and MCP server for building browser agents, with a paid cloud for running many browsers at once.

Codex, in the ChatGPT desktop app, has a browser of its own, computer use, and an extension that works in your signed-in Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera or Vivaldi, on a ChatGPT plan.

The short answer

Pick Browser Use

if you build your own browser agents in Python
if you run many browser sessions in the cloud, with proxies
if you want Claude Code or Codex to use your running Chrome through its command line

Pick Codex

if you code in the ChatGPT desktop app and want it to check your web app in its browser
if you pay for ChatGPT and want tasks done in your signed-in Chrome
if you want to leave comments right on the page you are building

Or Yabours

if you already pay for Claude or ChatGPT and want it to work in your signed-in tabs
if you want Claude Code, Codex or Cursor to drive a real browser over MCP

At a glance

Browser Use and Codex, with Yab beside them for a Mac.

Browser Use vs Codex
What	Browser Use	Codex	Yab
Made by	Browser Use	OpenAI	Serafim Korablev
Status	Updated	Updated	Updated
Runs on	Mac, Windows and Linux	Mac, Windows and Linux	Mac
Price	Library free (MIT); cloud pay as you go, from $0.02 per browser hour	Included in ChatGPT Plus ($20/month), Pro, Business and Enterprise	Free; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan
Drives	Your running Chrome, a local browser or cloud browsers	Its own browser in the ChatGPT app, your Mac or PC, and your Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera or Vivaldi	Yab itself, a browser on your Mac
Your sign-ins	Browser Use’s command line attaches to your running Chrome, with your sign-ins.	Codex’s own browser has a separate profile; its extension works in your signed-in browser.	Yab is the browser you sign in to, so agents work with your sign-ins.
Works with	Claude Code, Codex and Cursor through its command line, and any MCP client	No	yab mcp and the yab command, for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and any MCP client
Open source	Yes	No	No

Checked October 9, 2026 on each maker’s own pages, linked under Sources. Prices are per month, in US dollars.

Where they differ

What separates them, area by area. Where one plainly has more, it says who; where it comes down to taste, it says so.

What it drivesa matter of taste

Browser Use is an open-source agent that drives your running Chrome, a local browser or cloud browsers, on your OpenAI or Anthropic key, its own model or a local one. Codex, in the ChatGPT desktop app, has a browser with its own profile, computer use across your Mac or PC, and an extension for your signed-in Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera or Vivaldi.

Your sign-insa matter of taste

Browser Use’s command line attaches to your running Chrome, with your sign-ins. Codex’s own browser has a separate profile; its extension works in your signed-in browser.

Which agents can use itBrowser Use leads

Browser Use works with Claude Code, Codex and Cursor through its command line, and any MCP client. Codex has no MCP server or command line for other agents.

PriceBrowser Use leads

Browser Use: Library free (MIT); cloud pay as you go, from $0.02 per browser hour. Codex: Included in ChatGPT Plus ($20/month), Pro, Business and Enterprise.

Where it runseven

Both run on Mac, Windows and Linux.

What their pages don’t lead with

Real limits, from the makers’ own words and our own use.

Browser Use

The library is free; models and cloud browsers cost money
Telemetry is on by default and can include task text and addresses
Reusing your real Chrome profile can mean quitting Chrome first

Codex

In the desktop app only: not in Codex CLI or the IDE extension
Computer use is limited by region and missing on Linux
Its own browser uses a separate profile and can’t upload files for you
No MCP server for other agents

Yab, honestly

Mac only: macOS 15.4 or later, no Windows, iPhone or Android
New: first released in September 2026
Its AI needs a Claude or ChatGPT plan; ChatGPT’s free plan may work with low limits
WebKit, as in Safari: a site tested only in Chrome can misbehave
Closed source

What changed lately

July 9, 2026Codex: Codex app merged into the ChatGPT desktop app
May 7, 2026Codex: Codex Chrome extension launched for macOS and Windows
April 16, 2026Codex: Codex got Computer Use on macOS and an in-app browser
March 23, 2025Browser Use: Raised a $17M seed round led by Felicis

Questions

Is Browser Use free?

Yes, with limits on its AI. Library free (MIT); cloud pay as you go, from $0.02 per browser hour.

Is Codex free?

Included in ChatGPT Plus ($20/month), Pro, Business and Enterprise.

Which one works in my signed-in browser, Browser Use or Codex?

Browser Use’s command line attaches to your running Chrome, with your sign-ins. Codex’s own browser has a separate profile; its extension works in your signed-in browser.

Do Browser Use and Codex run on Windows?

Yes, both. Browser Use runs on Mac, Windows and Linux; Codex on Mac, Windows and Linux.

Is there a third option on a Mac?

Yab, Yet Another Browser, is a free Mac browser that Claude Code, Codex and any MCP client can drive through yab mcp, in your own signed-in profile, with Send, Pay and Delete held for your yes. It has an agent of its own too, on your Claude or ChatGPT plan. It is Mac only, and new.

More comparisons

Browser Use vs Claude in Chrome Browser Use vs Playwright MCP Browser Use vs Chrome DevTools MCP Browser Use alternatives Yab vs Browser Use Codex vs Claude in Chrome Codex vs Playwright MCP Chrome DevTools MCP vs Codex Codex alternatives Yab vs Codex

Yab, Yet Another Browser.

Free for the Mac. Arc’s sidebar, your own Claude or ChatGPT as the agent, Chrome extensions on WebKit.

it’s freeDownload