Yab

Browser Use vs Playwright MCP

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.

Playwright MCP is Microsoft’s free, open-source MCP server that lets an agent drive Chrome, Edge, Firefox or WebKit through Playwright, in a profile of its own by default.

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 Playwright MCP
  • if you run agents in CI and tests that need a clean, repeatable browser
  • if you want it in any MCP client: Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or VS Code
  • if you check pages in Chromium, Firefox and WebKit
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 Playwright MCP, with Yab beside them for a Mac.

Browser Use vs Playwright MCP
WhatBrowser UsePlaywright MCPYab
Made byBrowser UseMicrosoftSerafim Korablev
StatusUpdatedUpdatedUpdated
Runs onMac, Windows and LinuxMac, Windows and LinuxMac
PriceLibrary free (MIT); cloud pay as you go, from $0.02 per browser hourFree and open source; you pay only for your agent’s modelFree; its AI runs on your own Claude or ChatGPT plan
DrivesYour running Chrome, a local browser or cloud browsersChrome, Edge, Firefox or WebKitYab itself, a browser on your Mac
Your sign-insBrowser Use’s command line attaches to your running Chrome, with your sign-ins.Playwright MCP uses a profile of its own by default, and your Chrome or Edge through its extension.Yab is the browser you sign in to, so agents work with your sign-ins.
Works withClaude Code, Codex and Cursor through its command line, and any MCP clientany MCP client, like Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or VS Codeyab mcp and the yab command, for Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and any MCP client
Open sourceYesYesNo

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. Playwright MCP has no model of its own: your agent drives Chrome, Edge, Firefox or WebKit, reading pages as accessibility snapshots, in a profile of its own, a clean one, or your Chrome through extension mode.

Your sign-insa matter of taste

Browser Use’s command line attaches to your running Chrome, with your sign-ins. Playwright MCP uses a profile of its own by default, and your Chrome or Edge through its extension.

Which agents can use iteven

Browser Use works with Claude Code, Codex and Cursor through its command line, and any MCP client. Playwright MCP works with any MCP client, like Claude Code, Codex, Cursor or VS Code.

PriceBrowser Use leads

Browser Use: Library free (MIT); cloud pay as you go, from $0.02 per browser hour. Playwright MCP: Free and open source; you pay only for your agent’s model.

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

Playwright MCP

  • Its own profile has none of your sign-ins unless you use extension mode
  • Extension mode works only in Chrome and Edge
  • Brings no model: needs an MCP client and Node.js
  • Microsoft suggests its command line for coding agents, since MCP uses more tokens

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

  • January 26, 2026Playwright MCP: Microsoft published Playwright CLI (@playwright/cli), suggested for coding agents
  • March 23, 2025Browser Use: Raised a $17M seed round led by Felicis
  • March 13, 2025Playwright MCP: First published on npm as @playwright/mcp

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 Playwright MCP free?

Yes. Free and open source; you pay only for your agent’s model.

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

Browser Use’s command line attaches to your running Chrome, with your sign-ins. Playwright MCP uses a profile of its own by default, and your Chrome or Edge through its extension.

Do Browser Use and Playwright MCP run on Windows?

Yes, both. Browser Use runs on Mac, Windows and Linux; Playwright MCP 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 ChromeBrowser Use vs CodexBrowser Use vs Chrome DevTools MCPBrowser Use alternativesYab vs Browser UsePlaywright MCP vs Claude in ChromeCodex vs Playwright MCPChrome DevTools MCP vs Playwright MCPPlaywright MCP alternativesYab vs Playwright MCP
Sources, read October 9, 2026. Something out of date? Write to hello@serafimlabs.io and we fix it.

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