invisible_playwright_mcp vs Steel

Side-by-side comparison of two AI agent tools

Playwright MCP server undetected by anti-bots and captchas: AI agent browses the web on anti-detect stealth Firefox, Python, undetected browser automation, scra

Steelopen-source

πŸ”₯ Open Source Browser API for AI Agents & Apps. Steel Browser is a batteries-included browser sandbox that lets you automate the web without worrying about infrastructure.

Metrics

invisible_playwright_mcpSteel
Stars31.7k7.7k
Star velocity /mo2.6k155.77540106951872
Commits (90d)29010
Releases (6m)102
Overall score0.81972492929162160.5492637697035601

Pros

    • +Multi-client support allows integration with Puppeteer, Playwright, or Selenium for maximum flexibility
    • +Comprehensive session management automatically handles browser state, cookies, and storage persistence
    • +Built-in anti-detection capabilities with stealth plugins and fingerprint management help avoid bot blocking

    Cons

      • -Public beta status indicates the platform is still evolving and may have stability issues
      • -Browser automation inherently resource-intensive and can be complex to debug at scale
      • -Requires understanding of browser automation concepts and may have learning curve for new users

      Use Cases

        • β€’AI agents that need to interact with dynamic websites, fill forms, or navigate complex user interfaces
        • β€’Web scraping projects requiring session persistence, proxy rotation, and anti-detection measures
        • β€’Automated testing scenarios where browser state management and debugging capabilities are essential

        FAQ

        Which is more popular, invisible_playwright_mcp or Steel?
        invisible_playwright_mcp has more GitHub stars (31,727 vs 7,714).
        Which is more actively developed, invisible_playwright_mcp or Steel?
        invisible_playwright_mcp had more commits in the last 90 days (290 vs 10).
        Should I use invisible_playwright_mcp or Steel?
        Compare their capabilities, limitations and "best for" notes above. Both are open source, so trying each on a small task is the fastest way to decide.