Playwright MCP
Playwright MCP is Microsoft's server that lets agents drive a real browser; install with claude mcp add playwright npx @playwright/mcp@latest.
OUR TAKE
Pick Playwright MCP for developers who want a coding agent to drive a real browser for QA, form fills, or screenshots. It is not Chrome DevTools.
Good fit
Developers who want a coding agent to drive a real browser for QA, form fills, or screenshots.
Poor fit
People who only need Chrome network / console / performance traces (Chrome DevTools MCP), or a hosted browser session grid.
Free / OSS
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-11-01 · github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp
OUR TAKE
Pick Playwright MCP for developers who want a coding agent to drive a real browser for QA, form fills, or screenshots. It is not Chrome DevTools. Network waterfalls and performance traces are the other server.
Good fit
Developers who want a coding agent to drive a real browser for QA, form fills, or screenshots.
Poor fit
People who only need Chrome network / console / performance traces (Chrome DevTools MCP), or a hosted browser session grid.
Free / OSS
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-11-01 · github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp
What it costs
USD, before tax · Checked 2026-11-01 · github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp
Free / OSS
Apache-2.0. npx @playwright/mcp@latest. You bring the MCP client
$0
No hosted Playwright MCP SKU.
Not published by the vendor
Not published by the vendor
Checked 2026-11-01·github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp
Install and adoption
MCP server38,943 GitHub stars (2026-11-01) · 8,572,341 weekly on npm (@playwright/mcp) (2026-11-01)
Stars 2026-11-01 from GitHub API (https://api.github.com/repos/microsoft/playwright-mcp). Downloads 2026-11-01 from npm (https://api.npmjs.org/downloads/point/last-week/@playwright/mcp).
Claude Code
claude mcp add playwright npx @playwright/mcp@latest
Tested on 2026-11-01 · https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp
Cursor / standard MCP JSON
{ "mcpServers": { "playwright": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "@playwright/mcp@latest" ] } } }Tested on 2026-11-01 · https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp
VS Code
{ "mcpServers": { "playwright": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "@playwright/mcp@latest" ] } } }Tested on 2026-11-01 · https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp
Claude Desktop
{ "mcpServers": { "playwright": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "@playwright/mcp@latest" ] } } }Tested on 2026-11-01 · https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp
Before you pay
Good fit
Developers who want a coding agent to drive a real browser for QA, form fills, or screenshots.
Poor fit
People who only need Chrome network / console / performance traces (Chrome DevTools MCP), or a hosted browser session grid.
Watch out
It is not Chrome DevTools. Network waterfalls and performance traces are the other server.
Instead, try
Chrome DevTools MCP if same browser class, but for live Chrome debugging and performance traces, not cross-browser E2E; Browser Use if an agent loop on a real page when you want a hosted cockpit or MIT SDK, not a Playwright MCP config
Compare Playwright MCP with
Limits, in full
- 01
It is not Chrome DevTools. Network waterfalls and performance traces are the other server.
- 02
Headless CI still needs browsers installed. The MCP package is not a hosted runner.
- 03
You bring the client. Claude Code, Cursor, or VS Code must speak MCP.
If Playwright MCP isn't it
Why: same browser class, but for live Chrome debugging and performance traces, not cross-browser E2E.
Free· open source,Apache-2.0
Chrome onlyChecked 2026-11-01·github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp
vs Playwright MCP
Why: an agent loop on a real page when you want a hosted cockpit or MIT SDK, not a Playwright MCP config.
Free· paid from$1
$0.02/hour is the browser, not OpusChecked 2026-11-02·browser-use.com/pricing
vs Playwright MCP
Why: the test runner and Trace Viewer when you write npx playwright test, not an MCP server.
Free· open source,Apache-2.0
No hosted cloud runner in coreChecked 2026-10-23·playwright.dev
vs Playwright MCPLimits & alternatives3 limits · Chrome DevTools MCP, Browser Use, Playwright instead
Limits, in full
- 01
It is not Chrome DevTools. Network waterfalls and performance traces are the other server.
- 02
Headless CI still needs browsers installed. The MCP package is not a hosted runner.
- 03
You bring the client. Claude Code, Cursor, or VS Code must speak MCP.
If Playwright MCP isn't it
Why: same browser class, but for live Chrome debugging and performance traces, not cross-browser E2E.
Free· open source,Apache-2.0
Chrome onlyChecked 2026-11-01·github.com/ChromeDevTools/chrome-devtools-mcp
vs Playwright MCPWhy: an agent loop on a real page when you want a hosted cockpit or MIT SDK, not a Playwright MCP config.
Free· paid from$1
$0.02/hour is the browser, not OpusChecked 2026-11-02·browser-use.com/pricing
vs Playwright MCPWhy: the test runner and Trace Viewer when you write npx playwright test, not an MCP server.
Free· open source,Apache-2.0
No hosted cloud runner in coreChecked 2026-10-23·playwright.dev
vs Playwright MCP