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Browserbase MCP Server

by Browserbase

Vendor-built Browserbase MCP server combining cloud browser automation (Browserbase) with natural-language-to-action mapping (Stagehand). 6 tools: start, end, navigate, act, observe, extract. Available as a hosted endpoint at https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp (LLM costs covered for Gemini) or self-hostable via @browserbasehq/mcp.

3,295·6 tools·Released JAN 2025·Apache-2.0
npx mcp-remote https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp
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Browserbase ships its MCP server as both a hosted service (`mcp.browserbase.com/mcp`) and a self-hosted npm package (`@browserbasehq/mcp`). The hosted version is the recommended path because Browserbase covers the LLM costs for Gemini, the best-performing model in Stagehand evals. The architectural decision: Browserbase runs headless Chrome in their cloud, and Stagehand provides the natural-language-to-browser-action layer (`act`, `observe`, `extract`). The result is an MCP that the agent uses with simple verbs while Browserbase handles the operational complexity of fleet-managed browsers, anti-bot measures, and session state. The trade-off is dependency: every action runs through Browserbase's infrastructure, with the cost and reliability characteristics that come with that. For teams already using Browserbase or Stagehand, the MCP integration is a thin layer over an existing investment. For teams starting fresh, it's worth weighing against running Puppeteer or Playwright locally.

Reviewed by M. Nouriel · APR 2026

INSTALL THIS SERVER

Requires authenticationHosted: anonymous (Browserbase covers Gemini costs). Self-hosted: BROWSERBASE_API_KEY + BROWSERBASE_PROJECT_ID + GEMINI_API_KEY (or alternative LLM key).
{ "mcpServers": { "browserbase": { "type": "http", "url": "https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp" } } }
PrereqHosted endpoint at https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp; Browserbase covers Gemini LLM costs. For self-hosting, swap to: { command: "npx", args: ["@browserbasehq/mcp"], env: { BROWSERBASE_API_KEY, BROWSERBASE_PROJECT_ID, GEMINI_API_KEY } }. Path: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS).
{ "mcpServers": { "browserbase": { "type": "http", "url": "https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp" } } }
{ "mcpServers": { "browserbase": { "type": "http", "url": "https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp" } } }
{ "mcpServers": { "browserbase": { "type": "http", "url": "https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp" } } }
{ "mcpServers": { "browserbase": { "type": "http", "url": "https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp" } } }

6 TOOLS AVAILABLE

start
Create or reuse a Browserbase session
Write
end
Close the current Browserbase session
Write
navigate
Navigate to a URL
Write
act
Perform an action on the page (Stagehand verb)
Write
observe
Observe actionable elements on the page (Stagehand verb)
Read
extract
Extract data from the page (Stagehand verb)
Read

OUR ASSESSMENT

Strengths
  • Hosted endpoint at https://mcp.browserbase.com/mcp eliminates local browser management; Browserbase covers the Gemini LLM costs for the natural-language layer.
  • Stagehand integration provides high-level verbs (`act`, `observe`, `extract`) so the agent works at the intent layer above raw clicks and selectors.
  • Vendor-built; the same team that operates the Browserbase fleet maintains the server.
  • Self-hosted path available via npm or Docker for teams that need on-prem control.
Weaknesses
  • Hosted endpoint introduces a dependency on Browserbase's infrastructure; outages there affect every team using the recommended path.
  • Self-hosted path requires Browserbase API key, project ID, and a model API key (Gemini, Claude, or other supported LLMs).
  • Stagehand's natural-language layer is opinionated; teams used to selector-based automation may find the verb-level abstraction surprising in edge cases.
Security Notes

The hosted endpoint runs browser sessions inside Browserbase's cloud; data flows through Browserbase's infrastructure with their standard data-handling posture documented in Browserbase's policies. For self-hosted deployments, environment variables hold the Browserbase API key, project ID, and the LLM API key (Gemini by default). Stagehand sends page content to the configured LLM for natural-language reasoning; teams handling sensitive page data should evaluate which LLM endpoint receives that content. The MCP server itself runs in the operator's environment and uses standard MCP transport (SHTTP recommended).

Best For

Teams already running Browserbase or Stagehand, or teams who want fleet-managed cloud browser automation with Browserbase handling the headless Chrome operations.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Language
typescript
Transport
streamable-httpstdio
Clients
Claude DesktopClaude CodeCursorVS CodeWindsurf
License
Apache-2.0
npm
@browserbasehq/mcp
Last Release
v3.0.0MAR 31, 2026
First Released
JAN 25, 2025

ADOPTION METRICS

// GitHub Stars
3,295

// Reading this3.3k stars reflect adoption from teams using Stagehand or Browserbase as their browser-automation foundation. Star traction tracks alongside Stagehand's eval performance.

// Popularity Rank
#11
Globally · #4 in Dev Tools

// Reading thisTop-ranked vendor-built browser automation MCP. The hosted-with-LLM-costs-covered model removes friction for first-time adopters.

SOURCES & VERIFICATION

We don't take any single directory's word for it. Before scoring, we cross-reference 5 public MCP sources, install the server ourselves against the clients we cover, and record when we last re-verified.

01
Discovered
Manual submission
First indexed APR 28, 2026
02
Cross-referenced
5 directories
PulseMCP, MCPMarket, Official MCP Registry, Awesome MCP Servers, Smithery
03
Verified against
Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf
Installed and tested across clients
04
Last re-checked
APR 28, 2026
Weekly re-verification
// How other directories see it

The same server, 5 different lenses. We reconcile these signals into our editorial score, which is why our number sometimes diverges from a directory-aggregate star count.

SourceTheir ratingTheir star countTheir downloadsLast synced
AutomationSwitch This page4.2editorial3,295APR 28, 2026
PulseMCP— unratedunavailableunavailableAPR 28, 2026
MCPMarket— unratedunavailableunavailableAPR 28, 2026
Official MCP Registry— unratedunavailableunavailableAPR 28, 2026
Awesome MCP Servers— unratedunavailableunavailableAPR 28, 2026
Smithery— unratedunavailableunavailableAPR 28, 2026

// Counts are directory-reported; we don't adjust them. Discrepancies usually come from different snapshot times or star-caching.

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