Choosing the right cloud browser API in 2026 can directly impact development speed, system reliability, and long-term costs. For teams building web scrapers, automated tests, or AI agents that browse the web, providers like Browserless, Browserbase, Steel.dev, and Bright Data offer very different trade-offs, yet most comparisons fail to give developers the practical details needed to choose with confidence.
This guide compares the leading cloud browser APIs based on real production needs. We cover framework support for Playwright, Puppeteer, and Selenium, AI agent integration, pricing models, anti-detection features, and reliability, along with code examples to help you determine which solution best fits your use case.
What Are Cloud Browser APIs?
Before diving into provider comparisons, let's clarify what we mean by "cloud browser API" because the term gets used inconsistently across the industry.
Cloud Browser APIs are services that provide remote browser instances accessible via Chrome DevTools Protocol (CDP) or WebSocket connections. You connect your Playwright, Puppeteer, or Selenium code to their cloud-hosted browsers instead of launching local browser instances.
Why Use a Cloud Browser API?
Cloud browser APIs solve specific infrastructure problems:
- Eliminate browser management overhead: No Docker containers, no browser version updates, no dependency hell
- Scale instantly: Spin up 100 concurrent browser sessions without provisioning servers
- Better anti-detection: Providers manage browser fingerprinting, TLS profiles, and stealth configurations
- Cost efficiency: Pay per usage instead of maintaining idle server capacity
- Geographic diversity: Access browsers in multiple regions without VPN infrastructure
You might not need a cloud browser API if you're running simple scraping scripts a few times per day. But for production systems running hundreds of browser sessions, automated testing across regions, or AI agents requiring persistent browser state, cloud browser APIs become essential.
How We Tested These Providers
Where providers offered public access, we connected using Playwright in Python and ran real automation tasks. For enterprise platforms requiring sales contact, we relied on official documentation and publicly available information.
Our Testing Process
We evaluated each provider across several practical dimensions that matter for production use:
Connection and reliability - Does it actually work? We tested Playwright connections where possible and checked how well each provider's WebSocket endpoints handle real automation tasks. Documentation quality matters here too, unclear docs waste developer time.
Framework compatibility - We verified support for Playwright, Puppeteer, and Selenium. We also checked compatibility with AI agent frameworks like Stagehand, Browser Use, and Vibium since autonomous browser agents are increasingly common.
Anti-detection capabilities - How well do these services handle modern bot detection? We looked at stealth mode implementations, browser fingerprinting approaches, and whether proxies come built-in or require external setup.
Pricing transparency - Nothing's more frustrating than "contact sales" when you just want to know if something fits your budget. We collected public pricing where available and noted which providers hide their costs behind sales teams.
Fair Comparison Standard:
To keep things apples-to-apples, all our code examples perform the same simple task:
- Connect to the provider's cloud browser
- Navigate to
https://web-scraping.dev/products - Extract the page title
- Close the browser connection
This standardized test lets you see exactly how connection methods differ while using a realistic web scraping workflow.
Detailed Provider Reviews
Now let's examine each provider, organized by market position and target audience. We'll keep the structure consistent: overview, key features, framework support, pricing model, honest pros and cons, and working code examples.
Bright Data Scraping Browser
Market Position: Enterprise market leader
Target Audience: Large-scale scraping operations with budget for premium features
Bright Data is the enterprise heavyweight in the web scraping ecosystem. Their Scraping Browser product combines cloud browser infrastructure with Bright Data's massive proxy network (85M+ residential IPs), making it a turnkey solution for large-scale data collection operations that face aggressive anti-bot protection.
Key Features
- Massive proxy network: 85M+ residential IPs across 195 countries
- Integrated anti-detection: Browser fingerprinting, TLS emulation, automatic unblocking
- Automatic CAPTCHA solving: Reduces manual intervention for protected sites
- JavaScript rendering: Full browser capabilities with dynamic content support
- Geo-targeting: Access content from specific countries/cities through proxy network
- Enterprise support: Dedicated account management and SLA guarantees
Pricing Model
Type: Bandwidth-based pricing
Starting Point: Enterprise tier, contact sales
Free Trial: Available for evaluation
Bright Data charges based on bandwidth consumption GB transferred, which can scale quickly for browser-based scraping. Their enterprise focus means pricing isn't public, and the platform is optimized for organizations with substantial data collection budgets.
Code Example
from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
# Bright Data Scraping Browser connection
BRIGHTDATA_URL = "wss://brd-customer-<CUSTOMER_ID>-zone-<ZONE>:@brightdata.com"
with sync_playwright() as playwright:
browser = playwright.chromium.connect_over_cdp(BRIGHTDATA_URL)
page = browser.new_page()
page.goto("https://web-scraping.dev/products")
title = page.title()
print(f"Page title: {title}")
browser.close()
Best For
Bright Data Scraping Browser excels for enterprise-scale scraping operations where budget allows premium features. If you're extracting millions of records from heavily protected sites and need guaranteed uptime with support, Bright Data delivers.
Browserless
Market Position: BaaS pioneer, established 2017
Target Audience: Teams needing self-host flexibility and established infrastructure
Browserless pioneered the Browser-as-a-Service model in 2017. Their key differentiator remains the self-hosting option, you can run their Docker containers on your infrastructure while benefiting from their REST APIs and CDP support. This hybrid approach appeals to teams with existing Kubernetes clusters or compliance requirements preventing cloud-only solutions.
Key Features
- Self-host option: Docker containers for on-premise deployment
- REST APIs: Simplified endpoints for screenshots, PDFs, and scraping alongside CDP
- CDP/WebSocket support: Full Playwright and Puppeteer integration
- Session management: Persistent browser contexts across requests
- Stealth mode: Bot detection bypass with plugin architecture
- Queue management: Built-in request queuing and concurrency control
Pricing Model
Type: Session-based pricing
Starting Point: ~$250/month for cloud service
Self-Host: Available with licensing
Browserless charges per browser session connection timex, which provides predictable costs compared to bandwidth-based models. The self-host option offers cost control for high-volume operations where cloud pricing becomes prohibitive.
Code Example
from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
# Browserless cloud connection
BROWSERLESS_URL = "wss://chrome.browserless.io?token=YOUR_API_TOKEN"
with sync_playwright() as playwright:
browser = playwright.chromium.connect_over_cdp(BROWSERLESS_URL)
page = browser.new_page()
page.goto("https://web-scraping.dev/products")
title = page.title()
print(f"Page title: {title}")
browser.close()
Best For
Browserless works well for teams wanting deployment flexibility. If you have Kubernetes expertise and need to self-host for compliance, or want a proven solution without bleeding-edge features, Browserless delivers solid fundamentals.
Browserbase
Market Position: AI-first cloud browser platform
Target Audience: AI agent developers and autonomous browser automation
Browserbase entered the market with explicit focus on AI agents and autonomous browser automation. As creators of the Stagehand framework, they've built infrastructure optimized for LLM-driven browser interactions. Their "AI-first" approach means features like self-healing automations and visual debugging that prioritize agent workflows over traditional scraping.
Key Features
- Stagehand framework: LLM-powered browser automation with natural language instructions
- AI-first infrastructure: Designed for autonomous agents with error recovery
- Session management: Persistent browser contexts with state preservation
- Stealth mode: Anti-detection optimized for AI agent behavior patterns
- Live debugging: Real-time session inspection and intervention capabilities
- Playwright-centric: Deep integration with Playwright ecosystem
Pricing Model
Type: Session-based pricing
Starting Point: ~$100/month
Free Tier: Limited free tier for testing and development
Browserbase uses session-based pricing similar to Browserless but at a lower entry point. Their free tier allows experimentation with AI agent workflows before committing to paid plans.
Code Example
from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
# Browserbase connection
BROWSERBASE_URL = "wss://connect.browserbase.com?apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY"
with sync_playwright() as playwright:
browser = playwright.chromium.connect_over_cdp(BROWSERBASE_URL)
page = browser.new_page()
page.goto("https://web-scraping.dev/products")
title = page.title()
print(f"Page title: {title}")
browser.close()
Best For
Browserbase excels for AI agent builders and autonomous automation. If you're building LLM-powered browser agents with Stagehand or need self-healing scripts that adapt to page changes, Browserbase provides purpose-built infrastructure. Traditional scraping teams may find the AI features unnecessary overhead.
Scrapfly Cloud Browser
Market Position: Full-stack web scraping platform with browser API
Target Audience: Developers wanting framework flexibility and comprehensive features
Scrapfly Cloud Browser is part of Scrapfly's broader web scraping platform. Unlike pure browser APIs, Scrapfly provides both HTTP scraping APIs and cloud browser infrastructure, letting developers choose the right tool per use case. Their standout feature is comprehensive framework support including full Selenium compatibility, rare among cloud browser providers.
Key Features
- Universal framework support: Playwright, Puppeteer, AND Selenium (rare in industry)
- AI agent frameworks: Browser Use, Stagehand, and Vibium support
- Built-in anti-detection: Browser fingerprinting and stealth configurations
- Integrated proxies: Datacenter and residential proxies included, no external setup
- Manual control dashboard: Human-in-the-Loop with live screencast for debugging
- Browser extensions: Load custom Chrome extensions in cloud browsers
- Session resume: Persist browser sessions with full state (cookies, localStorage, sessionStorage)
- CDP WebSocket access: Full Chrome DevTools Protocol for advanced automation
Pricing Model
Type: Credits-based (time + bandwidth combined)
Starting Point: $9/month
Free Tier: 1,000 credits included
Scrapfly uses a unified credits system where both browser time and bandwidth consumption deduct from your credit balance. This creates predictable costs but requires optimization awareness, long-running sessions consume credits continuously.
Code Example
from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
# Scrapfly Cloud Browser connection
SCRAPFLY_KEY = "YOUR_SCRAPFLY_API_KEY"
SCRAPFLY_URL = f"wss://cloud-browser.scrapfly.io?key={SCRAPFLY_KEY}"
with sync_playwright() as playwright:
browser = playwright.chromium.connect_over_cdp(SCRAPFLY_URL)
page = browser.new_page()
page.goto("https://web-scraping.dev/products")
title = page.title()
print(f"Page title: {title}")
browser.close()
Best For
Scrapfly Cloud Browser excels for developers wanting framework flexibility without vendor lock-in. If you need Selenium support, AI agent frameworks, or want to combine HTTP scraping with browser automation in one platform, Scrapfly provides comprehensive tooling. The manual control dashboard particularly benefits debugging complex scrapers.
Steel.dev
Market Position: Open-source cloud browser with free tier
Target Audience: Startups, open-source projects, budget-conscious developers
Steel.dev differentiates through its open-source core and generous free tier. Backed by GitHub's community, Steel targets developers who want cloud browser infrastructure without immediate financial commitment. The open-source model allows self-hosting for those with Kubernetes skills, while the cloud service provides zero-config deployment.
Key Features
- Open-source core: GitHub-hosted, community-driven development
- Generous free tier: Meaningful usage limits for development and small projects
- AI agent support: Compatible with common agent frameworks
- Session management: Browser context persistence across requests
- Community-driven: Active GitHub community and contribution model
Pricing Model
Type: Usage-based with generous free tier
Starting Point: Free tier included, paid scaling available
Cost Structure: Pay-as-you-grow model
Steel's free tier provides real value, not just trial access. This makes it viable for side projects, early-stage startups, and open-source tools. Paid tiers scale as usage grows without requiring upfront enterprise commitments.
Code Example
from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
# Steel.dev connection
STEEL_URL = "wss://connect.steel.dev?apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY"
with sync_playwright() as playwright:
browser = playwright.chromium.connect_over_cdp(STEEL_URL)
page = browser.new_page()
page.goto("https://web-scraping.dev/products")
title = page.title()
print(f"Page title: {title}")
browser.close()
Best For
Steel.dev works best for startups, side projects, and open-source tools where budget constraints are real but cloud browser needs exist. The free tier provides meaningful value for low-to-moderate volume automation. As scale increases, evaluate whether community support and smaller infrastructure meet production requirements.
Oxylabs Web Scraper Browser
Market Position: Enterprise competitor to Bright Data
Target Audience: Large organizations needing Bright Data alternative
Oxylabs competes directly with Bright Data in the enterprise web intelligence market. Their Web Scraper Browser product combines cloud browser infrastructure with Oxylabs' 100M+ proxy network, providing enterprise-grade scraping capabilities with comparable anti-detection features. Organizations evaluating Bright Data often consider Oxylabs as the primary alternative.
Key Features
- Large proxy network: 100M+ residential IPs across 195+ countries
- Enterprise anti-detection: Advanced fingerprinting and TLS emulation
- JavaScript rendering: Full browser capabilities with dynamic content handling
- Geo-targeting: Access content from specific countries/cities/ISPs
- Dedicated support: Enterprise account management and technical support
- SLA guarantees: Uptime commitments for production systems
Pricing Model
Type: Bandwidth-based pricing
Starting Point: Enterprise tier, contact sales
Free Trial: Available for evaluation
Like Bright Data, Oxylabs charges based on bandwidth consumption GB transferred. Pricing isn't public due to enterprise focus, and the platform targets organizations with substantial data collection budgets rather than individual developers.
Code Example
from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
# Oxylabs Web Scraper Browser connection
OXYLABS_URL = "wss://realtime.oxylabs.io/v1/ws?apiKey=YOUR_API_KEY"
with sync_playwright() as playwright:
browser = playwright.chromium.connect_over_cdp(OXYLABS_URL)
page = browser.new_page()
page.goto("https://web-scraping.dev/products")
title = page.title()
print(f"Page title: {title}")
browser.close()
Best For
Oxylabs Web Scraper Browser excels for enterprise teams needing Bright Data alternative. If you're evaluating multiple enterprise vendors for large-scale scraping with guaranteed support, Oxylabs provides comparable features at potentially different pricing. Not suitable for small teams or budget-conscious projects.
Other Notable Providers
Beyond the major players, several smaller providers offer specialized features or target niche use cases. These brief profiles cover alternatives worth knowing about, though they may lack the scale or track record of established providers.
ZenRows
ZenRows takes a different approach by offering REST API simplicity over direct browser control. Instead of managing CDP connections, you send HTTP requests with parameters for JavaScript rendering and anti-bot bypass.
Key Features: Simple REST API, anti-bot bypass, JavaScript rendering via API parameter
Pricing: ~$49/month credits-based, limited free tier
Best For: Simple scraping without complex interactions, quick implementation
Limitation: Not true "cloud browser API", REST API limits custom browser interactions
BrowserCat
BrowserCat focuses on developer experience with a simple REST API for common browser automation tasks. Their approach prioritizes quick implementation over comprehensive features.
Key Features: Simple REST API, screenshot/PDF generation, clean documentation
Pricing: Per-API-call pricing, transparent tiers
Best For: Simple automation tasks without complexity requirements
Limitation: Less anti-detection focus than specialized scraping providers
Hyperbrowser
Hyperbrowser targets AI agent applications specifically, optimizing infrastructure for autonomous browser agents rather than traditional scraping.
Key Features: CAPTCHA bypass, session management, AI agent optimization
Pricing: Session-based pricing
Best For: AI agent applications with autonomous browsing needs
Limitation: Newer provider with smaller ecosystem and shorter track record
These providers fill specific niches but lack the comprehensive features, scale, or track record of the main alternatives reviewed above. Consider them if their specialized features match your exact use case, but evaluate carefully against established options.
Pricing Comparison
Understanding cloud browser API pricing requires decoding different billing models. Providers use session-based, bandwidth-based, credits-based, or hybrid approaches, making direct cost comparison challenging. Let's break down each model and compare actual pricing where publicly available.
Pricing Models Explained
Cloud browser providers typically use one of two pricing models, and understanding the difference is critical for estimating real-world costs.
Session-Based Pricing (Browserless, Browserbase)
You pay per browser session or connection time. One browser instance running for 5 minutes equals one session unit. Predictable for short automations, but long-running sessions accumulate costs quickly.
Example: 100 sessions at $0.50 each = $50, regardless of data transferred.
Bandwidth-Based Pricing (Bright Data, Oxylabs)
You pay per gigabyte of data transferred through the service. Browser-based scraping transfers more data than HTTP APIs (images, CSS, JavaScript), making bandwidth costs harder to predict. Common in enterprise offerings with large proxy networks.
Example: Scraping 10,000 pages at 2MB each = 20GB transferred, billed per GB rate.
Credits-Based Pricing (Scrapfly, ZenRows)
You purchase credit pools that deplete based on usage factors (time, bandwidth, features). Credits provide unified pricing but require understanding consumption rates for your use case.
Example: 1,000 credits consumed at varying rates: simple page = 1 credit, JavaScript rendering = 5 credits, long session = 10 credits.
Usage-Based / Free Tier (Steel.dev)
Pay-as-you-grow model with meaningful free tier, then graduated pricing as usage scales. Good for startups and variable workloads.
Price Comparison Table
⚠️ Pricing Note: Prices current as of January 2026. Verify with provider websites before purchasing.
| Provider | Free Tier | Starting Price | Pricing Model | Cost Per Hour | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Data | Free tier | Enterprise (Contact) | Bandwidth-based | Variable | Premium proxy network |
| Browserless | Free tier | ~$250/month | Session-based | ~$0.35/hr | Self-host available |
| Browserbase | Free tier | ~$100/month | Session-based | ~$0.20/hr | AI agent optimized |
| Scrapfly | Free tier | $9/month | Credits (time + bandwidth) | ~$0.02/hr | Framework flexibility |
| Steel.dev | Free tier | Free + paid | Usage-based | Variable | Open source |
| Oxylabs | Free tier | Enterprise (Contact) | Bandwidth-based | Variable | Enterprise alternative |
Quick Comparison Table
Need a fast decision? This comparison matrix summarizes key features across major providers to help you quickly evaluate options.
| Provider | Framework Support | AI Agent Support | Free Tier | Starting Price | Built-in Proxies | Manual Control | Browser Extensions | Session Resume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bright Data | Puppeteer, Playwright | NO | Free tier | Enterprise | YES | NO | NO | NO |
| Browserless | Puppeteer, Playwright | YES | Free tier | ~$250/mo | NO | NO | NO | Partial |
| Browserbase | Playwright, Stagehand | YES | Free tier | ~$100/mo | NO | Limited | NO | YES |
| Scrapfly | Playwright, Puppeteer, Selenium | YES | Free tier | $9/mo | YES | YES | YES | YES |
| Steel.dev | Puppeteer, Playwright | YES | Free tier | Free + paid | NO | NO | NO | Partial |
| Oxylabs | Puppeteer, Playwright | NO | Free tier | Enterprise | YES | NO | NO | NO |
This table focuses on technical differentiation. For detailed pricing, review the Pricing Comparison section above. For framework-specific needs, consult individual provider reviews.
FAQ
Before we wrap this article up let's take a look at some frequently asked questions regarding Best Cloud Browser APIs that we haven't covered in this article:
What is the best free cloud browser API?
Steel.dev offers the most generous free tier with real usage limits for side projects and early-stage startups. Scrapfly provides 1,000 free credits monthly for testing. Browserbase includes a free tier useful for AI agent experiments.
Free tiers have rate limits and feature caps. Use them for testing, but upgrade to paid plans for production reliability.
What is the best alternative to Browserless?
For AI agents: Browserbase with native Stagehand support. For framework flexibility: Scrapfly supports Selenium plus built-in proxies and manual control. For enterprise scale: Bright Data or Oxylabs with massive proxy networks. For self-hosting: Steel.dev offers open-source alternative. For simplicity: ZenRows REST API.
Choose based on your priorities: AI features, framework needs, scale, or implementation complexity.
Is Browserless open source?
Partially. Browserless has an open-source core with Docker containers for self-hosting. The cloud service (browserless.io) is a paid managed offering with additional features. Steel.dev also offers an open-source core with GitHub backing.
Which cloud browser API supports Selenium?
Scrapfly is one of the few providers offering full Selenium support alongside Playwright and Puppeteer. Most other providers (Bright Data, Browserless, Browserbase, Steel.dev, Oxylabs, ZenRows) only support Playwright and Puppeteer.
What's the cheapest cloud browser API?
Lowest entry: Steel.dev (free tier) and Scrapfly ($9/mo). Mid-range: ZenRows (~$49/mo), Browserbase (~$100/mo), Browserless (~$250/mo). Enterprise: Bright Data and Oxylabs require sales contact.
Note: Add proxy costs for providers without built-in proxies (Browserless, Browserbase, Steel.dev, ZenRows). Start with free tiers to measure consumption before choosing based on your usage pattern.
Can I self-host a cloud browser?
Yes. Browserless provides Docker containers with commercial licensing for on-premise deployment. Steel.dev offers open-source core with community support.
Self-hosting gives cost control and compliance benefits but requires Docker/Kubernetes expertise and you manage scaling/reliability yourself. Start with cloud services first, then self-host for scale or compliance needs.
Conclusion
Choosing a cloud browser API is about aligning provider strengths with your real-world requirements. There is no single best option for every team. The right choice depends on your use case, scale, budget, and framework needs.
The cloud browser API ecosystem has matured enough that most teams can start without long-term commitment. Testing two or three providers using free tiers is the fastest way to uncover performance, cost, and compatibility trade-offs before committing to production.
