{"id":"browser-agent-loop","slug":"browser-agent-loop","name":"Managed browser-agent loop","shortName":"Managed browser-agent loop","problemStatement":"Want NL goal → browser agent with optional raw CDP, not just a session host.","whenNotTopPick":"You already have an agent framework and only need hosted Chromium.","categoryIds":["cat-sandboxes-browsers","cat-search-scrape"],"depotPickProviderId":"browser-use","depotPickRationale":"Agent-loop capability over raw browser hosting.","runnersUpIds":["browserbase","anchor-browser","steel-dev"],"weights":{"capabilityFit":0.25,"pricePerformance":0.18,"latencyReliability":0.15,"developerDx":0.15,"privacyPosture":0.1,"lockInRisk":0.07,"maturity":0.1},"methodologyNotes":"Agent-loop capability over raw browser hosting.","tags":["browser"],"depth":{"whenNotToUse":{"text":"You already have an agent framework and only need hosted Chromium.","source":"editorial `whenNotTopPick` (data/jtbds.json)"},"whenNotToUseReason":null,"runnerUp":{"providerId":"browserbase","name":"Browserbase","overallForJob":8.3,"pickOverallForJob":7.4,"beatsPickOn":["capabilityFit","latencyReliability","developerDx","privacyPosture","maturity"],"source":"first resolvable entry of the job's editorially ranked `runnersUpIds`; scores are stored job-weighted scores"},"runnerUpReason":null,"lockIn":{"pickLockInRisk":4,"runnerUpLockInRisk":5,"scale":"0–10 stored curated estimate; higher = more lock-in (worse)","pickExitSignals":["open source (provider tag `oss`)"],"runnerUpExitSignals":[],"pickNotes":[],"selfHostFallback":[{"id":"browser-use","name":"browser-use","license":"MIT","sourceUrl":"https://github.com/browser-use/browser-use/blob/main/LICENSE"},{"id":"webarena","name":"WebArena","license":"Apache-2.0","sourceUrl":"https://raw.githubusercontent.com/web-arena-x/webarena/main/LICENSE"}],"migration":"The pick has lower stored lock-in risk than runner-up Browserbase (4 vs 5). Pick exit signals: open source (provider tag `oss`). Self-host fallback listed for this job: browser-use, WebArena.","migrationReason":null,"derivedFrom":"stored lockInRisk scores, provider tags (oss, self-host, openai-compat, open-models), free rows that list this job, and verbatim provider notes. No migration guide was invented."}},"freshness":{"pick":{"score":{"asOf":"2026-09-14","ageDays":43,"stale":true,"staleAfterDays":30,"reason":null},"lastReviewed":{"asOf":"2026-09-14","ageDays":43,"stale":true,"staleAfterDays":30,"reason":null},"sourceCheck":{"checkedAt":"2026-10-27","sourceUrls":2,"sourcesReachable":2,"pricingRows":3,"pricingRowsReconfirmed":2,"note":"A source re-check confirms the page is reachable and, for pricing rows, that the stored amount and SKU name appear on it. It does not re-derive or change the score.","reason":null}}},"depotPick":{"id":"browser-use","slug":"browser-use","name":"Browser Use Cloud","tagline":"Pick when you want an agent-native browser loop, not just a hosted Chromium. Browserbase still wins pure…","overall":7.4},"runnersUp":[{"id":"browserbase","slug":"browserbase","name":"Browserbase","tagline":"Depot default for agents that need a real browser. Pair with Stagehand/Browser Use for the reasoning loop.","overall":8.3},{"id":"anchor-browser","slug":"anchor-browser","name":"Anchor Browser","tagline":"Strong when bot-detection and authenticated computer-use matter. A/B vs Browserbase/Kernel.","overall":7.17},{"id":"steel-dev","slug":"steel-dev","name":"Steel.dev","tagline":"Pick Steel when you need to self-host browsers or hate SaaS lock-in. Browserbase wins on polish.","overall":8.27}]}