Browserbase vs Steel.dev
Agent-native side-by-side. Scores are curated estimates on a 0–10 scale. Lock-in: higher = worse. Prefer JTBD picks via /api/decide when choosing for a job.
| Dimension | Browserbase | Steel.dev |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | 8.3 | 8.3 |
| Capability fit | 9.2 | 8.6 |
| Price / performance | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Latency / reliability | 8.8 | 8.0 |
| Developer & agent DX | 9.4 | 8.6 |
| Privacy / data retention | 7.5 | 8.5 |
| Lock-in risk (higher = worse) | 5.0 | 2.5 |
| Maturity / track record | 8.2 | 7.2 |
| Pricing | Session-based cloud browsers; free/$20/$99/custom tiers; Playwright-compatible; recordings/stealth. | As of 2026-09-14 (docs.steel.dev/overview/pricinglimits): Launch **$0 + usage** ($30 one-time free credits/90d); Scale **$250 + usage** ($100 credits/mo); Enterprise custom. Browser hours Launch **$0.10/hr** / Scale **$0… |
| Tagline | Depot default for agents that need a real browser. Pair with Stagehand/Browser Use for the reasoning loop. | Pick Steel when you need to self-host browsers or hate SaaS lock-in. Browserbase wins on polish. |
Browserbase
Depot default for agents that need a real browser. Pair with Stagehand/Browser Use for the reasoning loop. Strengths: Cleanest agent-oriented browser cloud; Playwright/Puppeteer compatible; Session persistence + stealth features.
Strengths
- Cleanest agent-oriented browser cloud
- Playwright/Puppeteer compatible
- Session persistence + stealth features
Weaknesses
- Cost at high parallel sessions
- Still need your own agent logic
- Less self-host than Steel
Steel.dev
Pick Steel when you need to self-host browsers or hate SaaS lock-in. Browserbase wins on polish. Strengths: Self-hostable browser infra; Agent-focused API; Escape hatch from pure SaaS.
Strengths
- Self-hostable browser infra
- Agent-focused API
- Escape hatch from pure SaaS
Weaknesses
- Ecosystem smaller than Browserbase
- You own ops if self-hosting
- Stealth arms race ongoing
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