Browserbase is the managed browser layer for teams that run agents in production: isolated sessions, saved logins, CAPTCHA handling and replay. It costs more per hour than newer rivals, and in 2026 it added a one-call Agents API on top.
Key Takeaways
- The infrastructure specialist. — Browserbase runs each Chromium browser in its own VM, destroyed after the session, with contexts to reuse logins, CAPTCHA solving on paid plans, and stealth that is strongest on Scale.
- Subscription plus usage. — Free (1 browser hour), Developer $20 a month with 100 hours then $0.12 an hour, Startup $99 with 500 hours then $0.10, Scale custom, as published in October 2026.
- Moving up the stack. — Browserbase maintains the Stagehand SDK and launched Agents on June 30, 2026, a managed endpoint that runs a browser agent from one prompt.
What does Browserbase do?
Browserbase hosts headless Chromium for code and agents. Each browser runs in a dedicated VM that is destroyed and recreated after the session (eCorpIT). Contexts keep cookies and logins between sessions, CAPTCHA solving is on from the Developer plan, advanced stealth is a Scale feature, and session replay and a live view help debug what an agent did. An MCP server lets agent clients use it directly.
The company also maintains Stagehand, its MIT-licensed automation SDK, and on June 30, 2026 launched Browserbase Agents, a managed endpoint that runs an agent from a prompt with no code to host. A search API and a model gateway round out the platform. Its latest disclosed funding is a $40 million Series B in June 2025.
Scorecard: 15/20
Four criteria, 1 to 5 each: how much of the agent loop the product supplies, the hosted browser infrastructure, openness (license, self-hosting, model choice), and published cost. These are editorial assessments of documentation and pricing pages, not benchmark runs. They match the Browser Automation for AI Agents guide.
| Criterion | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Agent | 4/5 | Stagehand primitives plus a one-call Agents API; you still bring the workflow design. |
| Infrastructure | 5/5 | Per-session VMs, contexts for logins, CAPTCHA solving, proxies, session replay and up to 250+ concurrent browsers. |
| Openness | 3/5 | Cloud-only platform; standard CDP means Playwright and Puppeteer code moves elsewhere; Stagehand is MIT. |
| Cost | 3/5 | $20 entry with 100 hours; $0.10 to $0.12 an hour beyond, several times the cheapest published rates. |
How much does Browserbase cost?
| Plan | Price | Browser hours | Overage | Concurrency | Proxy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 1 | n/a | 1 to 3 | n/a |
| Developer | $20/mo | 100 | $0.12/hr | 25 | 1 GB, then $12/GB |
| Startup | $99/mo | 500 | $0.10/hr | 100 | 5 GB, then $10/GB |
| Scale | Custom | From 500 | Usage-based | 250+ | From 5 GB |
As published in October 2026 (Toolradar, confirmed October 30; PricingSaaS). Sources disagree on the Free plan's concurrency, which Browserbase raised from 1 to 3 in early 2026. Search moved from a flat $7 per 1,000 calls to per-provider pricing from $1 per 1,000 on October 19, 2026.
Who it fits, and who should look elsewhere
- Fits: production agents that need many isolated, logged-in sessions, CAPTCHA handling and replay for debugging, and teams already writing Stagehand or Playwright.
- Look elsewhere: if cost per hour dominates (Browser Use Cloud publishes $0.02), if you must self-host (Steel's browser is Apache-2.0), or if a local browser through Playwright MCP is enough.
Browserbase alternatives
- Browser Use: open-source agent plus the lowest published browser-hour rate.
- Stagehand: Browserbase's own SDK, which also runs on a local browser.
- Steel, Hyperbrowser, Kernel and Browserless: see the full guide.
Related questions
- Which browser infrastructure should developers use for AI agents?
- Browser Use, Browserbase or Stagehand: which fits?
- What are the security risks of MCP servers? (partner site CTAIO)
- How do you evaluate an AI agent before production? (partner site CTAIO)
Sources
- Toolradar, Browserbase pricing (prices confirmed Oct 30, 2026).
- PricingSaaS, Browserbase pricing history (captured Oct 19, 2026).
- Browserbase, Introducing Browserbase Agents (Jun 30, 2026).
- TinyFish, Browserbase pricing in 2026 (Aug 7, 2026).
- eCorpIT, Cloud browsers for AI agents 2026 (Oct 22, 2026).
How much does Browserbase cost?
As published in October 2026: Free includes 1 browser hour; Developer is $20 a month with 100 browser hours, then $0.12 an hour, and 25 concurrent browsers; Startup is $99 a month with 500 hours, then $0.10 an hour, and 100 concurrent browsers; Scale is custom with 250+ concurrency. Proxy data is $12 or $10 per GB beyond the included allowance.
What is the difference between Browserbase and Stagehand?
Browserbase is the hosted browser service; Stagehand is the open-source SDK, also from Browserbase, for writing browser automation with AI steps. Stagehand runs against a local Chrome or a Browserbase session. You can use either without the other.
What are Browserbase Agents?
A managed endpoint launched on June 30, 2026: you send a goal in plain language and Browserbase runs the browser agent, with no agent code to write or host. Plans include a small number of runs, with pay-as-you-go beyond.
What are the best Browserbase alternatives?
Browser Use Cloud for the cheapest published browser time ($0.02 an hour) and a built-in agent; Steel if you want an Apache-2.0 browser API you can self-host; Hyperbrowser for credit-based browsers plus hosted agents; Kernel for low headless rates. All are scored in our browser automation guide.
is browserbase worth it for stealth browsing and captcha handling
For stealth and CAPTCHAs it depends on your plan. CAPTCHA solving is included from the Developer plan ($20/mo), but advanced stealth is a Scale (custom-priced) feature. The entry tiers get you CAPTCHA handling. If stealth is the priority, you're paying for a Scale contract. At $0.10 to $0.12 per browser hour it's several times more expensive than the cheapest rivals, so it fits production agents needing isolated logged-in sessions and replay, less so if hourly cost dominates.
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