Browser Use vs 
Steel
Browser Use vs Steel compared for 2026 — features, license, ease of use, performance and which one to choose. Let AI agents control your browser vs Headless browser infrastructure for AI agents.
Updated regularly · curated by OpenSourceAI.tech
Browser Use vs Steel at a glance
| Spec | Browser Use | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser & computer-use agents | Browser & computer-use agents |
| Type | Browser automation agent | Browser API for agents |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Runs locally | Cloud-optional | Yes |
| Primary language | Python | TypeScript |
| Ease of use | Intermediate | Intermediate |
| Best for | agents that browse and act on the web | giving production agents reliable web access |
| GitHub stars | 105.1k | 7.3k |
How Browser Use and Steel score
| Criterion | Browser Use | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Popularity | 5.0 | 2.5 |
| Maintenance | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of use | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Privacy | 3.5 | 5.0 |
| License freedom | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Scores are computed automatically from public signals — GitHub stars (popularity), recent commit activity (maintenance), license type (freedom), local-first design (privacy) and onboarding complexity (ease of use). Indicative, not a verdict.
What each one is
Browser Use
Browser Use connects AI agents to a real browser so they can navigate sites, click, fill forms and extract data, turning any LLM into a web-automation agent.
- Reliable DOM-aware browser control
- Works with any LLM
- Popular base for web agents
Steel
Steel is an open browser-as-API: launch controlled Chrome sessions for your agents with anti-bot handling, session management and a live debug view, self-hosted or cloud.
- Purpose-built browser sessions for agents
- Session reuse, proxies and debugging UI
- Self-hostable with Docker in minutes
Key differences
Browser Use is browser automation agent, while Steel is browser API for agents. Their licenses differ (MIT vs Apache-2.0), which matters if you ship a commercial product. They also differ in how they run (Cloud-optional vs Yes). In short, Browser Use fits agents that browse and act on the web, and Steel fits giving production agents reliable web access.
Which should you choose?
Choose Browser Use for agents that browse and act on the web. Choose Steel for giving production agents reliable web access.
There is rarely one winner — many setups use both. The right pick depends on your hardware, your team's skills, and whether you value simplicity or control.
Frequently asked questions
Is Browser Use or Steel easier to use?
Both sit at a similar level (Intermediate). Your choice should come down to fit rather than difficulty.
Are Browser Use and Steel free?
Browser Use is free and open source (MIT), and Steel is free and open source (Apache-2.0). Neither charges for the core software.
Can I run Browser Use and Steel locally?
Browser Use: cloud-optional · Steel: yes. Both can be used without sending your data to a third-party cloud where their setup allows.
Browser Use vs Steel — which should I pick in 2026?
Choose Browser Use for agents that browse and act on the web. Choose Steel for giving production agents reliable web access.
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