# chrome-devtools-mcp vs Playwright MCP
_MCP Servers · independent comparison_

> chrome-devtools-mcp and Playwright MCP are both open-source mcp servers you can self-host for free. They're closely matched, so the choice comes down to language, license, and which approach fits your workflow. Neither is universally better — pick by fit.

## Side by side

**chrome-devtools-mcp**
- Open source · Agent · 52k★ · TypeScript · Apache-2.0 · active 2 days ago
- Best for: Giving a coding agent live Chrome control for debugging and performance traces.
- Avoid if: You cannot expose browser contents to an agent — it can read any page data.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/chrome-devtools-mcp) · [official](https://npmjs.org/package/chrome-devtools-mcp)

**Playwright MCP**
- Open source · MCP server · 37k★ · Apache-2.0 · active 2 days ago
- Best for: Developers whose MCP-compatible agent needs persistent browser state and structured page inspection.
- Avoid if: You need a hosted browser fleet, a complete agent, or a browser tool that operates only from pixels.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/playwright-mcp) · [official](https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp)

## Which to choose

**Choose chrome-devtools-mcp if:** Giving a coding agent live Chrome control for debugging and performance traces.

**Choose Playwright MCP if:** Developers whose MCP-compatible agent needs persistent browser state and structured page inspection.

## FAQ

**What's the main difference between chrome-devtools-mcp and Playwright MCP?**
Both are mcp servers built for a similar job; the differences are subtle — compare them on adoption, language, and license in the table above.

**Is chrome-devtools-mcp or Playwright MCP better?**
Neither is universally better. chrome-devtools-mcp is the stronger fit for Giving a coding agent live Chrome control for debugging and performance traces; Playwright MCP for Developers whose MCP-compatible agent needs persistent browser state and structured page inspection. Use the side-by-side specs to decide by your own constraints.

**Is chrome-devtools-mcp or Playwright MCP free?**
chrome-devtools-mcp is free to run and self-host; Playwright MCP is free to run and self-host. Both are free to self-host — you only pay for the infrastructure and any model or API usage.

**Which is more popular, chrome-devtools-mcp or Playwright MCP?**
By GitHub stars — a proxy for open-source adoption — chrome-devtools-mcp is ahead (52k vs 37k). Stars measure attention, not necessarily the better fit for you.

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Source: [Agent Search Engine](https://agentsearchengine.app) — https://agentsearchengine.app/compare/chrome-devtools-mcp-vs-playwright-mcp