# Playwright MCP vs serena
_MCP Servers · independent comparison_

> Playwright MCP and serena are both open-source mcp servers you can self-host for free. Licensing differs: Playwright MCP is Apache-2.0, serena is MIT. Neither is universally better — pick by fit.

## Side by side

**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)

**serena**
- Open source · SDK / library · 29k★ · Python · MIT · active 4 days ago
- Best for: Giving a coding agent symbol-level code navigation, refactoring, and debugging via MCP.
- [listing](https://agentsearchengine.app/agents/serena) · [official](https://oraios.github.io/serena)

## Key differences

- Licensing differs: Playwright MCP is Apache-2.0, serena is MIT.

## Which to choose

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

**Choose serena if:** Giving a coding agent symbol-level code navigation, refactoring, and debugging via MCP.

## FAQ

**What's the main difference between Playwright MCP and serena?**
Licensing differs: Playwright MCP is Apache-2.0, serena is MIT.

**Is Playwright MCP or serena better?**
Neither is universally better. Playwright MCP is the stronger fit for Developers whose MCP-compatible agent needs persistent browser state and structured page inspection; serena for Giving a coding agent symbol-level code navigation, refactoring, and debugging via MCP. Use the side-by-side specs to decide by your own constraints.

**Is Playwright MCP or serena free?**
Playwright MCP is free to run and self-host; serena 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, Playwright MCP or serena?**
By GitHub stars — a proxy for open-source adoption — Playwright MCP is ahead (37k vs 29k). 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/playwright-mcp-vs-serena