MCP Server Playwright vs CDPM
A side-by-side look at the MCP Server Playwright and CDPM MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose MCP Server Playwright for browser automation work as a local process; choose CDPM for browser automation as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose MCP Server Playwright when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Browser Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
browser_navigate, browser_screenshot, browser_click.
Choose CDPM when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Browser Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
browser_status, browser_launch, browser_close.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser Automation | Browser Automation |
| Quality signal | 61/100 · Good | 64/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | No auth required |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 297 | 2 |
| Directory activity | 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 10 | 36 |
| Full listing | View MCP Server Playwright | View CDPM |
Tools & capabilities
MCP Server Playwright tools 10
browser_navigateNavigate to a URLbrowser_screenshotTake a screenshot of the current page or a specific elementbrowser_clickClick an element on the page using CSS selectorbrowser_click_textClick an element on the page by its text contentbrowser_fillFill out an input fieldbrowser_selectSelect an element on the page with Select tag using CSS selectorbrowser_select_textSelect an element on the page with Select tag by its text contentbrowser_hoverHover an element on the page using CSS selectorbrowser_hover_textHover an element on the page by its text contentbrowser_evaluateExecute JavaScript in the browser console
CDPM tools 36
browser_statusShows running Chrome slots (1-30) with their tabs, opener, last action and one-line summary. Pass slot for just that slot.browser_launchStarts slot Chrome. Call only when the user explicitly asks (other tools never start a closed slot). Without slot, uses the lowest free slot. If already running, just attaches. The user decides windowed (visible) vs headless (hidden): headless: true only if they say "headless/hidden". If unstated, don't guess; ask first, then call with headless. Starting a closed slot without headless only returns a confirmation request. Start several slots at once with slots (list) or count (lowest first). For different jobs per slot, after launching give each slot its own subagent in parallel.browser_closeCloses slot Chrome cleanly (session and cookies saved). The profile (logins) is kept. Reports if another agent used it recently.browser_tabsSlot tab list: number, ID, title, URL, opener, last action, per-tab summary (updated only by actions with summary). "·front" marks the tab currently in front in its window (one per window).browser_tab_newOpens a new tab in the slot and returns its ID. When agents share a slot, open your own tab and work only by its ID to avoid mixing.browser_tab_closeCloses a tab. tab is required.browser_tab_selectBrings a tab to the front of its Chrome window. Changes what the user sees, so use only when the user wants it. (Background tabs can be read, operated and captured; no need to bring them forward to work.)browser_snapshotReads the tab as accessibility-tree text. Clickable/typable elements get refs like [e12]. Long pages are split; only page 1 (top) is shown (page=2 to continue; refs stay the same across pages). find="text" shows only matching elements with their parent context; ref="e40" shows only that element's subtree. Refs change when the page changes, so re-snapshot before acting.browser_textReads the page body text (main/article if present). With ref, only that element's text. Shorter and easier than a snapshot for articles/documents. Use page for long text.browser_screenshotCaptures the visible area of the tab as PNG, even background tabs (without switching). Never changes window size or viewport, so full-page capture is unsupported (scroll then capture, or use snapshot/text).browser_navigateNavigates the tab to a URL and waits for the body to load.browser_backGo back.- +24 more on the listing page
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
MCP Server Playwright
{
"mcpServers": {
"automatalabs-mcp-server-playwright": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@automatalabs/mcp-server-playwright"
]
}
}
}
CDPM
{
"mcpServers": {
"igelharine-cdpm": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"cdpm-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
MCP Server Playwright is categorized under Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. CDPM belongs to Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick MCP Server Playwright for browser automation work and CDPM for browser automation.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
MCP Server Playwright is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. CDPM is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add automatalabs-mcp-server-playwright and igelharine-cdpm as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, MCP Server Playwright has a quality signal of 61/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 297 GitHub stars. CDPM has 64/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 2 GitHub stars.
