Chrome Bridge vs FSB
A side-by-side look at the Chrome Bridge and FSB MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Chrome Bridge for browser automation work as a local process; choose FSB 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 Chrome Bridge 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
get_status, get_tabs, navigate.
Choose FSB 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
start_visual_session, end_visual_session, trigger.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser Automation | Browser Automation |
| Quality signal | 65/100 · Great | 68/100 · Great |
| 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 | 6 | 204 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 44 | 72 |
| Full listing | View Chrome Bridge | View FSB |
Tools & capabilities
Chrome Bridge tools 44
get_statusStatus of the bridge itself, not of a page: call it when a tool you expect is missing or browser commands fail (connected=false: the extension is not reachable, extension_install gives its Chrome Web Store link). Also reports mode (primary/relay), host, port, server and extension versions, js_evaluation (false under --no-js), write_root, read_root, session_tab_id (the implicit tab), owned_tabs (created by this session), uptime_sec. caps_active and caps_available: a missing tool lives in an inactive cap. enable is the only change it makes: it switches caps on for this session, no restart, and lists the tools added. Optional caps: audits (cookie_audit); visual (inject_css, measure_spacing, emulate_media, viewport_resize); perf (animations, frames, perf_trace, screencast, lighthouse, heap_snapshot); network (http_auth, set_geolocation, track_events); storage (get_storage, set_storage, session_fixture); dom (modify_dom, watch_dom, drag_and_drop); files (save_page, manage_downloads, session_record).get_tabsList every open tab with id, url, title, active flag and mine (created by this session). Find a tab_id when the implicit target is not the one you mean. include_windows adds position, size, state and type of each window — needed before moving or tiling. Session tabs gone since the last call come back once in closed_session_tabs with the reason (closed, window_closed, replaced, closed_by_bridge).navigateNavigate a Chrome tab to a URL and wait for the load; DNS and connection errors fail the call. Without tab_id it reuses the tab this session last navigated or created, else opens a new one rather than taking over the active tab. Returns a preview of interactive elements with refs usable in click/type_text/hover, plus the first console errors and failed requests, if any.screenshotScreenshot of the visible viewport only (PNG), at the current scroll position, or one per viewport preset with presets. Read-only. Activates the tab in the background without stealing window focus, then restores the previous tab. Downscaled to ≤1568px: for fine print, element_screenshot with scale.execute_jsRun JavaScript in the page (MAIN world). Requires the extension's "Allow user scripts" toggle; errors explain setup if disabled. Use it when no dedicated tool fits: extract or extract_table read data, query_dom inspects elements, inject_css restyles, and none of them needs the toggle. A promise is awaited up to timeout. A cut result stays valid JSON and says truncated; save_to writes the whole result to disk.clickClick an element by CSS selector or by a ref (n1, n2…) from get_interactives or navigate. A real pointer sequence: it can submit, open a dialog or navigate — use wait_after. Not idempotent; a native confirm() blocks the bridge: handle_dialogs first. Returns page_changed (url, title and DOM deltas: nodes, text, open, expanded, checked, dialogs, focus): the effect, without a screenshot; when the click opens or reveals something, the refs of the visible interactives follow, no get_interactives needed.type_textPut text into an input, textarea or contenteditable, by selector or ref. Replaces the whole value through the native setter (React/Vue controlled inputs register it) and fires input and change. mode=keys emits keydown/input/keyup per character for autocomplete and masked fields: slower, use it only when mode=set leaves the field empty. Returns value_after; mismatch=true means the field did not keep the value: retry with mode=keys.read_pageRead the page as text (default), markdown, raw HTML, or accessibility tree. Read-only. markdown keeps headings, links and tables at a fraction of the HTML cost. Expensive on big pages: HTML on a large table costs tens of thousands of tokens for data you filter anyway — prefer extract_table/extract for repeated content, get_interactives for click targets.get_page_infoPage metadata: title, url, visibility, doctype, charset, meta tags, scripts, stylesheets, links and forms. visibility=hidden means the window is minimized, covered or in the background: the page does not render (screenshots fail) and its timers slow down. dev.server names a dev server (vite, webpack-dev-server, next, nuxt) and dev.overlay carries the compiler message when an error overlay is open: read it before treating the page as valid. For the text use read_page, for specific elements query_dom, for the bridge itself get_status.query_domQuery DOM elements by CSS selector, returning structure, attributes, bounding rect and, with properties, computed styles. Use it when you already have a selector (no match: count 0); to find one, get_interactives or find_text; for the rule that set a style, get_css_styles.get_css_stylesWhy an element looks the way it does: for each CSS property the winning declaration — selector, stylesheet, rule position, !important, @layer, @media — and the ones it overrides, like the Styles panel of DevTools; query_dom gives the computed value, this gives who set it. Read-only, from the CSSOM: stylesheets of another origin without CORS are opaque and listed by href; user-agent styles, @container and @scope rules are not evaluated. properties narrows the output.read_consoleRead console messages captured since page load, incl. uncaught errors and unhandled rejections. clear deletes the messages it returns, hence not read-only; since=cursor reads only newer ones without deleting, and failed requests are in monitor_network.- +32 more on the listing page
FSB tools 72
start_visual_session[REMOVED in v0.9.0] This tool was removed in fsb-mcp-server v0.9.0 (FSB v0.9.62 implicit visual-session contract). Calling it returns the typed TOOL_REMOVED error with a migration recipe pointer. The visual session is now implicit on every action tool call via the required visual_reason + client field bundle -- there is no longer a separate start call. See CHANGELOG.md#v0.9.0 and the Visual Session Lifecycle section of mcp/README.md for the migration recipe.end_visual_session[REMOVED in v0.9.0] This tool was removed in fsb-mcp-server v0.9.0 (FSB v0.9.62 implicit visual-session contract). Calling it returns the typed TOOL_REMOVED error with a migration recipe pointer. The visual session now clears either automatically after 60 seconds of silence (sliding window) or immediately when an action tool is called with is_final: true -- there is no longer a separate end call. See CHANGELOG.md#v0.9.0 and the Visual Session Lifecycle section of mcp/README.md for the migration recipe.triggerArm a reactive DOM trigger on one selector. Use this when the user wants to watch an element until it changes, crosses a threshold, equals or matches a value, or contains text. The watch is owned by the background trigger runtime and persisted across service-worker eviction. Pass one selector and one condition object; runtime validation checks the nested condition details before arming. Use stop_trigger to cancel, get_trigger_status to inspect one watcher, and list_triggers to enumerate watchers.stop_triggerCancel a trigger by id. This is cancellation-critical and bypass-class: it must be callable promptly even if a trigger or another mutation is pending. Missing or already terminal triggers are handled idempotently by the background trigger runtime.get_trigger_statusRead the persisted status for one trigger by id. Returns storage-of-truth trigger state including status, watch mode, condition, target tab, owner, current value, timing, and attention details when available.list_triggersList persisted trigger snapshots. By default, returns active and attention-state watchers; include_terminal can include fired and stopped triggers for audit or cleanup workflows.execute_jsRun JavaScript directly in the active page. PRIMARY INTERACTION TOOL: try execute_js FIRST for clicks, scrolls, reads, attribute lookups, and most other DOM work -- it bypasses overlay/obscured-element issues, viewport constraints, and CDP timeouts that block native click/scroll. Typical patterns: `return document.querySelector('#add-to-cart-button').click(), true;` for clicks; `return Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('a')).map(a=>a.href);` for extraction; `window.scrollTo(0, document.body.scrollHeight); return true;` for scroll. After a JS click, verify with read_page or get_page_snapshot (a true click should produce observable DOM change). FALLBACK TO NATIVE TOOLS WHEN: (1) JS click reports success but the page state did not change (framework swallowed the synthetic event -- use native click which fires real CDP events that React/Angular/Vue listen to); (2) typing into controlled text inputs (use native `type` so React onChange fires correctly -- `element.value = ...` will NOT update component state); (3) real drag operations on react-beautiful-dnd / Sortable.js / Trello-style widgets (use drag_drop / drag for real pointer events); (4) form submission that depends on validated input state (use native click on submit). Code runs as a function body -- use `return` to send values back (results are stringified). Async work: Promises are not awaited, so fire-and-forget then poll on `window.__yourKey`. Related: read_page (verify result), get_dom_snapshot (debug after JS click), click / type / drag_drop (fallbacks when JS doesn't take effect). Multi-agent: agent-scoped tabs; cross-agent reject with TAB_NOT_OWNED; cap configurable (default 8, 1-64). Pass tab_id only when this agent owns multiple tabs; auto-resolves otherwise. RETURNS change_report: when this tool runs, the response includes a `change_report` field with a compact diff of what the action mutated (URL, dialogs_opened, nodes_added, nodes_removed, attrs_changed, inputs_changed, focus_shift). Use this to learn the consequence without calling read_page next. If the report exceeds the size cap, `change_report.truncated:true` and `change_report_hint` are set; call read_page for the full state.navigateOpen a URL in the active browser tab. Returns the final URL after any redirects. When to use: as the first step to reach a target website. Related: read_page (read content after navigating), list_tabs (see what tabs are already open). Multi-agent: agent-scoped tabs; cross-agent reject with TAB_NOT_OWNED; cap configurable (default 8, 1-64). Pass tab_id only when this agent owns multiple tabs; auto-resolves otherwise. RETURNS change_report: when this tool runs, the response includes a `change_report` field with a compact diff of what the action mutated (URL, dialogs_opened, nodes_added, nodes_removed, attrs_changed, inputs_changed, focus_shift). Use this to learn the consequence without calling read_page next. If the report exceeds the size cap, `change_report.truncated:true` and `change_report_hint` are set; call read_page for the full state.searchSearch for content on the current site or web. When to use: to find content on the current site or web. Automatically detects the site's search input (Amazon, YouTube, GitHub, etc.) via DOM heuristics -- only falls back to Google when no site search exists. Returns search results status. Related: read_page (read search results after searching), click (click a specific search result). Multi-agent: agent-scoped tabs; cross-agent reject with TAB_NOT_OWNED; cap configurable (default 8, 1-64). Pass tab_id only when this agent owns multiple tabs; auto-resolves otherwise.go_backNavigate back one page in browser history. Returns the new URL. When to use: to return to the previous page after following a link or navigating away. Related: go_forward (undo a go_back), navigate (go to a specific URL instead). Multi-agent: agent-scoped tabs; cross-agent reject with TAB_NOT_OWNED; cap configurable (default 8, 1-64). Pass tab_id only when this agent owns multiple tabs; auto-resolves otherwise. RETURNS change_report: when this tool runs, the response includes a `change_report` field with a compact diff of what the action mutated (URL, dialogs_opened, nodes_added, nodes_removed, attrs_changed, inputs_changed, focus_shift). Use this to learn the consequence without calling read_page next. If the report exceeds the size cap, `change_report.truncated:true` and `change_report_hint` are set; call read_page for the full state.go_forwardNavigate forward one page in browser history. Returns the new URL. When to use: after using go_back, to move forward again. Related: go_back (go back in history), navigate (go to a specific URL instead). Multi-agent: agent-scoped tabs; cross-agent reject with TAB_NOT_OWNED; cap configurable (default 8, 1-64). Pass tab_id only when this agent owns multiple tabs; auto-resolves otherwise. RETURNS change_report: when this tool runs, the response includes a `change_report` field with a compact diff of what the action mutated (URL, dialogs_opened, nodes_added, nodes_removed, attrs_changed, inputs_changed, focus_shift). Use this to learn the consequence without calling read_page next. If the report exceeds the size cap, `change_report.truncated:true` and `change_report_hint` are set; call read_page for the full state.refreshReload the current page. Returns the refreshed URL. When to use: when page content may be stale, after errors, or to reset page state. Related: navigate (go to a different URL), wait_for_stable (wait for page to settle after refresh). Multi-agent: agent-scoped tabs; cross-agent reject with TAB_NOT_OWNED; cap configurable (default 8, 1-64). Pass tab_id only when this agent owns multiple tabs; auto-resolves otherwise. RETURNS change_report: when this tool runs, the response includes a `change_report` field with a compact diff of what the action mutated (URL, dialogs_opened, nodes_added, nodes_removed, attrs_changed, inputs_changed, focus_shift). Use this to learn the consequence without calling read_page next. If the report exceeds the size cap, `change_report.truncated:true` and `change_report_hint` are set; call read_page for the full state.- +60 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.
Chrome Bridge
{
"mcpServers": {
"chrome-bridge": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"chrome-bridge-mcp"
]
}
}
}
FSB
{
"mcpServers": {
"fullselfbrowsing-fsb": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"fsb-mcp-server@latest"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Chrome Bridge is categorized under Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. FSB belongs to Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Chrome Bridge for browser automation work and FSB 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.
Chrome Bridge is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. FSB 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 chrome-bridge and fullselfbrowsing-fsb as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Chrome Bridge has a quality signal of 65/100 (Great) with 0 views, 0 installs and 6 GitHub stars. FSB has 68/100 (Great) with 1 views, 0 installs and 204 GitHub stars.