Playwright MCP Server vs Shotanvil
A side-by-side look at the Playwright MCP Server and Shotanvil MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Playwright MCP Server for browser automation work as a local process; choose Shotanvil for browser automation over a hosted endpoint. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Playwright MCP Server 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_codegen_session, end_codegen_session, get_codegen_session.
Choose Shotanvil when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Browser Automation domain.
- You prefer a remote HTTP/SSE transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
SHOTANVIL_API_KEY.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser Automation | Browser Automation |
| Quality signal | 68/100 · Great | 37/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Remote HTTP/SSE |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | SHOTANVIL_API_KEY |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 5,671 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 33 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Playwright MCP Server | View Shotanvil |
Tools & capabilities
Playwright MCP Server tools 33
start_codegen_sessionStart a new code generation session to record Playwright actionsend_codegen_sessionEnd a code generation session and generate the test fileget_codegen_sessionGet information about a code generation sessionclear_codegen_sessionClear a code generation session without generating a testplaywright_navigateNavigate to a URLplaywright_screenshotTake a screenshot of the current page or a specific elementplaywright_clickClick an element on the pageplaywright_iframe_clickClick an element in an iframe on the pageplaywright_iframe_fillFill an element in an iframe on the pageplaywright_fillfill out an input fieldplaywright_selectSelect an element on the page with Select tagplaywright_hoverHover an element on the page- +21 more on the listing page
Shotanvil tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from 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.
Playwright MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"executeautomation-playwright-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@executeautomation/playwright-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}
Shotanvil
{
"mcpServers": {
"shotanvil": {
"url": "https://api.shotanvil.com"
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Playwright MCP Server is categorized under Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Shotanvil belongs to Browser Automation and uses a remote HTTP/SSE transport. Pick Playwright MCP Server for browser automation work and Shotanvil 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.
Playwright MCP Server is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Shotanvil has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. 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 executeautomation-playwright-mcp-server and shotanvil as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Playwright MCP Server has a quality signal of 68/100 (Great) with 5 views, 0 installs and 5,671 GitHub stars. Shotanvil has 37/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.
