Playwright MCP Server vs ShotAPI
A side-by-side look at the Playwright MCP Server and ShotAPI 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 ShotAPI for browser automation. 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 ShotAPI when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Browser Automation domain.
- You have the keys it needs:
SHOTAPI_BASE_URL, SHOTAPI_KEY.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser Automation | Browser Automation |
| Quality signal | 68/100 · Great | 28/100 · Emerging |
| Install command | Confirmed | Not confirmed yet |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | — |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | SHOTAPI_BASE_URLSHOTAPI_KEY |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 5,671 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 33 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Playwright MCP Server | View ShotAPI |
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
ShotAPI 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"
]
}
}
}
ShotAPI
No confirmed install command for ShotAPI yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
Frequently asked questions
Playwright MCP Server is categorized under Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. ShotAPI belongs to Browser Automation and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Pick Playwright MCP Server for browser automation work and ShotAPI 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. ShotAPI has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
Playwright MCP Server is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. ShotAPI 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 shotapi 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. ShotAPI has 28/100 (Emerging) with 2 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.
