Ghostlight vs Playwright MCP
A side-by-side look at the Ghostlight and Playwright MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Playwright MCPBrowser Automation · Local subprocess (stdio)Official Microsoft Playwright MCP server, enabling LLMs to interact with web pages through structured accessibility snapshots89ExcellentAuth: no auth requiredVerdict: choose Ghostlight for browser automation work as a local process; choose Playwright MCP 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 Ghostlight when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Browser Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
browser_tabs, browser_navigate, browser_history.
Choose Playwright MCP 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_close, browser_resize, browser_console_messages.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | Playwright MCP | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser Automation | Browser Automation |
| Quality signal | 63/100 · Good | 89/100 · Excellent |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | No auth required |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Verified |
| GitHub stars | 1 | 38,513 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 6 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 23 | 25 |
| Full listing | View Ghostlight | View Playwright MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Ghostlight tools 23
browser_tabsList, focus, or close this session's tabs. List gives fresh handles from the live browser; with no tab yet it needs none and names those connected.browser_navigateGo to an HTTP(S) URL. Reuses the obvious tab; new_tab true opens a new one.browser_historyGo back or forward, or reload. A new document invalidates target_ and view_ handles, so collect fresh ones.browser_windowSet a tab's zoom or resize its browser window. Either invalidates view_ handles, so take a fresh screenshot before coordinate work.browser_readRead visible page text, including open shadow roots and frames, or one target. To act, get handles from browser_inspect or browser_find.browser_inspectInspect controls or page structure for fresh target_ handles. Scope document returns the outline as a bounded tree, without handles. Form controls also carry their value and what they accept: options, type, limits, hint and group.browser_findFind targets by visible or accessible text and get fresh target_ handles. Fastest when you know the label. Option text finds its dropdown.browser_screenshotCapture the viewport, full page, one target, or a magnified region; returns a view_ handle for coordinate calls.browser_clickClick a target_ handle, a control found by selector, or a point in a view_ screenshot. Needs action; a selector lookup or expect check also needs read. Prefer a target.browser_scrollScroll the page (default down, medium), reveal a target_, or wheel-scroll at a point in a view_ screenshot.browser_hoverHover a target_ handle or a point in a view_ screenshot.browser_fill_formFill 1 to 30 fields in one call; needs write even for unsent drafts. Nothing submits unless submit_target names the control. A value a control cannot take is refused before any field changes, with what it accepts. For credentials, set user_authorized_credentials only on the user's explicit instruction.- +11 more on the listing page
Playwright MCP tools 25
browser_closeClose the pagebrowser_resizeResize the browser windowbrowser_console_messagesReturns all console messagesbrowser_handle_dialogHandle a dialogbrowser_emulate_mediaEmulate CSS media features for the page, for example switch between the light and dark color scheme. Omitted parameters are left unchanged; null clears an override.browser_evaluateEvaluate JavaScript expression on page or elementbrowser_file_uploadUpload one or multiple filesbrowser_dropDrop files or MIME-typed data onto an element, as if dragged from outside the page. At least one of "paths" or "data" must be provided.browser_findSearch the accessibility snapshot of the current page for text or a regular expression. Returns matching snapshot nodes with a few lines of surrounding context (like search snippets), each shown under its path from the root of the tree, which is cheaper than capturing the whole snapshot when you only need to locate an element and its ref.browser_fill_formFill multiple form fieldsbrowser_press_keyPress a key on the keyboardbrowser_typeType text into editable element- +13 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.
Ghostlight
{
"mcpServers": {
"ghostlight": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"ghostlight"
]
}
}
}
Playwright MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"microsoft-playwright-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@playwright/mcp@latest"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Ghostlight is categorized under Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Playwright MCP belongs to Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Ghostlight for browser automation work and Playwright MCP 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.
Ghostlight has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Playwright MCP 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 ghostlight and microsoft-playwright-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Ghostlight has a quality signal of 63/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars. Playwright MCP has 89/100 (Excellent) with 6 views, 0 installs and 38,513 GitHub stars.