Ghostlight vs Real Browser MCP
A side-by-side look at the Ghostlight and Real Browser MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Ghostlight for browser automation work as a local process; choose Real Browser 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.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
browser_tabs, browser_navigate, browser_history.
Choose Real Browser 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_navigate, browser_click, browser_type.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser Automation | Browser Automation |
| Quality signal | 63/100 · Good | 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 | 1 | 58 |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 11 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 23 | 18 |
| Full listing | View Ghostlight | View Real Browser 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
Real Browser MCP tools 18
browser_navigateNavigate to a URL in the active browser tabbrowser_clickClick an element on the page using a ref from snapshot or a CSS selectorbrowser_typeType text into an input elementbrowser_scrollScroll the page or an element. Supports pixel offsets, scrolling to elements, and named positions (top/bottom). Works with virtual scroll containers used by social media sites.browser_press_keyPress a keyboard key or combination (Enter, Escape, Tab, ArrowDown, etc). Supports modifiers like Ctrl+A, Cmd+C.browser_waitWait for a condition: element to appear, element to disappear, or a fixed delay. Useful for SPAs and dynamic content.browser_snapshotGet an accessibility tree snapshot of the page. Returns element refs you can use with click, type, and other tools. Use compact mode (default) for smaller output - only interactive elements.browser_screenshotCapture a screenshot of the visible page areabrowser_consoleRead console messages (log, warn, error) from the browserbrowser_networkRead network requests made by the page. Filter by URL pattern.browser_tabsManage browser tabs: list, create, close, or focusbrowser_findFind elements on the page using natural language (e.g. "login button", "search input"). Returns refs you can use with click/type.- +6 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"
]
}
}
}
Real Browser MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"ofershap-real-browser-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"real-browser-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Ghostlight is categorized under Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Real Browser MCP belongs to Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Ghostlight for browser automation work and Real Browser 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 is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Real Browser 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 ofershap-real-browser-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 2 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars. Real Browser MCP has 68/100 (Great) with 11 views, 0 installs and 58 GitHub stars.
