What is the key difference between Playwright Mcp and Playwright Mcp Server?

Playwright Mcp belongs to the Browser Automation category with local stdio execution, while Playwright Mcp Server belongs to the Browser Automation category with cloud HTTP/SSE execution.

How do I install Playwright Mcp or Playwright Mcp Server in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are Playwright Mcp and Playwright Mcp Server free or paid?

Playwright Mcp operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Playwright Mcp Server operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Playwright Mcp lists 5 tools with 2 views and 35,969 GitHub stars. Playwright Mcp Server lists 0 tools with 1 views and 0 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Playwright Mcp and Playwright Mcp Server together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

How do I install Playwright Mcp or Playwright Mcp Server in Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf?

Both servers follow the standard Model Context Protocol configuration format. Simply copy the JSON block from the configuration section above and paste it into your AI client's mcpServers configuration object (for instance in claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json ), then completely restart or refresh the application.

Are Playwright Mcp and Playwright Mcp Server free to use, or do they require API keys?

Playwright Mcp is listed under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . Playwright Mcp Server operates under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . If environment variables are required (such as API keys), be sure to define them under the env key in your MCP client's configuration file.

Can I run both Playwright Mcp and Playwright Mcp Server at the same time in my AI client?

Yes! MCP clients support multi-server orchestration. You can include both microsoft-playwright-mcp and playwright-mcp-server as distinct keys inside the single mcpServers object in your configuration file. Your AI assistant will automatically select and call the appropriate tool from either server during chat sessions.

Which MCP server has higher directory engagement and quality ratings?

On AllMCPs, Playwright Mcp has a Quality Score of 55 /100 ( Good ) with 2 views, 0 installs, and 35,969 GitHub stars. Playwright Mcp Server holds a Quality Score of 29 /100 ( Emerging ) with 1 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Playwright Mcp vs Playwright Mcp Server

In-depth architectural comparison of the Playwright Mcp and Playwright Mcp Server MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

Playwright Mcp

Browser Automation · Local stdio

Quality: 55/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Playwright Mcp Server

Browser Automation · Remote HTTP/SSE

Quality: 29/100 (Emerging) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Playwright Mcp if you need specialized Browser Automation tools running via a local process. Choose Playwright Mcp Server if your workspace requires Browser Automation integration with remote web transport. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Playwright Mcp when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Browser Automation domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: Uses Playwright accessibility tree instead of screenshots, LLM-friendly structured data interface, Supports persistent browser context and introspection.

Explore Playwright Mcp Details

Choose Playwright Mcp Server when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Browser Automation domain.
You prefer remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore Playwright Mcp Server Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Playwright Mcp microsoft Browser Automation	P Playwright Mcp Server Browser Automation
Summary	Official Microsoft Playwright MCP server, enabling LLMs to interact with web pages through structured accessibility snapshots	Headless browser primitives for AI agents when sites need real JS rendering.
Category & Scope	Browser Automation	Browser Automation

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Playwright Mcp Tools (5)

Uses Playwright accessibility tree instead of screenshots

LLM-friendly structured data interface

Supports persistent browser context and introspection

Deterministic tool application avoiding visual ambiguity

Compatible with multiple MCP clients

Playwright Mcp Server Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

Playwright Mcp Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "microsoft-playwright-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@playwright/mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Playwright Mcp Server Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "playwright-mcp-server": {
      "url": "https://apify.com/nexgendata/playwright-mcp-server"
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Playwright Mcp is categorized under Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Playwright Mcp Server belongs to Browser Automation using remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport. Select Playwright Mcp when you need capabilities focused on browser automation and Playwright Mcp Server when you require tools for browser automation.

More alternatives to Playwright Mcp More alternatives to Playwright Mcp Server Browser Automation category hub