Public Browser vs Webdriverio MCP
A side-by-side look at the Public Browser and Webdriverio MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Public Browser for browser automation work as a local process; choose Webdriverio 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 Public Browser when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Browser Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
virtual_desk, view_page, click.
Choose Webdriverio MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Browser Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
enable_tools, start_session, attach_session.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser Automation | Browser Automation |
| Quality signal | 64/100 · Good | 64/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 19 | 42 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 25 | 40 |
| Full listing | View Public Browser | View Webdriverio MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Public Browser tools 25
virtual_deskList all open tabs with IDs, URLs and state. Call it first in every session, after a reconnect, or when unsure; reuse a listed tab ID instead of opening duplicates. Cheap, call liberally.view_pageSee what is on the page: text plus stable element refs for click/type/fill_form. Default filter 'interactive' lists actionable elements; for paragraphs or table cells call view_page(ref, filter: 'all'). Collapsed containers show as [eXX role, N items] — expand with view_page(ref: 'eXX', filter: 'all').clickClick an element by ref, CSS selector, visible text, or viewport x/y (canvas, pixel-precise targets). Dispatches real CDP mouse events. A click that opens a new tab is reported in the response. The DOM diff (NEW/REMOVED/CHANGED) arrives with the next page action, or here with wait_for_diff: true.typeType text into an input identified by ref or CSS selector. For 2+ fields use fill_form; for special keys (Enter, Escape, Tab, arrows) or shortcuts (Ctrl+K) use press_key.fill_formFill a whole form in one call: text inputs, <select> (by value or visible label), checkboxes (boolean) and radio buttons. One round-trip; partial errors do not abort and each field reports its own status. On per-field errors call view_page and retry the failing fields.press_keyPress a key or shortcut (Enter, Escape, Tab, arrows, Ctrl+K). Optionally focus an element first via ref or selector.scrollScroll the page, a container, or an element into view. Reports the position and content growth (scrollHeight delta — detects lazy-loaded content) and handles settle timing. Use container_ref/container_selector plus direction to scroll inside a container.dragDrag a source onto a target: HTML5 drag-and-drop (draggable lists, SortableJS, React DnD) and mouse drags (sliders, canvas, resize handles). Scrolls the source into view; says when no page reaction was detected. Source: from_ref/from_selector or from_x+from_y; target: to_ref/to_selector or to_x+to_y.navigateNavigate the active tab to a URL, or action 'back' / 'reload' (all refs become stale after reload). Waits for settle. Overwrites the user's active tab — check virtual_desk first; the first call per session is redirected to virtual_desk.switch_tabOpen a new tab, switch to a tab by ID (from virtual_desk), or close one. Prefer 'open' over navigate when the user's active tab must stay untouched. Refs from the previous tab are invalid afterwards — call view_page before acting.tab_statusActive tab's cached URL, title, ready state and errors — a cheap mid-workflow sanity check ('did my click navigate?'). Not for tab discovery or page content.wait_forWait until a condition holds: element visible, page text present, URL match, network idle, or a JS expression true. Prefer condition 'text' over a JS expression for 'has the page said X yet'. assert: true checks once and fails instead of waiting.- +13 more on the listing page
Webdriverio MCP tools 40
enable_toolsAdd a group of tools: `mocks`, `cookies`, `device`, `extensions`, `attach`, `elements`, `cloud-appsstart_sessionStart a browser, local Electron application, or mobile app session; `attach: true` retains the existing Chrome CDP connection modeattach_sessionAttach to an existing remote WebDriver/Appium session by ID without creating a new sessionlaunch_chromeLaunch a new Chrome instance with remote debugging enabled (for use with `start_session({ attach: true })`)close_sessionClose or detach from the current session (supports `detach: true` to disconnect without terminating)emulate_deviceEmulate a mobile/tablet device preset (viewport, DPR, UA, touch); requires BiDi sessionopen_web_extensionInstall a web extension through WebDriver BiDi and open one of its extension pages so normal page tools can drive its UInavigateNavigate to a URL. In browsers the result shows the new page's interactive elements with refssnapshotThe page as an accessibility tree with refs (`button "Save" [ref=e3]`), interactive elements by default (plain text is dropped, `full: true` shows it); pass refs to `perform_actions` for several steps; `find` returns only the parts containing a text (link targets included), `full: true` adds all te…get_elementsGet visible, interactable elements with bounds. Supports `inViewportOnly` (default: true) and `includeContainers` (default: false). Mobile and Electron; listed after `enable_tools({ groups: ['elements'] })`, use `snapshot` firstget_accessibility_treeGet the accessibility tree with roles, names, and selectors. Electron-only; browsers use `snapshotget_screenshotTake a screenshot of the current page or screen (base64-encoded, auto-resized to max 2000px / 1MB)- +28 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.
Public Browser
{
"mcpServers": {
"public-browser": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"public-browser@latest"
]
}
}
}
Webdriverio MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"webdriverio-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@wdio/mcp@latest"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Public Browser is categorized under Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Webdriverio MCP belongs to Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Public Browser for browser automation work and Webdriverio 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.
Public Browser has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Webdriverio MCP 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 public-browser and webdriverio-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Public Browser has a quality signal of 64/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 19 GitHub stars. Webdriverio MCP has 64/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 42 GitHub stars.
