Public Browser vs Scrivener MCP
A side-by-side look at the Public Browser and Scrivener 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 Scrivener MCP for knowledge & memory 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 Scrivener MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Browser Automation | Knowledge & Memory |
| Quality signal | 64/100 · Good | 61/100 · Good |
| 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 | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 19 | 67 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 18 views 12 installs 6 upvotes |
| Tools | 25 | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Public Browser | View Scrivener 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
Scrivener MCP 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.
Public Browser
{
"mcpServers": {
"public-browser": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"public-browser@latest"
]
}
}
}
Scrivener MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"writerslogic-scrivener-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"scrivener-setup"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Public Browser is categorized under Browser Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Scrivener MCP belongs to Knowledge & Memory and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Public Browser for browser automation work and Scrivener MCP for knowledge & memory.
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. Scrivener 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 public-browser and writerslogic-scrivener-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. Scrivener MCP has 61/100 (Good) with 18 views, 12 installs and 67 GitHub stars.