Steel alternatives for agent browser sessions.
Steel is an open-source browser API for AI agents. Launch costs $0 plus usage. Scale costs $250 a month plus usage. Its Apache-2.0 runtime also runs on your hardware.
Alternatives include Browserbase, Browserless, and Hyperbrowser. Legba's agent skill fits a narrower job. It gives agents routing and isolated browser sessions.
Side by side.
Legba's agent skill against Steel's open-source browser API.
| Compare | Legba | Steel |
|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Routing and isolated browser sessions for agents | An open-source browser API with a managed cloud |
| How agents connect | A skill your agent installs, plus hosted MCP tools | SDKs, a CLI, REST endpoints, and CDP WebSockets |
| Playwright and Puppeteer | No remote Playwright or CDP endpoint is published | Both connect to cloud sessions over CDP |
| Self-hosting | Skill scripts run locally. Hosted sessions run on Legba infrastructure. | Apache-2.0 Steel Browser. Steel Local runs one concurrent session. |
| Session length | The skill source publishes no session limit | 15 minutes on Launch. 1 hour on Scale. Up to 24 hours on Enterprise. |
| Saved state | Named local profiles. No hosted state contract is published. | Profiles persist browser data, up to 300 MB |
| Network | Every skill path runs through a Legba route | Datacenter IPs by default. Managed proxies cover 200+ countries. BYOP works too. |
| Published pricing | Free $0, Pro $500/mo, Scale $3,000/mo. Hosted sessions require an eligible paid plan. | Launch $0 plus usage. Scale $250 a month plus usage. Enterprise is custom. |
| Best fit | An agent needs a route or a hosted session per task | Teams that want open source, CDP access, or self-hosting |
Last verified 2026-10-30 · official sources linked below
When Steel is the better pick
Choose Steel when you want open source or self-hosting. Its Apache-2.0 runtime runs on your own hardware. Its cloud adds managed proxies and higher concurrency. Playwright and Puppeteer connect over CDP. Legba publishes no comparable connection.
How this comparison was made.
Legba publishes this comparison. Legba sells the agent skill compared here. Legba also lists Steel as an integration. Steel did not sponsor this page.
We checked Steel docs and pricing on October 30, 2026. We checked its license through GitHub. We checked Legba's published skill source the same day. We ran no benchmark or migration test.
Other alternatives to compare.
- Browserbase vs SteelCompare pricing, deployment, profiles, and session controls.
- Browserless vs SteelCompare deployment editions and who runs each part.
- Steel vs HyperbrowserCompare hosting, profiles, recordings, and concurrency.
- Browserless alternativeReview another browser infrastructure option.
- Best remote browsers for PlaywrightCompare six remote browsers by Playwright connection.
- Browserbase alternativesCompare a managed browser platform with other options.
- Hyperbrowser alternativesCompare usage-priced cloud browsers with other options.
Questions people ask.
What are the main Steel alternatives?
Is Steel open source?
How much does Steel cost?
How long can a Steel session run?
Do Steel sessions run headless?
Does Legba support Playwright or Puppeteer?
Can Legba work with Steel?
Is Legba a drop-in replacement for Steel?
Try it on the next page you do not trust
Legba is a Chrome extension with two modes. Ghost gives you a private browser route. Shield opens a page in an isolated browser off your device.
Free for 30 days. No card required.
Ghost. A private route for your browser. Shield. An isolated browser, off your device. Choose the mode. Close when finished.