Skip to main content
Browser cloud comparison

Anchor Browser vs Browserbase for browser agents.

Anchor Browser and Browserbase both host cloud browsers for agents. Both connect Playwright and Puppeteer over CDP. Both also offer MCP access.

Anchor's managed authentication signs in before each session. Browserbase contexts reuse saved cookies and storage. Browserbase adds Stagehand and its Agents product.

Anchor's paid plans start at $50 monthly. Browserbase's start at $20. Pilot one authenticated task on both.

Written byLegbaReviewed 2026-10-30 · Updated 2026-10-30

The short version

Neither platform removes workflow risk. Your state model determines migration difficulty.

Install the skill

What is the difference between Anchor Browser and Browserbase?

Anchor and Browserbase share familiar foundations. Both offer hosted Chromium sessions. Both support direct library connections.

Their surrounding contracts create different work. Anchor centers agent tasks and managed identities. Browserbase centers contexts, Stagehand, and Agents. Both also offer MCP access.

The portable layer remains your task logic. Vendor setup surrounds that logic. Authentication and evidence create deeper coupling.

Treat feature lists as incomplete inputs. Start from one production job. Assign every state and recovery owner.

SourcesAnchor Browser introductionCode Quick StartManaged AuthenticationBrowser AgentsUsing Browser SessionsBrowserbase MCP Server

Map each control surface.

Anchor sessions expose a CDP address. Playwright and Puppeteer can connect directly. Its SDK also exposes natural-language tasks.

Browserbase sessions return a connection URL. Playwright can connect over CDP. Puppeteer and Selenium also receive documented paths.

Browserbase adds Stagehand and hosted Agents. Its hosted MCP exposes six browser tools. Anchor also lists MCP, SDK, and REST access. Those layers may replace custom orchestration.

Interface breadth carries switching costs. Each vendor primitive becomes an adapter boundary. Name that boundary before implementation.

  • Keep browser actions in portable modules.
  • Wrap session creation behind one adapter.
  • Separate prompts from deterministic controls.
  • Store vendor identifiers beside task records.
  • Avoid mixing recovery with extraction logic.

SourcesCode Quick StartIntegrate Playwright with Anchor BrowserAnchor Browser introductionPerform Web TaskUsing Browser SessionsBrowser AgentsBrowserbase MCP Server

Can Playwright code move between Anchor and Browserbase?

An identical Playwright task provides useful evidence. Keep navigation, locators, assertions, and extraction unchanged. Replace only vendor connection code.

Create each remote session separately. Capture its identifier and connection address. Then run the same task module.

Disconnect behavior needs explicit testing. Anchor says disconnection leaves sessions active. Browserbase keep-alive governs reconnectable sessions. Keep-alive needs a paid Browserbase plan.

End every test deliberately. Record the provider termination call. Unexpected active time creates avoidable cost.

Keep task code identical. Implement one adapter per vendor.
type RemoteSession = { id: string; cdpUrl: string; end: () => Promise<void> };

async function runPortableTask(remote: RemoteSession) {
  const browser = await chromium.connectOverCDP(remote.cdpUrl);
  const context = browser.contexts()[0];
  const page = context.pages()[0];
  await page.goto(targetUrl);
  const result = await collectExpectedFields(page);
  await browser.close();
  await remote.end();
  return result;
}

SourcesCode Quick StartIntegrate Playwright with Anchor BrowserUsing Browser SessionsKeep Alive

How do Anchor and Browserbase handle logins?

Anchor distinguishes profiles from managed authentication. Profiles save cookies, storage, and cache. Expired profiles require another manual login. Authenticated browsers start on Anchor's Starter plan.

Anchor managed authentication stores structured identities. Applications define target sites and login methods. Anchor reauthenticates identities before each session. Built-in methods cover email codes, TOTP, and 1Password.

Browserbase contexts preserve browser state across sessions. Persisted data includes cookies and local storage. Context synchronization finishes after session closure. Contexts are encrypted at rest.

Profiles, identities, and contexts are not interchangeable exports. Plan fresh identity enrollment during migration. Never assume stored state moves cleanly.

Authentication failures carry real business loss. A silent expiry wastes task capacity. A visible challenge needs controlled escalation.

  1. 01

    Choose one authenticated job.

    Select a reversible, representative workflow. Avoid privileged production writes initially.

  2. 02

    Enroll state separately.

    Create each vendor state container. Record every manual step.

  3. 03

    Force an expiry.

    Invalidate the target login deliberately. Observe each recovery path.

  4. 04

    Record escalation evidence.

    Capture challenge type and operator action. Exclude sensitive values.

SourcesManaged AuthenticationAnchor Browser pricing documentationContexts

Compare evidence before dashboards.

Anchor records browser sessions by default. Its documentation describes MP4 retrieval. Running sessions link to live views. Its API can also delete recordings.

Browserbase provides Session Inspector views. It exposes live viewing, recordings, logs, networks, and metrics. Programmatic session logs are also documented.

A polished replay does not ensure diagnosis. Your incident record needs task inputs. It also needs session and application identifiers.

Decide evidence retention before launch. Anchor's docs list 7 days on Free and Starter. Browserbase keeps recordings up to 30 days. Authentication recordings may contain sensitive screens.

  • Capture one shared correlation identifier.
  • Record session termination reasons.
  • Link failures to recordings.
  • Store scrubbed task inputs.
  • Document evidence retention owners.

SourcesSession RecordingAnchor Browser pricing documentationCode Quick StartObservability

How much do Anchor Browser and Browserbase cost?

Anchor publishes plan fees and infrastructure meters. Each browser creation costs $0.01. Its docs list $0.05 per browser hour. The homepage calculator uses $0.09.

Anchor's Starter plan costs $50 monthly. Growth costs $2,000 monthly. Extra credits cost $1 each. The homepage also lists a $500 Team plan. The docs pricing page omits it.

Browserbase plans bundle browser hours and concurrency. Developer includes 100 hours for $20. Startup includes 500 hours for $99. Overage then costs $0.12 or $0.10 per hour.

Headline fees hide workload shape. Login retries increase browser time. Recordings and agent calls may change surrounding costs.

Build a monthly worksheet instead. Use observed sessions, duration, traffic, and retries. Keep negotiated terms in separate rows.

One workload sheet with published rates, verified October 30, 2026.
FactorAnchor Browser inputBrowserbase inputOwner
Session startsBrowser creation count at $0.01 eachBrowser session countPlatform team
Active durationActive minutes at $0.05 per hour in docs, $0.09 on the homepageBrowser hours beyond 100 or 500 includedPlatform team
Concurrent demand5 to 200 by plan, 500-plus on Enterprise3, 25, or 100 by plan, 250-plus on ScaleCapacity owner
Network trafficAnchor proxy data at $8 per GB1 or 5 GB included, then $12 or $10 per GBNetwork owner
Agent controlAI steps at $0.01 to $0.10 each3, 15, or 50 agent runs includedAgent owner
Failure retriesRepeated creation and minutesRepeated hours and trafficWorkflow owner

One workload sheet with published rates, verified October 30, 2026.

SourcesAnchor Browser pricing documentationBrowserbase PricingAnchor Browser plans

Assign migration ownership explicitly.

Migration risk clusters around hidden ownership. Session code receives attention first. State recovery and evidence often arrive later.

The matrix makes those costs visible. Each row needs one accountable owner. Shared ownership usually means delayed recovery.

Use the matrix during vendor trials. Replace assumptions with observed outcomes. Preserve unknowns until someone verifies them.

Pair-specific decision and migration ownership matrix.
FactorAnchor Browser contractBrowserbase contractMigration owner
Session adapterCreate session and capture CDP URLCreate session and capture connect URLBrowser platform
Disconnect policyClose connection, then end sessionConfigure keep-alive before reconnectingBrowser platform
Saved browser stateProfiles persist browser stateContexts persist browser stateIdentity owner
Managed loginApplications and identities manage reauthenticationEvaluate Agent Identity features separatelyIdentity owner
Natural-language controlAgent task SDK methodAgents, Stagehand, or hosted MCPAgent owner
Failure evidenceLive view and MP4 recordingInspector, logs, networks, and recordingOperations owner
Billing reconciliationCreation, minutes, traffic, and stepsPlan, hours, traffic, and adjacent APIsFinance owner

Pair-specific decision and migration ownership matrix.

SourcesCode Quick StartIntegrate Playwright with Anchor BrowserUsing Browser SessionsKeep AliveManaged AuthenticationContextsBrowser AgentsPerform Web TaskBrowserbase MCP ServerSession RecordingObservabilityAnchor Browser pricing documentationBrowserbase Pricing

Run one reversible migration pilot.

A narrow pilot protects production continuity. Use one repeatable task. Include authentication, navigation, extraction, and teardown.

Define success before opening accounts. Measure task completion and recovery behavior. Also record operator time and cost.

Test ordinary failures deliberately. Expire state and interrupt connections. Exceed one timeout without exceeding permissions.

Keep evidence vendor-neutral. Your run record should outlive either dashboard. This reduces future exit risk.

  1. 01

    Freeze the task contract.

    Fix inputs and expected outputs. Exclude vendor-specific helpers initially.

  2. 02

    Run both adapters.

    Execute identical task logic. Capture session identifiers and timestamps.

  3. 03

    Trigger controlled failures.

    Expire login state and disconnect once. Record each recovery action.

  4. 04

    Calculate normalized cost.

    Apply actual duration and traffic. Include failed attempts.

  5. 05

    Review ownership gaps.

    Name every unresolved owner. Delay migration until assignment.

SourcesCode Quick StartManaged AuthenticationAnchor Browser pricing documentationUsing Browser SessionsContextsBrowserbase Pricing

Where Legba fits, and what it does not replace.

Legba publishes an agent skill, HTTP sessions, and hosted MCP. Its hosted browser runs on Legba's infrastructure. A person can take control, then hand it back.

Legba is not a drop-in Anchor or Browserbase replacement. Remote CDP and Playwright attachment remain undocumented. Compare only your routing and handoff job.

Start with one reversible browser task. Remove account-changing permissions first. Then inspect the returned evidence.

Keep the current vendor during evaluation. A parallel adapter preserves rollback. Delete it only after recovery tests pass.

SourcesLegba published skill and session contract

FAQs.

Can Playwright move between both vendors?
Much task logic can remain. Session creation and connection code changes. Vendor-specific features require separate adapters.
Which platform manages authenticated identities?
Anchor explicitly documents managed authentication. Browserbase documents contexts and Agent Identity. Verify required sites directly.
Do both platforms provide recordings?
Both platforms provide recordings. Anchor documents MP4 session recordings. Browserbase documents video recordings and Session Inspector evidence.
Does closing Playwright end each session?
Do not assume that behavior. Anchor requires separate session termination. Browserbase reconnect behavior depends on keep-alive settings.
What do Anchor Browser and Browserbase cost?
Anchor's paid plans run $50 to $2,000 monthly. Browserbase's run $20 or $99, then custom. Usage beyond allowances costs extra. Normalize one workload before choosing.
How should teams reduce migration risk?
Keep task logic portable. Run both adapters temporarily. Test state expiry, interruption, evidence, and teardown.
What are other Anchor Browser alternatives?
Browserbase is the alternative compared here. Browserless, Steel, and Hyperbrowser are others. Related comparisons cover those platforms. Match deployment, state, and evidence needs first.
Is Legba a drop-in Anchor replacement?
No, it is not. Anchor exposes CDP sessions for automation. Legba's agent skill uses its own session tools. Its Chrome extension is for people browsing themselves.

References

  1. 01
    Code Quick StartAnchor Browser
  2. 02
    Integrate Playwright with Anchor BrowserAnchor Browser
  3. 03
    Anchor Browser introductionAnchor Browser
  4. 04
    Managed AuthenticationAnchor Browser
  5. 05
    Session RecordingAnchor Browser
  6. 06
    Perform Web TaskAnchor Browser
  7. 07
    Anchor Browser pricing documentationAnchor Browser
  8. 08
    Anchor Browser plansAnchor Browser
  9. 09
    Using Browser SessionsBrowserbase
  10. 10
    ContextsBrowserbase
  11. 11
    Keep AliveBrowserbase
  12. 12
    ObservabilityBrowserbase
  13. 13
    Browser AgentsBrowserbase
  14. 14
    Browserbase MCP ServerBrowserbase
  15. 15
    Browserbase PricingBrowserbase
  16. 16
    Legba published skill and session contractLegba

Keep exploring