playwriter
Chrome extension & CLI to let agents control your browser. Runs Playwright snippets in a stateful sandbox. Available as CLI or MCP
Playwriter is an MCP server and browser automation tool that lets AI agents control your existing Chrome browser with full Playwright API access. Unlike typical browser automation MCPs that spawn fresh Chrome instances, Playwriter connects to your running browser via a Chrome extension, preserving your logins, extensions, and cookies. Agents execute JavaScript snippets in stateful sandboxes, with support for network interception, debugging, live code editing, and visual element labeling for accessibility-based selection.
Key Features
Use Cases
- 01Automating web tasks on sites where you're already logged in without re-authenticating
- 02Testing web applications with AI agents that need to interact with authenticated sessions
- 03Debugging production issues by setting breakpoints and inspecting network traffic through agent commands
- 04Monitoring API responses and intercepting network requests for data collection or testing
- 05Live-editing JavaScript code on running pages to test changes without redeploying
- 06Streaming browser automation sessions to social platforms for demonstrations or monitoring
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playwriter — FAQ
What is Playwriter and how does it differ from other browser automation MCP servers?+
Playwriter is an MCP server and CLI tool that connects AI agents to your existing Chrome browser via an extension, unlike other solutions that spawn fresh browser instances. This means agents can use your saved logins, installed extensions, and cookies, making automation more seamless and less likely to trigger bot detection.
How do I install and set up Playwriter?+
Install the Playwriter Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store, click its icon on a tab to activate (turns green), then install the CLI globally with `npm i -g playwriter`. Optionally add the agent skill with `npx -y skills add remorses/playwriter` so your AI agent knows how to use it.
Which AI clients and MCP clients work with Playwriter?+
Playwriter works with any MCP-compatible client including Claude Desktop and other MCP-enabled tools. The recommended approach is using the CLI with the included agent skill rather than direct MCP server configuration.
Do I need API keys or special prerequisites to use Playwriter?+
No API keys are required. You only need Node.js installed to run the CLI, Chrome or a Chromium-based browser, and the Playwriter extension installed. For remote access features, you can optionally use traforo tunnels.
Is Playwriter free and open source?+
Yes, Playwriter is open source and available on GitHub at remorses/playwriter. The Chrome extension is free on the Chrome Web Store, and the CLI tool is installed via npm at no cost.
What are stateful sessions and how do they work?+
Each Playwriter session maintains isolated state where variables stored in the `state` object persist between command executions. This allows agents to accumulate data, maintain references to pages or debuggers, and build complex workflows across multiple commands without losing context.
How do I install playwriter?+
Open the source repository on GitHub and follow its README. playwriter is a mcp server — MCP Agents Market links you directly to the official repo.
Is playwriter free?+
playwriter is an open-source project hosted on GitHub. Check the repository for its license and any usage requirements.