Steel
An open-source browser API purpose-built for AI agents that need to use the web.
Steel is an open-source browser-as-an-API designed for AI agents. It manages sessions, proxies, and authentication, exposes the browser cleanly to an agent, and can be self-hosted or used hosted.
It overlaps with managed browser platforms but keeps the option of running the whole thing inside your own environment.
Where it fits
A fit when agents need managed browser sessions and you want the choice between hosted and self-hosted.
Where it does not fit
Infrastructure rather than agent logic: you still bring the model and the decisions.
Alternatives to Steel
The closest options on the map, and where each fits instead.
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Browserbase Managed browser infrastructure
The right call when agents browse at scale and you do not want to run, patch, and scale browser infrastructure yourself.
Unlike Steel ProprietaryNot self-hostable
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Browserless Browser infrastructure
A fit when you need managed headless-browser infrastructure but want to keep it inside your own environment.
Unlike Steel Source availableMaturity: established
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Browser Use AI browser agent
A fit when an agent must complete goal-directed tasks on sites with no API, and the steps vary too much to script by hand.
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Stagehand AI browser framework
A fit when a browser task is mostly stable but has a few fragile steps better handled by natural language than selectors.
Unlike Steel No hosted API
Pairs with
Commonly used alongside it.
