Alternatives · AI Agents
Anchor Browser alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded Anchor Browser alternative is Browser Use (2.6 GPA). It's also the best free one.
Anchor Browser compared with 5 alternatives: Browserbase, Hyperbrowser, Kernel, Steel and Browser Use.
Anchor Browser has a free plan. Paid plans start at $50 per month. 3 of the 5 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Anchor Browser sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor BrowserThis tool | Free plan · from $50/mo | Yes | Web |
| Browserbase | Free plan · from $20/mo | Yes | Web |
| Hyperbrowser | Free trial · from $30/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Kernel | Free plan · from $30/mo | Yes | Web |
| Steel | Free trial · from $250/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Browser Use | Free plan · from $5 | Yes | Web |
Price against what you get
Anchor Browser starts at $50 a month and scores 1.7 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 3 of the 4 alternatives on this chart score higher and start lower: Browserbase, Hyperbrowser and Kernel.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Anchor Browser
Browserbase
Cloud browsers and APIs for agents that use the web
- Browserbase starts at $20 per month.
Suits: Developers who want hosted browsers instead of running their own
Hyperbrowser
Cloud browsers, sandboxes and web APIs for AI agents
- Hyperbrowser starts at $30 per month.
- Hyperbrowser has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Anchor Browser.
- Hyperbrowser also covers screenshots.
Suits: Developers who want hosted browsers and web data for agents
Kernel
Cloud browser infrastructure for web agents and automations
- Kernel starts at $30 per month, plus usage.
- Kernel is open source, according to its own site.
- Kernel also covers screen recording.
Suits: Developers who want hosted browsers billed by the second
Steel
Open-source browser infrastructure for AI agents
- Steel starts at $250 per month plus usage (Scale), after a free Launch plan.
- Steel has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Anchor Browser.
- Steel is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Steel does not cover workflow automation, which Anchor Browser does.
Suits: Developers who want to self-host an open-source browser server for agents
Browser Use
Browser agents and cloud browsers for AI apps
- Browser Use starts at $5 minimum top-up, used as you go.
- Browser Use is open source, according to its own site.
- Browser Use does not cover workflow automation, which Anchor Browser does.
Suits: Developers adding browser automation to an AI app without a subscription
Limits worth knowing in Anchor Browser
- Usage past included credits is $1.00 per credit on every paid plan; the calculator on the page uses $0.09 per browser hour, $8 per GB of proxy and $0.01 per AI step.
- The page's structured data lists a $20 Starter plan and 25 free browsers, conflicting with the visible cards ($50, 5 browsers), which are recorded here.
- Authenticated browsers and CAPTCHA bypass start at Starter; custom proxy and 30-day retention at Team; SOC 2 reporting at Growth.
- Anchor's browsers are cloud-only unless you take the Enterprise plan with bring-your-own-cloud.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Anchor Browser?
The alternatives to Anchor Browser in this directory are Browserbase, Hyperbrowser, Kernel, Steel and Browser Use. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Anchor Browser.
Is there a free alternative to Anchor Browser?
Yes. Browserbase, Kernel and Browser Use have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Is there an open-source alternative to Anchor Browser?
Kernel, Steel and Browser Use are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Nov 12, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.