Alternatives · AI Agents
Kernel alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded Kernel alternative is Stagehand (3.0 GPA). It's also the best free one.
Kernel compared with 8 alternatives: Browserbase, Hyperbrowser, Anchor Browser, Steel, Browser Use and 3 more.
Kernel has a free plan. Paid plans start at $30 per month, plus usage. 5 of the 8 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Kernel sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| KernelThis tool | Free plan · from $30/mo | Yes | Web |
| Browserbase | Free plan · from $20/mo | Yes | Web |
| Hyperbrowser | Free trial · from $30/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Anchor Browser | Free plan · from $50/mo | Yes | Web |
| Steel | Free trial · from $250/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Browser Use | Free plan · from $5 | Yes | Web |
| Cua | Free plan · from $15/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Notte | Free trial · from $20/mo | Trial only | Web |
| Stagehand | Free | Free | Web |
Price against what you get
Kernel starts at $30 a month and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 2 of the 7 alternatives on this chart score higher and start lower: Browserbase and Stagehand.
Hyperbrowser scores higher without starting lower. Cua and Notte start lower without scoring higher.
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 Kernel
Browserbase
Cloud browsers and APIs for agents that use the web
- Browserbase starts at $20 per month.
- Browserbase does not cover screen recording, which Kernel does.
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 Kernel.
- Hyperbrowser also covers screenshots.
- Hyperbrowser does not cover screen recording, which Kernel does.
Suits: Developers who want hosted browsers and web data for agents
Anchor Browser
Cloud browsers and authentication for computer-use agents
- Anchor Browser starts at $50 per month.
- Anchor Browser does not cover screen recording, which Kernel does.
Suits: Developers automating sites that have no API
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 Kernel.
- Steel is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Steel does not cover workflow automation and screen recording, which Kernel 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 does not cover workflow automation and screen recording, which Kernel does.
Suits: Developers adding browser automation to an AI app without a subscription
Cua
Shared desktops on your own computers for you and your AI agents
- Cua starts at $15 per month, billed annually ($18 billed monthly).
- Cua also lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Cua lists no web app, which Kernel has.
- Cua also covers remote desktop.
- Cua does not cover workflow automation and screen recording, which Kernel does.
Suits: Developers who want coding agents to work on a separate desktop, not their own
Notte
Cloud browsers, identities and agents for web automation
- Notte starts at $20 per month.
- Notte has no free plan, only a free trial, unlike Kernel.
- Notte does not cover screen recording, which Kernel does.
Suits: Developers running browser agents or scrapers that need stealth and proxies
Stagehand
Open-source SDK for browser agents, from Browserbase
- Stagehand is free.
- Stagehand does not cover screen recording, which Kernel does.
Suits: Developers adding AI-driven actions to browser automation
Limits worth knowing in Kernel
- Every plan adds usage costs: headless browsers are $0.0000166667 per second, headful $0.0001333336 and headful with GPU $0.0008000016; idle time is not charged.
- Included monthly credits apply to usage only, not to the plan fee.
- Custom proxies, GPU acceleration, regional browsers and unlimited extensions need Start-Up ($200 a month).
- The homepage links a public notice of a security incident dated around November 2026; read it before choosing.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Kernel?
The alternatives to Kernel in this directory are Browserbase, Hyperbrowser, Anchor Browser, Steel, Browser Use, Cua, Notte and Stagehand. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Kernel.
Is there a free alternative to Kernel?
Yes. Stagehand is free to use. Browserbase, Anchor Browser, Browser Use and Cua have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Kernel alternatives work on Windows?
The Kernel listing does not include a Windows app. Cua lists one.
Which Kernel alternatives work on macOS?
The Kernel listing does not include a macOS app. Cua lists one.
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.