Which uses fewer tokens, Browserbase or Chrome DevTools?

Browserbase: its tool definitions take about 3,366 tokens per turn against 6,117 for Chrome DevTools (1.8× more). Tool definitions are resent on every model turn.

Do Browserbase and Chrome DevTools have the same tools?

No tool names overlap: Browserbase has 17 tools and Chrome DevTools has 32.

Are Browserbase and Chrome DevTools hosted or local?

Browserbase: local or hosted. Chrome DevTools: local (stdio).

Compare · Browser Automation

Browserbase vs Chrome DevTools MCP Server

Browserbase exposes 17 tools and adds about 3,366 tokens to every model turn. Chrome DevTools exposes 32 tools and adds about 6,117. Chrome DevTools costs 1.8× as much context. Measured by connecting to each server and counting its tool list, not from the README.

	Browserbasebrowserbase	Chrome DevToolschromedevtools
Context tax	~3,366 tok/turn(leaner)	~6,117 tok/turn
Tools	17	32
Cost per 1,000 turns (Claude Sonnet 5.5, uncached)	$6.73	$12.23
Security score	82/100	100/100
Cold start	2,399 ms	2,023 ms
Runs	Local or hosted	Local (stdio)
Needs keys	BROWSERBASE_API_KEY, BROWSERBASE_PROJECT_ID, GEMINI_API_KEY	None declared
Freshness	Abandoned	Active
GitHub stars	3.4k	54k
License	Apache-2.0	Apache-2.0
Official MCP registry	Yes	Yes

Install in Claude Code

Browserbase

claude mcp add browserbase -e BROWSERBASE_API_KEY='<browserbase-api-key>' -e BROWSERBASE_PROJECT_ID='<browserbase-project-id>' -e GEMINI_API_KEY='<gemini-api-key>' -- npx -y @browserbasehq/mcp-server-browserbase

Cursor, VS Code, Claude Desktop, Windsurf

Chrome DevTools

claude mcp add chrome-devtools -- npx -y chrome-devtools-mcp

Cursor, VS Code, Claude Desktop, Windsurf

Tools

By name, from each server's live tool list. The same name can still behave differently.

Only in Browserbase · 17

multi_browserbase_stagehand_session_create
multi_browserbase_stagehand_session_list
multi_browserbase_stagehand_session_close
multi_browserbase_stagehand_navigate_session
multi_browserbase_stagehand_act_session
multi_browserbase_stagehand_extract_session
multi_browserbase_stagehand_observe_session
multi_browserbase_stagehand_get_url_session
browserbase_stagehand_get_all_urls
browserbase_session_create
browserbase_session_close
browserbase_stagehand_navigate
browserbase_stagehand_act
browserbase_stagehand_extract
browserbase_stagehand_observe
browserbase_screenshot
browserbase_stagehand_get_url

In both · 0

none

Only in Chrome DevTools · 32

click
close_page
drag
emulate
evaluate_script
fill
fill_form
get_console_message
get_css_styles
get_network_request
handle_dialog
hover
lighthouse_audit
list_console_messages
list_network_requests
list_pages
navigate_page
new_page
performance_analyze_insight
performance_start_trace
performance_stop_trace
press_key
resize_page
screencast_start
screencast_stop
select_page
take_heapsnapshot
take_screenshot
take_snapshot
type_text
upload_file
wait_for

Questions

Which uses fewer tokens, Browserbase or Chrome DevTools?: Browserbase: its tool definitions take about 3,366 tokens per turn against 6,117 for Chrome DevTools (1.8× more). Tool definitions are resent on every model turn.
Do Browserbase and Chrome DevTools have the same tools?: No tool names overlap: Browserbase has 17 tools and Chrome DevTools has 32.
Are Browserbase and Chrome DevTools hosted or local?: Browserbase: local or hosted. Chrome DevTools: local (stdio).

Token counts use the o200k tokenizer on each server's tool definitions as an agent receives them; clients that load tools lazily pay less. Prices are Claude Sonnet 5.5 input at $2/MTok. Want to check one yourself? Run npx mcpskillhub test <package> — how it works.