Agentic Index
Browserbase vs Kernel (2026)
The category leader against the fast challenger, at 12 of 14 against 8.
Browserbase provides hosted browsers with the Stagehand SDK and MCP integration from 20 dollars a month with a free tier, and is the default most teams start on. Kernel counters on runtime properties: millisecond spin ups, persistent session state, live take control views and replays, any framework support, an MCP server and an agent runtime turning agents into HTTPS endpoints, free tier then usage based, with 22 million dollars from Accel and Y Combinator. Ecosystem maturity against cold start speed and session persistence.
Choose Browserbase if
- Documented coverage is materially broader and the ecosystem is the most mature available.
- Stagehand as a first class SDK is how you want to write browser automation.
- Reference density and community support lower your risk on a foundational dependency.
Choose Kernel if
- Cold start latency is a user facing number in your product.
- Persistent session state across runs is the property your workflow depends on.
- Framework agnosticism matters because you have not settled on one.
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