How much does Kernel cost?

Free tier (including stealth mode with residential proxies) plus usage based pay for resources pricing described as simple and transparent; specific rates not captured in retrieved materials.

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Kernel

Q: Who is Kernel for?

AI agent developers, startups, Series B+ enterprises building automation

Also known as: Kernel, kernel.sh, onkernel

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Browser / computer-use agentindependentVerified 2026-07-22

Browsers as a service for AI agents: millisecond spin ups, persistent session state, live take-control views and replays, any-framework support plus an MCP server, and an agent runtime that turns agents into HTTPS endpoints. $22M from Accel and YC.

Kernel is browsers as a service for AI agents: developers spin up cloud browsers in milliseconds (agents launch and connect in about 300ms, independently benchmarked at 4.42s full spin up versus 11.44s for Browserbase), reuse session state like cookies and authentication, and persist context across workflows so agents feel continuous rather than stateless. Browsers run in isolated virtual machines with read and write live views that let a human watch and take control mid run, plus video replays, VM logs, and debugging tools to inspect exactly what an agent saw and did. An agent runtime hosts customer agents and turns them into HTTPS endpoints invoked on demand with a prompt. The platform supports Playwright, Puppeteer, CDP, Browser Use, Magnitude, and Stagehand, exposes an MCP server, ships stealth features (residential proxies, auto CAPTCHA solving) on the free tier, and is partnering with end websites so sites can opt in to, detect, and shape how agents interact with them. $22M from Accel, YC, and Cintrifuse; customers range from YC startups to Series B+ enterprises.

Vendor details

Canonical URL

https://www.kernel.sh

Funding status

$22M Seed + Series A led by Accel with Y Combinator and Cintrifuse Capital (October 2025); YC batch, 1,000+ customers within seven months of May 2025 launch

Company status

independent

Use cases & customers

Primary use cases

cloud browsers for computer-use agentspersistent authenticated sessions across workflowsagent hosting as HTTPS endpointsstealth web automation with proxies and CAPTCHA solvingagent run debugging via live views and replays

Target customers

AI agent developersstartupsSeries B+ enterprises building automation

Deployment options

cloud (isolated VMs per session)hosted agent runtime

Integrations

Works with any browser or web agent framework: Playwright, Puppeteer, CDP, Browser Use, Magnitude, Stagehand; APIs and SDK connect agent backends to cloud browsers for navigation, clicks, and form filling; MCP server for AI clients; residential proxies and auto CAPTCHA solvers.

Sources & related URLs

Research sources

https://www.kernel.sh https://siliconangle.com/2025/10/09/kernel-raises-22m-power-browser-infrastructure-ai-agents/ https://ycombinator.com/launches/O5f-kernel-crazy-fast-browser-infrastructure https://techstackups.com/comparisons/browserbase-vs-kernel-cloud-browser-automation/

Capability coverage

8.0 / 14 capabilities · 57%

Integrations & Tool CallingWorks with any browser or web agent framework (Playwright, Puppeteer, CDP, Browser Use, Magnitude, Stagehand) with APIs connecting agent backends to browsers for navigation, clicks, and form filling, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Full
Workflow OrchestrationThe agent runtime hosts and executes customer agents as invocable endpoints and persists context across workflows, though orchestration logic itself lives in the customer's agent, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Partial
Knowledge Grounding & RAGNo knowledge grounding or retrieval layer documented; Kernel is execution infrastructure beneath the agent's intelligence, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Unable to verify
Human Oversight & GuardrailsHuman in the loop interactions are supported by design, with read and write live views letting a human take control of a running browser when needed, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Partial
Security, Identity & GovernanceIsolated virtual machines per agent session and secure credential handling are documented, without third party attestations in retrieved materials, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Partial
Observability & AuditabilityLive views, video replays, VM logs, session replays, and debugging tools let engineers see exactly what an agent saw and did in the browser, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Full
Memory & State PersistencePersistence is a core pitch: agents reuse session state like cookies and authentication and persist context across workflows so they feel continuous rather than stateless, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Full
Deployment & Data ResidencyCloud service with per session VM isolation; self hosting and data residency options not documented, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Partial
Prebuilt Agents, Templates & PacksNo prebuilt agent or template library documented; customers bring their own agents, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Unable to verify
Triggers & Channel CoverageHosted agents become HTTPS endpoints invoked on demand with a prompt, an API trigger surface without scheduled or event machinery documented, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Partial
Model Flexibility & RoutingModel agnostic in practice since customers bring their own agents, but no model access or routing features are documented as platform capabilities, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Unable to verify
APIs, SDKs & MCP ExtensibilityAPI and SDK for launching and controlling browsers, an MCP server for AI clients, framework compatibility across the automation ecosystem, and hosted agent endpoints, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Full
Testing, Debugging & OptimizationSession replays and debugging tools support inspecting and diagnosing agent behavior, short of structured testing or evaluation frameworks, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Partial
Browser & Computer UseThe product exists to give computer use agents cloud browsers, with headful mode, stealth residential proxies, auto CAPTCHA solving, and work on enabling computer use agents industry wide, Kernel materials 2026-07-22	Full

Pricing

Free tier + usage based

usage based (browser resources)

Public — partialMedium variable costFree tierTrial available

What is public

The model is public (free tier, then transparent usage based pay for resources); the specific per resource rates were not captured in retrieved materials.

Variable cost rationale

Usage based resource billing scales with browser hours and sessions; the vendor emphasizes predictability but costs track agent volume.

Sales call required

No — self-serve available

Free / trial

Free tier (includes stealth mode)

Verified 2026-07-22

Data confidence: high