# Stagehand review

> Stagehand is an SDK for building browser agents that automate and extract data from websites using natural language, in TypeScript, Python, and Go.

Devtoolwatch Board, the week of Oct 25–31, 2026. Canonical page: https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/stagehand/

## TL;DR

Stagehand is an SDK for browser agents with Playwright-style APIs plus natural-language act, observe, and extract methods. Stagehand is for developers building AI agents that sign in, navigate, and pull structured data from sites. It runs as an extension next to the browser, offers self-healing actions, and works locally or on Browserbase.

## Stagehand at a glance

- **Category:** [Browser and computer use](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/categories/browser-and-computer-use/)
- **Maintained by:** browserbase (organization, [@browserbase](https://github.com/browserbase) on GitHub)
- **License:** MIT
- **Language:** TypeScript, MDX, Python
- **Repository:** [github.com/browserbase/stagehand](https://github.com/browserbase/stagehand)
- **Website:** [stagehand.dev](https://stagehand.dev)
- **npm package:** [@browserbasehq/stagehand](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@browserbasehq/stagehand) 4.3.0
- **PyPI package:** [stagehand](https://pypi.org/project/stagehand/) 4.3.0
- **Latest release:** [@browserbasehq/stagehand 4.3.0](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@browserbasehq/stagehand) on npm, Oct 20, 2026
- **First published:** Mar 24, 2024

## What Stagehand does

- Stagehand performs browser actions from natural-language instructions with act(), which refreshes how an action happens when the site changes.
- Stagehand's observe() returns real selectors, so you can fill credentials yourself without sending them to the model.
- Stagehand's extract() returns schema-validated data, using Zod in TypeScript, Pydantic in Python, or Go types.
- Stagehand provides Playwright-style methods such as goto, click, locator, and screenshot.
- Stagehand trims the accessibility tree with a hybrid approach to give agents only the page context they need.
- Stagehand supports WebMCP, clipboard, batch commands, deep locators for nested iframes and closed Shadow DOMs, and OTel traces.
- Stagehand persists cookies in a user data directory, so later runs start already signed in.

### How it works

Stagehand runs as an extension next to the browser to reduce round-trip latency. You launch a local Chrome browser or a Browserbase cloud browser, create a Stagehand instance with a model and API key, then call act, observe, and extract. On Browserbase, a Model Gateway can pick models per action and server-side caching can replay repeated calls. A hosted MCP server exposes these tools to coding agents.

## How to install Stagehand

**With pnpm (TypeScript)**

```
pnpm add @browserbasehq/stagehand 'zod@~4.4.3'
```

**With pip (Python)**

```
pip install stagehand
```

**With go get (Go)**

```
go get github.com/browserbase/stagehand/packages/sdk-go/v4@v4.0.0
```

### Requirements

- Node.js 22.18.0 or later for the npm package.
- Python 3.11 or later for the PyPI package.
- Chrome installed for local runs.
- A model provider API key, or a Browserbase API key for cloud browsers, Model Gateway, and the hosted MCP server.

### First steps

1. Install Chrome, which local runs require.
2. Set a model provider key such as OPENAI_API_KEY, or a BROWSERBASE_API_KEY for cloud browsers.
3. Launch a browser with localBrowser.launch() and pass it to Stagehand.create() with your model settings.
4. Navigate with page.goto(), then call act(), observe(), or extract() with plain-language instructions.

## Who Stagehand is for

- Developers building AI agents that log into web apps and extract structured data.
- Teams porting Playwright suites to agent-driven automation.
- Coding-agent users who want browser tools through an MCP client like Claude Code or Cursor.
- Projects in TypeScript, Python, or Go that need one browser driver across languages.

### Limitations

- Stagehand needs an LLM API key for local use unless you use Browserbase's Model Gateway.
- The Model Gateway, server-side caching, proxies, session recordings, and hosted MCP server depend on Browserbase.
- Local runs require Chrome to be installed.

## Usage data (the week of Oct 25–31, 2026)

- Board rank: #128 overall, #6 in Browser and computer use, momentum score 57
- Downloads that week: 3M (+22% vs 4-week average)
- New GitHub stars per week (last 12 weeks): Aug 9: 191; Aug 16: 82; Aug 23: 84; Aug 30: 66; Sep 6: 118; Sep 13: 325; Sep 20: 831; Sep 27: 136; Oct 4: 110; Oct 11: 122; Oct 18: 96; Oct 25: 96

## Stagehand alternatives

| Rank | Tool | Stars | Downloads/wk |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | [ego lite](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/citrolabs-ego-lite/) | 21k | – |
| #2 | [Moli](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/lexmount-moli/) | 21.9k | – |
| #3 | [Cua](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/cua/) | 31.4k | – |
| #4 | [Browser Harness](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/browser-use-browser-harness/) | 18.8k | 3.3M |
| #5 | [Jev Ultrafast](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/browser-use-jev-ultrafast/) | 24k | – |
| #7 | [Steel Browser](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/steel/) | 7.9k | 158.7k |

## Stagehand FAQ

### Is Stagehand free and open source?

Yes. Stagehand's source code is on GitHub (browserbase/stagehand) under the MIT license, so you can use it for free.

### How do I install Stagehand?

Run `pnpm add @browserbasehq/stagehand 'zod@~4.4.3'`. It needs Node.js >=22.18.0. The install section above has the other options from the project's README.

### Is Stagehand still maintained?

Yes. The browserbase/stagehand repository was last updated on Oct 21, 2026, and the latest release, @browserbasehq/stagehand 4.3.0 on npm, came out on Oct 20, 2026.

### How popular is Stagehand?

Stagehand has 25.9k GitHub stars as of Nov 1, 2026. It gained 96 new stars in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, against a 12-week average of 188 a week. Its main package had about 3M downloads that week, +22% against its own 4-week average. That made it #6 among browser and computer-use agents on the Devtoolwatch Board.

### Stagehand vs Browser Use: how do they compare?

Stagehand and Browser Use are both tracked by Devtoolwatch as browser and computer-use agents. Stagehand has 25.9k GitHub stars and Browser Use has 119.7k. In the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, Stagehand's main package had 3M downloads and Browser Use's had 1.5M. [Browser Use review](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/browser-use/)

### Stagehand vs Playwright MCP: how do they compare?

Stagehand and Playwright MCP are both tracked by Devtoolwatch. Stagehand has 25.9k GitHub stars and Playwright MCP has 38.9k. In the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, Stagehand's main package had 3M downloads and Playwright MCP's had 8.4M. Playwright MCP is a Model Context Protocol server from Microsoft that lets LLMs automate browsers through Playwright's structured accessibility snapshots. [Playwright MCP review](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/playwright-mcp/)

### What are the best alternatives to Stagehand?

Other browser and computer-use agents on the Devtoolwatch Board in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, by momentum: ego lite (#1), Moli (#2), Cua (#3), Browser Harness (#4), Jev Ultrafast (#5). The alternatives table above has their numbers.

### How does Stagehand work?

Stagehand runs as an extension next to the browser. Your code calls Playwright-style methods plus act, observe, and extract, which use a language model and a trimmed accessibility tree to act on the page and return schema-validated data.

### Does Stagehand use Playwright?

Stagehand offers Playwright-style APIs such as goto, click, locator, and screenshot, and provides a guide to migrate Playwright suites. Its homepage describes Playwright as built for testing and Stagehand as built for agents.

### Is Stagehand open source?

Stagehand is open source on GitHub at browserbase/stagehand and is built in the open, accepting issues and contributions.

### Can I use Stagehand with Claude Code or Cursor?

Stagehand's hosted Browserbase MCP server gives navigate, act, observe, and extract to any MCP client, including Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex, with no local install or browser. It needs a Browserbase API key.

### Does Stagehand need a cloud service?

Stagehand runs locally with Chrome and your own model API key. Browserbase is optional and adds cloud browsers, a Model Gateway, caching, proxies, and session recordings.

## Sources

1. [browserbase/stagehand on GitHub](https://github.com/browserbase/stagehand)
2. [Stagehand README](https://github.com/browserbase/stagehand/blob/main/README.md)
3. [@browserbasehq/stagehand on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@browserbasehq/stagehand)
4. [stagehand on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/stagehand/)
5. [Stagehand website](https://stagehand.dev)
6. [Release @browserbasehq/stagehand@3.7.3 (Aug 28, 2026)](https://github.com/browserbase/stagehand/releases/tag/%40browserbasehq/stagehand%403.7.3)
7. [Release stagehand-server-v3/v3.7.6 (Aug 28, 2026)](https://github.com/browserbase/stagehand/releases/tag/stagehand-server-v3/v3.7.6)
8. [Release stagehand-server-v3/v3.7.5 (Aug 20, 2026)](https://github.com/browserbase/stagehand/releases/tag/stagehand-server-v3/v3.7.5)
9. [Hacker News: Show HN: Stagehand – an open source browser automation framework powered by AI](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42635942)
10. [Hacker News: We made Playwright 2x faster and 80% more token efficient](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49756671)
11. [Hacker News: For Computer Use, the harness matters as much as the model](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49833760)
12. [Devtoolwatch Board, the week of Oct 25–31, 2026](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/)