CloakBrowser vs SeleniumBase
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A Chromium browser modified for stealth, meant to be a drop-in swap for Playwright.
Open source · MIT
Python framework for browser automation, testing, and scraping, with optional stealth browser features.
The short answer
Choose CloakBrowser if you need…
- Python or JavaScript developers already using Playwright who need automation to get past bot checks
- Scraping projects blocked by Cloudflare Turnstile or similar anti-bot systems, paired with a residential proxy
- Teams building AI agents that drive a real browser and hit bot detection
Choose SeleniumBase if you need…
- Python developers writing automated browser tests for websites
- People who already use Selenium or pytest and want a higher-level API
- Developers building scrapers for sites that block standard automated browsers
- Teams wanting an MCP server so AI agents can drive a browser
Side-by-side
| CloakBrowser | SeleniumBase | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Library | Library |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 32.7k | 13.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Intermediate |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Install with a package manager |
| Main language | Python | Python |
| Last code update | 4 days ago | 8 days ago |
What each one is
CloakBrowser
CloakBrowser is a modified build of the Chromium browser that changes browser fingerprint details at the source-code level, so websites are less likely to flag it as automated. It is designed to be used through the Playwright or Puppeteer API, so existing automation code needs only a small import change. People use it for web scraping and browser automation on sites with bot protection.
SeleniumBase
SeleniumBase is a Python framework for controlling web browsers. It is used to automate browser tasks, write end-to-end tests of websites, and scrape web pages. Its README says it includes a CDP Mode that launches a browser meant to get past bot-detection and CAPTCHAs, and that it can add stealth features to Playwright.
Best for
CloakBrowser
- Python or JavaScript developers already using Playwright who need automation to get past bot checks
- Scraping projects blocked by Cloudflare Turnstile or similar anti-bot systems, paired with a residential proxy
- Teams building AI agents that drive a real browser and hit bot detection
SeleniumBase
- Python developers writing automated browser tests for websites
- People who already use Selenium or pytest and want a higher-level API
- Developers building scrapers for sites that block standard automated browsers
- Teams wanting an MCP server so AI agents can drive a browser
Strengths
CloakBrowser
- Source-level patches are described as harder for detection sites to spot than JavaScript injection
- Drop-in API compatibility with Playwright and Puppeteer reduces migration effort
- Active project with recent releases and a large star count
SeleniumBase
- Built on Python and pytest, so it fits into common Python testing workflows
- Includes many features in one package, such as a recorder, dashboard, and reports, per the README keywords
- Uses the MIT license, which permits free use and modification
Not ideal for
CloakBrowser
- People who need CAPTCHAs solved automatically: the README says it prevents CAPTCHAs from appearing and does not include solving services
- Users who need built-in proxy rotation: the README says you must bring your own proxies
- Anyone wanting a no-code tool: it requires writing Python or JavaScript
SeleniumBase
- Non-programmers looking for a no-code tool, since it requires writing Python
- Anyone needing a guaranteed way around bot-detection or CAPTCHAs, since the README makes claims about bypassing them without guarantees and sites change their defenses
- Projects requiring a non-Python language, since the primary language is Python
Trade-offs
CloakBrowser
- The core claim of passing every bot test is marketing language; the README reports results from its own tests against 50+ sites
- Best results require a paid Pro build for some features such as the higher reCAPTCHA score; the free build is described as the latest but its scope is less clear
- The binary is about 200MB and downloads on first run
SeleniumBase
- Bypass claims for bot-detection and CAPTCHAs are stated by the project and are not independently verified in this README
- Stealth and anti-bot features depend on ongoing maintenance as target sites change
- The README is long and links out to many separate docs, so the full scope takes effort to learn
Getting started
CloakBrowser
Install the Python package
pip install cloakbrowserFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between CloakBrowser and SeleniumBase?
CloakBrowser: A Chromium browser modified for stealth, meant to be a drop-in swap for Playwright. SeleniumBase: Python framework for browser automation, testing, and scraping, with optional stealth browser features. CloakBrowser suits python or javascript developers already using playwright who need automation to get past bot checks, while SeleniumBase suits python developers writing automated browser tests for websites.
Are CloakBrowser and SeleniumBase free?
CloakBrowser: Free and open source. SeleniumBase: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, CloakBrowser or SeleniumBase?
CloakBrowser is easier to get started with (rated beginner); SeleniumBase is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is CloakBrowser or SeleniumBase more popular?
CloakBrowser has more GitHub stars (32.7k) than SeleniumBase (13.2k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to CloakBrowser and SeleniumBase?
Other options people compare them with include Browser Use, Stagehand, Page Agent, FingerprintJS, Cypress.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.