Alternatives / Anchor Browser

An Anchor Browser alternative without the auth lock-in

Standard CDP URL. Bring your own auth strategy in code. Per-minute billing, not credits per task.

Anchor is built around OmniConnect, their managed third-party auth layer. That's a real product, and if your agent's main job is logging into other people's apps, it's the right tool. Bug0 takes the opposite stance: a thin CDP endpoint, you handle auth.

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Free tier · $0.15/hour after · No credit card

Side by side

Bug0 BrowsersAnchor Browser
Monthly minimum$0$0 free / $50+ paid
Effective hourly rate$0.15Credit-based, varies
Billing unitPer minuteCredits per task
Free tier, no credit cardYesYes
Standard CDP URLYesYes
Live previewnoVNC on every sessionLive view
Self-host optionNoNo
Stealth / captcha built inNoYes
Proxies built inNoYes

Pricing accurate as of April 2026. We update as Anchor Browser changes theirs.

Migrate in two lines

Both Anchor and Bug0 expose CDP. The change is the SDK call and where your auth code lives.

Anchor SDK

import AnchorClient from "anchorbrowser";
import { chromium } from "playwright";

const anchor = new AnchorClient({ apiKey: process.env.ANCHOR_API_KEY });
const session = await anchor.sessions.create();
const browser = await chromium.connectOverCDP(session.data.cdp_url);
const page = browser.contexts()[0].pages()[0];

Bug0 SDK

import { Bug0 } from "@bug0/sdk";
import { chromium } from "playwright";

const bug0 = new Bug0({ apiKey: process.env.BUG0_API_KEY });
const { cdpUrl } = await bug0.createBrowser();
const browser = await chromium.connectOverCDP(cdpUrl);
const page = browser.contexts()[0].pages()[0];

If you relied on OmniConnect for third-party logins, you'll move that into your own code with Playwright's storageState or a small auth helper.

Where Anchor Browser wins

Where Bug0 wins

  • Predictable per-minute pricing instead of credits and tasks.
  • No auth layer lock-in. Bring your own auth strategy in code.
  • Much lower entry point: start free without a credit card, pay by the minute when you scale.

Pricing math

Anchor's Starter is $50/mo, billed in credits per task. Bug0 is $0.15/hr from the first minute. The trade is concrete: Anchor's OmniConnect handles third-party auth out of the box; you'd write that yourself with Bug0. For agents that don't need managed auth, Bug0's bill is much smaller.

See the full alternatives table →

Frequently asked questions

Does Bug0 do auth like Anchor's OmniConnect?

No. OmniConnect handles third-party auth flows for agents. Bug0 doesn't. If your agent's main job is logging into other people's apps, Anchor is built for that. If it's driving your own app or partner sites you already have access to, Bug0 is simpler.

Pricing comparison?

Anchor Starter is $50/mo with credits per task. Bug0 is $0.15/hr from the first minute. Big difference at low volume.

Can I use Anchor's MCP integration with Bug0?

Anchor's MCP is wired to OmniConnect. For an MCP-on-Bug0 setup, point Playwright MCP at a Bug0 cdpUrl. Different auth model, same browser substrate.

Will my Anchor scripts work?

The CDP-driven parts will. The OmniConnect-driven parts won't, you'll re-implement those with your own login flows.

Live preview?

Yes on Bug0. Anchor ships a live view too. Both work.

Free tier?

10 browser-minutes free, no credit card. Anchor's free tier is 5 credits and 500 sessions, capped at 5 concurrent.