apify-mcp-server
★ 12.6k
vs
steel-mcp-server
★ 58
apify-mcp-server vs steel-mcp-server
apify-mcp-server: The Apify Model Context Protocol (MCP) server enables AI agents to extract data from various websites using thousands of ready-made scrapers and automation tools from the Apify Store. It also supports OAuth for easy connection from clients like Claude.ai or Visual Studio Code using just a URL.; steel-mcp-server: Steel MCP Server empowers LLM clients like Claude and VS Code with a Steel-managed Chromium browser, facilitating complex web interactions beyond simple `fetch` requests. It allows agents to read pages as markdown, take screenshots, navigate, and perform actions like clicking, typing, and filling forms on interactive websites.
01
TL;DR
apify-mcp-serverBrowser Automation · ★ 12.6k
When to choose:
- You want AI agents to invoke thousands of battle-tested cloud scrapers from the Apify Store (social media, Google Maps, Amazon, real estate).
- You want serverless data extraction with managed proxy pools and anti-bot bypass without maintaining local browser clusters.
When to skip:
- You are scraping simple static sites without anti-bot blocks where free local libraries (Scrapling, Crawl4AI) are more cost-effective.
- Strict data compliance prevents sending scraping target URLs and credentials through external third-party cloud infrastructure.
steel-mcp-serverBrowser Automation · ★ 58
Summarize pricing tables or specific information from web pages.
02
Side-by-Side Comparison
Field
apify-mcp-serversteel-mcp-serverCategory
Browser Automation
Browser Automation
Stars
★ 12.6k
★ 58
License
MIT
MIT
Install Command
npx @apify/actors-mcp-server
git clone https://github.com/steel-dev/steel-mcp-server.git && cd steel-mcp-server && npm install
Updated
1d ago
3d ago
Open Source
Yes
Yes
Tags
AI Agents, Data Extraction, Web Scraping
Browser Automation, Web Scraping, Headless Browser
03
Features
apify-mcp-server01Integrate any Apify Actor as an AI agent tool.
02Support for OAuth and API token authentication.
03Enable agentic payments via Skyfire integration.
04Dynamic discovery of Apify Actors and helper tools.
05Offers both a hosted HTTPS endpoint and local standard I/O server options.
steel-mcp-server01Read web pages as Markdown or HTML (`steel_scrape`)
02Capture full-page screenshots (`steel_screenshot`)
03Start and manage interactive browser sessions (`steel_session_create`, `steel_session_release`)
04Perform diverse browser actions: click, type, fill forms, scroll (`steel_act`)
05Handover to human for login walls/CAPTCHAs with inline viewer (`steel_session_live_view`)
04
Use Cases
apify-mcp-server↳Extracting data from social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.
↳Scraping contact details from Google Maps listings.
↳Collecting results from Google Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).
↳Performing web searches and extracting content from top URLs for RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation).
↳Automating data collection from e-commerce sites and other websites.
steel-mcp-server↳Summarize pricing tables or specific information from web pages.
↳Compare product prices across multiple online shops.
↳Automate login processes and check account details (e.g., invoices).
↳Fill out complex application forms using provided details.
↳Generate screenshots of articles or web content for presentations.
05
Best For
apify-mcp-serverMost Popular
steel-mcp-server—
FAQ
FAQ
What is the difference between apify-mcp-server and steel-mcp-server?
Both apify-mcp-server and steel-mcp-server are in the Browser Automation category. apify-mcp-server has 12.6k stars, while steel-mcp-server has 58 stars.
Which is better, apify-mcp-server or steel-mcp-server?
The best choice depends on your use case. Choose apify-mcp-server if Extracting data from social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram., and steel-mcp-server if Summarize pricing tables or specific information from web pages..
Is apify-mcp-server free or open source?
Yes, apify-mcp-server is open source on GitHub (MIT).
Is steel-mcp-server free or open source?
Yes, steel-mcp-server is open source on GitHub (MIT).
Cloud Infrastructure
AdDeploy on DigitalOcean
Host your MCP servers, Docker containers, and AI agents with $200 free credit over 60 days.
→