Comparison
Panes vs. Browserbase
Browserbase popularized browser infrastructure as a service and has a mature feature set: session recording, stealth modes, proxy management, and a large ecosystem. It is a strong default for scraping-heavy workloads. Panes takes a different position — browsers as tenant-scoped infrastructure inside a platform your org already governs, with agent actions and credentials treated as first-class security objects.
| Dimension | Panes | Browserbase |
|---|---|---|
| Isolation model | Isolated Chromium per session on Omega compute, placed per region | Isolated browser VMs per session |
| Agent tooling | First-party MCP server (panes_list, panes_create, panes_action, panes_term) gated by per-tool permissions | MCP server and Stagehand automation framework |
| Credential security | Short-lived term credentials minted per session, expire in minutes, never stored | Long-lived API keys; session-level connect URLs |
| Tenancy | Keystone org → project → workspace scoping built into every API call | Project-level API keys |
| Pricing model | Per-second session billing with included minutes | Per-minute browser pricing with plan bundles |
| Regions | iad1, sfo1, fra1 with per-session placement | Multiple regions on request |
| Console | Live sessions table, ⌘K command menu, screenshots, DevTools panel | Session inspector with recordings and logs |
Honest take
When to choose Panes — and when to choose Browserbase
Different tools win different workloads. Here's our candid read.
Choose Panes when
- You want browsers scoped to org/project/workspace tenancy, not just an API key.
- Your agents need permission-gated tools, not raw browser endpoints.
- You bill internal teams and need per-second metering through your platform ledger.
- You already run on L1fe infrastructure (Keystone, Omega, Garden).
Choose Browserbase when
- You need stealth/anti-bot features and rotating proxies as managed primitives.
- Session recording and replay is central to your debugging workflow.
- You want the largest community and third-party integration surface today.
Migration
Switching to Panes
Already on Browserbase? The move is mostly mechanical.
Sessions map 1:1 — a Browserbase session becomes a Pane (POST /api/panes).
Replace connect URLs with term credentials: mint via panes_term, connect over WebSocket, re-mint when they lapse.
Playwright code keeps working — point it at the live session endpoint from your term credentials.
Try both. Keep the one that fits.
Panes has a real free tier — launch a session and compare for yourself.
Comparison reflects public information as of June 2026. Spot an inaccuracy? Tell us and we'll fix it.