Steel

situational

Open-source cloud browsers for agents — sessions API, CAPTCHA, proxies, or Docker self-host.

Visit steel.dev →Add to kit Open in Noemium

ledger entry · observed by @whysanesanders

Browserbase-shaped, with a public OSS docker story. Launch is $0 plus $0.10/hour after a $30 credit. Scale drops the hour rate and raises session length. CAPTCHA/proxies on Launch need a $10 paid deposit. Adjacent to Browser Use, not a duplicate.

Strengths

Open-source browser with a public Docker self-host path.
Sessions API with CAPTCHA solving and proxy support.
Launch tier starts at $0 plus usage-based browser hours.

Known limitations

Launch sessions cap at 15 minutes; 24h sessions are Enterprise.
Proxies and CAPTCHA on Launch require a $10 paid balance, not free credits.
Stealth browser is Enterprise-only on the June 2026 limits table.
Browser hours round up to the next minute.

Use it when

Agent workflows that need real browser sessions instead of HTTP scraping.
Teams that want to self-host browser infra on their own hardware.
Prototypes that can fit within 15-minute Launch sessions.

Skip it when

You need free CAPTCHA or proxy access without a $10 paid balance.
24-hour sessions or stealth browser are hard requirements.
You want fully predictable costs on heavy browser-hour volume.

Buy-check

·Price — freemium, Launch $0 + usage ($30 one-time credits, $0.10/browser-hour); Scale $250/mo + usage ($0.08/h, $100 credits/mo); proxy $6–$10/GB as of 2026-08-19. Open the pricing page, not a screenshot.
·Free tier — Free tier exists — burn it first.
·Cancel fallout — What happens to your data/projects on cancel — check the ToS, not the FAQ.
·Seat math — Per-seat pricing multiplies quietly. Count seats before the annual plan.
·Who skips it — Also skipped when: You need free CAPTCHA or proxy access without a $10 paid balance.; 24-hour sessions or stealth browser are hard requirements..

Price trailchangelog →

No price move in this repo yet.

Facts

pricing: freemium¹
price note: Launch $0 + usage ($30 one-time credits, $0.10/browser-hour); Scale $250/mo + usage ($0.08/h, $100 credits/mo); proxy $6–$10/GB
free tier: yes
open source: yes
api: yes
self-host: yes
category: data
evidence: source-verified