head to head · open source
chrome-devtools-mcp vs Zen Browser
chrome-devtools-mcp has 52,197 GitHub stars, 3,990 forks, 109 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Zen Browser has 44,481 stars, 1,754 forks, 689 open issues and last shipped yesterday. chrome-devtools-mcp leads on adoption by 17% (52,197 vs 44,481 stars). chrome-devtools-mcp is written in TypeScript under Apache-2.0; Zen Browser is written in C++ under MPL-2.0. chrome-devtools-mcp has attracted 8% as many forks as stars, Zen Browser 4%. Zen Browser was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| chrome-devtools-mcp | Zen Browser | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 52K | ★ 44K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MPL-2.0 |
| Written in | TypeScript | C++ |
| Last push | 2026-09-17 | 2026-09-17 |
| Forks | ⑂ 4.0K | ⑂ 1.8K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick chrome-devtools-mcp if
- You weight community size — 52K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches TypeScript
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Zen Browser if
- You want the Zen Browser feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MPL-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches C++
- You evaluated both and Zen Browser fits your workflow better
About chrome-devtools-mcp
chrome devtools mcp is an Apache 2.0 TypeScript Model Context Protocol server, distributed on npm, that gives coding agents such as Claude, Cursor, Copilot and Antigravity control over and visibility into a live Chrome browser through the full Chrome DevTools toolset.
read the full chrome-devtools-mcp overview →
About Zen Browser
Zen Browser is a privacy focused, open source web browser built on Firefox’s Gecko engine. It inherits Firefox’s compatibility and extension ecosystem while introducing a streamlined interface and productivity oriented features. The project lives in the desktop browser ecosystem, targeting users who want a Firefox based experience with reduced clutter and enhanced customization.
read the full Zen Browser overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is chrome-devtools-mcp or Zen Browser more popular?
chrome-devtools-mcp has 52,197 GitHub stars and Zen Browser has 44,481. chrome-devtools-mcp has the larger community by that measure.
Are chrome-devtools-mcp and Zen Browser free?
Both are open source. chrome-devtools-mcp is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Zen Browser under MPL-2.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between chrome-devtools-mcp and Zen Browser?
chrome-devtools-mcp is written in TypeScript and Zen Browser in C++. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, chrome-devtools-mcp or Zen Browser?
Choose chrome-devtools-mcp if you want the larger community (52,197 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose Zen Browser if its feature set, stack or MPL-2.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.