Filesystem MCP vs Playwright MCP
Filesystem MCP (Files & Storage) and Playwright MCP (Browser Automation) are both MCP servers. Filesystem MCP has more GitHub stars (87K vs 33.8K). Choose Filesystem MCP for Read and write local files, or Playwright MCP for Automate browser navigation.
Comparison
| Attribute | Filesystem MCP | Playwright MCP |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Files & Storage | Browser Automation |
| GitHub stars | 87,044 | 33,759 |
| Forks | 10,975 | 2,783 |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Last commit | Jun 7, 2026 | Jun 10, 2026 |
| Supported clients | Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Cline, Windsurf, Zed | Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Cline |
| Best for | Read and write local files | Automate browser navigation |
| Risk level | High | High |
| Popularity score | 95 | 85 |
| Freshness score | 100 | 100 |
| Maintenance score | 100 | 100 |
| GEO score | 73 | 70 |
When to choose Filesystem MCP
- You want broader GitHub adoption — Filesystem MCP has 87K stars vs 33.8K.
- Your main use case is Read and write local files.
When to choose Playwright MCP
- You want the more recently maintained option (last commit Jun 10, 2026).
- Your main use case is Automate browser navigation.
Alternatives to Filesystem MCP and Playwright MCP
- Google Drive MCP★ 87K · Files & Storage
search and read files stored in Google Drive
- Context7★ 57.2K · Developer Tools
pull up-to-date, version-specific library documentation and code examples
- Browserbase MCP★ 3.4K · Browser Automation
run cloud browsers for automated web navigation and scraping at scale
- Firecrawl MCP★ 6.5K · Web Scraping & Crawling
crawl websites and convert pages into clean markdown or structured data
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Filesystem MCP and Playwright MCP?
Filesystem MCP is an MCP server that helps AI assistants read, write, and search files in allowed local directories. Playwright MCP is an MCP server that helps AI assistants control a real browser to navigate, click, type, and extract page content. Filesystem MCP is best for Read and write local files, while Playwright MCP is best for Automate browser navigation.
Is Filesystem MCP or Playwright MCP more popular on GitHub?
Filesystem MCP is more popular, with about 87K GitHub stars versus 33.8K.
Which is more actively maintained, Filesystem MCP or Playwright MCP?
Filesystem MCP's most recent commit was Jun 7, 2026, and Playwright MCP's was Jun 10, 2026. More recent activity is a signal of active maintenance.
Are Filesystem MCP and Playwright MCP open source?
Filesystem MCP is open-source under the MIT license. Playwright MCP is open-source under the Apache-2.0 license.
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