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---
title: Playwriter vs Playwright CLI
sidebarTitle: vs Playwright CLI
description: Full Playwright API in your real browser instead of a fresh instance.
icon: lucide:terminal
---

The Playwright CLI (`npx playwright`) launches a new browser for testing and automation.
It's great for CI/CD pipelines and test suites, but for agent-driven browser control
it has the same fresh-browser limitations as Playwright MCP.

Playwriter gives you the **full Playwright API** but runs it against your existing Chrome.

## Comparison

|                 | Playwright CLI      | Playwriter                    |
| --------------- | ------------------- | ----------------------------- |
| Browser         | Spawns new browser  | Uses your Chrome              |
| Login state     | Fresh (logged out)  | Already logged in             |
| Extensions      | None                | Your existing ones            |
| Captchas        | Always blocked      | Bypass (disconnect extension) |
| Collaboration   | Separate window     | Same browser as user          |
| Capabilities    | Limited command set | Anything Playwright can do    |
| Raw CDP access  | No                  | Yes                           |
| Video recording | File-based tracing  | Native tab capture (30-60fps) |

## Same API, different browser

Playwriter uses the same Playwright API you already know. The difference is where it runs.
Instead of spawning a new browser, your code controls the browser you're already using.

```bash
# Playwright CLI: fresh browser, no state
npx playwright screenshot https://example.com shot.png

# Playwriter: your browser, your cookies, your extensions
playwriter -s 1 -e "page.screenshot({ path: './shot.png', scale: 'css' })"
```

## Raw CDP access

Playwriter exposes the full Chrome DevTools Protocol through `getCDPSession`. This lets
agents set breakpoints, profile performance, intercept network requests, and live-edit
page scripts. The Playwright CLI doesn't expose CDP at all.

```bash
playwriter -s 1 -e "state.cdp = getCDPSession({ page })"
playwriter -s 1 -e "state.cdp.send('Performance.getMetrics').then(console.log)"
```

## Video recording

Playwright CLI records via tracing (file-based, low FPS). Playwriter uses
`chrome.tabCapture` for native 30-60fps recording that survives page navigation.

```bash
playwriter -s 1 -e "recording.start({ page, outputPath: './demo.mp4' })"
playwriter -s 1 -e "page.click('a'); page.waitForLoadState('domcontentloaded')"
playwriter -s 1 -e "recording.stop({ page })"
```