Browser automation · MCP server
Zen MCP: MCP server, setup and security
Zen MCP is an MCP server published on GitHub that lets an AI agent navigate Zen Browser, fill forms, capture screenshots and evaluate JavaScript. Its repository has 24 stars and its last commit is from May 16, 2026, but it declares no licence.
What Zen MCP does
According to its repository: “Zen Browser automation via WebDriver BiDi: navigation, form filling, screenshots and JavaScript evaluation.”
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standard plug between an AI agent and an outside service: once the server is connected, its tools show up in the agent, which decides when to call them. Zen MCP is listed under Browser automation, a category of 109 servers in the directory, where it ranks #77 by stars.
Topics declared by the repository: ai-agent, browser-automation, claude, firefox, webdriver-bidi, websocket.
Installing and connecting Zen MCP
Distribution modes declared in the official MCP registry:
- npm package (Node.js, usually started with
npx)
It works with any MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and most recent agents). You add one entry to the client's MCP configuration: server name, start command or URL, environment variables. Project language: TypeScript.
Security: what to check
Connecting an MCP server means installing software that talks straight to your agent: it runs with your rights and the model trusts its tool descriptions. The risk therefore depends on what it can touch and how far its code can be trusted.
Points found for Zen MCP:
- System access: the Browser automation category gives the agent control over files, a terminal, code or a browser. A booby-trapped instruction in content the agent reads (prompt injection) can then turn into an action.
- No licence: without a licence the code is not legally reusable, even if it is public. Avoid it in a company setting without the author's agreement.
Good practice: grant only the rights needed (least privilege), require human approval for irreversible actions, and run the AI agent security check.
Project activity and maintenance
Created on February 27, 2026, the sh6drack/zen-mcp repository has 24 stars and 5 forks, with 0 open issues. It has more stars than 41% of the servers in the directory. Last change 5 months ago. Version published in the registry: 1.2.1 (March 2, 2026).
Stars measure attention, not quality: a recent, heavily promoted project can collect them fast, while a useful but niche server will have few.
Verdict
Zen MCP is still a modest project: read its code and compare it with the alternatives before using it.
Strengths
- Listed in the official MCP registry
Limitations
- No licence declared
Avoid if…
- You cannot isolate the agent (sandbox, container)
- Company use without the author's agreement
Alternatives
- Firecrawl MCP Server7.7K ★
- Browser use119K ★
- MCP server browser39.4K ★
- Playwright MCP38.6K ★
- SeleniumBase MCP13.1K ★
- Scrapling MCP Server89.4K ★
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
How do I install Zen MCP?
Zen MCP is distributed as npm package (Node.js, usually started with npx). Add it to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code…) following the README of sh6drack/zen-mcp.
Is Zen MCP free?
The code is public but has no declared licence: it is not formally free to reuse.
Is Zen MCP safe?
Points to watch: system access and no licence. Give it minimum rights and approve sensitive actions.
Is it an official server?
Nothing says so: it is a project published by sh6drack on GitHub. Check who maintains it before giving it access.
What are the alternatives to Zen MCP?
In the same category: Firecrawl MCP Server, Browser use, MCP server browser, and Playwright MCP. Firecrawl MCP Server and Browser use score higher on our grid.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score