> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://browseruse-0aece648-reagan-eng-5397-make-docs-better-for-ag.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Open source vs Cloud

> The library and the cloud are different products that combine. Here's which one you want.

Browser Use is two things with one name. The confusion is common enough to deserve its own page.

**The [open-source library](/open-source/introduction)** (`pip install browser-use`) is an agent framework that runs on your machine. You bring your own LLM key, it launches a local Chromium, and nothing leaves your infrastructure. Free, Apache-licensed, yours.

**Browser Use Cloud** (this documentation) is a paid API with two services: [stealth cloud browsers](/cloud/browser/overview) you can drive with any framework, and a [hosted agent](/cloud/agent/overview) that runs tasks for you, no library install required.

## Which do you want?

| You want to...                                                    | Use                                                         |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| Run an agent locally, free, with your own LLM keys                | Open source library                                         |
| Keep your local agent but stop getting blocked by websites        | Library + [cloud browser](/cloud/browser/open-source-agent) |
| Drive stealth browsers with existing Playwright/Puppeteer scripts | Cloud [Browser](/cloud/browser/overview)                    |
| Send a task and get a result, zero infrastructure                 | Cloud [Agent](/cloud/agent/overview)                        |

## Common questions

**Do I need an API key to use the library?**
No. The library needs an LLM provider key (OpenAI, Anthropic, Ollama for fully local). A Browser Use API key is only needed for cloud features.

**Does the library have stealth or CAPTCHA solving?**
No. Those are properties of the cloud browsers. The bridge is one parameter: point the library's `Browser` at a [cloud browser session](/cloud/browser/open-source-agent).

**Is the cloud agent the same agent as the library?**
The cloud agent is the hosted, managed version, with the same task-in, result-out model plus cloud-only features like [structured output](/cloud/agent/structured-output), [workspaces](/cloud/agent/workspaces), and [human-in-the-loop](/cloud/agent/human-in-the-loop).

**Can I self-host the cloud?**
The library is the self-hosted option: your machines, your browsers, your keys. The stealth browser fleet and hosted agent are not self-hostable.