Browserling

Overview

Browserling is a cloud browser-testing service for developers and teams who need to inspect sites across browser and operating-system combinations, including private staging sites. Its breadth of manual checks, mobile coverage, and isolated sessions is appealing; the main trade-off is that useful browser, geography, and team capabilities are split across paid tiers.

The service covers Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Opera, and Internet Explorer on real operating systems, and supports automated test execution and visual comparison. A free sandbox lets you enter a URL and open it in a remote browser session. Browserling says it started in 2010, was co-founded in 2011 by Peter Krumins and James Halliday, and is based in Oakland, California.

For broader category browsing, see Cross-Browser Testing Software and Browser Testing Software.

Key features

Browser, mobile, and responsive coverage

Browserling supports mobile browser checks on Android and iOS, including iPhones and iPads. Responsive testing lets users inspect different screen sizes, resolutions, and device viewports, making the service useful when a desktop-only check would miss layout differences. Browser coverage spans the major named browsers as well as Internet Explorer, a practical advantage for teams that need to check older compatibility targets.

Private sites and supporting tools

SSH tunnels let users reach local development and staging sites that are not publicly accessible. Screenshots, uploads and downloads, geo-browsing, browser extensions, and bookmarklets round out the workflow. Automated execution and visual comparison add options beyond manual inspection, though the plan tiers determine access to some capabilities and quotas.

API and security

The Live API embeds interactive browsers in applications and supports browser automation, continuous integration, and SIEM/SOAR workflows. Browserling says each session runs in an isolated virtual machine that is destroyed afterward, and that staff do not normally access session content. It uses TLS 1.2 or higher and says URLs, files, and session content are not persistently retained. Its data handling is aligned with GDPR and CCPA/CPRA, and customers may request a DPA. These safeguards are relevant for sensitive testing, but do not replace a buyer's own security review.

Pricing

Browserling is freemium, with paid plans from $9/mo (annual). The free sandbox is useful for opening a URL in a remote isolated browser, but it is a limited starting point rather than a substitute for the paid coverage and workflow features.

• Starter — $9 a month (billed annually): Windows 10, Chrome and Edge, up to 2k, screenshots, and email support. It suits basic checks on that narrow browser set; the plan does not offer the broader OS and browser selection of higher tiers.
• Developer — $19 a month (billed annually): all Windows versions, Android, up to 4k, geo-browsing in 20 countries, 500 uploads/month, and SSH tunnels. This is a stronger fit for individual developers testing private sites and mobile layouts, with a finite upload allowance.
• Team Starter — $19 a month per user (billed annually): Windows 10 and 11, all Windows browsers, geo-browsing in 5 countries, 100 uploads/user/month, and team management. It adds shared administration, but the per-user term and smaller geography and upload allowances matter as a team grows.
• Developer Pro — $29 a month (billed annually): macOS and iOS browsers, native Safari, geo-browsing in 50+ countries, unlimited uploads and downloads, and premium support. Choose it when Apple-browser coverage and higher-volume file handling matter more than team management.
• Team Plus — $39 a month per user (billed annually): Windows and Android browsers, up to 4k, geo-browsing in 25 countries, 1,000 uploads/user/month, and SSH tunnels. It suits teams that need private-site and Android testing, though uploads remain capped per user.
• Team Pro — $59 a month per user (billed annually): macOS and iOS browsers, native Safari, geo-browsing in 50+ countries, unlimited uploads and downloads, and premium support. It is the team tier for broad Apple coverage and fewer file-transfer constraints.
• Live API — $99 a month starting price: Live API access with 1 parallel session. The single-session allowance is a key constraint for automation or embedded-browser workflows that need concurrency.
• Enterprise — custom pricing: unlimited users, all platforms, SSO, custom SLAs, and a dedicated account manager. This is the option for organizations needing centralized access controls and enterprise support.

Paid plan terms are annual for the listed individual and team tiers, with team prices billed per user. Starter includes email support, Developer standard support, and Developer Pro premium support; Team Pro also includes premium support. The plan page also shows $12 for Starter, $24 for Developer, $29/user/month for Team Starter, $39 for Developer Pro, $49/user/month for Team Plus, and $79/user/month for Team Pro.

Platforms

Browserling is listed for web, Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, API, and extension platforms. The practical coverage depends on the plan: for example, native Safari and macOS/iOS browsers are included in Developer Pro and Team Pro, while Starter centers on Windows 10 with Chrome and Edge.

Who it's for

Browserling is best suited to web developers and QA teams that need remote access to multiple real-browser environments, responsive and mobile checks, or a way to test private sites through SSH tunnels. Teams that value isolated sessions and defined retention practices may also find its security posture relevant. It is less compelling for buyers who need broad testing coverage on the cheapest tier or multiple concurrent API sessions at the listed Live API starting price.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Coverage includes desktop, Android, and iOS browsers, with named support for Internet Explorer and native Safari on higher tiers.
• Pros: SSH tunnels make private and staging-site checks possible, while responsive viewports, screenshots, geo-browsing, and visual comparison support varied review tasks.
• Pros: Isolated virtual-machine sessions, TLS 1.2 or higher, and no persistent retention of URLs, session content, or files address common data-handling concerns.
• Cons: The $9.00 per month Starter tier is limited to Windows 10, Chrome and Edge, and up to 2k, so broader compatibility work calls for a higher plan.
• Cons: Team plans are priced per user annually and have tier-specific upload limits, which can make team costs and capacity less predictable as usage expands.
• Cons: Live API starts at $99 a month for one parallel session, a narrow allowance for workflows that need simultaneous sessions.

Alternatives

TestMu AI is a freemium option with a free plan and a KaneAI Starter plan at $17 a month billed annually, including 1 agent, 2,000 credits/month per agent, and local Kane CLI authoring; consider it if that agent-and-credit offering better fits your automation needs.

Katalon TestCloud has a free plan and free trial, with local authoring and execution in its free tier; pick it if running tests locally is the priority.

CodeRush offers a free plan with all versions free for commercial use and the same features and updates across free and paid subscriptions; it may suit readers looking for a code-editor extension.

Selenium is a free, open-source set of browser automation tools and libraries, a fit for readers seeking that approach rather than Browserling's hosted browser sessions.

Aerokube Moon, IE NetRenderer, TestCafe, and TestMu AI Web Automation (formerly LambdaTest Web Automation) are other options to compare.

Verdict

Choose Browserling if your work calls for checking sites across remote browsers and operating systems, especially private staging environments or mobile and responsive layouts. Its mix of browser breadth, SSH-tunnel access, and isolated sessions is the case for paying; look elsewhere if the entry tier's limited coverage is too restrictive or if your automation requires more than one parallel Live API session.