Kane CLI vs Stagehand without the code
Stagehand is a TypeScript library you code against and embed in your app. Kane CLI takes a plain-English objective from the terminal, drives a real Chrome browser, self-heals on UI changes, and returns a verified pass or fail. Free to install.
or read the documentation
Why teams choose Kane CLI over Stagehand
Stagehand gives developers AI-augmented browser actions inside a TypeScript codebase: act, extract, and observe, built on Playwright and often run on Browserbase. It is powerful, but it is code you write, maintain, and assert against.
Kane CLI moves that work into a CLI. You give it intent, it drives a real Chrome browser, adapts when the UI shifts, asserts the result, and returns a deterministic pass or fail with video evidence and standard CI exit codes.
It is agent-native by design, and any validated flow exports to native Playwright with one command, so you keep full ownership of the code.
Kane CLI vs Stagehand
AI-driven browser automation, as a CLI with a verified test contract.
| Capability | Kane CLI (TestMu AI) | Stagehand |
|---|---|---|
| Form factor | Standalone CLI, runs from any terminal | TypeScript library embedded in your app |
| Authoring model | Plain-English objectives, no code | TypeScript code: act, extract, observe |
| Verified pass or fail | Built-in assertions, returns pass or fail | You assert in code |
| Resilience when the UI changes | Autoheals and retries up to 50 steps | AI actions, you handle recovery |
| Agent-native output | --agent emits structured NDJSON | Library calls from your code |
| CI exit codes | 0 pass, 1 fail, 2 error, 3 timeout | |
| Evidence and reporting | Video, step trace, shareable links, dashboard | Up to you to build |
| Test Manager sync | Every run syncs automatically | |
| Browser infrastructure | Local Chrome free, TestMu AI cloud when you scale | Local or Browserbase cloud |
| Native Playwright export | One command to export Playwright code | Built on Playwright |
What you get with Kane CLI
No library to embed, a test contract, and evidence on every run.
Nothing to import or version
Stagehand lives inside your Node project as a TypeScript dependency you upgrade alongside Playwright. Kane CLI is a single command that takes a plain-English objective and drives the browser, with no package to embed or maintain.
Assertions are built in
Stagehand returns actions and extracted data, then leaves the checking to your test code. Kane CLI verifies each step itself and pinpoints exactly where a journey broke.
Self-heals instead of throwing
When selectors shift, a Stagehand script you wrote needs your recovery logic. Kane CLI adapts on its own and pushes through up to 50 steps until the full flow is verified.
Output an agent can act on
Rather than parsing library return values inside a TS app, point any AI coding agent at the --agent flag for structured NDJSON plus a screenshot to read on failure.
Pipeline-ready exit codes
Stagehand leaves CI gating to whatever runner wraps your code. Kane CLI returns standard exit codes with no scripting: 0 pass, 1 fail, 2 error, 3 timeout.
Export to Playwright you own
Stagehand is built on Playwright but stays a library. Kane CLI exports any validated flow to native Playwright code with one command, so the convenience never locks you in.
Build up confidence locally
Start in your terminal
Validate on the cloud
Release with confidence
Built for agents and humans, on one engine
Kane CLI and KaneAI share the same automation engine and dashboard.
A command, not a dependency
Stagehand ships as a TypeScript package you import and version inside a Node project. Kane CLI installs once and runs from any shell, so there is no library to wire into your app or keep on the right Playwright version.
Verify what your agent codes
Stagehand lets an agent author act and extract calls, but you still run them and judge the output. Kane CLI takes the intent, drives real Chrome, and hands back a deterministic pass or fail before a PR ever opens.
Proof without instrumenting your code
With Stagehand you build your own logging and traces around the library. Every Kane CLI run yields a video, a step trace, and a replay link automatically, ready to paste into a PR or bug report.
Switch to Kane CLI in three steps
Install the CLI
Run npm install -g @testmuai/kane-cli and sign in with your TestMu AI account. Nothing to import, no Browserbase token, and no Playwright version to pin.
State the objective
Describe the journey in plain English instead of writing act, extract, and observe calls. Run it from the terminal or hand it to your AI coding agent with the --agent flag.
Get a verified result
Kane CLI asserts each step in real Chrome and returns a deterministic pass or fail, so you skip the assertion code you would write around Stagehand.
Get Started With Kane CLI
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Local test authoring via CLI
Auto-heal & vision
View test cases on UI
Test Manager
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Choose the right plan for you
Free
$0
/month
200 Credits
Resets in every
30 days
Starter
$19
/month
2000 Credits
Launch: 4,000 Credits (+100%)
Bonus for first 3 months
Pro
$99
/month
10,000 Credits
Launch: 15,000 Credits (+50%)
Bonus for first 3 months
Enterprise
Get access to solutions built on Enterprise-Grade Security, Privacy, and Compliances.
Need more credits?
Got a bigger use case in mind?
Let’s talk
Get the technical rundown
Documentation
Everything you need to install, configure, and run Kane CLI in under 2 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Stagehand is a TypeScript library with act, extract, and observe methods built on Playwright, which you embed in a Node application and code against, often paired with Browserbase. Kane CLI is a CLI: you describe an objective in plain English, it drives a real Chrome browser, self-heals on UI changes, and returns a verified pass or fail. You write objectives, not TypeScript.
Yes, especially when you want natural-language browser automation without writing and maintaining code. Stagehand gives developers AI-augmented actions inside a codebase. Kane CLI runs from any terminal, in CI, or inside an AI coding agent, with built-in assertions, video evidence, Test Manager sync, and standard exit codes.
Yes. Where Stagehand expects the agent to write and call TypeScript inside your project, Kane CLI exposes an --agent flag that emits structured NDJSON the agent can parse directly, read a screenshot on failure, and decide the next move. Point your agent at the published Kane CLI guide and it installs, authenticates, and drives the browser on its own.
Yes. Any validated flow exports to native Python Playwright with one command, so you author in natural language and keep ownership of real automation code whenever you want it.
Yes, and you skip the test harness a Stagehand script would need around it. Authenticate with your TestMu AI credentials, pass --headless and --timeout, and gate your pipeline directly on the exit code: 0 on pass, 1 on fail, 2 on setup or auth errors, and 3 on timeout.
The CLI is free to install and use, with no Browserbase subscription to attach the way a cloud Stagehand setup often needs. Local Chrome runs are free, and cloud runs on the TestMu AI grid are billed against your TestMu AI plan. Start on the free tier and run end to end without a credit card.
Teach your agent the right skills
Point your AI coding agent at the Kane CLI guide and it will install, authenticate, and run verified browser flows on its own.
Point your agent to: testmuai.com/kane-cli/agents.md