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The open-source AdsPower alternative

AdsPower is a feature-rich fingerprint browser with two kernels, a CLI and Docker image, and a new in-app AI agent. The engine is closed and automation is priced by profiles and seats. Clearcote gives you an auditable engine you drive straight from code.

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What is AdsPower?

AdsPower is a closed-source fingerprint browser and bulk profile manager aimed at e-commerce, social and agency multi-accounting. It ships two modified kernels, SunBrowser (Chromium, updated to Chrome 153 in September 2026) and FlowerBrowser (Firefox, 153). It has a Local API on localhost:50325 that starts profiles and returns a CDP endpoint, a standalone CLI with an official Docker image (published for arm64 only so far), a documented headless mode on Linux, MIT-licensed MCP and CLI tooling, a no-code RPA robot, and since September 2026 a credit-billed in-app AI agent.

Pricing is by profiles and team members: a free plan with 2 profiles (RPA included, Local API not), then Professional at $9/month for 10 profiles, or $5.40/month billed yearly. The API is rate-limited by plan (300 to 1,500 requests a minute). The browser kernels themselves are closed, so the fingerprinting can't be audited. Clearcote takes a different shape: an engine-level Chromium with an open build, launched directly from your code.

Clearcote vs AdsPower

FeatureClearcoteAdsPower
Source Open build readable and reproducible (BSD-3); latest build adds private patches Closed kernels; CLI and MCP tooling open (MIT)
Automation model Launch from code (SDK) or a standing CDP endpoint Local API or CLI starts a profile and returns CDP
Headless / Docker Docker image with a CDP endpoint Official CLI Docker image (arm64); headless client mode on Linux
Cost model Open build free; latest build free with GitHub (one browser at a time); Pro $49/mo Free (2 profiles, no API); paid from $9/mo by profiles and seats
API limits No API between your code and the browser 300 to 1,500 requests/min by plan
Engines Chromium 154 Chromium 153 + Firefox 153
AI agents MCP server + in-browser AI agent MCP server + in-app AI agent (credit-billed)

Comparison compiled October 2026. AdsPower is closed source / freemium; details change — check its project for the latest.

Why teams pick Clearcote

An engine you can audit

Read and rebuild the patches in Clearcote's open build instead of trusting closed kernels.

Straight from code

Your Playwright or Puppeteer code launches the browser itself. No profile API, CLI or rate limit in between.

Identities aren't metered

Create as many --fingerprint seeds as you like. The paid tier changes how many browsers run at once, not how many profiles or seats you have.

A recent Chromium

Clearcote's latest build is on Chromium 154, and new majors follow Chrome's releases.

When AdsPower might be the better pick

  • You want a free no-code RPA robot and bulk profile management in a polished GUI.
  • You need both Chromium and Firefox kernels, or team roles and encrypted cloud sync.
  • You want a built-in AI agent inside the profile manager and closed source is acceptable.

FAQ

Is AdsPower open source?

No. The SunBrowser and FlowerBrowser kernels are closed. AdsPower's GitHub has MIT-licensed tooling (CLI, MCP server, examples), not the engine. Clearcote's open build is fully open (BSD-3) and reproducible.

Can I run AdsPower in Docker?

Yes. Since April 2026 there's an official adspower/adspower-cli image (published for arm64 only so far; the repository's Dockerfile builds it for other platforms), and the client has a documented headless mode on Linux. Clearcote also ships a Docker image, exposing a CDP endpoint directly.

Is the AdsPower API free?

The free plan (2 profiles) includes the RPA robot but not the Local API. Paid plans include it, rate-limited from 300 to 1,500 requests a minute. Check their pricing page for current prices.

AdsPower vs Clearcote for automation?

AdsPower starts a stored profile through its API or CLI and hands you a CDP endpoint. Clearcote is launched directly by Playwright or Puppeteer, or runs as a CDP endpoint, with the identity coming from a seed rather than a stored profile.

Related reading

Q&AWhat is an anti-detect browser?An anti-detect browser presents a consistent, controllable browser identity so automation or multi-account work isn't flagged as a bot or as one shared device.DocsMCP server — drive Clearcote from an AI agentPoint Claude Desktop, Cursor or Cline at Clearcote's MCP server to drive a shared stealth browser with 20 tools: read_page, click, fill_field, screenshot_page.DocsDeployment — Docker & CDP endpointRun Clearcote as a stealth CDP endpoint: the official Docker image, serve(), and attaching Playwright, Puppeteer or browser-use over CDP with no code change.CompareClearcote vs CamoufoxCamoufox is a well-built open-source anti-detect browser, on Firefox. Clearcote takes the same engine-level approach to Chromium, so your automation presents the browser about 66% of the web actually uses instead of one used by about 3%.CompareClearcote vs CloakBrowserCloakBrowser is a capable engine-level stealth Chromium with a large following, but the patched binary is closed source. Clearcote is engine-level too, runs a newer Chromium, and ships an open build whose every patch you can read and rebuild.CompareClearcote vs undetected-chromedriverundetected-chromedriver is still downloaded about 2 million times a month, but its last release was in February 2024. It hides the Selenium/ChromeDriver seam on a stock Chrome and never touches the fingerprint or the network layer. Clearcote changes both in the engine.

Try the open-source Chromium alternative

Free and open source, a drop-in for Playwright & Puppeteer, coherent down to the TLS handshake.

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Free for one browser with GitHub. No card.