OpenTabs
Open-source MCP server that gives AI agents access to 100+ web applications through the user's authenticated browser session. No API keys, no screenshots, no DOM scraping — talks directly to web app internal APIs via a Chrome extension. Supports Slac
What is OpenTabs?
OpenTabs is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to open-source mcp server that gives ai agents access to 100+ web applications through the user's authenticated browser session. no api keys, no screenshots, no dom scraping — talks directly to web app i...
Open-source MCP server that gives AI agents access to 100+ web applications through the user's authenticated browser session. No API keys, no screenshots, no DOM scraping — talks directly to web app internal APIs via a Chrome extension. Supports Slac
This server falls under the Browser Automation category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Open-source MCP server that gives AI agents access to 100+ w
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx opentabsConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use OpenTabs
OpenTabs is an open-source MCP server that gives AI agents authenticated access to over 100 web applications — including Slack, Discord, GitHub, Jira, Notion, Figma, AWS, and Stripe — by routing requests through a Chrome extension that reuses the user's existing browser session. Unlike screenshot-based or DOM-scraping approaches, OpenTabs talks directly to each application's internal APIs, which means AI can send real Discord messages, create real GitHub issues, and read real Notion pages with no additional API keys required. It exposes roughly 2,000 tools across supported apps and works with any MCP-compatible AI client.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18 or later installed
- Google Chrome browser installed
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop or Claude Code
- Active browser sessions (logged-in tabs) for the web apps you want the AI to access
Install the OpenTabs CLI
Install the OpenTabs CLI globally via npm so the 'opentabs' command is available in your PATH.
npm install -g @opentabs-dev/cliStart the local MCP server
Start the OpenTabs server, which launches a local bridge between the Chrome extension and your MCP client.
opentabs startInstall the Chrome extension
Load the Chrome extension in developer mode. The CLI places the extension files at ~/.opentabs/extension after the first run.
# In Chrome: go to chrome://extensions
# Enable 'Developer mode' (toggle, top right)
# Click 'Load unpacked' and select: ~/.opentabs/extensionInstall plugins for specific apps
Install plugins for the web applications you want AI to access. Each plugin maps that app's API to MCP tools.
opentabs plugin install slack
opentabs plugin install github
opentabs plugin install notionConfigure your MCP client
Point your MCP client at the running OpenTabs server. OpenTabs exposes a local SSE endpoint by default.
Verify access
Ask your AI assistant to list available tools or perform a simple read action (e.g., list your GitHub repos) to confirm the integration is working.
OpenTabs Examples
Client configuration
Add this block to your claude_desktop_config.json to connect Claude Desktop to the local OpenTabs MCP server.
{
"mcpServers": {
"opentabs": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["opentabs"],
"env": {}
}
}
}Prompts to try
These prompts leverage the real API access OpenTabs provides to Slack, GitHub, Notion, and other apps.
- "Send a message to the #general Slack channel saying the deploy is complete."
- "Create a GitHub issue in my repo titled 'Fix login bug' with a description of the steps to reproduce."
- "List all open Jira tickets assigned to me and summarize the top priority ones."
- "Add a new page to my Notion workspace titled 'Meeting Notes – June 2026'."
- "Get the latest Stripe payment events from the last 24 hours."Troubleshooting OpenTabs
Chrome extension is not connecting to the local server
Make sure 'opentabs start' is running in a terminal before you open Chrome. If the extension shows a disconnected state, reload the extension from chrome://extensions and refresh the page.
Plugin tools are not appearing in the AI client
Run 'opentabs plugin install <name>' for each app you need, then restart the OpenTabs server and reconnect your MCP client. Plugins must be installed before the server starts to be registered.
AI action fails with an authentication error for a specific app
Make sure you are actively logged into that web app in Chrome. OpenTabs reuses your browser session; if the session has expired, log back in and retry.
Frequently Asked Questions about OpenTabs
What is OpenTabs?
OpenTabs is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that open-source mcp server that gives ai agents access to 100+ web applications through the user's authenticated browser session. no api keys, no screenshots, no dom scraping — talks directly to web app internal apis via a chrome extension. supports slac It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install OpenTabs?
Follow the installation instructions on the OpenTabs GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with OpenTabs?
OpenTabs works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is OpenTabs free to use?
Yes, OpenTabs is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
OpenTabs Alternatives — Similar Browser Automation Servers
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Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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