Skyvern: AI Browser Automation

Skyvern automates browser-based workflows using LLMs and computer vision. It navigates websites it has never seen before, filling forms, extracting data, and completing multi-step tasks via a simple API.

SDK reference (all methods, parameters, types in one page): https://skyvern.com/docs/sdk-reference/complete-reference

When to use Skyvern

• The user needs to interact with a website programmatically (fill forms, click buttons, navigate pages)
• The user needs to extract structured data from a website (scrape prices, addresses, table rows)
• The user needs to download files from a web portal (invoices, reports, statements)
• The user needs to log in to a website and perform actions behind authentication
• The user needs to automate a multi-step workflow across one or more websites
• The user needs to run browser automation from an AI assistant (Claude, Cursor, Windsurf)

Capabilities

Run a single task

Execute a one-shot browser automation with natural language instructions.

Inputs:

• prompt (required): Natural language description of what to do
• url (required): Starting page URL
• data_extraction_schema (optional): JSON schema for structured output
• proxy_location (optional): Country code for geo-routing (e.g., US, DE)

Python SDK:

from skyvern import Skyvern

client = Skyvern(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")
result = await client.run_task(
    prompt="Get the title of the top post on Hacker News",
    url="https://news.ycombinator.com",
)

TypeScript SDK:

import Skyvern from "@skyvern/client";

const client = new Skyvern({ apiKey: "YOUR_API_KEY" });
const result = await client.runTask({
    prompt: "Get the title of the top post on Hacker News",
    url: "https://news.ycombinator.com",
});

REST API:

curl -X POST https://api.skyvern.com/api/v2/run \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"prompt": "Get the top post title", "url": "https://news.ycombinator.com"}'

Extract structured data

Define a JSON schema to get consistent, typed output from any page.

result = await client.run_task(
    prompt="Extract the top 3 posts",
    url="https://news.ycombinator.com",
    data_extraction_schema={
        "type": "object",
        "properties": {
            "posts": {
                "type": "array",
                "items": {
                    "type": "object",
                    "properties": {
                        "title": {"type": "string"},
                        "url": {"type": "string"},
                        "points": {"type": "integer"}
                    }
                }
            }
        }
    },
)

Build multi-step workflows

Chain task blocks, loops, conditionals, data extraction, and file operations into reusable automations.

Block types: NavigationBlock, ActionBlock, ExtractBlock, LoopBlock, TextPromptBlock, LoginBlock, FileDownloadBlock, FileParseBlock, UploadBlock, EmailBlock, WebhookBlock, ValidationBlock, WaitBlock, CodeBlock, ForLoopBlock, WhileLoopBlock, FileURLParsingBlock, DownloadToS3Block, SendEmailBlock.

Use a ForLoopBlock when the workflow already has a fixed list to iterate over, such as extracted rows, uploaded files, or user-provided URLs. Use a WhileLoopBlock when the workflow should keep repeating until a condition changes, such as paginating while a Next button remains enabled, polling until a status is complete, or retrying while a recoverable page state is visible.

workflow = await client.create_workflow(
    title="Invoice Downloader",
    blocks=[...],  # See workflow blocks reference
)
run = await client.run_workflow(workflow_id=workflow.workflow_id)

Manage browser sessions

Persist a live browser across multiple tasks to maintain login state, cookies, and page context.

session = await client.create_session()
# Run multiple tasks on the same browser
await client.run_task(prompt="Log in", url="https://example.com", browser_session_id=session.browser_session_id)
await client.run_task(prompt="Download invoice", url="https://example.com/billing", browser_session_id=session.browser_session_id)
await client.close_session(session.browser_session_id)

Handle authentication

Store passwords, TOTP/2FA secrets, and credit cards securely. Skyvern auto-fills login forms and generates 2FA codes during automation.

Supported credential providers: Skyvern vault (built-in), Bitwarden, 1Password, Azure Key Vault.

Use via MCP server

Connect AI assistants directly to browser automation. The MCP server exposes 75+ tools.

Install for Claude Code:

claude mcp add skyvern-cloud -- npx @anthropic-ai/skyvern-mcp@latest --skyvern-api-key YOUR_API_KEY

Install for Cursor/VS Code: Add to MCP config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "skyvern": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@anthropic-ai/skyvern-mcp@latest", "--skyvern-api-key", "YOUR_API_KEY"]
    }
  }
}

Use via CLI

pip install skyvern
export SKYVERN_API_KEY="YOUR_KEY"

skyvern browser session create          # Start a cloud browser
skyvern browser act "Click the login button"  # Natural language action
skyvern browser extract '{"title": "string"}' # Extract structured data
skyvern browser screenshot              # Capture screenshot
skyvern task run --prompt "..." --url "..."   # Run a task
skyvern workflow run --id wf_xxx        # Run a workflow

Constraints

• Tasks run in cloud browsers managed by Skyvern (or self-hosted browsers). They do not run in the user's local browser by default.
• Each task step consumes credits. Set max_steps to control costs.
• Browser automation takes 30-120 seconds per task depending on complexity.
• Skyvern works best with natural language prompts that describe the goal, not low-level click instructions.
• For websites that require login, credentials must be stored via the credentials API before running tasks.
• Self-hosted deployments require Docker and a PostgreSQL database.

Key references

• Quickstart: First task in 5 minutes
• SDK Reference: All methods and types (Python + TypeScript)
• MCP Server Setup: Connect AI assistants
• Workflow Blocks Reference: All block types
• Task Parameters: All task options
• Full documentation index: Complete page directory