Clients often arrive asking for "RPA" when what they need is a browser bot — or the reverse. At Apex Automation Team we build both, so here is a plain comparison.
Definitions
Browser automation drives a real browser (Chromium/Firefox) with code: log in, click, fill, download, extract. RPA (robotic process automation) drives the whole desktop — browsers, Excel, legacy Windows apps, PDFs — usually through a commercial platform with recorders and orchestrators.
When browser automation wins
- The work happens entirely inside websites or web apps (portals, dashboards, marketplaces, CRMs)
- You need scale: dozens of parallel sessions on cheap cloud servers
- You want to own the code, with no per-bot licence fees
- Data extraction is part of the job — scrapers and bots share the same stack
When RPA wins
- Legacy desktop or Citrix applications with no web interface
- Strict enterprise governance: audit trails, credential vaults, orchestrated queues across departments
- Non-technical teams need to record and tweak flows themselves
The hybrid most SMEs actually need
A scheduled browser bot for the web parts, small scripts (Python/Node/Google Apps Script) for files and spreadsheets, and Zapier/Make to move events between systems. It costs a fraction of an RPA suite and is easier to change. Apex Automation Team delivers this as a documented, runnable system — see browser automation bots.
Cost
Single-site bots from $50; multi-system workflows up to $2,000+; RPA-style desktop automation quoted after a free feasibility test. Describe your workflow and we will tell you which route is cheaper.
Quick checklist
- List every system the workflow touches (web, desktop, files)
- Count how often it runs and how many records per run
- Decide who maintains it — your team or ours
- Check licence costs of RPA platforms against a coded bot
- Start with one workflow, measure hours saved, then expand
Frequently asked
Can a browser bot handle two-factor authentication?
Yes where the site allows it — app-based codes, email codes or session persistence — and only for accounts you own.
Will the bot break when the website changes?
Any automation can. We use stable selectors, monitoring and alerts, and offer a maintenance plan for quick fixes.