Skyvern
Browser automation agent that uses LLMs and computer vision to fill forms and run workflows on websites.
Quick answer
Skyvern is a browser automation agent that uses LLMs and computer vision to fill forms and run workflows on websites, listed under Workflow automation with AI. A typical small-business use: automate repetitive work in supplier, government or insurance portals that have no API. Official hardware: recommended 4 GB RAM (no separate minimum published). That fits a Hetzner Cloud CPX22 server at about €19.99/month (server only, excl. VAT). License: AGPL-3.0 (anti-bot features only in the managed cloud), which allows internal business use.
Last updated · facts verified against official docs on · sources
Activity data comes from GitHub and was last refreshed Oct 24, 2026.
What is Skyvern?
Skyvern drives a real Chromium browser with LLMs that read screenshots, so it can work on websites it has never seen without hand-written selectors: logging in, filling forms, downloading files and extracting data into a schema. Tasks and multi-step workflows can be built in the web app or called from the Python and TypeScript SDKs, the REST API or an MCP server. The self-hosted server runs with pip, Docker Compose (Postgres, API with browser, web UI) or Kubernetes, using your own LLM keys or a local model.
Where it fits in a 10–200 person business
- Automate repetitive work in supplier, government or insurance portals that have no API
- Extract structured data (invoices, order status, prices) from websites into JSON
- Fill and submit the same web form many times from a spreadsheet
These use cases are our editorial suggestions, not claims made by the project.
Can a business use Skyvern? (license)
| License | AGPL-3.0 (anti-bot features only in the managed cloud) |
|---|---|
| Type | Network copyleft (AGPL): Like GPL, and also applies when users access a modified version over a network. |
| Internal business use | Allowed under the license text |
| What to watch | Free for internal and commercial use. If you modify Skyvern and let users interact with it over a network, you must offer them the modified source under AGPL-3.0. Anti-bot measures are not in the open-source repository. |
This is a plain-English summary of the license text, not legal advice. Third-party models you run with it have their own licenses.
Data & compliance: does Skyvern phone home?
| Telemetry (usage data sent to the vendor) | On by default By default Skyvern collects basic usage statistics to help the team understand how it is used. How to turn it off: Set SKYVERN_TELEMETRY=false. |
|---|---|
| Other calls home by default (updates, marketplaces, default cloud services) | Not documented |
| Single sign-on (OIDC / SAML / LDAP) | Not documented |
| Audit log | Not documented |
| Role-based access control (RBAC) | Not documented |
| Data residency / GDPR notes from the project | Documented Self-hosted, data, recordings and credentials stay on your infrastructure, except what goes to the LLM provider you configure. Source: www.skyvern.com/docs/developers/self-hosted/overview |
Checked against the project's own docs and repository on . "Not documented" means we could not find the answer in official sources; it does not mean the feature is missing or that no data is sent. Third-party services you connect (model APIs, vector databases, search engines) have their own data policies. Compare all apps.
What hardware does Skyvern need?
| Minimum | Not published |
|---|---|
| Recommended | 4 GB RAM |
The configuration reference gives approximate memory by concurrent runs (each run uses its own browser): 4 GB for 1-2 runs, 8 GB for 3-5, 16 GB for 6-10 and 32 GB+ for more than 10. On Kubernetes it says to give each backend pod at least 2 GB. No CPU or disk figures are published. The LLM runs through your configured provider or local model.
How much does it cost to host Skyvern per month?
| Recommended spec | 4 GB RAM → CPX22 (2 vCPU, 4 GB, 80 GB disk) €19.99/mo |
|---|
How we got this: we took the cheapest Hetzner Cloud Regular Performance (shared AMD vCPU) plan with at least the RAM and vCPU the project lists, using prices read from www.hetzner.com/cloud/regular-performance on 2026-10-22. "From" monthly price cap shown by Hetzner, excluding VAT. Prices vary by location. Covers the server only; it excludes LLM API usage, backups, extra storage, GPUs and your time. Disk is not matched; add a volume if you need more than the plan includes.
How to deploy Skyvern
Method: Docker Compose
git clone https://github.com/Skyvern-AI/skyvern.git
cd skyvern
cp .env.example .env
cp skyvern-frontend/.env.example skyvern-frontend/.env
# set your LLM provider in .env; set VITE_SKYVERN_API_KEY= (empty) in skyvern-frontend/.env
docker compose up -d
# web app on http://localhost:8080, API on :8000From the official instructions: www.skyvern.com/docs/developers/self-hosted/overview. Always check the source for the current version before you run it.
Known gotchas when self-hosting Skyvern
- The Docker Compose stack and the Kubernetes manifests have no authentication. Do not expose Skyvern to the internet without putting an authenticating reverse proxy in front. source
- Skyvern does not block requests to internal addresses by default, so whoever can start a task can make it open intranet or cloud-metadata URLs. Set ENABLE_URL_VALIDATION=true on a shared server. source
- The managed cloud's anti-bot measures, proxy network and CAPTCHA solving are not included in the open-source version, so some sites will block a self-hosted instance. source
- Once credentials are stored, do not change ENCRYPTOR_AES_SECRET_KEY; stored credentials become unreadable. source
Alternatives in Workflow automation with AI
- n8n Workflow automation with 1,500+ integrations and built-in AI agent nodes. Compare n8n vs Skyvern
- Activepieces Open-source Zapier alternative with AI agents, MCP and human-in-the-loop steps. Compare Activepieces vs Skyvern
- Windmill Open-source developer platform for scripts, workflows, AI agents and internal apps, self-hostable. Compare Skyvern vs Windmill
Skyvern FAQ
How much RAM does Skyvern need?
The recommended spec is 4 GB RAM. The configuration reference gives approximate memory by concurrent runs (each run uses its own browser): 4 GB for 1-2 runs, 8 GB for 3-5, 16 GB for 6-10 and 32 GB+ for more than 10. On Kubernetes it says to give each backend pod at least 2 GB. No CPU or disk figures are published. The LLM runs through your configured provider or local model.
How much does it cost to self-host Skyvern?
The software is free to download. Based on the official recommended 4 GB RAM (no separate minimum published): That fits a Hetzner Cloud CPX22 server at about €19.99/month (server only, excl. VAT). That covers the server only, not LLM API usage, backups, extra storage or your time.
Is Skyvern free for commercial use?
Skyvern is licensed under AGPL-3.0 (anti-bot features only in the managed cloud) (Network copyleft (AGPL)). Internal business use is allowed under the license text. Free for internal and commercial use. If you modify Skyvern and let users interact with it over a network, you must offer them the modified source under AGPL-3.0. Anti-bot measures are not in the open-source repository. This is a summary, not legal advice.
What are common problems when self-hosting Skyvern?
The Docker Compose stack and the Kubernetes manifests have no authentication. Do not expose Skyvern to the internet without putting an authenticating reverse proxy in front. Skyvern does not block requests to internal addresses by default, so whoever can start a task can make it open intranet or cloud-metadata URLs. Set ENABLE_URL_VALIDATION=true on a shared server. The managed cloud's anti-bot measures, proxy network and CAPTCHA solving are not included in the open-source version, so some sites will block a self-hosted instance. Once credentials are stored, do not change ENCRYPTOR_AES_SECRET_KEY; stored credentials become unreadable.
Is Skyvern still maintained?
Yes, it is actively developed. Last commit: Oct 24, 2026. Latest release: v1.0.56 (Oct 14, 2026). Checked Oct 24, 2026.
How do I install Skyvern?
The official method is Docker Compose. The exact commands are in the "How to deploy" section above and in the official instructions: https://www.skyvern.com/docs/developers/self-hosted/overview
What are self-hosted alternatives to Skyvern?
Other apps in Workflow automation with AI: n8n, Activepieces, Windmill.
Sources
- GitHub repository: github.com/Skyvern-AI/skyvern
- Official documentation: www.skyvern.com/docs/
- License text: github.com/Skyvern-AI/skyvern/blob/main/LICENSE
- Hardware requirements: www.skyvern.com/docs/reference/configuration
- Deploy instructions, Gotcha 1, Gotcha 2, Gotcha 4: www.skyvern.com/docs/developers/self-hosted/overview
- Gotcha 3: github.com/Skyvern-AI/skyvern/blob/main/README.md
- Hetzner Cloud pricing (cost estimate): www.hetzner.com/cloud/regular-performance
- GitHub stars, commits and releases: GitHub REST API, fetched
Facts on this page were checked against the project's own repository and docs on 2026-10-24. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.