Browser-Based Agentic AI: Convergence.ai’s Proxy vs. OpenAI’s Operator

Browser-based agentic AI is emerging as a game-changer. These tools allow AI agents to autonomously perform tasks through web browsers, such as conducting research, automating workflows, or analyzing online data. While OpenAI’s Operator has garnered significant attention, its $200 per month price tag and limited availability make it inaccessible for many users. Fortunately, alternatives like Convergence AI’s Proxy are stepping up, offering powerful capabilities at a fraction of the cost. This article explores how Proxy compares to Operator and why it’s a compelling option for those seeking affordable, high-performance AI solutions.

What is Browser-Based Agentic AI?

Browser-based agentic AI refers to AI systems that can navigate and interact with web browsers to complete tasks autonomously. These agents can perform actions like clicking buttons, filling out forms, or extracting data from websites, mimicking human behavior. The potential applications are vast, from automating repetitive tasks to conducting in-depth research. However, the cost and accessibility of these tools can vary significantly, making it advisable to explore alternatives that deliver value without breaking the bank.

OpenAI’s Operator: Powerful but Pricey

OpenAI’s Operator is a research preview of an AI agent designed to perform tasks through its own browser. It’s built on advanced models and can handle a range of web-based activities. However, there are notable barriers:

• Cost: Operator is only available to subscribers of OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pro plan, which costs $200 per month.
• Availability: Currently, Operator is limited to users in the United States, requiring others to use workarounds like VPNs.
• Performance: While Operator performs well on benchmarks, scoring 87% on the WebVoyager benchmark (which tests web agents on real-world tasks), its high cost makes it less accessible for individual users or small businesses.

For many, these limitations are significant hurdles, especially when more affordable alternatives are emerging.

Convergence.ai’s Proxy: A Cost-Effective Alternative

Convergence AI, a London-based startup, has developed Proxy - a browser-based AI agent that rivals Operator in both performance and usability. Here’s why Proxy stands out:

• Cost: Proxy offers a generous free tier with five sessions per day, two parallel sessions, and one automation. For unlimited access, users can upgrade to the Pro tier for just $20 per month - a tenth of Operator’s cost.
• Global Availability: Unlike Operator, Proxy is accessible worldwide without the need for VPNs or regional restrictions.
• Performance: Proxy scored 88% on the WebVoyager benchmark, slightly outperforming Operator’s 87%. This demonstrates its capability to handle complex, real-world tasks effectively.

Proxy’s affordability and accessibility make it an attractive option for users who need powerful AI tools without the hefty price tag.

Head-to-Head: Proxy vs. Operator in Action

To illustrate the differences between Proxy and Operator, let’s look at two practical tests:

Test 1: Finding Trending AI Hashtags on X (formerly Twitter)

• Task: Both agents were asked to find and summarize trending AI hashtags on X.
• Proxy’s Performance: Proxy completed the task in approximately 4 minutes, providing a detailed report that included summaries of key trends like Grok 3, Google AI, and Evo 2 in biotech.
• Operator’s Performance: Operator took longer (around 5 minutes) and delivered a less comprehensive output, listing only the top hashtags with brief descriptions.
• Verdict: Proxy not only finished faster but also provided a more in-depth analysis, making it the clear winner in this test.

Test 2: Website Analysis and Social Media Engagement

• Task: Analyze a website to identify the target customer avatar and marketing ideas, then analyze engagement on Elon Musk’s X profile.
• Proxy’s Performance: Proxy delivered a well-structured report, including detailed insights on the website’s target audience and marketing strategies, followed by an analysis of Elon Musk’s posts with engagement metrics and content strategy suggestions.
• Operator’s Performance: Operator struggled with the website analysis due to technical issues and provided a basic summary of Elon Musk’s engagement, lacking depth and actionable insights.
• Verdict: Proxy again outperformed Operator, offering a more thorough and usable report.

These tests highlight Proxy’s ability to deliver high-quality results efficiently, often surpassing Operator in both speed and depth.

Additional Features and Ease of Use

Beyond performance, Proxy offers several features that enhance its usability:

• Task Automation: Proxy allows users to schedule tasks and automations, similar to cron jobs. For example, you can set it to deliver a daily report on trending topics at a specific time.
• Template Marketplace: Users can access a library of pre-built templates for common tasks, making it easier to get started without crafting prompts from scratch.
• Scratch Pad: This feature lets users add persistent context across sessions, ensuring the agent always has relevant information for future tasks.

These features, combined with Proxy’s intuitive interface, make it accessible even for users who may not have extensive technical expertise.

The Cost of Intelligence is Plummeting

The emergence of tools like Proxy underscores a broader trend: the cost of advanced AI capabilities is decreasing rapidly. Convergence AI, with just 24 employees and $12 million in funding, has built a tool that competes with OpenAI’s offerings at a fraction of the cost. This democratization of AI technology is opening doors for individuals, small businesses, and developers who previously couldn’t afford such tools.

As the AI landscape evolves, we can expect more startups to challenge established players, driving innovation and making powerful tools more accessible to all.

The Future of Browser-Based Agentic AI: Built-In and Local

As browser-based agentic AI continues to gain traction, it’s only a matter of time before such capabilities are built into browsers by default, transforming how we interact with the web. The Opera browser is already paving the way, with plans to integrate its Browser Operator - an AI agent designed to autonomously handle tasks like shopping or research - into future updates, as announced in their March 2025 blog post (https://blogs.opera.com/news/2025/03/opera-browser-operator-ai-agentics/). While Opera’s initial release will leverage AI servers for processing, I believe the true power of this technology will emerge when it can operate locally on a user’s own machine. Local processing would ensure full privacy and security by keeping sensitive data off the cloud, unlocking a new level of trust and efficiency for users worldwide.

Conclusion: Why Proxy is the Better Choice for Many Users

While OpenAI’s Operator is a powerful tool, its high cost and limited availability make it less practical for many users. Convergence AIs Proxy, on the other hand, offers:

• Affordability: A free tier and a $20/month Pro plan that provides unlimited access.
• Global Accessibility: No regional restrictions, making it usable worldwide.
• Superior Performance: Slightly higher benchmark scores and better real-world task completion in tests.
• Additional Features: Task scheduling, automations, and a template marketplace for ease of use.

For those looking to leverage browser-based agentic AI without the hefty price tag, Proxy is a compelling alternative. Its combination of performance, affordability, and user-friendly features makes it an excellent choice for both casual users and professionals.

If you’re curious to see the difference for yourself, try Proxy’s free tier today and experience the future of AI-driven automation.

Paul Hankin is the author of:

AI Adoption: A Practical Guide for Business

and

AI and Law: Navigating the Future