A headless browser is a browser that runs without a visible window or interface. It opens web pages, loads scripts, and processes content just like Chrome or Firefox, but you won’t see anything on the screen. Everything happens in the background.
This makes it a popular tool for tasks that need speed and automation rather than visuals—like testing websites, running scripts, or extracting data. Instead of clicking through pages manually, a headless browser does the work quietly and much faster.
In this article, we’ll break down what a headless browser is, how it works, its main uses, and its limits.
What is a headless browser?
Running automation, scraping data, or testing websites often comes with one big problem: you get blocked. Websites have systems that detect scripts and automated tools, which means your tasks stop working after a short time.
A headless browser was designed to help with these challenges. It’s a browser that runs without showing any window or graphics. Instead of loading pages visually, it works in the background, executing the same code a normal browser would. This makes it faster, lighter, and useful for tasks where you don’t need to see the screen—like automated testing, performance checks, or collecting data.
But there’s a limit. While headless browsers give speed and automation, they are often detected by modern websites. If your goal is to run undetectable workflows—such as managing multiple accounts, scraping at scale, or testing ads in different regions—you need a more advanced solution. That’s where anti-detect browsers like Multilogin come in, combining automation with human-like fingerprints that make your browsing appear natural.
Learn more about the top 11 headless browsers and their best alternatives!
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Why use a headless browser?
Headless browsers are designed for tasks that don’t need a visual display. They run faster, use fewer resources, and are widely used in automation, testing, and data extraction.
Automation
One of the most common uses is automation. A headless browser can log into websites, click links, and submit forms without anyone watching the screen.
Step-by-step workflow:
Set up a tool such as Selenium or Puppeteer.
Run the browser in headless mode.
Automate clicks, form submissions, or navigation tasks.
Pain point: Even with automation, headless browsers are often detected by advanced websites.
Layout and performance testing
Headless browsers are also used to test how pages load and behave across different environments. Since they run in the background, they’re a good fit for continuous integration pipelines where speed matters.
Common use cases:
Running cross-browser checks.
Capturing screenshots of layouts.
Testing page speed and performance.
Validating JavaScript-heavy pages.
Data extraction
Another key use is web scraping. A headless browser can crawl websites, load scripts, and capture data in structured form.
Typical workflow:
Crawl → Parse → Save → Analyze
Pain point: Scraping at scale with a headless browser usually triggers IP bans, captchas, or detection systems.
Tip
Headless browsers are useful for automation, testing, and scraping, but their limitations are clear: most are easy to detect. If you need to extract data at scale or automate accounts safely, Multilogin’s antidetect headless browser runs Selenium, Puppeteer, Playwright, and Postman scripts with real-user fingerprints and residential proxies—so your workflows stay fast, efficient, and undetectable.
Run automation and scraping without getting blocked. Start your 3-day trial today for just €1.99.
What is headless browser testing?
Headless browser testing is the process of running automated tests without opening a visible browser window. It uses the same browser engine that renders HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but skips the user interface. This makes testing faster and easier to integrate into development pipelines.
Step-by-step workflow for QA teams:
Install Selenium with headless Chrome (or another headless browser).
Write an automated test script to check forms, navigation, or site speed.
Run tests inside a CI/CD pipeline so they trigger automatically with each build.
Export results into logs or reports for quick debugging.
This approach saves time, reduces resource usage, and allows teams to run hundreds of tests in parallel without opening a single browser window.
Anti-detect browsers vs headless browsers
Anti-detect browsers cleverly stop websites from detecting automated actions, making them different from headless browsers.
They have low detection rates by imitating human actions like moving the mouse, clicking, and typing. This makes them very useful for tasks where avoiding detection is extremely important. This effectiveness in evading detection mechanisms has increased popularity among developers and testers.
Headless browsers, while efficient for automation, testing, and data extraction, lack the sophisticated stealth capabilities of anti-detect browsers. They may be detected by some websites, limiting their applicability in scenarios requiring a discreet approach.
Anti-detect browsers are a better solution, working well with tools like Selenium WebDriver for improved performance.
They imitate actual user actions. This helps them avoid robust detection systems. It also gives them a significant advantage over headless browsers.
For developers seeking to navigate websites that employ advanced detection mechanisms, anti-detect browsers emerge as the superior choice. Their effectiveness, low detection rates, and human-like interaction capabilities make them indispensable tools for various web-related tasks.
Understanding the distinct characteristics and stealth capabilities of anti-detect browsers is essential. This knowledge is essential in selecting the appropriate tool for browsing discreetly and without being detected.
| Feature | Headless Browser | Multilogin Anti-Detect Browser |
|---|---|---|
| GUI | None | Full GUI per profile |
| Stealth | Low | High (real-user fingerprints) |
| Use cases | QA, scraping, automation | Multi-accounting, scraping at scale, ad verification, localized testing |
| Proxy support | External only | Built-in residential and mobile |
| Team workflows | Limited | Role-based collaboration |
A headless Chrome scraper may work at first but often gets IP-banned after a short time. With Multilogin, the same workflow can run longer because each profile looks like a real user session.
Most Popular Headless Browsers
The landscape of headless browsing offers several standout options, each with unique features, capabilities, and use cases. Understanding the strengths and applications of these browsers can guide developers and testers in selecting the right tool for their needs:
Google Chrome: Available in headless mode from version 59 or higher, Chrome’s headless version is renowned for its speed and reliability. It’s widely used for automation and testing, supported by a robust set of developer tools and a large community.
Mozilla Firefox: Used with Selenium for automated tests, headless Firefox offers flexibility and compatibility across various platforms. Selenium WebDriver integration makes it popular for cross-browser testing, and its open-source nature encourages community improvements.
HtmlUnit: Written in Java, HtmlUnit is famous for testing e-commerce websites. As a GUI-less browser, it’s known for its fast execution and ability to simulate different browsers. Its compatibility with Java makes it a favorite among developers of that language.
Phantom JS: Though discontinued, Phantom JS was once a popular choice for headless browsing. It was praised for its lightweight nature and scripting capabilities using JavaScript. Its ability to render web pages and capture screenshots made it valuable for visual testing.
Limitations of Headless Browsers
While headless browsers offer many advantages, they also come with certain limitations:
They can’t show visuals, so they might not accurately represent the user experience, missing visual layout and design problems.
Debugging can be more complex in a headless environment, especially if pages load too quickly to catch inconsistent failures. Headless browsers can divert developers’ attention from fixing bugs that specifically happen in a headless environment. This diversion can cause them to overlook issues that regular users might encounter. Additionally, some functionalities that rely on GUI interactions might not be testable in headless mode.
Headless browsers are unsuitable for avoiding detection because they don’t act like humans. Anti-detect browsers are better for this. Understanding these limitations is essential for selecting the right testing approach.
Conclusion about what is the a headless browser
Headless browsers are fast, lightweight, and useful for automation, testing, and scraping. But they are limited when it comes to detection and long-term stability. For tasks that require scale and undetectable workflows, anti-detect browsers like Multilogin provide the added protection and control that headless tools alone can’t offer.
FAQs
Headless browser testing runs automated tests in a real browser engine without a visible window. It executes HTML, CSS, and JavaScript like a normal browser but faster and with fewer resources, making it ideal for CI/CD pipelines.
Install Selenium, Playwright, or Puppeteer.
Launch Chrome or Firefox in headless mode.
Run your test scripts inside a CI/CD pipeline.
Export logs or reports for debugging.
It’s faster, lighter on resources, and easier to run in parallel. Headless testing is perfect for regression and performance checks, though you’ll still need some visible tests to catch layout or visual issues.
Yes. They are often used to scrape JavaScript-heavy websites. However, at scale they face blocks, CAPTCHAs, and IP bans. Multilogin can help here by pairing headless automation with fingerprint masking and proxy support.
