The 5 Best Apify Alternatives of 2025

Discover the top 3 Apify alternatives for 2025. Compare Bright Data, Zenrows, and ScrapingBee on features, pricing, and ease of use for web scraping.

apify_alternative

Apify is a popular web scraping platform, but its pricing and setup can be complex. If you’re looking for a simpler, more affordable alternative, we’ve got you covered. This article breaks down five top alternatives based on ease of use, pricing, and performance. Let’s dive in!

The 5 Best Apify Alternatives of 2025

1. Bright Data

bright data website

Bright Data, previously known as Luminati, is a powerful web scraping service. It offers a wide range of tools to help with data collection. These include residential proxies, scraping browsers, and other data collection tools. The platform is perfect for large-scale scraping projects. Its extensive proxy network makes it ideal for enterprises that need to scrape data from a variety of sources. 

Bright Data is known for its flexibility and reliability, making it a top choice for businesses that require high-volume scraping. Whether you’re gathering data for research or market analysis, Bright Data provides the infrastructure you need to get the job done effectively.

Key Features:

  • Extensive Proxy Network: Bright Data offers one of the largest proxy networks in the world. It has millions of residential proxies that allow users to scrape data with minimal risk of being blocked.
  • Pre-collected Datasets: Bright Data provides users with access to a wide range of pre-collected datasets, saving them time on gathering data.
  • Scraping Browser: It offers a browser-based scraping solution, which can automate the process of collecting data from websites that use advanced JavaScript.

Pros:

  • Large-scale proxy network
  • Versatile scraping tools
  • High success rates in bypassing CAPTCHAs and anti-bot systems
  • Pre-collected datasets for quicker data gathering

Cons:

  • High pricing, especially for small businesses or individual users
  • Steep learning curve for developers, as the platform is more geared towards enterprise-level users

2. Zenrows

Zenrows website

ZenRows is another strong alternative to Apify, offering an easy-to-use API for seamless web scraping. It stands out for its ability to bypass anti-bot measures, including CAPTCHA, which can be a challenge for other scraping tools. ZenRows is designed for users who want to scrape data without the hassle of managing proxies or dealing with JavaScript rendering.  It makes the process smooth and efficient. 

ZenRows focus on simplicity and reliability makes it a top choice for those who value transparency and ease of use. The minimal setup required to bypass blockers and maintain high success rates makes ZenRows one of the best options for efficient web scraping.

Key Features:

  • Easy-to-Use API: ZenRows offers a simple API that can handle everything from proxy rotation to JavaScript rendering, making it an excellent choice for developers who want an easy setup process.
  • JavaScript Rendering: It supports JavaScript rendering, allowing users to scrape dynamic websites without issues.
  • Premium Proxy Access: ZenRows uses premium proxies that further reduce the chances of being blocked by websites.

Pros:

  • High success rates with minimal setup
  • Simple pricing structure (per-request basis)
  • 24/7 customer support with dedicated developer assistance
  • Transparent pricing with clear documentation

Cons:

  • Lacks some advanced scraping features, such as geo-targeting and auto-parsing (available in other tools)
  • Best suited for smaller to medium-scale scraping tasks

3. ScrapingBee

ScrapingBee website

ScrapingBee is another great alternative to Apify, especially for those who need a straightforward web scraping solution. Unlike Apify, which offers a full web automation platform, ScrapingBee focuses only on web scraping. This makes it a simpler option for users who want to get started quickly. The platform’s user-friendly documentation and easy setup process are perfect for beginners or those with moderate experience. 

While it may not have advanced features like auto-parsing or complex proxy management, its simplicity, reliability, and clear pricing make it a top choice for users looking for an efficient and hassle-free scraping tool. If you’re after something easy to use without a steep learning curve, ScrapingBee is worth considering.

Key Features:

  • JavaScript Rendering: ScrapingBee supports JavaScript rendering, making it ideal for scraping dynamic content that requires execution of JavaScript.
  • Simple Integration: Users can easily integrate ScrapingBee into their existing scraping projects, and the documentation is very helpful.
  • Proxy Management: ScrapingBee handles proxy rotation automatically, reducing the risk of being blocked.

Pros:

  • Excellent documentation and integration
  • Easy to use for both beginners and experienced developers
  • Solid success rate in scraping dynamic content

Cons:

  • Geo-targeting comes with additional charges
  • Lacks auto-parsing capabilities that other platforms provide
  • Moderate success rate compared to some other alternatives

4. Oxylabs

oxylabs website

Oxylabs is an enterprise-level scraping solution that focuses heavily on proxy services. It is designed for users who need a large number of proxies to conduct web scraping without facing bans or blocks. While Oxylabs is known for its high-quality proxies, users often find the service expensive and complicated to integrate into their scraping workflows.

Oxylabs offers robust infrastructure and high-quality proxies, making it ideal for large-scale scraping operations. However, the service is best suited for enterprises with large budgets and the need for extensive proxy solutions. Its complex integration and high cost make it less accessible to smaller businesses.

Key Features:

  • Proxy Network: Oxylabs boasts a large proxy network, including residential proxies, datacenter proxies, and even mobile proxies.
  • Machine Learning (ML)-Driven Scraper APIs: Oxylabs offers machine learning-driven scraper APIs that improve the accuracy and efficiency of data extraction.
  • Pre-assembled Datasets: Users can purchase datasets from Oxylabs to save time on collecting data.

Pros:

  • Extensive proxy options
  • Machine learning-driven APIs improve data scraping accuracy
  • Suitable for enterprise-level scraping

Cons:

  • High pricing, making it difficult for smaller users to afford
  • Slow customer support response times
  • Complex setup and integration process

5. Octoparse

octoparse website

Octoparse is a feature-rich web scraping tool designed for both technical and non-technical users. It simplifies data extraction from websites using a point-and-click interface, making it accessible to beginners. Octoparse offers both cloud and desktop versions, giving users flexibility in how they manage their scraping tasks.

Octoparse is an excellent choice for non-technical users who want to start web scraping without the need for coding. Its user-friendly interface and cloud-based solutions make it a versatile option for those with simpler scraping needs. However, advanced users may find it lacking in certain features and scalability.

Key Features:

  • Point-and-Click Interface: Octoparse’s interface is easy to use, making it suitable for those who are not familiar with coding or technical tasks.
  • JavaScript Support: It can handle dynamic websites that require JavaScript rendering, which many traditional scraping tools struggle with.
  • Multiple Data Output Formats: Octoparse supports various output formats, such as CSV, Excel, and JSON, making it easy for users to export and analyze scraped data.

Pros:

  • User-friendly, no coding required
  • Supports both cloud and desktop versions
  • Good for extracting data from dynamic websites
  • Flexible data export options

Cons:

  • Lacks advanced proxy management and geo-targeting features
  • Limited success rate on heavily protected websites
  • May not be suitable for very large-scale scraping tasks

Coclusion

While Apify is a popular choice for web scraping, it may not be the best fit for everyone due to its unclear pricing and complex system. Fortunately, several great alternatives offer transparency, high success rates, and simplicity. Fortunately, several good alternatives offer clear pricing, high success rates, and simplicity. Bright Data is a top choice for those needing a powerful, enterprise-level solution. ZenRows is a close second, known for its user-friendly API and great success rates. ScrapingBee is a simple and effective option for those looking for an easy solution. Oxylabs works best for large businesses with heavy proxy needs. Octoparse is ideal for beginners who want to scrape data without coding. By assessing your needs, you can pick the right tool for your web scraping projects!

Comments

    Submit a comment