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A lightweight, developer-friendly web scraping API with flexible pricing and simple integration – a solid option for startups and businesses looking to extract public web data efficiently.
ScraperAPI is a web scraping tool that aims to simplify the process of collecting data from the internet. It provides a way to bypass anti-bot measures and retrieve structured data. Targeted at developers and small-to-medium businesses, ScraperAPI is said to have a competitive edge due to its low-cost pricing, features, responsive customer support, and continuous product improvements.
The company emphasizes its commitment to enhancing user experience, aiming to make web scraping easier, faster, and more reliable. Does ScraperAPI truly deliver on its promises? This review takes an in-depth look at its performance, features, and overall value.
Founded in 2018 by a team of developers who had firsthand experience with the challenges of web scraping, the ScraperAPI was created to eliminate the need for managing proxies, handling CAPTCHAs, and setting up headless browsers by automating these processes. The tool allows users to focus on data extraction rather than these technical challenges.
ScraperAPI performs well in anti-bot bypassing, speed, and reliability, making it a solid choice for developers and businesses requiring frequent web scraping. The API supports over 40 million residential, mobile, and datacenter IPs across 50+ countries, dynamically rotating them to minimize detection and blocking. Its geotargeting capabilities cover 69 countries, which may be a drawback for users needing more precise location-based scraping. However, users who subscribe to their Premium plan get advanced capabilities to access and target exclusive geographic locations.
Still on proxies, their scraper uses datacenter proxies by default. However, for sites they consider difficult to scrape, you would have to use their premium private proxy pool, which contains residential and mobile IPs. It is important to state that requests that use this premium proxy pool are charged 10 times the normal rate (every successful request will count as 10 API credits against your monthly limit; they don’t charge for unsuccessful requests). Requests that use JavaScript rendering and their premium proxy pools will be charged at 25 times the normal rate (every successful request will count as 25 API credits against your monthly limit).
They also have what they call higher premium proxy pools, which are used to scrape tough websites like LinkedIn. For this, you are charged 30 API credits against your monthly limit or 75 if used together with rendering. However, despite its strong performance on many websites, ScraperAPI struggles with highly protected platforms like G2, where its anti-bot measures are less effective, you might have to try a couple of times before you get a successful response.
However, with top alternatives like Bright Data’s Scraper API, you can scrape any website using any plan, including the free trial; you also get dedicated scrapers for over 100 specific websites, including complex platforms like G2, Google, Amazon, and LinkedIn, either using code or no code method and the results can be delivered to your preferred cloud storage or downloaded using different formats.
ScraperAPI is also designed to be developer-friendly, with support for multiple programming languages, including Python, Node.js, PHP, Ruby, and Java. Users can integrate it into their workflows using API endpoints, SDKs, or a proxy port, depending on their preference.
It supports four operational modes: API mode–where users send requests and receive scraped data directly, async, structured data endpoints, and proxy mode. In terms of content compatibility, ScraperAPI can scrape not just HTML but also PDFs, images, and other document formats, supporting requests of up to 2 MB in size.
ScraperAPI’s Async Scraper Service is designed to handle large-scale web scraping tasks by allowing users to submit multiple scraping jobs concurrently, and it’s said to have a 99.99% success rate. This asynchronous approach ensures continuous data retrieval without the typical challenges of timeouts or retries. By automating the scraping process, it enables efficient data collection at scale, making it a reliable solution for businesses that need to extract large volumes of information from the web.One of its standout features is its advanced anti-scraping evasion techniques.
The service employs machine learning and extensive statistical analysis to determine the optimal combination of IP addresses, headers, and CAPTCHA-solving strategies. This ensures that requests are not blocked, making it highly effective for scraping websites with strict anti-bot measures. Additionally, ScraperAPI automatically manages concurrency, allowing users to submit jobs without manually handling failures, retries, or timeouts. This automation significantly reduces the complexity of large-scale data extraction.
Another key advantage of the Async Scraper Service is its flexible data retrieval system. Once a scraping job is submitted, users receive a status URL to monitor progress and retrieve results at their convenience. For even greater efficiency, the service supports webhook integration, enabling real-time data delivery upon job completion. This makes it particularly useful for applications that require continuous data updates, such as market intelligence, competitive analysis, and sentiment tracking.
The service also offers JavaScript rendering, allowing it to extract content from dynamic websites that rely on client-side rendering. By enabling the render=true parameter, users can ensure that JavaScript-generated data is fully captured. Additionally, ScraperAPI provides geotargeting capabilities, enabling users to retrieve localized data from over 50 countries. This is particularly beneficial for e-commerce tracking, price monitoring, and region-specific research.
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For structured data extraction, the services use ScraperAPI’s Autoparser, which is optimized for high-demand websites like Amazon and Google. This feature automatically parses and formats scraped data into structured JSON, eliminating the need for manual processing. By streamlining data extraction, the Async Scraper Service offers an efficient, scalable, and reliable solution for businesses that rely on large-scale web scraping.
ScraperAPI’s Structured Data Endpoints offer a streamlined solution for extracting structured JSON data from high-demand websites such as Amazon, Walmart, eBay, and Google. By providing specialized API endpoints, this feature eliminates the need for users to construct complex URLs or develop intricate parsing logic, thereby simplifying the data extraction process.
One of the primary advantages of these endpoints is their ability to deliver structured data in JSON format, which enhances flexibility and ease of integration into various workflows. This approach not only reduces development and maintenance efforts but also ensures consistent and reliable data retrieval, even as website structures undergo changes. For instance, users can access detailed product information from Amazon by making a simple GET request to the designated endpoint receiving well-organized JSON data in response.
Moreover, the Structured Data Endpoints are designed to handle the intricacies of web scraping, including managing anti-scraping mechanisms and adapting to dynamic content. This results in a high success rate for data retrieval from supported domains, minimizing errors and maximizing efficiency. The service also offers customization options, allowing users to tailor their data collection parameters to meet specific needs without the burden of manual parsing.
By abstracting the complexities of URL generation and data parsing, they enable users to focus on analyzing and utilizing the data, thereby accelerating development timelines and reducing associated costs. This makes them a valuable tool for businesses and developers seeking reliable and scalable web scraping solutions.
DataPipeline is a low-code solution by ScraperAPI aimed at automating and scaling web scraping tasks, enabling users to collect data from up to 10,000 URLs, keywords, ASINs, or Walmart IDs in a single project. This approach eliminates the need for developing and maintaining custom scraping infrastructures, thereby reducing engineering overhead and associated costs.
The platform offers a user-friendly interface that allows for the input of target data through various methods, including direct input fields, CSV uploads, or webhooks. This flexibility accommodates both static and dynamic scraping requirements.
Users can schedule scraping tasks using a visual scheduler or Cron expressions for more precise timing, ensuring data is collected at optimal intervals. Upon completion, DataPipeline delivers results in multiple formats: HTML, structured JSON, or CSV to facilitate seamless integration into existing data workflows.
A notable feature of DataPipeline is its robust notification system. Users receive updates on project statuses and job successes directly via email, enabling prompt attention to any issues that may arise during the scraping process. Additionally, the platform supports webhook integrations, allowing for real-time data delivery to specified endpoints, which is particularly beneficial for applications requiring immediate data processing.
For those seeking to automate interactions with DataPipeline, ScraperAPI provides a comprehensive set of endpoints. These APIs enable users to programmatically set up, edit, and manage scraping projects, offering greater efficiency and flexibility compared to manual dashboard operations. This feature is especially advantageous for large-scale data collection initiatives that demand dynamic project configurations.
ScraperAPI offers a tiered pricing structure designed to accommodate a range of web scraping needs, from individual developers to large enterprises. Each plan is tailored to provide specific features and resource allocations, ensuring scalability and flexibility for various project requirements.
For newcomers, ScraperAPI provides a free plan that includes 1,000 API credits per month, supporting up to 5 concurrent connections. Additionally, during the first seven days after signing up, users receive an enhanced allocation of 5,000 API credits to facilitate more extensive testing and evaluation of the service’s capabilities.
ScraperAPI’s paid plans are structured to cater to varying levels of demand:
All paid plans encompass a comprehensive set of features, including JavaScript rendering, access to premium proxies, JSON auto-parsing, smart proxy rotation, support for custom headers, unlimited bandwidth, automatic retries, a variety of user agents (both desktop and mobile), a 99.9% uptime guarantee, custom session support, CAPTCHA and anti-bot detection, and professional support services.
To assist users in managing expenses, ScraperAPI offers a ‘max_cost‘ parameter. This feature allows users to set a maximum limit on API credits for individual requests, preventing unexpected overages and helping maintain budgetary control.
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Initiating the use of ScraperAPI is straightforward. Users begin by signing up on the ScraperAPI website; you will be redirected to their dashboard, where you will receive a unique API key upon registration. This key is essential for authenticating requests to the API.
To integrate ScraperAPI into a project, developers can utilize various methods, including direct HTTP requests or employing available SDKs.
ScraperAPI provides a user-friendly dashboard to monitor and manage subscription details and usage metrics. Within the dashboard, users can access their API key, review sample code snippets, and monitor statistics such as credits used, concurrency levels, and failed requests.
The billing section offers transparency regarding the current plan, billing cycle end dates, and options to update billing information or payment methods. Users can also view invoices, manage their subscription plans, or cancel them if necessary. In cases where API credits are depleted before the cycle concludes, the platform allows for early renewal to ensure uninterrupted service.
To cancel a subscription, users can navigate to the billing page on the dashboard to cancel their subscription. This action schedules the cancellation for the next renewal date, permitting continued use of remaining credits until the cycle’s end without further charges. For immediate cancellations or refund requests, users are advised to contact support directly.
In terms of usage monitoring, the dashboard’s ‘Monitoring & Stats’ section provides a comprehensive view of overall usage, including total credits consumed in the current monthly cycle and current concurrency usage. For a more detailed analysis, users can download domain-specific reports directly from the dashboard.
The platform’s documentation is extensive, covering various programming languages and integration methods. Developers can find detailed guides for cURL, Python, Node.js, PHP, Ruby, and Java, each tailored to the specific nuances of the language. These guides offer step-by-step instructions, code snippets, and best practices to ensure efficient implementation.
ScraperAPI offers tutorials that provide guided examples of integrating and utilizing the API. For support, users can contact the support team directly through the platform. The support page provides options to reach out for technical support or sales inquiries, ensuring that users receive prompt and relevant assistance tailored to their specific needs.
ScraperAPI offers a flexible solution mostly targeted at developers looking for a way to scrape public data. With features like automatic proxy rotation, CAPTCHA handling, JavaScript rendering, and structured data extraction, the platform eliminates many of the common challenges associated with web scraping. Its tiered pricing structure ensures that users, from hobbyists to enterprise clients, can find a plan that aligns with their needs, while their dashboard provides a way to run scraping tasks, monitor tasks, and also manage subscriptions and usage.
For developers looking for an easy-to-use web scraping tool, ScraperAPI presents a compelling option. However, technical and non-technical people in need of advanced location targeting, specialized website scrapers, or more enterprise-level control may find that Bright Data’s Scraper API offers a more comprehensive solution.
Yes, ScraperAPI provides a free plan with 1,000 API credits per month and an enhanced 5,000 credits during the first seven days after signing up.
ScraperAPI supports Python, Node.js, PHP, Ruby, and Java, making it easy to integrate into various development environments.
ScraperAPI uses over 40 million residential, mobile, and datacenter IPs across 50+ countries. It dynamically rotates proxies to minimize detection and blocking.
Paid plans include JavaScript rendering, access to premium proxies, JSON auto-parsing, smart proxy rotation, custom headers, unlimited bandwidth, automatic retries, multiple user agents, a 99.9% uptime guarantee, custom sessions, CAPTCHA handling, and professional support.