Best Web Scraping API in 2026
Unbiased comparison of top web scraping APIs. Features, pricing, anti-bot capabilities, and real costs.
Complete Feature Comparison
See how AlterLab compares to ScraperAPI, Firecrawl, ScrapingBee, and Bright Data
Why Teams Switch to AlterLab
Smart routing, no subscriptions, credits that never expire
| Feature | AlterLab You are here | ScraperAPI | Bright Data | Firecrawl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Avg cost (real workload) Smart routing vs flat rate | ~$0.001 | $0.0029 | $0.0015 | $0.004 |
Simple scrape Basic HTTP request | $0.0002 | $0.0029 | $0.0015 | $0.004 |
JS rendering Full browser render | $0.004 | $0.005 | $0.0015 | $0.004 |
Free tier Credits to start | Up to 5,000 scrapes | 5,000 scrapes | None | 500 scrapes |
Minimum Smallest purchase | $10 one-time | $49/month | $500/month | $19/month |
Credits expire? Do unused credits expire | Never | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly |
CAPTCHA solving Built-in CAPTCHA bypass | $0.02/solve | Extra cost | Extra cost | Not available |
Avg cost based on typical content/SEO workload (75% simple, 25% protected). Competitor prices from public pricing pages, February 2026.
Simple API, Powerful Results
Get started in minutes with our intuitive API. One request gives you structured data, screenshots, PDFs, and more. No browser management, no infrastructure headaches.
Multi-Format Output
Markdown, JSON, HTML, text
Adaptive Rendering
JS, SPAs, shadow DOM
3 Lines to Integrate
Any language, any stack
Up to 5,000 free scrapes included. No credit card required.
Evaluation Criteria
What to look for when choosing a web scraping API
Complete Pricing Transparency
See real costs, hidden fees, and total expenses for each API.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Compare JS rendering, anti-bot bypass, CAPTCHA solving, and more.
Use Case Recommendations
Find the best API for your specific scraping needs and budget.
Interactive Cost Calculator
Calculate actual costs based on your monthly volume.
Find the Right API for Your Use Case
Different needs require different solutions
Cost-Conscious Projects
Find the most affordable API for high-volume scraping needs
Enterprise Solutions
Compare enterprise features, SLAs, and dedicated support options
JavaScript-Heavy Sites
Find APIs with the best JS rendering and SPA support
Anti-Bot Challenges
Compare Cloudflare bypass success rates and CAPTCHA solving
Frequently Asked Questions
Your first scrape.
Sixty seconds.
$1 free credit. No credit card. No SDK.
Just a POST request.
No credit card required · Up to 5,000 free scrapes · Credits never expire