TL;DR
Apify gives you 2,000+ ready scrapers with structured output. ScrapingBee gives you HTML and handles proxies. Choose Apify for quick results. Choose ScrapingBee for custom scraping with reliable infrastructure.
Core Difference
Apify is a full platform with pre-built scrapers. Input your parameters, get structured data (JSON, CSV). Works for common sites immediately.
ScrapingBee is a scraping API. Send a URL, get HTML back. You write the parsing logic. They handle proxies and JavaScript rendering.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Apify | ScrapingBee |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-built Scrapers | 2,000+ actors | None |
| Output Format | Structured JSON/CSV | Raw HTML |
| JavaScript Rendering | Included | Available (extra) |
| Proxy Management | Automatic | Automatic |
| API Simplicity | Platform-first | API-first |
| Free Tier | $5/month | 1,000 credits |
| Starting Price | $49/month | $49/month |
Workflow Comparison
Scraping LinkedIn Profiles with Apify
- Find LinkedIn Profile Scraper actor
- Paste profile URLs
- Click "Start"
- Download structured data
Scraping LinkedIn Profiles with ScrapingBee
- Send profile URLs to ScrapingBee API
- Receive HTML response
- Write parser to extract name, title, company
- Handle edge cases and errors
- Store and format output
Apify takes minutes. ScrapingBee takes hours of development.
When to Choose Apify
- A pre-built actor exists for your target
- You want structured data immediately
- You prefer GUI over coding
- Speed matters more than custom control
When to Choose ScrapingBee
- You are scraping unique sites with no existing tools
- You want simple API without platform complexity
- You enjoy writing parsing code
- You need maximum flexibility in data extraction
Our Verdict
Apify is better for most users. The actor marketplace saves hours of development. You get reliable, maintained scrapers that handle edge cases.
ScrapingBee suits developers who want a clean API and prefer writing their own logic. It is simpler than Apify if you only need proxy + HTML fetching.
Our Recommendation
Search Apify's actor marketplace for your use case. If it exists, use Apify. If not and you are a developer, ScrapingBee is a solid alternative.
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