Octoparse vs Apify

A side-by-side look at Octoparse and Apify — pricing, features and where each one wins. Both are reviewed independently on Curata AI.

OctoparseApify
SummaryVisual, no-code web scraper with point-and-click extraction and local or cloud scraping modes.Developer-focused web scraping and automation platform with prebuilt Actors and a full crawling SDK.
PricingFreemiumFreemium
CategoryAutomationAutomation
PlatformsWeb, Windows, MacWeb, API
Key features
  • Visual Point-and-Click Scraper
  • 100+ Prebuilt Templates
  • Anti-Detection & IP Rotation
  • Cloud & Local Extraction
  • Scheduled Scraping
  • 6,000+ Prebuilt Actors
  • Crawlee SDK for Custom Scrapers
  • Cloud Scheduling & Storage
  • Proxy & Anti-Blocking Infrastructure
  • API & Integrations
Pros
  • More granular control over extraction logic and page interactions than extension-based tools
  • Large library of prebuilt scrapers for popular sites (Amazon, Google Maps, Indeed, LinkedIn)
  • Local and cloud extraction modes give more flexibility on where scraping runs
  • Massive library of prebuilt Actors covering almost any scraping target
  • Crawlee SDK gives full control for custom, code-first crawl logic
  • Scales to high-volume, complex scraping better than no-code tools
Cons
  • Steeper learning curve than a pure point-and-click browser extension
  • Desktop app required for local extraction mode
  • Monitoring/change-alert features are less central than in Browse AI
  • Not truly no-code — configuring Actors requires understanding input params, proxies and output schemas
  • Usage-based pricing can get expensive at scale without careful monitoring
  • Steeper learning curve for non-developers than Browse AI or Octoparse

Which one should you choose?

Octoparse

Best for: Visual, no-code web scraper with point-and-click extraction and local or cloud scraping modes.

Apify

Best for: Developer-focused web scraping and automation platform with prebuilt Actors and a full crawling SDK.

Read the full Octoparse review

Octoparse is a point-and-click web scraping tool that gives more granular control over extraction logic, page interactions and anti-detection settings than an extension-based scraper. It ships 100+ prebuilt templates for popular sites (Amazon, Google Maps, Indeed, LinkedIn) and supports both local (desktop app) and cloud-based extraction, with scheduled runs and IP rotation to reduce blocking on protected sites.

Read the full Apify review

Apify is a cloud platform for web scraping and automation built around 'Actors' — 6,000+ prebuilt scrapers covering mapping platforms, social media, marketplaces and more — plus the open-source Crawlee SDK for building fully custom crawlers. It handles scheduling, storage, proxies and anti-blocking infrastructure, making it the code-first option for teams that need more control or scale than a no-code point-and-click tool provides.