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Apify vs. ParseHub: Which One Is Right for You in 2025?

Comparing Pricing, Features, and Performance to Help You Decide

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Apify vs. Parsehub
Apify vs. ParseHub

Discover why 10,000+ companies chose ScraperAPI to scale their web scraping projects
over tools like Apify and Parsehub

Quick Overview

Choosing between Apify and ParseHub? We break down their strengths, weaknesses, and key differences to help you make the best choice.

About Apify

Apify is a full‑stack cloud platform for web scraping, browser automation, and data extraction. It empowers developers and businesses to build, deploy, and publish “Actors” (serverless programs) that can extract data from almost any website, regardless of its anti‐scraping measures. They also offer solutions catering to Generative AI purposes such as fine-tuning, sentiment analysis, etc. Apify is built by developers, for developers, without leaving out non-technical folks either. Their working model emphasizes reliability and scalability, supporting both code‐based and no‑code approaches through several integrations.

Strengths:

  • Scalable Serverless Infrastructure
  • Full-stack data extraction platform
  • High customizability
  • Apify Store and Actor Ecosystem

Top Features:

  • Marketplace of Pre-built Actors
  • Advanced Anti-Blocking & Proxy Services
  • Scalable Serverless Architecture
  • Extensive offering of Developer Tools & Integrations

About ParseHub

ParseHub is an intuitive web scraping tool that enables businesses, researchers, and developers to extract data effortlessly from any website. It offers a visual, point‐and‐click interface and an API Endpoint for scraping data. ParseHub simplifies collecting structured data from complex, dynamic pages loaded with JavaScript, AJAX, or infinite scrolling, making it accessible for non‑technical users and developers. The platform is ideal for market research, competitor analysis, lead generation, and any project requiring regular data updates through automated scheduling and API integrations.

Strengths:

  • Intuitive Visual Interface for hassle‑free, no‑code data extraction
  • Robust handling of dynamic and complex websites
  • Automation and scheduling capabilities for continuous data collection

Top Features:

  • Visual point‑and‑click data selection
  • Advanced dynamic content handling (AJAX, JavaScript, infinite scroll)
  • Flexible export options (CSV, JSON, Excel)
  • Automated scheduling and cloud‑based processing
  • API integration for efficient workflow connectivity

How ScraperAPI Stacks Up

Developers and businesses use ScraperAPI to extract web data without managing proxies, browsers, or CAPTCHAs. ScraperAPI automates the web scraping process by handling IP rotation, solving CAPTCHAs, and rendering JavaScript so you can concentrate on integrating the data into your applications. ScraperAPI is a perfect option if you need a web scraping tool with high success rates and real‑time data extraction for tasks like e-commerce, market research, SEO, and travel data collection.

If you are looking for a more innovative (yet affordable) alternative, ScraperAPI provides:

  • High success rates with automatic CAPTCHA handling
  • Robust proxy rotation with over 150+ geolocation options
  • Real‑time JavaScript rendering to capture dynamic content
  • Affordable, scalable pricing (e.g., 3,000,000 API credits for $299/month)
  • Developer‑friendly API with comprehensive documentation and SDK support

Top Features:

  • Direct Geotargeting.
  • Domain-specific Structured Data Endpoints (Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Redfin, etc.).
  • Advanced Built-in proxy rotation (including mobile proxies) and CAPTCHA solving system.
  • LLM Output Feature (for high-quality Generative AI training data).
  • JavaScript rendering.
  • Cost-efficient credit-based system.

Feature-by-Feature Breakdown

1️⃣ Pricing & Value

FeatureApifyParseHubScraperAPI
Pricing ModelCompute Unit (CU) based. Cost varies based on usage (memory, runtime). Offers monthly tier plansSubscription‑based pricing model. They provide a free plan with limited features and then offer fixed‑price tiers.Subscription-based, monthly tier plans. The cost depends on API credit usage.
Free TrialOffers free usage credits to start.Provides a free plan that offers basic features and limits (a set number of pages per run) to test the service before upgrading.Offers a free trial with about 1000 API credits and 5 concurrent threads 
Pay-as-you-goYesNo No
Extra Costs (Bandwidth, IPs, etc.)Potential extra costs for exceeding plan limits and for add-on features such as extra proxy usageNoNo
Money-back GuaranteeNoYesYes

📌 Takeaway: From the information above, we can see that Apify charges in credits based on your compute, storage, and proxy usage. This model gives you more flexibility for fluctuating workloads because you only pay for what you use. However, it’s not ideal for budget planning and resource allocation since you can’t know the cost of your usage until after scraping.

ParseHub, on the other hand, follows a subscription‑based pricing model with fixed monthly tiers (Standard at $189, Professional at $599, and Enterprise plans). Due to its predictable costs and no hidden fees, you’ll have access to all its standard features, like proxy management and data exports. 

ScraperAPI offers subscription‑based plans measured in API credits. For instance, its Business plan provides 3,000,000 API credits for $299/month. Assuming that a typical e-commerce request uses around 5 API credits, you can make roughly 600,000 successful monthly requests for that price. In addition, ScraperAPI covers all extra costs, such as bandwidth, proxies, and JavaScript rendering, all within your credit usage. You can also safely bank on their 7‑day money‑back guarantee, reducing risks if the service doesn’t meet your needs.

ScraperAPIParseHubApify
API Credits3,000,000ParseHub uses a ‘per page” system$0.3 per compute unit
Results3,000,000 standard requests (600,000 e-commerce requests)10.000 pages per run (200 pages of data in 10 minutes)Depends on the number of compute units you consume.
Cost$299/month$189/month$199/month

2️⃣ Performance & Reliability

FeatureApifyParseHubScraperAPI
Success Rate (%)The success rate depends on the Actor used and the target website. Documentation does not include an explicit success rateParseHub doesn’t share an explicit success rate on their website, but user reviews report around 90–95% success on many projects95%+ 
JS Rendering SupportYes, through Actors and Playwright/Puppeteer integrationYes Yes, it is integrated directly into the API.
CAPTCHA HandlingYes, also through Actors and integrations with third-party solvers.Yes, limited to certain CAPTCHAYes, directly integrated solutions.
Geolocation OptionsClaim to offer geotargeting through premium proxies covering various regions. Documentation, however, does not contain explicit information on the number of countries.None. Only by integration with proxy providers150+ countries

ScraperAPI stands out as the most reliable choice for scraping dynamic, complex sites from the data above. The fact that it achieves a success rate 95%+ and directly integrates JavaScript rendering and CAPTCHA handling within its API while also offering geolocation targeting in over 150 countries makes it the superior choice between the three tools.

ParseHub, although user-friendly and capable of rendering JS and handling CAPTCHAs, has a less reliable success rate at 90–95%,  which hovers more or less around assumption rather than concrete facts from its website. Another downside to ParseHub is its reliance on proxy integrations for geolocation services.

Meanwhile, Apify’s performance depends on the specific Actor and configuration you choose, making its success rate less directly quantifiable.

3️⃣ User Reviews & Ratings (Capterra and Trustpilot)

PlatformApify ⭐ParseHub ⭐ScraperAPI ⭐
Capterra4.8 4.54.6
Trustpilot4.2N/A4.7

Takeaway: From the ratings table above, we can see that Apify earns an impressive 4.8 on Capterra, but its Trustpilot score of 4.2 hints at concerns by some users who appreciate its extensive ecosystem and powerful integrations but complain about a steep learning curve and unpredictable, usage‑based pricing.

ParseHub holds a slightly lower Capterra score of 4.5 and lacks Trustpilot data. A common citing within reviewers’ statements is that while they enjoy its intuitive visual interface, they do not appreciate the limitations in scalability and geo-targeting options.

In contrast, ScraperAPI, with a Capterra score of 4.6 and a stellar Trustpilot rating of 4.7, consistently earns praise for its high success rate on complex, dynamic websites. Users highlight its integrated JavaScript rendering, robust CAPTCHA handling, and extensive geolocation support, all backed by transparent, credit‑based pricing, as a major reason. 

Pros and Cons for Each – Based on User Feedback

Apify

👍 Pros:

  • Offers a broad ecosystem of pre-built tools and integrations
  • Implements robust anti-blocking measures
  • Provides extensive customization and developer support

👎 Cons:

  • It has a steep learning curve that can overwhelm beginners
  • Pricing varies unpredictably based on compute usage
  • Complex customization can slow down rapid deployment

ParseHub

👍 Pros:

  • It features an intuitive, visual point‑and‑click interface that is ideal for non‑developers.
  • Provides easy scheduling and basic data export capabilities
  • Offers a predictable, subscription‑based pricing model

👎 Cons:

  • Mixed reviews on scalability and performance for large projects
  • Lacks robust geotargeting options compared to competitors
  • The absence of Trustpilot data makes overall reliability less clear

ScraperAPI

👍 Pros:

  • Delivers a high success rate (95%+) with integrated JavaScript rendering and CAPTCHA handling
  • Offers extensive geolocation targeting (150+ countries) within its API
  • It uses transparent, credit‑based pricing and includes a 7‑day money-back guarantee

👎 Cons:

  • Provides a more specialized API solution with a smaller ecosystem than Apify
  • Its slightly lower Capterra rating might be a concern if you value Capterra ratings

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose Apify if:

✔ You prioritize a comprehensive platform with advanced workflow automation and a wide range of pre‑built integrations.

✔ You need deep customization and can manage a steeper learning curve in exchange for powerful capabilities.

✔ You prefer a flexible, usage‑based pricing model, and your projects justify its complexity.

Choose ParseHub if:

✔ You need an easy‑to‑use, visual scraping tool to set up and run moderately complex projects quickly.

✔ You value a predictable subscription model over extensive advanced features.

✔ You work primarily on projects that don’t require robust geotargeting or massive scalability.

Choose ScraperAPI if…

✔ You require a developer‑friendly, API‑based solution that excels at scraping dynamic, JavaScript‑intensive websites.

✔ You want integrated features such as automated CAPTCHA solving, real‑time JS rendering, and extensive geolocation support.

✔ You prefer transparent, credit‑based pricing with a strong money‑back guarantee and consistently high user ratings.

Why is ScraperAPI the best alternative to Apify and ParseHub?

For developers, data analysts, and businesses needing a streamlined, all-in-one scraping solution, ScraperAPI outshines Apify and ParseHub. It simplifies the process by combining JavaScript rendering, CAPTCHA solving, and geolocation into a single API call—no extra tools or complex setups required. With a 95%+ success rate, it delivers consistent results, even on dynamic, JavaScript-heavy sites.

Unlike Apify, where performance depends on the Actor used, or ParseHub, which struggles at scale despite being user-friendly, ScraperAPI offers reliable performance and broad language support backed by clean documentation and SDKs. Geolocation is simple, using country codes. There is no need to manage proxy layers like with Apify or ParseHub.

Plus, its transparent, credit-based pricing eliminates the unpredictability of compute units or rigid subscription limits. If you’re looking for a powerful yet hassle-free scraping solution, ScraperAPI is the clear winner.

ScraperAPI is the better (yet affordable) alternative

ScraperAPI vs Parsehub
ScraperAPI vs Bright Data

What Our Customers
Are Saying

One of the most frustrating parts of automated web scraping is constantly dealing with IP blocks and CAPTCHAs. ScraperAPI gets this task off of your shoulders.

Capterra Badge

based on 50+ reviews

The team at ScraperAPI was so patient in helping us debug our first scraper. Thanks for being super passionate and awesome!
Cristina Saavedra
Cristina SaavedraOptimization Director at SquareTrade
A dead simple API plus a generous free tier are hard to beat. ScraperAPI is a good example of how developer experience can make a difference in a crowded category.
Ilya Sukhar
Ilya SukharFounder of Parse, Partner at YCombinator
I researched a lot of scraping tools and am glad I found ScraperAPI. It has low cost and great tech support. They always respond within 24 hours when I need any help with the product.
Alexander Zharkov
Alexander ZharkovFullstack Javascript Developer
BigCommerce

Simple Pricing. No Surprises.

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Hobby

Ideal for small projects or personal use.

Hobby

$49

/ month

$44

/ month, billed annually

  • 100,000 API Credits
  • 20 Concurrent Threads
  • US & EU Geotargeting
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Startup

Great for small teams and advanced users.

Startup

$149

/ month

$134

/ month, billed annually

  • 1,000,000 API Credits
  • 50 Concurrent Threads
  • US & EU Geotargeting
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Business

Perfect for small-medium businesses.

Business

$299

/ month

$269

/ month, billed annually

  • 3,000,000 API Credits
  • 100 Concurrent Threads
  • All Geotargeting
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Scaling

Most popular

Perfect for teams looking to scale their operations.

Business

$475

/ month

$427

/ month, billed annually

  • 5,000,000 API Credits
  • 200 Concurrent Threads
  • All Geotargeting
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Enterprise

Need more than 5,000,000 API Credits with all premium features, premium support and an account manager?

  • 5,000,000+ API credits and 200+ Concurrent Threads
  • Dedicated Account Manager
  • Slack Support
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Frequently Asked Questions

ScraperAPI is the best tool for market research and SERP data collection because it offers dedicated, pre‑configured endpoints that extract structured search results efficiently. These dedicated scrapers have a proven success rate of over 95%, even on dynamic, anti-bot-protected pages.

  • ScraperAPI’s transparent, credit‑based pricing offers the best value for high-volume, unpredictable workloads.
  • ParseHub’s fixed monthly subscriptions for smaller, consistent tasks provide predictable costs that suit moderate, steady workloads.
  • Apify’s credit‑based model works well for flexible usage-based needs if you can accurately monitor and control your consumption. However, it may become less cost‑effective if you’re a smaller team with fluctuating usage.

Switching to ScraperAPI requires changing your Apify or Zenrows API endpoint to suit ScraperAPI’s structure and adapting your request parameters accordingly. You will find further information about this in our documentation.

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