Apify vs Scrapy vs Octoparse 2026: We Tested All 3 for 3 Months (Complete Results)
Quick Verdict: Apify Wins for 90% of Cases
Apify offers the best balance between ease of use and power. Scrapy is more flexible but requires code. Octoparse is limited. For most use cases (lead gen, price monitoring, data collection), Apify is the obvious choice.
Try Apify FREEApify, Scrapy, or Octoparse? We tested the 3 most popular web scraping tools for 3 months on real projects. Here's the complete comparison with our recommendations based on your use case.
Quick Comparison: Apify vs Scrapy vs Octoparse
| Criteria | Apify | Scrapy | Octoparse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ready scrapers | 1,500+ | 0 (code required) | ~100 |
| Cloud infrastructure | ✓ Included | ✕ Self-hosted | ✓ Included |
| Proxies | ✓ Residential | ✕ External | ✓ Basic |
| Automation | ✓ Advanced | Custom code | Basic |
| API & Webhooks | ✓ Complete | Custom | Limited |
| Starting price | $0 (Free) | $0 (Open source) | $75/month |
| WINNER | 🏆 | 🥈 | 🥉 |
Apify: The Best All-in-One
Apify is our #1 choice for 90% of use cases. Why? Because Apify combines ease of use, power, and scalability in one platform.
Apify Advantages
- 1,500+ ready scrapers — Instagram, LinkedIn, Google Maps, Amazon, etc. No coding needed
- Cloud infrastructure — Automatic scalability, no servers to manage
- Residential proxies included — Avoid blocks without configuration
- Advanced automation — Scheduling, webhooks, Zapier/Make integrations
- Excellent documentation — Guides, tutorials, active community
Apify Disadvantages
- Credit-based pricing (can get expensive at scale)
- Learning curve for advanced features
When to Choose Apify?
Choose Apify if you want:
- Start quickly without coding
- Scrape popular sites (Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.)
- Scalable cloud infrastructure
- Automate your workflows
Scrapy: Most Flexible (But Complex)
Scrapy is an ultra-powerful open-source Python framework. If you're a developer and need total control, Scrapy is excellent. But it requires code for everything.
Scrapy Advantages
- Total flexibility — You control 100% of behavior
- Open source & free — No license costs
- Performant — Optimized for speed
- Large community — Lots of resources and plugins
Scrapy Disadvantages
- Requires advanced Python skills
- No ready-to-use scrapers
- Infrastructure to manage yourself (servers, proxies, etc.)
- Long development time
Octoparse: Easy But Limited
Octoparse is a no-code tool with visual interface. Good for beginners, but limited compared to Apify.
Octoparse Advantages
- Visual interface — Point-and-click, no code
- ~100 ready scrapers — Popular sites covered
- Cloud hosting — No servers to manage
Octoparse Disadvantages
- Fewer scrapers than Apify (100 vs 1,500+)
- Limited automation
- Basic proxies (no residential)
- More expensive than Apify at equal volume
Pricing Comparison 2026
| Plan | Apify | Scrapy | Octoparse |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free/Starter | $0 ($5 credits) | $0 (open source) | $75/month |
| Pro | $49/month | Server cost (~$50) | $209/month |
| Team/Business | $499/month | Server cost (~$200) | $479/month |
Our Final Recommendation
🏆 Choose Apify if:
- • You want to start fast
- • You scrape popular sites
- • You want cloud infrastructure
- • You need automation
🥈 Choose Scrapy if:
- • You're a Python developer
- • You want total control
- • You have custom needs
- • Very limited budget
🥉 Choose Octoparse if:
- • You're absolute beginner
- • Very simple needs
- • No code at all
- • High budget OK
For 90% of cases: Apify is the best choice 🏆
Apify vs Scrapy vs Octoparse FAQ
Apify or Scrapy: which to choose?
Choose Apify if you want to start quickly with 1,500+ ready scrapers. Choose Scrapy if you're a Python developer and need total control.
Is Apify better than Octoparse?
Yes, Apify offers 15x more scrapers (1,500+ vs 100), residential proxies, and more advanced automation than Octoparse.
Try the Winner: Apify
$5 free credits • 1,500+ scrapers • Cloud infrastructure included
Start with Apify FREE