Apify vs Bright Data: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Apify and Bright Data side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Apify leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Apify
Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
Bright Data
Unlock any website for large-scale, reliable web data collection
Best for you if:
- • You want proxy network leader
| At a Glance | ||
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | From $250/mo, billed monthly Data Solutions plan |
Category | Developer Tools Automation | Data & Databases Developer Tools |
Rating | 4.7/5 G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.8 1,201 reviews | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 346 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | Platform credits are consumed by compute (Actor runs), storage (datasets, key-value stores), and proxy bandwidth, all three meters run simultaneously | Minimum spend for 'Data Solutions' and 'Managed Data'. |
Choose Apify or Bright Data?
Choose Apify if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want good web scraping platform
- You want actor marketplace
- You work in developer tools, not data & databases
Choose Bright Data if
- You want proxy network leader
- You want many proxy types
- You work in data & databases, not developer tools
In-Depth Analysis
Apify
Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows
Apify Free tier gives you $5/month in platform credits, enough to run small scraping jobs and test Actors.
Watch out
Platform credits are consumed by compute (Actor runs), storage (datasets, key-value stores), and proxy bandwidth, all three meters run simultaneously
Strengths
- Pro: Good web scraping platform
- Pro: Actor marketplace
- Pro: Proxy management
- Pro: Scheduled runs
- Pro: Good documentation
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive at scale
- Con: Compute pricing complex
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Rate limits
- Con: Some actors low quality
Key features
Bright Data
Unlock any website for large-scale, reliable web data collection
Bright Data's pricing is generally on the expensive side, particularly for their 'Managed Data' starting at $1500/month and 'Data Solutions' from $250/month.
Watch out
Minimum spend for 'Data Solutions' and 'Managed Data'.
Strengths
- Pro: Proxy network leader
- Pro: Many proxy types
- Pro: Web scraping tools
- Pro: Good API
- Pro: Enterprise scale
Weaknesses
- Con: Expensive
- Con: Complex pricing
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Ethical concerns
- Con: Compliance requirements
Key features
Plans and prices: Apify vs Bright Data
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Apify |
| apify.com/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
| Bright Data |
| brightdata.com/pricing read Oct 2, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Apify pricing and Bright Data pricing.
Key Takeaways
Apify
- Has a free plan
Bright Data
- Choose if you want unlock any website for large-scale, reliable web data collection
What the data shows
On the data below, Apify leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.7/5 from 1,201 reviews for Apify, 4.6/5 from 346 reviews for Bright Data).
- Bright Data starts at $250/mo, billed monthly; Apify has no public paid plan price on file.
- Only Apify has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Apify and Bright Data compare in 2026?
On the data below, Apify leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.7/5 from 1,201 reviews for Apify, 4.6/5 from 346 reviews for Bright Data). Bright Data starts at $250/mo, billed monthly; Apify has no public paid plan price on file. Only Apify has a free plan.
What are Apify and Bright Data used for?
Apify: Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows. Bright Data: Unlock any website for large-scale, reliable web data collection.
What does Apify cost vs Bright Data?
Apify has no public paid-plan price on file. Bright Data's cheapest paid plan is Data Solutions at $250/mo, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Apify and Bright Data?
Apify's main strength: good web scraping platform. Bright Data's main strength: proxy network leader.