Apify vs Octoparse: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Apify and Octoparse comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Apify wins this matchup. NinjaOne is our overall Automation pick. Calendly is our free Automation pick. Pick Octoparse if you need no-code.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Apify
Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows
Best for you if:
- • You want good web scraping platform
- • You want actor marketplace
Octoparse
No-code web scraping with cloud and local extraction
Best for you if:
- • You want a real free forever plan, not a 7-day trial. 50K export rows is enough to test a site
- • You want printed Standard and Professional numbers plus a 5-day money-back window
| At a Glance | Apify | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Developer Tools | No-Code |
Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.8/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Apify or Octoparse?
Choose Apify if
Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows
- You want good web scraping platform
- You want actor marketplace
- Your work is developer tools-shaped, not no-code-shaped
Choose Octoparse if
No-code web scraping with cloud and local extraction
- You want a real free forever plan, not a 7-day trial. 50K export rows is enough to test a site
- You want printed Standard and Professional numbers plus a 5-day money-back window
- Your work is no-code-shaped, not developer tools-shaped
| Feature | Apify | Octoparse |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.7/5 1,201 reviews | ★4.8/5 52 reviews |
| Categories | Developer ToolsData & Databases | No-CodeDeveloper Tools |
In-Depth Analysis
Apify
Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows
The credit-based model means you pay for what you use (compute, storage, proxy bandwidth), but costs can be unpredictable, a single misconfigured Actor can burn through credits in hours.
Watch out
Platform credits are consumed by compute (Actor runs), storage (datasets, key-value stores), and proxy bandwidth, all three meters run simultaneously
Strengths
- +Good web scraping platform
- +Actor marketplace
- +Proxy management
- +Scheduled runs
- +Good documentation
Weaknesses
- -Expensive at scale
- -Compute pricing complex
- -Learning curve
- -Rate limits
- -Some actors low quality
Key features
Octoparse
No-code web scraping with cloud and local extraction
The Free tier is generous for local scraping, and Standard at $69/mo is fair for cloud extraction with proxies and CAPTCHA solving.
Watch out
Free tier is local only, cloud extraction requires paid plan
Strengths
- +A real free forever plan, not a 7-day trial. 50K export rows is enough to test a site.
- +Printed Standard and Professional numbers plus a 5-day money-back window.
- +Cloud concurrency is explicit: 3 runs on Standard, 20 on Professional.
Weaknesses
- -Free cannot schedule in the cloud. Overnight jobs need Standard.
- -Not an API-first crawler. Engineering teams that want code usually pick Scrapy, Crawlee, or Browserless.
Key features
Pricing: Apify vs Octoparse
| Plan | Apify | Octoparse |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 0 Free | Free Free |
| Tier 2 | 39 Starter | $69/mo Standard |
| Tier 3 | 199 Team | $249/mo Professional |
| Tier 4 | 999 Business | Contact us Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Apify pricing and Octoparse pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Apify
Want the highest-rated option?
Apify: 4.7/5 (1,201 reviews). Octoparse: 4.8/5 (52 reviews).
Go with: Octoparse
Value user reviews?
Apify: 1,201 reviews (4.7/5). Octoparse: 52 reviews (4.8/5).
Go with: Apify
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Apify is a developer tools tool. Octoparse is in no-code. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Octoparse is rated higher: 4.8/5 vs 4.7/5.
Key Takeaways
Apify
- Larger review base (1,201 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Octoparse
- Higher user rating: 4.8/5 vs 4.7/5
- Better fit for no-code
The Bottom Line
Apify wins this matchup. NinjaOne is our overall Automation pick. Calendly is our free Automation pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apify or Octoparse better?
Apify is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Apify and Octoparse used for?
Apify: Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows. Octoparse: No-code web scraping with cloud and local extraction.
What does Apify cost vs Octoparse?
Apify is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Octoparse is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.