Apify vs SerpAPI: 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 SerpAPI side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a 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 good web scraping platform
SerpAPI
Access real-time search engine results from Google, Amazon, Bing, and more via a robust API.
Best for you if:
- • You want access to a wide variety of search engines and specific search types
| At a Glance | Apify | SerpAPI |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan | Free plan, paid from $25/mo, billed monthly Starter plan |
Category | Developer Tools Automation | Data & Databases API Tools |
Rating | 4.7/5 G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.8 1,201 reviews | 4.8/5 G2 4.8 28 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Platform credits are consumed by compute (Actor runs), storage (datasets, key-value stores), and proxy bandwidth, all three meters run simultaneously | ZeroTrace Mode and Priority support only on Free/Enterprise. |
Choose Apify or SerpAPI?
Choose Apify if
- You want good web scraping platform
- You want actor marketplace
- You work in developer tools, not data & databases
Choose SerpAPI if
- You want access to a wide variety of search engines and specific search types
- You want delivers structured data in JSON format, simplifying parsing
- 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
SerpAPI
Access real-time search engine results from Google, Amazon, Bing, and more via a robust API.
SerpAPI's pricing structure is fair, offering a good progression from a generous free tier to scalable paid plans.
Watch out
ZeroTrace Mode and Priority support only on Free/Enterprise.
Strengths
- Pro: Access to a wide variety of search engines and specific search types.
- Pro: Delivers structured data in JSON format, simplifying parsing.
- Pro: Handles proxies and CAPTCHAs automatically.
- Pro: Offers high-speed data retrieval and advanced features like ZeroTrace Mode.
- Pro: Flexible pricing with a free tier and options for various usage levels.
Weaknesses
- Con: Pricing scales with search volume, which can become costly for very high usage.
- Con: Requires technical knowledge to integrate and utilize the API effectively.
- Con: Reliance on third-party search engines means potential for changes in data availability or format.
Key features
Plans and prices: Apify vs SerpAPI
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Apify |
| apify.com/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
| SerpAPI |
| serpapi.com/pricing read Nov 1, 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 SerpAPI pricing.
Key Takeaways
Apify
- Choose if you want build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows
SerpAPI
- Choose if you want access real-time search engine results from Google, Amazon, Bing, and more via a robust API
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.7/5 from 1,201 reviews for Apify, 4.8/5 from 28 reviews for SerpAPI).
- SerpAPI starts at $25/mo, billed monthly; Apify has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have 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 SerpAPI compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.7/5 from 1,201 reviews for Apify, 4.8/5 from 28 reviews for SerpAPI). SerpAPI starts at $25/mo, billed monthly; Apify has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Apify and SerpAPI used for?
Apify: Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows. SerpAPI: Access real-time search engine results from Google, Amazon, Bing, and more via a robust API.
What does Apify cost vs SerpAPI?
Apify has no public paid-plan price on file. SerpAPI's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $25/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Apify and SerpAPI?
Apify's main strength: good web scraping platform. SerpAPI's main strength: access to a wide variety of search engines and specific search types.