Crawlee vs Apify: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Crawlee and Apify 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 Crawlee if you need a fully free option.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Crawlee
Build reliable and fast web scrapers with ease.
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Apify requires payment)
- • You want simplifies complex web scraping tasks
- • You want supports both JavaScript and Python
Apify
Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows
Best for you if:
- • You want good web scraping platform
- • You want actor marketplace
| At a Glance | Crawlee | Apify |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
Rating | - | 4.7/5G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.8 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Platform credits are consumed by compute (Actor runs), storage (datasets, key-value stores), and proxy bandwidth, all three meters run simultaneously |
Choose Crawlee or Apify?
Choose Crawlee if
Build reliable and fast web scrapers with ease.
- You want a fully free tool (Apify requires payment)
- You want simplifies complex web scraping tasks
- You want supports both JavaScript and Python
Choose Apify if
Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows
- You want good web scraping platform
- You want actor marketplace
| Feature | Crawlee | Apify |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| User Rating | No ratings yet | ★4.7/5 1,201 reviews |
| Categories | Developer ToolsAutomation | Developer ToolsData & Databases |
In-Depth Analysis
Crawlee
Build reliable and fast web scrapers with ease.
Crawlee's pricing is extremely generous, as it offers a completely free tier.
Strengths
- +Simplifies complex web scraping tasks
- +Supports both JavaScript and Python
- +Open-source and free to use
- +Handles common scraping challenges automatically
- +Provides tools for reliable and fast data extraction
Weaknesses
- -Does not automatically fix broken selectors (as stated on the website)
Key features
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
Pricing: Crawlee vs Apify
| Plan | Crawlee | Apify |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | 0 Free |
| Tier 2 | N/A | 39 Starter |
| Tier 3 | N/A | 199 Team |
| Tier 4 | N/A | 999 Business |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Crawlee pricing and Apify pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Crawlee is free. Apify is freemium.
Go with: Crawlee
Want the highest-rated option?
Apify is rated 4.7/5. Crawlee has no ratings yet.
Go with: Apify
Value user reviews?
Crawlee: no ratings yet. Apify: 1,201 reviews (4.7/5).
Go with: Apify
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Crawlee is free. Apify is freemium. Go with Crawlee if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Both are developer tools tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Apify is rated 4.7/5; Crawlee has no ratings yet.
Key Takeaways
Apify
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Crawlee
- Completely free
The Bottom Line
Apify wins this matchup. NinjaOne is our overall Automation pick. Calendly is our free Automation pick. That said, Crawlee is free, hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crawlee or Apify better?
Apify is rated in our evaluation. Crawlee is free and Apify is freemium.
What are Crawlee and Apify used for?
Crawlee: Build reliable and fast web scrapers with ease.. Apify: Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows.
What does Crawlee cost vs Apify?
Crawlee is completely free. Apify is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.