Firecrawl vs Apify: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Firecrawl 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. Porkbun is our overall Developer Tools pick. Jotai is our free Developer Tools pick. Pick Firecrawl if you need a free tier to start with.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Firecrawl
Turn websites into LLM-ready data for your AI applications.
Best for you if:
- • You want provides clean, LLM-ready data for AI applications
- • You want high reliability, covering 96% of the web
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 | Firecrawl | Apify |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.7/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Firecrawl or Apify?
Choose Firecrawl if
Turn websites into LLM-ready data for your AI applications.
- You want provides clean, LLM-ready data for AI applications
- You want high reliability, covering 96% of the web
Choose Apify if
Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows
- You want good web scraping platform
- You want actor marketplace
| Feature | Firecrawl | Apify |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★4.8/5 48 reviews | ★4.7/5 1,201 reviews |
| Categories | Developer ToolsAI Agents | Developer ToolsData & Databases |
In-Depth Analysis
Firecrawl
Turn websites into LLM-ready data for your AI applications.
Firecrawl's pricing is quite fair, especially for the lower tiers, offering good value for developers and small businesses.
Watch out
Overage fees for extra credits can add up.
Strengths
- +Provides clean, LLM-ready data for AI applications
- +High reliability, covering 96% of the web
- +Exceptional speed for real-time applications
- +Open-source and developer-friendly with multiple integration options
- +Offers a free tier for trying out the service
Weaknesses
- -Credit-based pricing model might require careful usage monitoring
- -Advanced AI Agent feature is currently in preview with dynamic pricing
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: Firecrawl vs Apify
| Plan | Firecrawl | Apify |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $0 one-time Free Plan | 0 Free |
| Tier 2 | $16/monthly Hobby | 39 Starter |
| Tier 3 | $83/monthly Standard | 199 Team |
| Tier 4 | $333/monthly Growth | 999 Business |
| Tier 5 | $599 per month Scale | N/A |
| Tier 6 | Custom Enterprise | N/A |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Firecrawl pricing and Apify pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Firecrawl
Want the highest-rated option?
Firecrawl: 4.8/5 (48 reviews). Apify: 4.7/5 (1,201 reviews).
Go with: Firecrawl
Value user reviews?
Firecrawl: 48 reviews (4.8/5). Apify: 1,201 reviews (4.7/5).
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?
Both are developer tools tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Firecrawl 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
Firecrawl
- Higher user rating: 4.8/5 vs 4.7/5
The Bottom Line
Apify wins this matchup. Porkbun is our overall Developer Tools pick. Jotai is our free Developer Tools pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Firecrawl or Apify better?
Apify is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Firecrawl and Apify used for?
Firecrawl: Turn websites into LLM-ready data for your AI applications.. Apify: Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows.
What does Firecrawl cost vs Apify?
Firecrawl is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Apify is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.