Scrapy vs Apify: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Scrapy 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 Scrapy if you need a free tier to start with.
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:
Scrapy
The world's most-used open-source framework for fast and powerful web data extraction.
Best for you if:
- • You want open-source and free to use
Apify
Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows
Best for you if:
- • You want good web scraping platform
| At a Glance | Scrapy | Apify |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free Free plan | Free Free plan |
Category | Developer Tools Data & Databases | Developer Tools Data & Databases |
Rating | n/a | 4.7/5 G2 4.7 · Capterra 4.8 1,201 reviews |
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 Scrapy or Apify?
Choose Scrapy if
- You want open-source and free to use
- You want fast and powerful data extraction
Choose Apify if
- You want good web scraping platform
- You want actor marketplace
In-Depth Analysis
Scrapy
The world's most-used open-source framework for fast and powerful web data extraction.
The pricing for Scrapy is exceptionally fair and generous, as both the core framework and the Web Scraping Copilot are offered completely free of charge.
Strengths
- Pro: Open-source and free to use
- Pro: Fast and powerful data extraction
- Pro: Highly customizable with Python
- Pro: Strong community support and extensive documentation
- Pro: Simplifies complex scraping tasks
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires Python knowledge
- Con: Initial setup might have a learning curve for beginners
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
- 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
Pricing: Scrapy vs Apify
| Plan | Scrapy | Apify |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Scrapy | 0 Free |
| Tier 2 | Free to use - No account required Web Scraping Copilot | 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 Scrapy pricing and Apify pricing.
Key Takeaways
Apify
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Scrapy
- Choose if you want the world's most-used open-source framework for fast and powerful web data extraction
The Bottom Line
Apify wins this matchup. NinjaOne is our overall Automation pick. Calendly is our free Automation pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Scrapy or Apify better in 2026?
Apify wins this matchup. NinjaOne is our overall Automation pick. Calendly is our free Automation pick. Pick Scrapy for developer tools workflows (main strength: open-source and free to use). Pick Apify for developer tools workflows (main strength: good web scraping platform).
What are Scrapy and Apify used for?
Scrapy: The world's most-used open-source framework for fast and powerful web data extraction. Apify: Build, run, and scale web scraping and automation workflows.
What does Scrapy cost vs Apify?
Scrapy pricing is on their site. Apify pricing is on their site.
What's the main difference between Scrapy and Apify?
Scrapy's main strength: open-source and free to use. Apify's main strength: good web scraping platform.