Quick answer
Web Scraper - Web Scraper wins for most builders who want a genuinely free tier with no hard usage cap, while Data Miner is better if you need a capped monthly quota inside the browser and can stay under 500 pages.
How the free tiers compare
The two products solve similar scraping jobs, but their free tiers are built for different stages. Data Miner gives you a limited recurring allowance: 500 pages per month, public recipes, recipe creation, and next-page automation, with some domain restrictions. That makes it useful if you want a simple browser extension and can live inside a small quota. Web Scraper is the stronger free option for most builders because its browser extension is free for local use without a stated monthly cap, but the tradeoff is clear: the free tier is local only and community support only. Once you move into paid plans, the paths diverge. Data Miner stays flat-priced and page-based, while Web Scraper moves you into cloud automation with URL credits, parallel tasks, retention limits, and a tiered Scale plan.
Data Miner vs Web Scraper free tier, side by side
| Data MinerFTV 59 | Web ScraperFTV 95 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free monthly usageData Miner is capped; Web Scraper's free tier is unbounded but local-only. | 500 pages/month | Local use only, no stated quota |
| Recipe creationData Miner explicitly allows creating new recipes on free. | Yes | Not stated in free tier |
| AutomationWeb Scraper's cloud automation starts in paid plans. | Next page automation | Local extension only |
| SupportOnly Web Scraper's free tier support is specified. | Not stated | Community support only |
| Credit card requirementBoth products explicitly say free access does not require a card. | No credit card required | No credit card required |
After you outgrow the free tier
Data Miner uses flat monthly pricing tied to page quotas, starting at $19.99/mo for 500 pages and scaling to $200/mo for 9,000 pages, with custom enterprise pricing above that. Web Scraper also starts flat, but its paid path is cloud-based and quota-driven: $50/mo for 5,000 URL credits and 2 parallel tasks, $100/mo for 20,000 credits and 3 parallel tasks, then Scale from $200/mo with unlimited URL credits and 2+ parallel tasks. For small-team cloud use, Web Scraper is the more capable paid platform; for lightweight browser scraping, Data Miner is cheaper at the entry point.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Data Miner | Web Scraper |
|---|---|---|
| 500 pages/moData Miner's free tier matches the Solo quota exactly; Web Scraper free is not quota-based but local-only. | $19.99/mo | Free (local use only) |
| 1,000 pages/moData Miner's Small Business plan includes 1,000 pages/month; Web Scraper pricing is in URL credits, so this is only a rough usage comparison. | $49/mo | $50/mo |
| 4,000 pages/moData Miner's Business plan includes 4,000 pages/month; Web Scraper's Project plan is 5,000 URL credits. | $99/mo | $50/mo |
| 9,000 pages/moData Miner's Business Plus covers 9,000 pages/month; Web Scraper would need Scale from $200/mo for unlimited URL credits. | $200/mo | $100/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Data Miner when…
- You only need about 500 pages a month and want a simple recurring quota.
- You want to use public recipes and create new recipes inside the browser extension.
- You are okay staying local and do not need cloud automation or team features.
- You want a known flat monthly cost starting at $19.99 and can predict your usage.
Pick Web Scraper when…
- You want a free option for ongoing local scraping without a stated monthly cap.
- You are testing scrapers on small projects and do not want to hit a monthly page limit.
- You only need the browser extension and are fine with community support.
- You expect to move into cloud automation later and want clear paid tiers with URL credits and parallel tasks.
Bottom line
For the most common builder, Web Scraper is the better free-tier choice because it lets you keep scraping locally without a hard monthly cap. Choose Data Miner if you want a Chrome or Edge extension with an explicit monthly allowance, recipe creation, and simple paid upgrades. The main tradeoff is that Data Miner’s free tier is easier to understand but easier to outgrow, while Web Scraper’s free tier stays open longer but keeps you out of cloud automation until you pay.
Read the full listings: Data Miner and Web Scraper. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.