Quick answer
Screenshotbase - Screenshotbase wins for most builders because its free tier is larger, faster, and more useful for real testing, while Website Screenshot API is the better fit only if you want a simpler 100-request sandbox from Abstract.
How the free tiers compare
These are both screenshot APIs, but the free tiers are aimed at different stages of use. Screenshotbase gives you 300 screenshots per month and a 4-per-minute cap, so you can actually run small automation jobs, test scrolling captures, and iterate without hitting the ceiling immediately. Website Screenshot API is much tighter at 100 requests per month and 1 request per second, which is fine for occasional checks but not much more. On the paid side, Screenshotbase scales through flat monthly tiers from $15 to $59 and then $210, with quotas that rise in a straightforward way. Website Screenshot API jumps to a $99/month Standard plan, then goes custom at Enterprise. For most builders, Screenshotbase offers more room before you have to pay and a cheaper first step up.
Screenshotbase vs Website Screenshot API free tier, side by side
| ScreenshotbaseFTV 54 | Website Screenshot APIFTV 40 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free monthly quotaA gives 3x the monthly volume. | 300 screenshots/month | 100 requests/month |
| Free rate limitThese are different units, so they are not directly identical, but A is more permissive for short bursts. | Up to 4 screenshots/minute | 1 request/second |
| First paid monthly quotaB's first paid tier jumps much higher, but also costs more. | 3,000 screenshots/month | 60,000 requests/month |
| First paid priceA is far cheaper to get started on paid usage. | $15/month | $99/month |
| API keys on first paid tierOnly A provides an API key quota in the supplied plan data. | 1 | Not stated |
After you outgrow the free tier
Screenshotbase uses flat monthly tiers, starting at $15/month for 3,000 screenshots, then $59/month for 20,000, then $210/month for 75,000. Website Screenshot API also uses flat pricing for its first paid tier, but it starts much higher at $99/month for 60,000 requests before moving to custom Enterprise pricing. Because both are flat, cost divergence is mostly about how early you need to pay and how much included volume you get, not metered overages. For typical small-team usage, Screenshotbase is cheaper and gives more room before upgrading.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Screenshotbase | Website Screenshot API |
|---|---|---|
| 300 screenshots/moB's free tier covers only 100 requests/month. | Free (within tier) | Over free tier; exact cost not stated |
| 1,000 screenshots/moA's Basic plan covers this. B's paid tier pricing is flat but no per-request conversion is provided. | $15/mo | Over free tier; exact cost not stated |
| 3,000 screenshots/moA's Basic tier matches the monthly quota exactly; B's Standard plan is much more expensive but includes far more volume. | $15/mo | $99/mo |
| 20,000 screenshots/moA's Premium tier covers this amount; B's Standard tier also covers it, but at a higher price. | $59/mo | $99/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Screenshotbase when…
- You want to test a screenshot workflow on a small but real volume, like 300 captures a month.
- You need more burst capacity than one request per second, since Screenshotbase allows up to 4 screenshots per minute on free.
- You expect to use scrolling screenshots, custom CSS or JavaScript injection, or location emulation and want a free tier that is closer to production behavior.
- You want a cheaper first paid step, since Screenshotbase starts at $15/month.
- You are building a small internal tool or side project and want more headroom before quota planning matters.
Pick Website Screenshot API when…
- You only need an occasional screenshot API for lightweight checks, previews, or one-off automations.
- You prefer Abstract's ecosystem and are already using other Abstract APIs.
- Your use case is low-volume and the 100-request monthly cap is enough.
- You want to move quickly to a single higher flat plan at $99/month rather than smaller intermediate tiers.
- You care more about the paid plan's included 60,000 requests than about maximizing free-tier volume.
Bottom line
For the most common builder case, Screenshotbase is the better pick. Its free tier is bigger, the throughput cap is more forgiving, and the first paid tier is dramatically cheaper. Website Screenshot API is only the better choice if you specifically want Abstract's product, need a very light volume of screenshots, or value jumping straight to a higher-volume paid plan. If you are trying to get real work done before paying, Screenshotbase gives you more runway.
Read the full listings: Screenshotbase and Website Screenshot API. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.