Quick answer
ScreenshotOf - ScreenshotOf wins for most builders because its free tier is much more usable at 1,000 requests per day with no API key, while Website Screenshot API is better only if you need a smaller, rate-limited free allotment from a broader API platform.
How the free tiers compare
These two free tiers are aimed at different kinds of early usage. ScreenshotOf is the more generous starter option: it gives you enough daily volume to run lightweight automation, test integrations, or batch a modest backlog without immediately hitting a monthly ceiling, and it includes PNG, Markdown, JSON, and multiple screenshot sizes. It is also lower friction because no API key is required for the free tier. Website Screenshot API is tighter but more conventional for a SaaS API: 100 requests per month and a 1 request/second limit, which is fine for occasional checks, demos, or very small projects, but not for sustained use. Its paid path is clearer too, with a published $99/month Standard plan. If you are choosing a free tier, ScreenshotOf is the better fit for most builders who want to actually use the product rather than just evaluate it.
ScreenshotOf vs Website Screenshot API free tier, side by side
| ScreenshotOf FTV 54 | Website Screenshot API FTV 40 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free requests A resets daily, B resets monthly. | Up to 1,000 requests per day | 100 requests per month |
| API key required for free tier A explicitly says no API key. | No | Not stated as required in the provided data |
| Output formats B may support more, but it is not listed in the supplied facts. | PNG, Markdown, JSON | Not specified in the provided free-tier items |
| Screenshot size options A includes multiple size choices in the free tier. | 128, 256, 512, 2048 | Not specified |
| Rate limit B has a published free-tier throughput cap. | Not specified | 1 request per second |
After you outgrow the free tier
ScreenshotOf does not publish a price for its first paid step here, only a contact-sales premium screenshot API with higher rate limits and dependable service, so costs after free are not stated. Website Screenshot API has a clear flat paid step: Standard at $99/month for 60,000 requests and 3 requests/second, with Enterprise by custom quote. That means B has a known jump from free to $99/month, while A’s paid cost is unknown from the provided data. For typical small-team usage, A is cheaper only if the free tier is enough; otherwise B has the clearer published price.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | ScreenshotOf | Website Screenshot API |
|---|---|---|
| 50 requests/month Both fit inside their free plans. | Free (within tier) | Free (within tier) |
| 100 requests/month B reaches its full free allowance here. | Free (within tier) | Free (within tier) |
| 500 requests/month A can handle this on the free tier because it is under 1,000/day. | Free (within tier) | Not available on free tier; would require paid plan at $99/mo |
| 60,000 requests/month A has no published paid price in the provided data. | Contact sales / varies by usage | $99/mo |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick ScreenshotOf when…
- You want to automate a small daily batch of homepage screenshots without worrying about a 100-request monthly cap.
- You need PNG, Markdown, and JSON outputs in the free tier.
- You want to test a screenshot workflow quickly without creating an API key first.
- You are capturing homepages for many sites over time and can tolerate a few seconds delay for some non-top-1-million sites.
Pick Website Screenshot API when…
- You only need occasional screenshots for QA, previews, or monitoring and 100 requests/month is enough.
- You want a straightforward published paid upgrade path at $99/month if the free tier runs out.
- You prefer a broader abstract API platform and do not mind the tighter free quota.
- You are building a very low-volume tool where 1 request per second and 100 monthly requests are acceptable.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, ScreenshotOf is the better free tier because it is usable in real work, not just a quick demo. The daily cap is still a cap, but 1,000 requests per day plus no API key and multiple output formats gives you room to build and test. Website Screenshot API is the safer choice only if you know 100 requests per month is enough and you want a published $99/month upgrade path when it is not.
Read the full listings: ScreenshotOf 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.