Quick answer
Web Scraper - Web Scraper wins for most builders who want to experiment for free, because its free tier is unbounded for local use, while Web Scraping API caps free usage at 1,000 requests.
How the free tiers compare
These products solve similar scraping problems but the free tier shapes are very different. Web Scraper gives you a browser extension that is free to use locally with community support, so it is best for trying scraping workflows, building selectors, and running small jobs without a hard usage ceiling. The tradeoff is that the useful cloud automation features sit behind paid plans starting at $50/month. Web Scraping API is more developer-centric: it gives you a free account with 1,000 requests and a 1 request per second limit, which is enough to test an integration but not to run ongoing scraping. Its paid entry point is higher at $99/month. If you want a no-cost place to learn and prototype, Web Scraper is the easier starting point. If you want an API-first product and can live within a small free quota, Abstract is cleaner.
Web Scraper vs Web Scraping API free tier, side by side
| Web Scraper FTV 95 | Web Scraping API FTV 42 | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier A is unbounded locally; B is capped. | Local use only | 1,000 requests included per free account |
| Free tier support | Community support only | Not specified |
| Free tier rate limit B has an explicit free-tier throttle. | Not specified | 1 request per second |
| Paid entry price A starts cheaper once you move to paid cloud usage. | $50/mo | $99 / month |
| First paid plan quota Different units, so compare by workload shape rather than raw numbers. | 5,000 URL credits, 2 parallel tasks | 60,000 requests / year, 3 requests per second |
After you outgrow the free tier
Web Scraper starts with a free local-only extension, then moves to flat-priced cloud plans at $50, $100, and $200+ per month, with higher tiers adding more URL credits, more parallel tasks, and longer retention. Web Scraping API starts with a free request quota, then jumps to a $99/month Standard plan with annual request limits and a higher request-per-second cap. For small teams that need cloud automation, Web Scraper is cheaper at the entry point. Abstract is more expensive to start, but its model is simpler if you just want an API and measured request usage.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Web Scraper | Web Scraping API |
|---|---|---|
| light testing only A free tier is local-only, not cloud-hosted. | Free (local use only) | Free (within 1,000 requests) |
| small cloud workflow A’s Project plan includes 5,000 URL credits and 2 parallel tasks. | $50/mo | $99/mo |
| more active scraping team B’s Standard plan is still the same flat price, but it is limited to 60,000 requests/year and 3 requests/second. | $100/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 Web Scraper when…
- You want to prototype scrapers locally with no hard free usage cap.
- You are okay with browser extension workflows and point-and-click setup.
- You need to test scraping logic on a few sites before paying for cloud automation.
- You do not need API access, scheduling, or cloud execution yet.
Pick Web Scraping API when…
- You want an API-first scraping tool for application integration.
- You only need a small free allowance to validate a workflow or proof of concept.
- You care more about request-based access than building scrapers in a browser extension.
- You want a developer-facing service with a clear request quota and rate limit from day one.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Web Scraper is the better free-tier starting point because it lets you work locally without a hard cap and without a credit card. That makes it more forgiving for learning, prototyping, and occasional scraping. Web Scraping API is the better pick only if you want an API-first workflow and are happy with a small free request allowance. Once you need paid cloud usage, Web Scraper also starts cheaper at $50/month versus $99/month.
Read the full listings: Web Scraper and Web Scraping API. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.