Apify vs DataForSEO in 2026: Full Scraping Platform vs SEO Data API
Apify vs DataForSEO is a comparison where the overlap is narrower than it looks. DataForSEO is a specialist — a developer API that exists solely to return SEO data: SERP results, keyword search volumes, difficulty metrics, backlink indexes, and domain analytics. Apify is a generalist scraping platform where SERP scraping is one actor among 4,000+. They can both get you Google results; they cannot do the same job.
The key distinction is data you can only get from a proprietary index vs data you scrape. Keyword search volume, keyword difficulty, and backlink indexes are not scrapeable — they come from DataForSEO's own crawled databases. Apify scrapes what is publicly on a page; DataForSEO sells access to metrics it computes. For a rank tracker or SEO dashboard, you might genuinely need both — SERP positions from either, but volumes and backlinks only from a data provider.
This comparison covers the specialist-vs-generalist split, what each actually returns, where they overlap (SERP), pricing, and the decision framework. Related: [Apify vs SerpApi](/blog/apify-vs-serpapi), [Apify for SEO](/blog/apify-for-seo), [Apify vs ScraperAPI](/blog/apify-vs-scraperapi).
Quick Answer
Apify vs DataForSEO: DataForSEO = specialist developer API for SEO data (SERP, keyword metrics, backlinks). Apify = general scraping platform. SEO-tool builders needing SEO metrics via API → DataForSEO; general scraping → Apify.
Apify vs DataForSEO: DataForSEO = specialist developer API for SEO data (SERP, keyword metrics, backlinks). Apify = general scraping platform. SEO-tool builders needing SEO metrics via API → DataForSEO; general scraping → Apify.
- DataForSEO is a specialist: a developer API for SEO data — SERP results, keyword metrics, backlinks, domain analytics. Apify is a generalist scraping platform.
- For pure SEO-data-at-scale via API: DataForSEO is purpose-built — keyword volumes, SERP features, backlink indexes through one clean API.
- Apify covers SERP scraping too — but it is one actor among thousands, not the whole product.
- The overlap is narrow: both can return SERP data. DataForSEO adds SEO-specific metrics (volumes, difficulty, backlinks) that raw scraping cannot produce.
- Pricing: DataForSEO is usage-based per task — cost-effective at scale for SEO data specifically. Apify is $49/mo platform + usage.
- Verdict: building an SEO tool/dashboard needing volumes + SERP + backlink data via API → DataForSEO. General scraping and non-SEO data needs → Apify. SEO tools often use both.
1. Specialist vs generalist — the real difference
What each product actually is:
- DataForSEO: a developer API returning SEO data — SERP, keyword volumes/difficulty, backlinks, domain metrics. Built to power SEO tools and dashboards.
- Apify: a scraping platform — 4,000+ actors extracting data from websites, including a SERP actor.
- The overlap: SERP results. Everything else is different — DataForSEO sells computed SEO metrics; Apify scrapes page data.
DataForSEO = SEO-data API (volumes, difficulty, backlinks, SERP). Apify = scraping platform (SERP + thousands of sites). They overlap on SERP results only.
2. What only DataForSEO can give you
The proprietary-index advantage:
- Keyword search volume + difficulty: computed metrics from their index — NOT scrapeable from any page.
- Backlink index: their own crawled link graph — scraping cannot reproduce it.
- Historical SERP/domain data: metrics databases, not live pages.
- Bulk keyword/domain analytics at scale through one consistent API.
- The point: these are DATA PRODUCTS, not scraping. Apify cannot scrape what is not on a public page.
Search volume, keyword difficulty, and backlink indexes are proprietary computed metrics — not scrapeable. If you need those, you need a data provider like DataForSEO; no scraper can produce them.
3. Where Apify wins — everything that is not SEO metrics
The generalist home turf:
- Every site besides SERPs: e-commerce, social, reviews, listings, news — Apify's 4,000-actor breadth.
- SERP scraping with flexibility: Apify actors return SERP data too — positions, features, ads — without an API contract.
- Non-developers: run actors with no code; DataForSEO is strictly an API for engineers.
- Pipelines: scheduling, datasets, integrations — Apify is a workflow platform, not a data API.
Apify covers SERP scraping plus thousands of non-SEO sites — and is usable by non-devs. DataForSEO is an engineers' API for SEO metrics specifically.
Apify
4.7Verified partnerWeb scraping and automation platform — Free / $49/mo Starter
4. The SERP overlap — who does rankings better
The one contested capability:
- DataForSEO SERP API: structured, reliable, geo-targeted, at scale — built for feeding rank trackers and dashboards.
- Apify SERP actor: also returns positions and features — fine for monitoring a keyword set.
- For a rank-tracker product at scale: DataForSEO's SERP endpoint is more purpose-built.
- For a marketer monitoring their own keywords: an Apify scheduled scrape is simpler and cheaper.
Both return SERP data. Building a rank-tracking product at scale → DataForSEO endpoint. Monitoring your own keywords → a scheduled Apify scrape is simpler and cheaper.
5. Pricing — API tasks vs platform subscription
Very different billing:
- DataForSEO: pay-per-task/credit — cost-effective at scale for its specific data types; you pay per API call.
- Apify: $49/mo Pro + usage — subscription + compute.
- For SEO-data APIs specifically: DataForSEO is priced for high-volume programmatic use.
- For a broad scraping pipeline: Apify subscription covers more ground.
DataForSEO charges per API task — efficient for high-volume SEO-data programmatic use. Apify charges platform + usage — better for broad scraping pipelines.
6. The "use both" reality for SEO products
Why SEO tool builders run them together:
- DataForSEO: the metrics layer — volumes, difficulty, backlinks, SERP positions for dashboards.
- Apify: the scraping layer — content extraction, competitor page monitoring, anything needing actual page data.
- Example: an SEO tool uses DataForSEO for keyword metrics + Apify to scrape competitor content and on-page elements.
- They are complementary in a mature SEO stack, not rivals.
Mature SEO stacks use both: DataForSEO for computed metrics, Apify for page-level scraping and monitoring. Metrics vs content — different data layers.
7. Decision framework
The 30-second call:
- Need keyword volumes/difficulty/backlinks via API? → DataForSEO (nothing else produces them).
- Building an SEO dashboard/tool? → DataForSEO for metrics + possibly Apify for content scraping.
- Need to scrape websites generally? → Apify.
- Non-developer? → Apify (DataForSEO is API-only).
- Just monitoring your own rankings? → Apify scheduled SERP scrape.
SEO metrics → DataForSEO (proprietary indexes). Website scraping → Apify. Building SEO software → likely both. Monitoring your own ranks → Apify.
Apify
4.7Verified partnerWeb scraping and automation platform — Free / $49/mo Starter
Apify vs DataForSEO is scraping platform vs SEO-data API. DataForSEO sells computed SEO metrics — volumes, difficulty, backlinks, SERP — through a developer API. Apify scrapes website data across thousands of targets. The only overlap is SERP results; everywhere else they serve different jobs.
Need keyword metrics or backlink indexes? That is DataForSEO — no scraper produces those. Need to scrape pages, monitor sites, or run general pipelines? Apify. Building an SEO product? Probably both. Related: Apify vs SerpApi, Apify for SEO, Apify vs ScraperAPI.
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FAQ
Is Apify better than DataForSEO?
Different jobs — DataForSEO is a specialist SEO-data API (volumes, difficulty, backlinks, SERP). Apify is a general scraping platform. For SEO metrics: DataForSEO. For website scraping: Apify.
What is DataForSEO used for?
A developer API returning SEO data — SERP results, keyword search volume and difficulty, backlink indexes, domain analytics. Built to power SEO tools and dashboards.
Can Apify give me keyword search volume?
No — search volume and keyword difficulty are proprietary computed metrics, not scrapeable data. You need a data provider like DataForSEO (or Ahrefs/Semrush APIs) for those.
Can DataForSEO scrape websites?
It returns SEO-related data and SERP results, but it is not a general web scraper — no e-commerce, social, review, or custom-site extraction. That is Apify's domain.
Which is cheaper for rank tracking?
For monitoring your own keywords: a scheduled Apify SERP scrape is cheap and simple. For a rank-tracking product at scale with geo/targeting: DataForSEO's per-task SERP endpoint is more purpose-built and efficient.
Do I need coding for either?
DataForSEO: yes — it is an API for engineers. Apify: no for actors (no-code), yes only for custom actor development.
Can I use Apify and DataForSEO together?
Yes — a common SEO-tool stack: DataForSEO for keyword/backlink/SERP metrics + Apify for scraping competitor content, on-page elements, and non-SEO data. Complementary layers.
Tools mentioned in this article
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Apify
4.7Verified partnerWeb scraping and automation platform — Free / $49/mo Starter
Alex Mercer
AI Marketing Strategist · 8+ years
Alex has tested 200+ AI marketing tools on real campaigns with $50,000+ in ad spend. He writes hands-on reviews based on actual usage data, not press kits. His work has helped 10,000+ marketers build AI automation stacks that generate real ROI.