Apify vs Octoparse: No-Code Scraping Compared
Apify and Octoparse both target users who want web scraping without writing code. But they approach no-code scraping differently. Apify provides pre-built scrapers (actors) for specific platforms — you configure and run them. Octoparse provides a visual point-and-click scraper builder — you click on page elements to define what to extract.
If you need to scrape major platforms quickly, Apify's actors are faster. If you need to scrape custom websites with a visual interface, Octoparse is more intuitive. Here is the comparison.
Quick answer: which should you choose?
Choose Apify if you need to scrape major platforms (LinkedIn, Amazon, Google Maps, TikTok) with pre-built actors. The marketplace has ready-to-use scrapers that return structured data in minutes.
Choose Octoparse if you want a visual point-and-click scraper for custom websites. The interface lets you click on data elements to define extraction rules without coding or API knowledge.
Apify
4.7Verified partnerWeb scraping and automation platform — Free / $49/mo Starter
Head-to-head comparison
We tested both tools on the same task: scraping product listings from an e-commerce directory.
- Model: Apify → actor marketplace (pre-built scrapers); Octoparse → visual point-and-click scraper builder
- Ease of use: Octoparse > Apify for custom sites (visual interface); Apify > Octoparse for platforms (pre-built)
- Pre-built scrapers: Apify > Octoparse (thousands of actors vs limited templates)
- Custom scraping: Octoparse > Apify (visual builder for any site vs actor-dependent)
- Platform: Apify → cloud-based (runs on Apify servers); Octoparse → desktop app + cloud option
- Scheduling: Both support scheduled runs
- Data output: Both export to CSV, JSON, Excel, and databases
- Proxy handling: Apify > Octoparse (built-in proxy rotation vs limited on lower plans)
- JavaScript rendering: Both handle JS-rendered pages
- Pricing: Apify from $49/mo; Octoparse from $75/mo (Standard)
- Free tier: Apify $5/mo credit; Octoparse free plan with 10,000 records
Where Apify wins
Apify wins on pre-built scrapers and cloud infrastructure. For major platforms, Apify actors are maintained by developers who handle page structure changes, proxy rotation, and rate limiting. You do not need to update scraping logic when a platform changes its layout.
Apify also wins on cloud-native design. Everything runs on Apify's servers — no desktop app needed. This means you can schedule scraping jobs, receive webhooks, and integrate with other tools without maintaining infrastructure.
If you need to scrape LinkedIn, Amazon, Google Maps, or TikTok, Apify's pre-built actors save hours compared to building a custom scraper in Octoparse's visual editor.
Where Octoparse wins
Octoparse wins on visual scraping for custom websites. The point-and-click interface is genuinely intuitive — you open a page in the Octoparse browser, click on the data elements you want (product names, prices, images), and Octoparse generates the extraction rules automatically.
For non-technical users who need to scrape websites that do not have Apify actors, Octoparse is more accessible than writing custom code or using an API. The visual workflow makes scraping approachable for marketers and researchers without development resources.
Pricing comparison
Apify: Free with $5 monthly credit. Starter at $49/mo. Pricing based on compute units consumed by actors.
Octoparse: Free plan with 10,000 records per run. Standard at $75/mo (cloud runs, scheduled scraping). Professional at $225/mo (advanced features, more cloud servers). Enterprise at $600/mo.
Apify is cheaper at entry level and more cost-effective for platform scraping. Octoparse is more expensive but includes a more generous free tier (10,000 records vs Apify's $5 credit).
Apify
4.7Verified partnerWeb scraping and automation platform — Free / $49/mo Starter
The verdict by use case
- Scrape LinkedIn/Amazon/Google Maps: Apify — pre-built actors, no configuration needed
- Scrape custom websites visually: Octoparse — point-and-click interface
- Non-technical users with custom scraping needs: Octoparse — visual builder
- Marketing teams needing platform data: Apify — structured output from actors
- Cloud-based workflow: Apify — fully cloud-native
- Desktop-based workflow: Octoparse — desktop app with cloud option
- Budget-conscious: Apify — cheaper at entry level
- Need large free tier: Octoparse — 10,000 records free
Apify and Octoparse serve different no-code scraping needs. Apify is the better choice for scraping major platforms — its actor marketplace provides maintained, ready-to-use scrapers that return structured data. Octoparse is the better choice for visual scraping of custom websites — its point-and-click interface makes scraping accessible without coding or API knowledge. For marketing teams that need platform-specific data, Apify is faster and cheaper. For researchers or marketers who need to scrape niche websites visually, Octoparse is more intuitive. The choice comes down to what you are scraping: platforms favor Apify, custom sites favor Octoparse.
FAQ
Is Octoparse better than Apify?
It depends on what you are scraping. Octoparse is better for scraping custom websites with a visual point-and-click interface — no coding needed. Apify is better for scraping major platforms (LinkedIn, Amazon, Google Maps) with pre-built actors. Choose Octoparse for custom sites, Apify for platform scraping.
Is Octoparse free?
Octoparse offers a free plan with 10,000 records per run and basic features. Paid plans start at $75/month for the Standard plan, which includes cloud runs and scheduled scraping. The free plan is suitable for testing and small scraping tasks.
Does Octoparse require coding?
No, Octoparse is a no-code scraping tool. You use a visual point-and-click interface to select data elements on a webpage, and Octoparse generates the extraction rules automatically. This makes it accessible to marketers and researchers without development skills.
Which is cheaper, Apify or Octoparse?
Apify is cheaper at entry level — Starter plan at $49/month vs Octoparse Standard at $75/month. However, Octoparse has a more generous free tier (10,000 records vs Apify's $5 credit). Apify's pricing is usage-based (compute units), while Octoparse is plan-based with record limits.
Can Octoparse scrape LinkedIn?
Octoparse can scrape LinkedIn, but it requires building a custom scraping workflow in the visual editor. Apify has pre-built LinkedIn actors that are maintained by developers and handle LinkedIn's anti-scraping measures. For LinkedIn specifically, Apify is significantly easier and more reliable.
Tools mentioned in this article
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Apify
4.7Verified partnerWeb scraping and automation platform — Free / $49/mo Starter