Apify vs Octoparse
Choose Apify if you want cloud-hosted scrapers you can customize with code; choose Octoparse if you want to build scraping tasks visually and run them on your computer or in the cloud. Both offer ready-made tools, free plans, scheduling, APIs, and paid cloud execution. The clearest distinction is how you prefer to build and run a task.
Last updated October 25, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Apify | Octoparse |
|---|---|---|
| Task building | Ready-made Actors or custom code | Templates, AI Assistant, or visual desktop builder |
| Where tasks run | Apify cloud; local Actor development | Local desktop app; cloud runs on paid plans |
| Desktop platforms | Not published | Windows and Mac |
| Paid entry price | Starter: $19/month plus usage | Standard: $83/month; $69/month billed annually |
| Pricing model | Plan credits plus usage charges | Subscription tiers plus optional paid add-ons |
| Free-plan allowance | $5 monthly usage credits | 10 tasks; 50,000 exported rows monthly |
| Free-plan concurrency | 5 concurrent Actor runs | 2 concurrent local runs |
| API access | REST API and JavaScript/Python clients | Data Export API from Standard |
| Workflow integrations | Make, n8n, Zapier, and webhooks | Zapier from Standard |
| File exports | JSON, CSV, XML, Excel, HTML, RSS, JSONL | Excel, CSV, JSON, HTML, XML |
| Scheduling | Scheduled Actor and task runs | Scheduled extraction from Standard |
| Support | Community on Free; chat from Starter | Community on Free; email from Standard |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Apify if
- Developers building custom cloud-hosted scrapers
- Teams running ready-made Actors through an API
- Workflows connected through Make, n8n, or Zapier
- Projects that need cloud runs on a free plan
Choose Octoparse if
- People building scraping tasks without coding
- Users who want to run extractions on their own computer
- Teams that prefer a subscription tier for cloud extraction
- Free-plan users who need up to 50,000 exported rows per month
The verdict
Pick Apify when custom code, API-driven workflows, or running ready-made Actors in the cloud is central to your project. Pick Octoparse when a visual task builder and the option to extract data locally matter more. Compare costs against your expected workload: Apify includes usage credits with its plans and charges for additional usage, while Octoparse offers subscription tiers with separate charges for some add-ons.
Apify vs Octoparse: common questions
- Should I choose Apify or Octoparse if I do not code?
- Octoparse is a fit if you want to build a custom scraping task visually using its desktop app, AI Assistant, or templates. Apify also offers ready-made Actors you can run without building one, but creating a custom Actor involves code.
- Can I run Apify or Octoparse scrapers on my own computer?
- Octoparse supports local extraction through its Windows and Mac desktop app. Apify lets developers build and test Actors locally, then deploy them to run on the Apify cloud.
- How much do Apify and Octoparse cost to start?
- Both have free plans. Apify Starter costs $19 per month plus usage beyond its included credits. Octoparse Standard starts at $83 per month on monthly billing, or $69 per month billed annually.
- What are the free-plan limits for Apify and Octoparse?
- Apify Free includes $5 in monthly usage credits and up to five concurrent Actor runs. Octoparse Free includes 10 tasks, local extraction, and exports of up to 50,000 rows per month, with a 10,000-row limit per export.
- Do both Apify and Octoparse offer cloud scraping?
- Yes. Apify runs deployed Actors in its cloud, including on its free plan within usage limits. Octoparse includes cloud extraction starting with its paid Standard plan; its free plan runs extraction locally.
- Can I connect Apify or Octoparse to other apps?
- Apify publishes integrations for Make, n8n, and Zapier, along with an API and webhooks. Octoparse supports Zapier and offers Data Export API access starting with Standard.
- Can both products schedule recurring scrapes?
- Yes. Apify supports scheduled Actor and task runs. Octoparse includes scheduled extraction starting with its Standard plan.
- How do Apify and Octoparse charge for extra usage?
- Apify plans include monthly usage credits, with additional eligible usage charged beyond those credits on paid plans. Octoparse uses subscription tiers and separately prices some add-ons, including residential proxies, CAPTCHA solving, and certain templates.