# Apify vs Octoparse

Source: https://nachonacho.com/compare/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.

## At a glance

| | 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 |

## Which to 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

## 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.

## 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.

## Product pages

- Apify: https://nachonacho.com/product/Apify
- Octoparse: https://nachonacho.com/product/octoparse