PhantomBuster vs Apify
Use PhantomBuster if your main job is finding, enriching, and contacting leads through ready-made workflows; use Apify if you need a wider range of web-data tools or want to build your own scrapers. PhantomBuster emphasizes prospecting across major networks, while Apify offers ready-to-run Actors alongside tools for developing custom ones.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | PhantomBuster | Apify |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Lead prospecting and outreach | Web-data tools and custom automation |
| Automation model | Prebuilt Phantoms and Workflows | Store Actors and custom Actors |
| Data sources | 15+ platforms, including LinkedIn | Websites and Actor-specific sources |
| Custom development | No-code workflows | Custom Actors with Docker support |
| Paid starting price | $56/month, billed annually | $19/month plus pay-as-you-go usage |
| Free entry | Free trial; 2 execution hours | Free plan; $5 monthly usage credit |
| Starting paid-plan limits | 20 execution hours/month; 5 slots | $19 usage credit; 32 concurrent runs |
| Integrations | CRMs, Zapier, Make, and n8n | Zapier, Make, n8n, and webhooks |
| API access | Phantom API on paid plans | REST API for platform operations |
| Deployment | Cloud-run Phantoms and Workflows | Cloud-run Actors in Docker containers |
| Exports | 10-row trial limit; unlimited on paid plans | Dataset exports in CSV, JSON, and more |
| Support | Community access listed on all plans | Community on Free; chat on Starter |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose PhantomBuster if
- Sales teams automating LinkedIn prospecting and outreach
- Teams that want ready-made lead-enrichment workflows
- Buyers planning around monthly execution hours and automation slots
- Teams syncing prospect data with HubSpot, Salesforce, or Pipedrive
Choose Apify if
- Developers building custom scraping or automation tools
- Teams crawling websites or collecting data across varied sources
- Buyers who want to choose from ready-to-run Actors
- Teams planning around usage credits and pay-as-you-go costs
The verdict
Pick PhantomBuster when LinkedIn outreach and CRM-ready lead workflows are the deciding factor. Pick Apify when custom scraping, website crawling, or control over the code running your automation matters more. Their prices measure different resources: PhantomBuster plans allot execution time and automation slots, while Apify plans include usage credit and charge for additional use.
PhantomBuster vs Apify: common questions
- Which should I choose for LinkedIn lead generation?
- PhantomBuster is the more direct fit if you want ready-made LinkedIn prospecting, enrichment, and outreach workflows. Apify is an option when LinkedIn data collection is part of a broader web-data workflow.
- Can I build my own scraper with either product?
- Apify publishes tools for building custom Actors, including Docker support and a local development workflow. PhantomBuster presents its product around prebuilt Phantoms and no-code Workflows.
- How do their starting prices compare?
- PhantomBuster lists Start at $56 per month when billed annually. Apify lists Starter at $19 per month plus pay-as-you-go usage, with $19 in included usage credit. These prices cover different kinds of capacity.
- Can I try PhantomBuster and Apify for free?
- PhantomBuster lists a free trial with two execution hours and exports limited to 10 rows. Apify lists an ongoing Free plan with $5 in monthly usage credit.
- What happens when I use up the included capacity?
- PhantomBuster says automations pause when monthly execution time runs out, without automatic overage charges. Apify's paid plans allow pay-as-you-go usage beyond their included credit, subject to platform limits.
- Do both products connect to other tools?
- Yes. PhantomBuster lists CRM integrations including HubSpot, Salesforce, and Pipedrive, plus Zapier, Make, and n8n. Apify lists Zapier, Make, n8n, webhooks, and an API.
- Can I run automations through an API?
- PhantomBuster provides a Phantom API on paid plans, but says Workflows cannot be launched through it. Apify provides a REST API for controlling platform operations, including Actor runs.
- What support is included?
- PhantomBuster's pricing page lists community access across its trial and paid plans. Apify lists community support on Free, chat on Starter, priority chat on Scale, and an account manager on Business.