Source-based comparisons

11 web scraping tools, compared.

Official product docs, repository licenses and pricing reviewed on September 15, 2026. Maintained by Webclaw; this is a documentation comparison, not a performance benchmark.

Web scraping and extraction APIs compared on language, starting price, licence, self-hosting and MCP support.
Tool	Product	From	License / source scope	Deployment scope	MCP
webclaw	Hosted API and OSS core	$19/mo — 5,000 credits	AGPL-3.0 core	Core server; managed features differ	Official CLI / MCP
Firecrawl	Hosted extraction API	Hobby: $19/month · 5,000 credits	AGPL-3.0 server	Docker Compose; cloud feature differences	Official MCP
Crawl4AI	Python crawler	Self-hosted software: no subscription fee	Apache-2.0 text plus an added attribution requirement	Python or Docker API	MCP in Docker deployment
Apify	Actors and Crawlee	Starter: $19/month plus usage	Crawlee: Apache-2.0; MCP: MIT; hosted platform separate	Crawlee and local Actors; hosted platform is separate	Official MCP
ScrapingBee	Hosted extraction API	Hobby: $19/month · 75,000 credits	MIT CLI; SDK terms differ; hosted API separate	CLI/SDKs run locally and call the hosted API	Official remote MCP
ScraperAPI	Hosted extraction API	Hobby: $49/month · 100,000 credits	MIT MCP connector; hosted API is separate	MCP connector can run locally; API remains hosted	Official MCP
Browse.ai	No-code robots	Personal: $48/month billed monthly	Public utility repositories; no hosted-backend license identified	No backend self-hosting documented in reviewed sources	No official MCP found in reviewed integration docs
Zyte	Hosted extraction API	Standard: pay as you go	Scrapy: BSD-3-Clause; agent skills: Zyte EULA; hosted API separate	Client or Scrapy runs locally; Zyte API remains hosted	No official MCP found in reviewed API docs
Bright Data	Hosted data products	Web Scraper API: $1.50/1,000 records, pay as you go	MIT MCP connector; hosted data services are separate	MCP runs locally; retrieval uses hosted services	Official local and remote MCP
Jina Reader	Reader service and code	Token top-ups; no monthly entry plan quoted	Apache-2.0 Reader code; model/asset terms differ	Docker self-hosting documented	Official MCP
Context.dev	Hosted extraction API	Developer: $25/month · 10,000 credits	Apache-2.0 TypeScript/Go/PHP SDKs and CLI; hosted API separate	SDKs/CLI run locally; no hosted-backend self-hosting documented	Official MCP
Scrapfly	Hosted extraction API	Discovery: $30/month · 200,000 credits	MCP package declares ISC; no standalone license file found	MCP connector can run locally; scraping remains hosted	Official MCP

Prices are USD; billing periods and units are stated in each offer. Open-source clients do not imply a self-hostable service backend. Open a comparison for claim-level sources, limitations and other plans.

1. Firecrawl

Hosted

Firecrawl offers a hosted extraction service and an open-source server under AGPL-3.0. Its cloud product includes scraping, crawling, search and browser interaction.

Pick Firecrawl when: you need Firecrawl’s supported endpoints, browser interaction or ecosystem, or want to operate its open-source server.

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2. Crawl4AI

Python

Crawl4AI is a Python crawler with Markdown, structured extraction, browser control and a self-hosted API. Its LICENSE contains Apache-2.0 text plus an additional attribution requirement. Its docs list the managed Cloud API as closed beta.

Pick Crawl4AI when: you want a Python crawler with control over browser execution and extraction strategies.

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3. Apify

Actors

Apify is a hosted platform for running Actors, including general-purpose website crawling and site-specific data tools. Crawlee is its separate open-source crawling library.

Pick Apify when: an existing Actor, custom workflow, scheduling or dataset storage fits your application.

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4. ScrapingBee

Hosted

ScrapingBee provides a hosted scraping API with JavaScript rendering, screenshots, browser scenarios, extraction rules and AI extraction. It also offers search APIs and an official remote MCP server.

Pick ScrapingBee when: you need its browser scenarios, dedicated site APIs or existing ScrapingBee integration.

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5. ScraperAPI

Hosted

ScraperAPI offers managed retrieval, JavaScript rendering, structured data endpoints and crawler workflows. Its official MCP server exposes text, Markdown and structured results to agents.

Pick ScraperAPI when: its structured target endpoints, async jobs or current integration match your workload.

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6. Browse.ai

No-code

Browse AI is a hosted no-code scraping and monitoring platform. Users configure robots and can run approved robots, retrieve results and start bulk runs through its REST API.

Pick Browse.ai when: you prefer visual extraction setup, monitoring and spreadsheet or workflow integrations.

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7. Zyte

Hosted

Zyte API is a hosted service for HTTP retrieval, browser automation and automatic structured extraction. Its Python client and Scrapy integrations are separate from the hosted backend.

Pick Zyte when: you need Zyte’s browser automation or automatic extraction within a Python or Scrapy workflow.

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8. Bright Data

Hosted

Bright Data offers several products: Web Unlocker, Browser API, Web Scraper API, search and MCP. Markdown, structured JSON and browser automation are documented capabilities.

Pick Bright Data when: you need its supported platform datasets, browser automation, geotargeting or data collection products.

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9. Jina Reader

Reader

Jina Reader converts URLs into model-friendly content and offers web search through s.jina.ai. Its Reader code is Apache-2.0 and documents Docker self-hosting; model and bundled-asset terms are separate.

Pick Jina Reader when: you want its read/search interface, token-based access or a self-hosted Reader deployment.

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10. Context.dev

Hosted

Context.dev offers scraping, crawling, structured extraction, screenshots, document parsing and brand data. It documents MCP, a CLI and SDKs for five languages.

Pick Context.dev when: you need brand profiles, logos or design-system data alongside web extraction.

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11. Scrapfly

Hosted

Scrapfly offers scraping, cloud browser, screenshot, extraction and crawler APIs. Its official MCP integration supports page retrieval, browser interactions and AI extraction.

Pick Scrapfly when: its browser controls, extraction models or crawler workflow fit your application.

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