Provider-source comparison
webclaw vs ScraperAPI
ScraperAPI offers managed retrieval, JavaScript rendering, structured data endpoints and crawler workflows. Its official MCP server exposes text, Markdown and structured results to agents.
Hosted API + AGPL-3.0 open-source core
Standard page operations cost one credit per successful page. Search is metered per result, and Research has a separate allowance. The local open-source core does not include all managed services.
Hosted extraction API
MIT MCP connector; hosted API is separate. MCP connector can run locally; API remains hosted.
Looking for a ScraperAPI alternative?
Evaluate ScraperAPI’s managed retrieval and dedicated structured endpoints alongside Webclaw’s page extraction API. Both have MCP access; the relevant difference is the supported request and billing model.
Features
webclaw vs ScraperAPI feature comparison
Documented capabilities, with a source for each entry. This is a documentation review, not a comparative performance test. An undocumented capability is not treated as unavailable.
Sources and deployment scope
Reviewed 2026-09-15. Maintained by Webclaw. Open-source licenses apply to the named repository, not automatically to a vendor’s entire hosted service.
Pricing
Compare plans for your workload.
Selected public offers in USD, reviewed 2026-09-15. Monthly billing unless explicitly marked annual. These rows are not equivalent workloads or a complete plan catalog; credit definitions, add-ons and taxes differ.
Provider reference checked 2026-09-15. Check current ScraperAPI pricing and terms. Unverified capabilities are not treated as unavailable.
| Offer | webclaw | ScraperAPI |
|---|---|---|
| Free option | 500 credits/month, no card; plus open source (self-host) | 1,000 free credits/month; separate trial offer |
| Entry paid offer | Starter: $19/month · 5,000 credits | Hobby: $49/month · 100,000 credits |
| Another paid offer | Growth: $49/month · 25,000 credits | Startup: $149/month · 1,000,000 credits |
| Higher-volume offer | Pro: $99/month · 100,000 credits | Business: $299/month · 3,000,000 credits |
webclaw credit model
Page operations use credits; Research has a separate allowance. A standard scrape or extract uses one credit. Check the pricing page for operation rates and plan limits.
ScraperAPI credit model
Credits vary by target and options. The pricing page lists 1 for standard pages, 5 for Amazon and 25 for Google/Bing; rendering and other target classes have their own rates. Use the current request calculator.
ScraperAPI strengths
- Managed request handling and structured target APIs
- Official MCP and asynchronous collection workflows
ScraperAPI considerations
- Target and rendering choices affect credit use
- Dedicated structured endpoints have their own supported fields
Verdict
Which one should you use?
Use webclaw when
You want the Webclaw API and dashboard with page-credit billing, or its AGPL-3.0 CLI, MCP and self-hosted core. Managed features and local capabilities differ; test the deployment you intend to use.
Use ScraperAPI when
Its structured target endpoints, async jobs or current integration match your workload.
Evaluate ScraperAPI’s managed retrieval and dedicated structured endpoints alongside Webclaw’s page extraction API. Both have MCP access; the relevant difference is the supported request and billing model.
Get started
See how it stacks up.
Cancel anytime. Run the same job on webclaw and ScraperAPI and compare for yourself.