Capture vs ScrapFly
Screenshot APIs vs Advanced Web Scraping. Two different approaches to web automation: simple visual capture vs complex data extraction with anti-bot capabilities.
Service Philosophy
Visual Automation vs Data Extraction
Two fundamentally different approaches to web automation with some overlapping capabilities.
- CCapture
Primary Focus: Visual web automation
Core Strength: Screenshots, PDFs, simple content extraction
Philosophy: Easy-to-use APIs for common web automation tasks
Best For: Developers who need reliable visual capture with some data extraction- SScrapFly
Primary Focus: Advanced web scraping and data extraction
Core Strength: Anti-bot detection, AI extraction, scale
Philosophy: Professional-grade scraping infrastructure
Best For: Data companies needing large-scale extraction with screenshots as bonus
Different Tools for Different Jobs
Neither service is “better” - they excel in different areas and serve different primary use cases.
| Feature | Capture | ScrapFly |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Screenshot APIs with content extraction | Web scraping with screenshot capabilities |
| Starting Price | $15 for 2,500 credits | $30/month with 1,000 free credits |
| Cost per Operation | $0.003 - $0.006 per screenshot | $4.9 per 1,000 scrapes (above industry avg of $3.2) |
| Free Tier | 100 credits forever | 1,000 credits trial |
| Anti-bot Capabilities | Basic cookie/banner handling | Advanced anti-bot detection bypass |
| Screenshot Features | Primary focus with full-page and element capture | Add-on feature (up to 10 screenshots per scrape) |
| Web Scraping Features | Basic content extraction | Advanced scraping with AI extraction |
| Scale & Volume | 17M+ requests processed | 5B+ API requests monthly (30K+ users) |
| Developer Experience | Modern SDKs (Node.js, Go, Rust) | REST API with comprehensive documentation |
| AI Features | AI browser for web browsing capabilities | AI extraction + LLM query engine |
| Proxy Infrastructure | Standard infrastructure | Advanced proxy rotation and residential proxies |
| Learning Curve | Simple screenshot APIs, easy to start | Complex scraping configurations |
Different Approaches to Web Automation
See how each service approaches the same web automation task with different philosophies.
Capture: Screenshot-First Approach
ScrapFly: Scraping-First with Screenshots
Strengths & Ideal Use Cases
Understanding when each service excels helps choose the right tool for your specific needs.
CCapture Strengths
Screenshot Quality & Speed
Optimized specifically for high-quality visual capture with fast response times and reliable rendering.
Developer Experience
Modern SDKs, clean APIs, and comprehensive documentation make integration straightforward.
Cost-Effective
Starting at $15 vs ScrapFly's $30, with pay-per-use flexibility and no monthly commitments.
Multi-API Platform
Screenshots, PDFs, content, metadata, and AI browser in one integrated platform.
SScrapFly Strengths
Anti-Bot Excellence
Industry-leading anti-bot detection bypass for scraping heavily protected websites at scale.
Massive Scale
5B+ API requests monthly with infrastructure built for enterprise-level data extraction.
AI-Powered Extraction
Advanced AI extraction and LLM query engine for intelligent data processing.
Advanced Infrastructure
Residential proxies, JavaScript rendering, and sophisticated anti-detection measures.
Which Service Should You Choose?
Choose based on your primary use case: visual automation vs data extraction at scale.
Choose Capture if:
- Screenshots are your primary need with some content extraction
- You want simple, straightforward web automation APIs
- Budget is a key consideration ($15 vs $30 starting price)
- You prefer modern SDKs with better developer experience
- You need PDF generation alongside screenshots
- You want multiple APIs (screenshots, PDFs, metadata, AI browser) in one platform
- You're building simple to moderate web automation applications
- You prefer pay-per-use flexibility without monthly commitments
Choose ScrapFly if:
- Web scraping is your primary need with occasional screenshots
- You need advanced anti-bot detection and bypass capabilities
- You're scraping at very high volumes (millions of pages)
- You need AI-powered data extraction and LLM querying
- You're dealing with heavily protected websites
- You need advanced proxy infrastructure and rotation
- You're building complex data extraction pipelines
- You have budget for premium scraping infrastructure ($30+ monthly)
Real-World Application Scenarios
See how each service fits different business and technical requirements.
E-commerce Monitoring
Capture Approach
Perfect for visual monitoring, price comparison screenshots, and product catalog automation.
- • Screenshot product pages for visual comparisons
- • Generate PDF catalogs from web pages
- • Extract basic product metadata
- • Cost: ~$0.003-0.006 per product page
ScrapFly Approach
Ideal for large-scale data extraction with anti-bot protection and AI-powered analysis.
- • Scrape detailed product data from protected sites
- • Bypass sophisticated anti-bot measures
- • AI extraction of structured product information
- • Cost: ~$4.9 per 1,000 product pages
Social Media Monitoring
Capture Approach
Great for visual social media monitoring and report generation.
- • Screenshot social media posts for reports
- • Generate PDF reports with visual content
- • Simple mention and hashtag monitoring
- • Easy integration with existing workflows
ScrapFly Approach
Better for large-scale social media data extraction and sentiment analysis.
- • Extract detailed engagement metrics and comments
- • Bypass rate limiting and anti-scraping measures
- • AI-powered sentiment analysis and content classification
- • Handle complex authentication flows
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use both services together?
Absolutely! Many users combine Capture for visual tasks (screenshots, PDFs) with ScrapFly for complex data extraction. This gives you the best of both worlds without the complexity of ScrapFly for simple screenshot tasks.
Is ScrapFly worth the higher cost for screenshots?
Only if you need the scraping capabilities too. For pure screenshot needs, Capture is more cost-effective. ScrapFly's screenshot feature is designed as an add-on to their scraping service, not as a standalone solution.
Which has better anti-bot capabilities?
ScrapFly has significantly better anti-bot detection bypass - it's their core strength. Capture handles basic cookie banners and standard websites well, but isn't designed for heavily protected sites.
Can ScrapFly replace all of Capture's features?
No, they serve different purposes. ScrapFly doesn't offer dedicated PDF generation, AI browser capabilities, or metadata extraction. It's primarily focused on data extraction with screenshots as a secondary feature.
Choose the Right Tool for Your Needs
Start with Capture for visual automation and simple content extraction, or try ScrapFly for advanced data extraction and anti-bot capabilities.