Let me take you back to my early days in SaaS and automation—when pulling data from the web meant late nights, broken scripts, and a lot of coffee. Fast forward to 2025, and the landscape has changed dramatically. Web scraping APIs are now the backbone of data-driven business, powering everything from price monitoring to AI model training. But here’s the twist: while APIs are more powerful than ever, AI-driven automation tools like are quietly rewriting the rules of web data extraction.
So, whether you’re a developer, a business analyst, or just someone who’s tired of wrestling with proxies and CAPTCHAs, this guide is for you. I’ll walk you through the top 10 web scraping APIs of 2025—what makes each one tick, who they’re best for, and why AI-first tools might just be your new secret weapon.
Why Consider Thunderbit AI Instead of Traditional Web Scraping APIs?
Before we dive into the API list, let’s talk about the elephant in the room: AI-powered automation. I’ve spent years helping teams automate the boring stuff, and I can tell you—there’s a reason more businesses are skipping code-heavy APIs and going straight to AI agents like Thunderbit.
Here’s what sets Thunderbit apart from traditional web scraping APIs:
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Waterfall-Style API Calls for 99% Success
Thunderbit’s AI doesn’t just call one API and hope for the best. It uses a waterfall pattern—automatically selecting the best scraping method for each job, retrying as needed, and guaranteeing a 99% success rate. You get the data, not the headaches.
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No-Code, Two-Click Setup
Forget about writing Python scripts or fiddling with API docs. With Thunderbit, you just click “AI Suggest Fields” and “Scrape.” That’s it. Even my mom could use it (and she still thinks “the cloud” is just bad weather).
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Batch Scraping: Fast and Accurate
Thunderbit’s AI model can process thousands of different websites in parallel, adapting to each layout on the fly. It’s like having an army of interns—except they don’t ask for coffee breaks.
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Maintenance-Free
Websites change all the time. Traditional APIs? They break. Thunderbit? The AI reads the page fresh every time, so you don’t have to update code when a site tweaks its layout or adds a new button.
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Personalized Data Extraction & Post-Processing
Need your data cleaned, labeled, translated, or summarized? Thunderbit can do that as part of the extraction—think of it as tossing 10,000 web pages into ChatGPT and getting back a perfectly structured dataset.
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Subpage & Pagination Scraping
Thunderbit’s AI can follow links, handle pagination, and even enrich your table with data from subpages—all without custom code.
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Free Data Export & Integrations
Export to Excel, Google Sheets, Airtable, Notion, or download as CSV/JSON—no paywalls, no nonsense.
Here’s a quick comparison to drive it home:
Want to see it in action? Check out the .
What Is a Data Scraping API?
Let’s get back to basics for a second. A data scraping API is a tool that lets you programmatically extract data from websites—without having to build your own scrapers from scratch. Think of it as a robot you can send out to fetch the latest prices, reviews, or listings, and it brings back the data in a nice, structured format (usually JSON or CSV).
How do they work? Most scraping APIs handle the messy parts—rotating proxies, solving CAPTCHAs, rendering JavaScript—so you can focus on what you actually need: the data. You send a request (usually with a URL and some parameters), and the API returns the content, ready for your business workflow.
Main benefits:
- Speed: APIs can scrape thousands of pages per minute.
- Scalability: Need to monitor 10,000 products? No problem.
- Integration: Plug into your CRM, BI tool, or data warehouse with minimal fuss.
But as we’ll see, not all APIs are created equal—and not all of them are as “set and forget” as they claim.
How We Selected the Best Web Scraping APIs for 2025
I’ve spent a lot of time in the trenches—testing, breaking, and sometimes accidentally DDoSing my own servers (don’t tell my old IT team). For this list, I focused on:
- Reliability: Does it actually work, even on tricky sites?
- Speed: How fast can it deliver results at scale?
- Pricing: Is it affordable for startups and scalable for enterprises?
- Scalability: Can it handle millions of requests, or does it fall over at 100?
- Developer-Friendliness: Is the documentation clear? Are there SDKs and code samples?
- Support: When things go sideways (and they will), is help available?
- User Feedback: Real-world reviews, not just marketing fluff.
I also leaned heavily on hands-on testing, review analysis, and feedback from the Thunderbit community (we’re a picky bunch).
The Top 10 Data Scraping APIs for 2025
Ready for the main event? Here’s my up-to-date list of the best web scraping APIs and platforms for business users and developers in 2025.
1. Oxylabs
Overview:
Oxylabs is the heavyweight champ for enterprise-grade web data extraction. With a massive proxy pool and specialized APIs for everything from SERPs to e-commerce, it’s the go-to for Fortune 500s and anyone who needs reliability at scale.
Key Features:
- Huge proxy network (residential, datacenter, mobile, ISP) in 195+ countries
- Scraper APIs with anti-bot, CAPTCHA solving, and headless browser rendering
- Geotargeting, session persistence, and high data accuracy (95%+ success rates)
- OxyCopilot: AI assistant that auto-generates parsing code and API queries
Pricing:
Starts at ~$49/month for a single API, $149/month for all-in-one access. Includes a 7-day free trial with up to 5,000 requests.
User Feedback:
Rated , praised for reliability and support. Main drawback? It’s pricey, but you get what you pay for.
2. ScrapingBee
Overview:
ScrapingBee is the developer’s best friend—simple, affordable, and focused. You send a URL, it handles headless Chrome, proxies, and CAPTCHAs, and returns the rendered page or just the data you need.
Key Features:
- Headless browser rendering (JavaScript support)
- Automatic IP rotation and CAPTCHA solving
- Stealth proxy pool for tough sites
- Minimal setup—just an API call
Pricing:
Free tier with ~1,000 calls/month. Paid plans start at ~$29/month for 5,000 requests.
User Feedback:
Consistently . Developers love the simplicity; non-coders may find it a bit too barebones.
3. Apify
Overview:
Apify is the Swiss army knife of web scraping. You can build custom scrapers (“Actors”) in JavaScript or Python, or use their huge library of pre-built actors for popular sites. It’s as flexible as you need it to be.
Key Features:
- Custom and pre-built scrapers (Actors) for almost any site
- Cloud infrastructure, scheduling, and proxy management included
- Data export to JSON, CSV, Excel, Google Sheets, and more
- Active community and Discord support
Pricing:
Free forever plan with $5/month in credits. Paid plans start at $39/month.
User Feedback:
. Developers love the flexibility; beginners face a learning curve.
4. Decodo (formerly Smartproxy)
Overview:
Decodo (rebranded from Smartproxy) is all about value and ease. It combines robust proxy infrastructure with scraping APIs for general web, SERPs, e-commerce, and social media—all under one subscription.
Key Features:
- Unified scraping API for all endpoints (no more separate add-ons)
- Specialized scrapers for Google, Amazon, TikTok, and more
- User-friendly dashboard with playground and code generators
- 24/7 live chat support
Pricing:
Starts at ~$50/month for 25,000 requests. Free 7-day trial with 1,000 requests.
User Feedback:
Praised for “bang for buck” and responsive support. .
5. Octoparse
Overview:
Octoparse is the no-code champion. If you hate code but love data, this point-and-click desktop app (with cloud features) lets you build scrapers visually and run them locally or in the cloud.
Key Features:
- Visual workflow builder—just click to select data fields
- Cloud extraction, scheduling, and automatic IP rotation
- Templates for popular sites and a marketplace for custom scrapers
- Octoparse AI: integrates RPA and ChatGPT for data cleaning and workflow automation
Pricing:
Free plan for up to 10 local tasks. Paid plans start at $119/month (cloud features, unlimited tasks). 14-day free trial for premium features.
User Feedback:
. Loved by non-coders, but advanced users may hit limits.
6. Bright Data
Overview:
Bright Data is the big kahuna—if you need scale, speed, and every feature under the sun, this is your platform. With the world’s largest proxy network and a powerful scraping IDE, it’s built for enterprise.
Key Features:
- 150M+ IPs (residential, mobile, ISP, datacenter)
- Web Scraper IDE, pre-built data collectors, and ready-to-buy datasets
- Advanced anti-bot, CAPTCHA solving, and headless browser support
- Compliance and legal focus (Ethical Web Data initiative)
Pricing:
Pay-as-you-go: ~$1.05 per 1,000 requests, proxies from $3–$15/GB. Free trials for most products.
User Feedback:
Praised for performance and features, but the pricing and complexity can be a hurdle for smaller teams.
7. WebAutomation
Overview:
WebAutomation is a cloud-based platform designed for non-developers. With a marketplace of pre-built extractors and a no-code builder, it’s perfect for business users who want data, not code.
Key Features:
- Pre-built extractors for popular sites (Amazon, Zillow, etc.)
- No-code extractor builder with point-and-click UI
- Cloud-based scheduling, data delivery, and maintenance included
- Row-based pricing (pay for what you extract)
Pricing:
Project plan at $74/month (~400k rows/year), pay-as-you-go at $1 per 1,000 rows. 14-day free trial with 10 million credits.
User Feedback:
Users love the ease of use and transparent pricing. Support is helpful, and maintenance is handled by the team.
8. ScrapeHero
Overview:
ScrapeHero started as a custom scraping consultancy and now offers a self-service cloud platform. You can use pre-built scrapers for popular sites or request fully managed projects.
Key Features:
- ScrapeHero Cloud: pre-built scrapers for Amazon, Google Maps, LinkedIn, and more
- No-code operation, scheduling, and cloud delivery
- Custom solutions for unique needs
- API access for programmatic integration
Pricing:
Cloud plans start as low as $5/month. Custom projects from $550 per site (one-time).
User Feedback:
Praised for reliability, data quality, and support. Great for scaling from DIY to managed solutions.
9. Sequentum
Overview:
Sequentum is the enterprise Swiss army knife—built for compliance, auditability, and massive scale. If you need SOC-2 certification, audit trails, and team collaboration, this is your tool.
Key Features:
- Low-code agent designer (point-and-click plus scripting)
- Cloud-based SaaS or on-premise deployment
- Built-in proxy management, CAPTCHA solving, and headless browsers
- Audit trails, role-based access, and SOC-2 compliance
Pricing:
Pay-as-you-go ($6/hour runtime, $0.25/GB export), Starter plan at $199/month. $5 free credit on signup.
User Feedback:
Enterprises love the compliance features and scalability. There’s a learning curve, but support and training are top-notch.
10. Grepsr
Overview:
Grepsr is a managed data extraction service—just tell them what you need, and they’ll build, run, and maintain the scrapers for you. Perfect for businesses that want data without the technical hassle.
Key Features:
- Managed extraction (“Grepsr Concierge”)—they set up and maintain everything
- Cloud dashboard for scheduling, monitoring, and downloading data
- Multiple output formats and integrations (Dropbox, S3, Google Drive)
- Pay per data record (not per request)
Pricing:
Starter pack at $350 (one-time extraction), recurring subscriptions are custom-quoted.
User Feedback:
Clients love the hands-off experience and responsive support. Great for non-technical teams and those who value time over tinkering.
Quick Comparison Table: Top Web Scraping APIs
Here’s the cheat sheet for all 10 platforms:
Platform | Supported Data Types | Starting Price | Free Trial | Ease of Use | Support | Notable Features |
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Oxylabs | Web, SERP, e-com, real estate | $49/mo | 7 days/5k req | Dev-oriented | 24/7, enterprise | OxyCopilot AI, huge proxy pool, geo-targeting |
ScrapingBee | General web, JS, CAPTCHA | $29/mo | 1k calls/mo | Simple API | Email, forums | Headless Chrome, stealth proxies |
Apify | Any web, pre-built/custom | Free/$39/mo | Forever free | Flexible, complex | Community, Discord | Actor marketplace, cloud infra, integrations |
Decodo | Web, SERP, e-com, social | $50/mo | 7 days/1k req | User-friendly | 24/7 live chat | Unified API, code playground, great value |
Octoparse | Any web, no-code | Free/$119/mo | 14 days | Visual, no-code | Email, forum | Point-and-click UI, cloud, Octoparse AI |
Bright Data | All web, datasets | $1.05/1k req | Yes | Powerful, complex | 24/7, enterprise | Largest proxy net, IDE, ready datasets |
WebAutomation | Structured, e-com, real estate | $74/mo | 14 days/10M rows | No-code, templates | Email, chat | Pre-built extractors, row-based pricing |
ScrapeHero | E-com, maps, jobs, custom | $5/mo | Yes | No-code, managed | Email, tickets | Cloud scrapers, custom projects, Dropbox delivery |
Sequentum | Any web, enterprise | $0/$199/mo | $5 credit | Low-code, visual | High-touch | Audit trails, SOC-2, on-prem/cloud |
Grepsr | Any structured, managed | $350 one-time | Sample run | Fully managed | Dedicated rep | Concierge setup, pay per data, integrations |
Choosing the Right Web Scraping Tool for Your Business
So, which tool should you pick? Here’s how I break it down for teams I advise:
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If you want no code, instant results, and AI-powered data cleaning:
Go with . It’s the fastest path from “I need data” to “I have data”—and you don’t have to babysit scripts or APIs.
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If you’re a developer who loves control and flexibility:
Try Apify, ScrapingBee, or Oxylabs. These give you the most power, but you’ll need to handle some setup and maintenance.
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If you’re a business user who wants a visual tool:
WebAutomation are fantastic for point-and-click scraping, especially for e-commerce and lead gen.
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If you need compliance, auditability, or enterprise features:
Sequentum is built for you. It’s pricier, but worth it for regulated industries.
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If you just want someone else to handle everything:
Grepsr or ScrapeHero’s managed services are the way to go. You pay a bit more, but your blood pressure will thank you.
And if you’re still not sure, most of these platforms offer free trials—so take them for a spin!
Key Takeaways: Data Scraping APIs in 2025
- Web scraping APIs are now essential for data-driven business—the market is projected to hit .
- Manual scraping is out—between anti-bot tech, proxies, and site changes, APIs and AI tools are the only way to scale.
- Each API/platform has its strengths:
- Oxylabs and Bright Data for scale and reliability
- Apify for flexibility
- Decodo for value
- WebAutomation for no-code
- Sequentum for compliance
- Grepsr for hands-off managed data
- AI-powered automation (like Thunderbit) is changing the game—offering higher success rates, zero maintenance, and built-in data processing that traditional APIs can’t match.
- The best tool is the one that fits your workflow, budget, and technical skills. Don’t be afraid to experiment!
If you’re ready to leave broken scripts and endless debugging behind, give a try—or check out more guides on the for deep dives into scraping Amazon, Google, PDFs, and more.
And remember: in the world of web data, the only thing changing faster than the websites themselves is the technology we use to scrape them. Stay curious, stay automated, and may your proxies never get blocked.