Comparison

ZenRows vs. Apify: Stop Configuring, Start Scraping

Apify gives you thousands of Actors. ZenRows gives you data with a single API call. Apify is a powerful automation marketplace. But when you need to scrape protected sites at scale, reliably, predictably, without managing a platform, ZenRows is the Apify alternative built for that job.
Auto-adapts to the site's anti-bot changes.
Production-ready in under 5 minutes. One API key, any language, no Actor setup or platform learning curve.
One flat subscription for all products with no compute surprises.
Never charged for failed requests. You only pay when we deliver.
Try ZenRows for Free
Hero section image displaying ZenRows' capabilities
If you really want to extract data from the web at scale without getting blocked, ZenRows is the purpose-built infrastructure for you. Apify is the platform to use when you want to run someone else’s scraper or build and sell your own.

Two Different Tools. Different Philosophy

Apify and ZenRows both extract web data. The difference is whether you want to operate a platform or just get the data.

ZenRows: The Web Scraping Infrastructure

One API. One endpoint. You send a URL, you get data back. Proxy rotation, fingerprinting, anti-bot bypass, CAPTCHA bypass and JavaScript rendering are all handled automatically, on every request. Nothing to configure. Nothing to maintain. Built for one job. And it does it at 99.93% success rate.

Apify: The Web Automation Platform

Apify runs on prebuilt or custom cloud programs (Actors) that scrape or automate tasks. You can also build, deploy, and sell your own. Powerful if you're ready to manage compute, storage, billing variables, and Actor setup before any data moves.

ZenRows vs. Apify: How They Compare

ZenRows and Apify comparison
ZenRows Apify
Time to First Scrape
 Under 5 minutes Variable. Search, configure, and deploy an Actor first
Adaptive anti-bot bypass Logic
 âś…Yes. Auto-adapts to site changes with zero configuration No. Requires manual Actor maintenance
Structured Output
 âś…Native (JSON, Markdown, etc.) Depends on the individual Actor's quality
Pricing Model
 Flat subscription (API + Browser + Proxies) Cost compounds as you add compute proxy, storage and Actors
Failed Request Billing
 âś…Never charged Retries consume compute credits
Check out ZenRows pricing

One Flat Bill vs. Four Running Meters

With ZenRows, you know your bill before the month starts. With Apify, you find out after.

ZenRows

One subscription. Everything included. Your plan covers the Universal Scraper API, Scraping Browser, and Residential Proxies. No add-ons. No per-feature charges. No bill shock at the end of the month. From $69/month.

Apify

Starts at $29/month. Then the meters start running. Every Actor execution incurs compute time. Add residential proxies, storage reads and writes, data transfer and Actor rental fees. Each one is billed separately. The $29 base gets you $29 in platform credits. Run a browser-based Actor on a heavy site, and those credits run out fast.

Trusted by Teams Who Value Results over Configurations

After using Apify, we stumbled upon hidden costs, scarce documentation and customer support without technical knowledge. After trying ZenRows, we decided to migrate. What I like most: great documentation and support team, which quickly resolves any issues. Reliable scraping and high availability. ZenRows is a must-have for web scraping.
Mariam M.
Data Scientist, via G2
It took us just 5 minutes to integrate ZenRows into our workflow, and it just worked.
Lenspricer
Data Representative

ZenRows: Live in Under 5 Minutes

One API key. Any language. No platform to learn.

Example 
import requests

response = requests.get(
    "https://api.zenrows.com/v1/",
    params={
        "url": "https://www.scrapingcourse.com/antibot-challenge",
        "apikey": "<YOUR_ZENROWS_API_KEY>",
        "mode": "auto",
    }
)
print(response.text)

→ Get Your Free API Key. No Credit Card Required

Send a URL. Get the Data, No Actors, No Setup, No Surprises

1,000 free URLs to start. No credit card. Most teams start extracting data within 5 minutes.
99.93% success rate on protected sites.
Predictable, flat pricing with no compute surprises
All features included from day one.
Zero charges for failed requests: you only pay when we deliver.
Full-scale anti-bot bypass that adapts to site security changes with zero configuration.

Frequent Questions

Is ZenRows a direct replacement for Apify?

Not exactly, and that's the point. Apify is a platform with an Actor marketplace, scheduling, and cloud deployment. ZenRows is a scraping infrastructure: a single API that handles anti-bot bypass, proxies, and structured output for every request. If you need pre-built scrapers for specific sites or want to build and sell automation tools, Apify has things ZenRows doesn't. If you need to scrape any site reliably at scale without managing a platform, ZenRows is the better fit.

How does ZenRows pricing compare to Apify's?

ZenRows starts at $69/month; one flat subscription that covers the Universal Scraper API, Scraping Browser, and Residential Proxies. Apify starts at $29/month but costs compound as you add compute time, proxies, storage, and Actor rental fees. You're never charged for failed requests on ZenRows. On Apify, retries consume compute credits regardless of outcome.

How quickly can I get started with ZenRows?

Most teams extract data within 5 minutes of signing up. One API key, one endpoint, any language. No Actor setup, no platform configuration, no compute allocation.

Ready to Make the Switch?

Try ZenRows for Free