9 Best Web Scraping Tools for Data Extraction

Whether you need to gather product information, social media profiles, or even just email addresses and phone numbers, extracting data from the web can be a painstaking process. In this article, I’ve reviewed the 9 best web scraping tools and highlighted my personal top 5 favorites:

After all, manually scouring the web is both time-consuming and error-prone, especially if you are working on a large project or need to gather information from multiple sources. On top of this, non-technical users may have a hard time understanding how to actually get access to the data they need.

Fortunately, it does not have to be this way.

There are a number of web scraping tools available that take care of all the heavy lifting for you, making the process of data extraction quick, easy, and painless. Best of all, many of these tools are “no-code,” meaning you don’t need to write a single line of code to extract the data you need.

What Is the Best Web Scraping Tool for Data Extraction?

Web scraping is the process of extracting data from websites using special software tools. It’s a handy way to gather data for research or marketing purposes, and it’s also used by web developers to test web applications. Once the data has been collected, it can be exported into a format that is most suitable for the user (whether that be a spreadsheet or API).

If you’re looking to get started with web scraping, there are many different tools out there, but not all of them are created equal. To help you find the right one for your needs, I have compiled a list of the best web scraping tools available today. Let’s jump into it!

Oxylabs

Oxylabs is a prominent proxy service platform that ensures effortless data extraction with its Web Scraper API. Designed to extract high-quality data from any URL, this tool overcomes common data extraction challenges like IP blocks and JavaScript rendering, promising accurate and timely data. With the built-in patented proxy rotator, users bypass geo-restrictions, gaining access to localized search results from 195 countries.

A standout feature is Oxylabs’ variety of Scraper APIs, which make web scraping an accessible task for diverse needs like market research, SEO monitoring, ad verification, and brand protection. These APIs enable extraction from a wide array of websites, e-commerce platforms, and search engines, and come with the added benefit of the Next-Gen Residential Proxies that use intelligent IP rotation. This focus on ease-of-use, coupled with a strong commitment to ethical data scraping, security, and privacy, solidifies Oxylabs as a reliable partner in the industry.

Pros

• The platform ensures reliable and accurate data extraction
• Oxylabs promotes ethical web scraping, complying with data privacy regulations
• It offers a variety of Scraper APIs for versatile data extraction needs

Cons

• Its extensive features can be overwhelming for beginners
• The free trial is limited to 1 week for one user

Pricing

Oxylabs offers a variety of plans to meet your data extraction needs:

• Free Trial: 1-week trial for free, limited to 1 user
• Micro Plan: $49/month, $2.80/1K results, up to 5,000 results
• Starter Plan: $99/month, $2.60/1K results, up to 17,500 results
• Advanced Plan: $249/month, $2.40/1K results, up to 104,000 results, includes a dedicated account manager

Enjoy a 10% discount on all plans when paying yearly!

Apify

Apify is a web scraping and automation platform that enables developers to turn websites into structured APIs from which data can be extracted. It has a powerful JavaScript editor that allows developers to write custom scraping scripts, and it also offers a wide range of ready-made “actors” (web scraping recipes) that can be used to scrape data without needing to write a single line of code.

As such, these ready-made “actors” are particularly helpful for non-technical users, as they offer a quick and easy way to get started with web scraping. Some of Apify’s most popular actors include scapers for Google Search, TikTok, Amazon Products, Google Maps, and YouTube.

Pros

• A wide range of features
• Actively developed
• Great customer support
• One of the most powerful no-code tools

Cons

• Can be difficult to use for beginners
• Some compatibility issues with certain websites

Pricing

The Apify platform has a free (but limited plan). If you need more access, the followings plans are available:

• Personal – $49/month
• Team – $499/month

Save 20% when paying annually.

ScraperAPI

ScraperAPI is a web scraping API that enables developers to scrape websites with proxies and headless browsers. It has a wide range of features, including the ability to rotate IP addresses and bypass CAPTCHAs. Developers can also use it to schedule scraping jobs, and it has extensive API documentation. The platform also integrates seamlessly with platforms such as NodeJS, Python Selenium, and Cheerio.

Pros

• Can scrape websites with proxies and headless browsers
• IP address rotation
• CAPTCHA bypassing
• Seamless integrations

Cons

• Some users have reported issues with customer support
• Not suitable for social media

Pricing

The ScraperAPI platform gives you 5,000 API credits for free (for 7 days). Once this has expired, you can choose from one of the following four options:

• Hobby – $49/month
• Start-up – $149/month
• Business – $299/month
• Professional – $999/month

ScrapingDog

Scraping Dog is a web scraping API that enables developers to scrape websites with proxies and headless browsers. The tool can handle millions of proxies per day and has a wide range of features, including the ability to scrape behind login walls and CAPTCHAs, providing you with valuable HTML data from just about any web page. ScrapingDog also comes with a LinkedIn and Google Search API, making it one of the more versatile tools on our list.

Pros

• Can scrape websites with proxies and headless browsers
• LinkedIn and Google Search API
• Great for getting behind website blocks
• Webhooks

Cons

• Limited customer support
• Not the most user friendly

Pricing

ScrapingDog has four paid plans, these are:

• Lite – $20/month
• Standard – $90/month
• Pro – $200/month
• Enterprise – $500+/month

There is a free trial in the form of 1000 API calls (up to 5 concurrent requests).

ParseHub

ParseHub is a powerful tool that allows you to extract data from web pages and APIs. It has a point-and-click visual editor that makes it easy to select the data you want to scrape, and it also offers a wide range of features, such as the ability to scrape behind login walls and CAPTCHAs, images/files, and download CSV and JSON files. ParseHub can also be downloaded as a desktop application.

Pros

• A wide range of features
• Can be downloaded as a desktop application
• Very visual interface

Cons

• Troubleshooting for large projects can be difficult
• Output can be limiting

Price

ParseHub has a free plan that allows up to 5 public projects and data retention for 14 days. For more usability, you may need one of the following plans:

• Standard – $189/month
• Professional -$599/month

You can save 15% with quarterly billing.

ScrapingBee

ScrapingBee is one of the best web scraping tools for developers who want to scrape websites without getting blocked. It uses a pool of residential IP addresses and real browsers, making it difficult for website owners to detect and block scrapers. The platform also offers a wide range of features, including the ability to scrape behind login walls, CAPTCHAs, and to schedule scraping jobs.

Pros

• Can scrape behind login walls and CAPTCHAs
• Schedule scraping jobs
• Residential IP addresses
• Javascript rendering

Cons

• Steep learning curve for non-developers
• Can be difficult to use for large projects

Price

ScrapingBee has four plans, these are:

• Freelance – $49/month
• Start-up – $99/month
• Business – $249/month
• Enterprise – $999+/month

You can also try ScrapingBee with 1000 free API calls.

Octoparse

Scraping websites for data can be a time-consuming process, but Octoparse can make it a lot easier thanks to its no-code approach. Octoparse’s user interface is very visual, making it simple to select the data you want to scrape and export it in the format of your choice. The tool can also handle a wide range of websites, including those that use CAPTCHAs and login walls. You can also schedule tasks to scrape at set intervals, making Octoparse a great tool for keeping your data up-to-date.

Pros

• No-code platform
• Visual user interface
• Can scrape websites that use CAPTCHAs and login walls
• Scheduling feature

Cons

• Sometimes unreliable
• Can be difficult to use for more complex tasks

Pros

Octoparse is free to try for 14 days (for small, simple projects). After that, there are two paid plans:

• Standard – $89/month
• Professional – $249/month

Savings are available if you commit to a yearly plan.

WebScraper.io

WebScraper.io is a web browser extension that makes it easy to scrape data from websites as you browse the internet. The extension can be added to Chrome and Firefox, and once installed, it will add a new menu item to your browser that lets you create and run scrapers. Scrapers can be created with just a few clicks, and the data they collect can be exported in CSV, XLSX, and JSON formats.

One of the standout features of WebScraper.io is its ability to effectively scrape dynamic web pages, such as those with multiple levels of navigation. Considering its ease of use and wide range of features, it’s no wonder that WebScraper.io is one of the most popular web scraping tools on our list.

Pros

• Can be used to scrape dynamic web pages
• Easy to use
• Exports data in multiple formats
• Simple web extension install

Cons

• The extension only works with Chrome and Firefox
• More limited than some of the other tools on our list

Price

WebScraper.io comes with a free plan, but it is limited. If you want full functionality, you can choose from one of the following paid plans:

• Project – $50/month
• Professional – $100/month
• Business- $200/month
• Scale – $300/month

Final thoughts

Whether you’re looking to scrape data for a small personal project or a large enterprise, there’s a web scraping tool on our list that’s perfect for the task. And with prices starting at just $20/month (for paid plans), you don’t have to break the bank to get started. As always, I recommend trying out the free plans first to see if a tool is a good fit for your needs before committing to a paid plan.

FAQs

What is web scraping?

Web scraping is the process of extracting data from websites. This can be done manually, but it is often faster and more accurate to use a web scraping tool. Some of the reasons you might want to scrape data from a website include:

• To get up-to-date information that is not available through an API
• To collect data for research or analysis
• To monitor competitor pricing or product changes
• To generate leads for sales and marketing

How do I scrape data from a website?

There are two main ways to scrape data from a website: manually or using a web scraping tool. If you’re scraping data manually, you will need to write code to extract the data you want from the website’s HTML. If you’re using a web scraping tool, you can typically create a “scraper” with just a few clicks that will do the work for you.

Is web scraping legal?

Web scraping is generally legal, but there are some exceptions. For example, you may not be able to scrape data from a website if doing so would violate the website’s terms of service. Additionally, some websites may take legal action if they feel that you are scraping data in an abusive or harmful way. In general, it is best to be transparent with the website owner about your scraping activities and to only scrape data that is publicly available.

What is the best web scraping tool?

There is no one “best” web scraping tool, as the best tool for the job will depend on your specific needs. When deciding which tool to use, some of the factors you should consider include:

• The types of data you want to scrape
• The language(s) the tool supports
• The operating system the tool is compatible with
• The ease of use of the tool
• The price/features of the tool

How much does a web scraping tool cost?

Prices for web scraping tools can vary widely, but they typically start at around $20/month for paid plans. Some tools also offer free plans with limited features, but these are often best suited for small personal projects.