What are the best Apify alternatives in 2026?

Quick Answer: The top Apify alternatives in 2026 are Bardeen (browser-based scraping with automation), n8n with HTTP nodes (self-hosted scraping workflows), Scrapy (Python scraping framework), and Bright Data (proxy-first data collection). Bardeen is the easiest for non-developers; Scrapy offers the most flexibility for engineers.

Best Apify Alternatives in 2026

Apify is a web scraping and automation platform that runs JavaScript/Python actors in the cloud. As of April 2026, Apify's free tier provides $5/month in platform credits, with paid plans starting at $49/month. Teams evaluating alternatives typically need lower cost, self-hosted scraping, or simpler setup for basic scraping tasks.

Bardeen — Browser-Based Scraping

Bardeen runs as a Chrome extension that can scrape web pages and feed data into automated workflows. It is the easiest option for non-developers who need to extract data from websites without writing code.

  • Chrome extension with point-and-click scraping
  • Workflow automation with scraped data
  • AI-powered data extraction suggestions
  • Professional: $10/month per user

n8n with HTTP Request Nodes — Self-Hosted Scraping

n8n can perform web scraping through its HTTP Request node combined with HTML extraction and JavaScript processing. Self-hosting means no per-scrape costs and full control over request patterns.

  • HTTP Request + HTML Extract + Code nodes for scraping
  • Self-hosted with unlimited executions
  • Combine scraping with 400+ integration destinations
  • Free (self-hosted)

Scrapy — Python Scraping Framework

Scrapy is the most popular open-source web scraping framework for Python. It provides the most control over crawling behavior, request scheduling, and data processing pipelines.

  • Full control over crawling logic and request scheduling
  • Middleware system for proxies, user agents, and retries
  • Built-in data export to JSON, CSV, and databases
  • Free and open-source (BSD license)

Bright Data — Proxy-First Data Collection

Bright Data provides web scraping infrastructure focused on proxy management: residential proxies, datacenter proxies, and pre-built scraping APIs for common sites (Amazon, Google, LinkedIn).

  • 72 million+ residential IP addresses
  • Pre-built scraping APIs for major websites
  • Web Unlocker for anti-bot bypass
  • Pay-per-result pricing from $0.001/request

Comparison Table

Tool Best For Code Required Self-Hosted Starting Price
Bardeen No-code scraping No No $10/month
n8n Self-hosted workflows Minimal Yes Free
Scrapy Full control (Python) Yes Yes Free
Bright Data Anti-bot proxy infrastructure Optional No Pay-per-result

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Last updated: | By Rafal Fila

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