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obsidian-vault/Summaries/7 Best Apify Alternatives 2026.md

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# 7 Best Apify Alternatives (2026)
**Source:** https://www.gumloop.com/blog/apify-alternatives
**Summarized:** 2026-02-23
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## TL;DR
Apify is powerful but built for developers. These 7 alternatives offer web scraping with varying levels of no-code friendliness, AI integration, and pricing.
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## What to Look For in an Apify Alternative
- **Built-in web scraping** — Native scraping vs HTTP parsing from scratch
- **Tech stack integration** — Google Sheets, Slack, Notion, CRM; MCP servers = bonus
- **LLM integration** — Pass scraped data through GPT/Claude/Gemini for enrichment
- **Security & scale** — RBAC, audit logs, SOC 2 if enterprise
- **Custom code support** — Python/JS for advanced scenarios
- **Templates/AI assistants** — Pre-built templates or AI that builds workflows for you
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## The 7 Alternatives
### 1. Gumloop ⭐ (Author's Pick)
| | |
|---|---|
| **Best for** | AI agents + workflows that scrape, analyze, and act |
| **Pricing** | Free (2K credits) → $37/mo (Solo) → $244/mo (Team) |
**Why it wins:**
- "Gummie" AI assistant builds workflows via natural language
- Built-in web scraping + any LLM integration (no extra API keys needed)
- MCP server support for connecting to any tool
- Create autonomous AI agents that handle scraping tasks independently
**Gotcha:** Not scraping-specific; template library limited (but Gummie makes templates obsolete)
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### 2. Octoparse
| | |
|---|---|
| **Best for** | No-code scraping with 500+ preset templates |
| **Pricing** | Free (10 tasks, local only) → $83/mo (Standard) → $299/mo (Pro) |
**Why it wins:**
- Visual crawler builder for non-technical users
- 500+ templates: Google Maps, LinkedIn, Amazon scrapers
- IP rotation + CAPTCHA solving built-in
- Run locally or cloud
**Gotcha:** Workflows are rigid; struggles with complex multi-step flows; no AI agent features
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### 3. n8n
| | |
|---|---|
| **Best for** | Technical teams wanting self-hosted, open-source automation |
| **Pricing** | Free (self-hosted) → $24/mo (cloud) |
**Why it wins:**
- Open source, self-hostable = full data control
- Visual workflow builder with web scraping nodes
- Connect to any API/service
**Gotcha:** Requires technical setup; not scraping-specific
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### 4. Relay.app
| | |
|---|---|
| **Best for** | Workflow automation with human-in-the-loop steps |
| **Pricing** | Free tier available |
**Why it wins:**
- Combines automation with human approval steps
- Good for workflows that need review before action
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### 5. Thunderbit
| | |
|---|---|
| **Best for** | AI-powered web data extraction |
| **Pricing** | Varies |
**Why it wins:**
- AI-first approach to scraping
- Handles dynamic content well
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### 6. Browse AI
| | |
|---|---|
| **Best for** | No-code web monitoring and data extraction |
| **Pricing** | Free tier available |
**Why it wins:**
- Record actions → replay automatically
- Monitor sites for changes
- Pre-built robots for common tasks
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### 7. Claude (Direct)
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|---|---|
| **Best for** | One-off scraping/analysis with AI |
| **Pricing** | Subscription-based |
**Why it wins:**
- Can scrape and analyze web content directly
- No setup required for simple tasks
- Great for ad-hoc research
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## Quick Comparison
| Tool | No-Code | AI Built-In | Self-Host | Price |
|------|---------|-------------|-----------|-------|
| Gumloop | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | $0-244/mo |
| Octoparse | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | $0-299/mo |
| n8n | Partial | ❌ | ✅ | $0-24/mo |
| Browse AI | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Freemium |
| Claude | N/A | ✅ | ❌ | Subscription |
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## Bottom Line
- **Gumloop** = Best for AI-powered scraping + automation in one platform
- **Octoparse** = Best no-code scraping with templates
- **n8n** = Best for devs who want open-source + self-host
- **Claude** = Best for one-off AI scraping without setup