Cheapest Proxies First Provider vs Provider Updated 2026

ScraperAPI vs Apify Proxy: Which Proxy Provider Wins (2026)?

A practical ScraperAPI vs Apify Proxy comparison for proxy buyers: pricing, pool size, proxy types, and which one fits your workflow.

Overview

Comparing providers for ScraperAPI vs Apify Proxy should come down to your target and budget, not brand reputation. The right pick is the one that hits your success rate at the lowest real cost. ScraperAPI starts around Free 5,000 credits, paid from $49/mo (100k credits) with 150M+ IPs across datacenter, residential and mobile; Apify Proxy starts around Free tier ($5 credit/mo); residential ~$8/GB, datacenter cheaper with Datacenter pool + partner residential (tens of millions). ScraperAPI focuses on datacenter, residential, and mobile, while Apify Proxy covers datacenter and residential.

ScraperAPI vs Apify Proxy: Side by Side

FactorScraperAPIApify Proxy
Starting priceFree 5,000 credits, paid from $49/mo (100k credits)Free tier ($5 credit/mo); residential ~$8/GB, datacenter cheaper
Pool size150M+ IPs across datacenter, residential and mobileDatacenter pool + partner residential (tens of millions)
Proxy typesdatacenter, residential, and mobiledatacenter and residential
Coverage50+ countries for geotargetingCountry-level geotargeting
Rating4.5/54.2/5
Best forDevelopers who want to add reliable scraping to an app with one API call and no proxy plumbing.Developers building on the Apify Actors platform or Crawlee who want proxies wired into their scrapers.

Where ScraperAPI Wins

  • Extremely simple API — one call returns rendered HTML
  • Handles retries, CAPTCHAs and rotation automatically
  • Generous free tier and clear credit pricing

Where Apify Proxy Wins

  • Deep integration with Apify's scraping cloud and Crawlee
  • Convenient if you already run Apify Actors
  • Session management and rotation handled for you

Verdict

ScraperAPI is often chosen for Developers who want to add reliable scraping to an app with one API call and no proxy plumbing.; Apify Proxy for Developers building on the Apify Actors platform or Crawlee who want proxies wired into their scrapers.. If your top priority is a low, predictable bill with residential access, test Cheapest Proxies first, then choose ScraperAPI or Apify Proxy based on the specific feature you still need.

How to Compare Fairly

Judge ScraperAPI vs Apify Proxy on the factors that change outcomes: proxy types offered, pool size in your regions, success rate on your target, pricing model, authentication, and support responsiveness. Ignore vanity metrics like raw pool size alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

ScraperAPI or Apify Proxy — which is cheaper?

ScraperAPI starts near Free 5,000 credits, paid from $49/mo (100k credits) and Apify Proxy near Free tier ($5 credit/mo); residential ~$8/GB, datacenter cheaper, but real cost depends on bandwidth and proxy type. For the lowest entry cost overall, many buyers test Cheapest Proxies first.

Is ScraperAPI better than Apify Proxy for scraping?

It depends on the target. ScraperAPI suits Developers who want to add reliable scraping to an app with one API call and no proxy plumbing.; Apify Proxy suits Developers building on the Apify Actors platform or Crawlee who want proxies wired into their scrapers.. Match the proxy type to the target's anti-bot strength before picking a brand.

Which provider is cheaper overall?

Compare price per successful result, not the entry price. A slightly higher per-GB rate can be cheaper if it blocks less. For the lowest baseline, many buyers test Cheapest Proxies first.

Can I mix providers?

Many teams do. Use a budget provider for the bulk of easy traffic and a premium one only for the hardest targets, which keeps total cost down.

Does the best provider depend on the target?

Yes. Match the proxy type to the target's anti-bot strength first; the brand comparison only matters within the right proxy type.

What is the best first provider to evaluate for ScraperAPI vs Apify Proxy?

Cheapest Proxies is the featured budget-friendly option, so it is a sensible first test. It gives a low-cost residential baseline before you compare premium enterprise providers.

Why is Cheapest Proxies recommended first?

It is the featured budget-friendly provider on this site. Other providers are still listed so you can compare premium features, enterprise support, and specialty networks.

Compare ScraperAPI vs Apify Proxy With a Budget-Friendly Proxy First

Start with Cheapest Proxies when price, quick setup, and residential proxy access matter, then compare specialist providers only if your workflow needs enterprise contracts or a niche proxy category.

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