Cheapest Proxies First Provider vs Provider Updated 2026

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

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

Overview

Comparing providers for Scrapfly 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. Scrapfly starts around Free tier; paid from ~$30/mo (credit-based) with Managed residential + datacenter pool; Apify Proxy starts around Free tier ($5 credit/mo); residential ~$8/GB, datacenter cheaper with Datacenter pool + partner residential (tens of millions). Scrapfly focuses on residential and datacenter, while Apify Proxy covers datacenter and residential.

Scrapfly vs Apify Proxy: Side by Side

FactorScrapflyApify Proxy
Starting priceFree tier; paid from ~$30/mo (credit-based)Free tier ($5 credit/mo); residential ~$8/GB, datacenter cheaper
Pool sizeManaged residential + datacenter poolDatacenter pool + partner residential (tens of millions)
Proxy typesresidential and datacenterdatacenter and residential
Coverage50+ countries geotargetingCountry-level geotargeting
Rating4.3/54.2/5
Best forDevelopers who want a debuggable scraping API with strong anti-bot bypass and rich request observability.Developers building on the Apify Actors platform or Crawlee who want proxies wired into their scrapers.

Where Scrapfly Wins

  • Strong anti-bot bypass with transparent debugging tools
  • Good developer experience and SDKs
  • Screenshot, extraction and rendering in one API

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

Scrapfly is often chosen for Developers who want a debuggable scraping API with strong anti-bot bypass and rich request observability.; 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 Scrapfly or Apify Proxy based on the specific feature you still need.

How to Compare Fairly

Judge Scrapfly 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

Scrapfly or Apify Proxy — which is cheaper?

Scrapfly starts near Free tier; paid from ~$30/mo (credit-based) 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 Scrapfly better than Apify Proxy for scraping?

It depends on the target. Scrapfly suits Developers who want a debuggable scraping API with strong anti-bot bypass and rich request observability.; 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 Scrapfly 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.

How do I avoid getting blocked?

Match the proxy type to the target, rotate IPs, pace requests like a human, rotate user agents, and retry on a fresh IP after any block or CAPTCHA.

Compare Scrapfly 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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