Apify review

Web scraping and automation platform

4.7
Paid users
Community Trusted
64
ToolHund Score
Solid
Verified

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Our verdict

Apify hosts thousands of pre-built 'Actors' (scrapers/agents) and a full SDK for building custom crawlers with residential proxies.

ToolHund Score: 64/100 · Best for: Data teams running large-scale scrapers and browser automation with proxies.

Skip it if: Users who just want a search API — Apify is a platform.

Independently reviewed by ToolHund editors · Last verified 2026-07-26. How we score →

Strengths
  • Actor marketplace
  • Strong fit for data teams running large-scale scrapers and browser automation with proxies.
  • Transparent, published pricing
Weaknesses
  • Advanced features may require a higher tier
  • Output quality varies with prompt skill
  • Limited offline use — internet required

Who should choose Apify?

Data teams running large-scale scrapers and browser automation with proxies. The strongest fit is a buyer who will use Apify regularly for search work rather than as an occasional experiment.

Apify earns its place in a workflow when Actor marketplace, Residential proxies, SDK & scheduling remove a repeated manual step. Its free access makes a real-workflow test possible before committing to a paid plan.

A practical three-step test

  1. STEP 1Run one real search task from your current workflow in Apify.
  2. STEP 2Check whether Actor marketplace produces an output you can use without substantial rework.
  3. STEP 3Compare the result and time saved with at least one alternative before choosing a paid plan.

Pricing

Free $5/mo credits · Paid usage-based
Positive once you replace 1+ hour of manual work per week

Buying checklist

  • Use-case fit: Data teams running large-scale scrapers and browser automation with proxies.
  • Core capabilities: Actor marketplace, Residential proxies, SDK & scheduling
  • Current listed pricing: Free $5/mo credits · Paid usage-based
  • Reason to skip: Users who just want a search API — Apify is a platform.

Apify is most compelling for data teams running large-scale scrapers and browser automation with proxies. Start with the free option and upgrade only after it proves useful on a real task.

Features

  • Actor marketplace
  • Residential proxies
  • SDK & scheduling
  • API access

Apify vs top alternatives

ToolToolHund ScorePricingFree tierRating
Apify64/100Free $5/mo credits · Paid usage-basedYes4.7/5
Perplexity90/100Free · Pro $20/moNo4.8/5
You.com83/100Free · Pro $20/moNo4.5/5
Tavily64/100Free tier · Paid usage-basedYes4.7/5

See all Apify alternatives →

Apify FAQ

What is Apify?

Web scraping and automation platform Apify hosts thousands of pre-built 'Actors' (scrapers/agents) and a full SDK for building custom crawlers with residential proxies.

Is Apify free?

Yes — Apify offers a free tier or free trial. Current pricing: Free $5/mo credits · Paid usage-based.

How much does Apify cost?

Apify pricing: Free $5/mo credits · Paid usage-based. See the ToolHund review for plan details and value analysis.

What is Apify best for?

Data teams running large-scale scrapers and browser automation with proxies..

What are the best Apify alternatives?

The closest alternatives in the Search category are Perplexity, You.com, Tavily.

How does ToolHund score Apify?

Apify scores 64/100 on the ToolHund rubric, which weighs capability, pricing honesty, traction and ecosystem.

Read the ToolHund scoring methodology →