When Indian startups or SMEs begin web scraping, two tools often come up: ScraperAPI and Puppeteer. One promises a plug-and-play experience with no coding, while the other gives full browser control but demands technical setup. In this guide, we’ll break down cost and setup to help you choose the right fit in 2025.
India Snapshot
| Tool | Base Cost |
Approx INR |
Setup Difficulty |
Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ScraperAPI | $49/mo (~₹4,000) | ~₹48,000/yr | Easy (API call) | SMEs, freelancers, marketers |
| Puppeteer | Free (infra extra) | Variable | Hard (coding req) | Developers, custom scrapers |
Start with ScraperAPI if you want no-code setup, or Use Puppeteer for developer-heavy scraping projects.
ScraperAPI: Simplicity First
- Designed for non-technical users and SMEs.
- Handles proxy rotation, CAPTCHAs, and retries automatically.
- Integrates with Google Sheets, Airtable, and Make/Pabbly.
- Paid plans start at $49/month (~₹4,000).
Puppeteer: Power & Flexibility
- A headless Chrome framework.
- Can render dynamic JavaScript-heavy sites.
- Requires proxy management, CAPTCHA solvers, and hosting setup.
- Free to use, but you’ll spend on servers + proxies (~₹3,000–₹20,000/month).
Cost Comparison (2025)
- ScraperAPI:
- Free → 1,000 requests
- Hobby → $49/mo (~₹4,000)
- Startup → $99/mo (~₹8,200)
- Puppeteer:
- Free software
- Infra + proxies: ~₹3,000–₹20,000/month depending on scale
Pros & Cons
ScraperAPI
No coding needed
Handles CAPTCHAs/IP bans
Easy integration with no-code tools
Limited customization
USD-only billing
Puppeteer
Full control of browser actions
Free framework
Great for dynamic content sites
Requires coding + infra setup
Must handle proxies manually
In 2025, ScraperAPI vs Puppeteer comes down to skills and budget:
- Choose ScraperAPI if you want fast, no-code scraping with automatic proxy handling.
- Choose Puppeteer if you have developer resources and need full browser control.
Get ScraperAPI for hassle-free scraping or Use Puppeteer if you’re building advanced custom scrapers.
