Best No-Code Scrapers

Even seasoned developers know that web data extraction can be tricky. However, it doesn’t have to be. Since recently, people with no programming knowledge have been able to leverage web scraping thanks to the emergence of no-code scraping solutions.

In this article, we’ll explore what no-code or low code web scrapers are, how they work, and give a thorough rundown of the best eight ones.

What’s a no-code scraper?

A no-code scraper (also a web scraper API) is an automated piece of software that is able to extract data from the web without the user having to do any coding on their part. Its benefits, as already evident from the name, are that businesses can implement these without coding knowledge. As such, they’re an excellent web scraping tool for companies that might not have the funds to support a committed team of technical professionals.

On the other hand, if the enterprise is big and its operations fall within a particular niche, using a no-code scraper will be trickier. In these circumstances, it becomes crucial to have someone with technical knowledge and the ability to customize web scraping tools in accordance with the project's needs.

How do I scrape data from websites without coding?

In general, there are two approaches you can take to do web scraping without coding. You can either find a company that will build you a web scraping tool from start to finish or acquire a no-code tool.

With a bespoke solution, you only need to tell a company what you need, and their team will design and maintain the solution for you. While it’s likely to fit your project needs like a glove, it’s also going to be pricey.

Using a no-code scraper, on the other hand, is going to be much cheaper. You will have to manage some of the processes yourself, but it should be a fairly manageable task. Indeed, these tools usually allow you to collect online data by simply inputting a URL or through a point-and-click interface.

URL-first vs. point-and-click 

A point-and-click interface renders the website you want to scrape and asks you to specify the elements of the website that interest you. In other words, you click through a website as you would in a regular browser and “train” the scraper. You can usually set additional rules such as scheduling, batch URL scraping, country-specific web scraping, and more. After you’ve trained the scraper and it finishes fetching the data, you can get the extracted data delivered in JSON, CSV, or Excel.

The URL method is much simpler. Usually, you give the platform a specific URL, maybe a few other requirements, and get scraped data delivered instantly. While this option is much more straightforward, a point-and-click system is more customizable.

Overall, you should always consider your project needs to determine which approach suits you best. For now, let’s look at some of the best no-code scrapers out there.

1. Apify

Apify is a well-established platform with tons of features for web scraping and web automation tasks. While it primarily focuses on supporting developers, it also caters to non-technical people with some nifty solutions. Their Apify Store boasts hundreds of ready-made web scraping and automation templates, called actors, that can be easily implemented without code. What's more, it's super easy to integrate them with proxies. However, if you want to work with a niche target, adjusting the templates with code may be necessary.

Pros

• Numerous ready-made templates for no-code web scraping

• Provides a cloud-based platform for processing and storing scraped data

• Can be integrated with Google Drive, Gmail, and more

Cons

• More complex targets require coding experience

• Apify leaves data control and accuracy to you, which may require additional experience

Pricing: Starts at $49/month with add-ons.

Free trial: Yes.

Data delivery: JSON, XML, CSV, or Excel.

Other: Auto-generated user interface, active Discord community.

2. Parsehub

Designed with non-developers in mind, Parsehub is a good no-code web scraping tool available as a desktop app. It’s also accessible free-of-charge with limited features, making it much more appealing to web data enthusiasts eager to dip their toes into web scraping without fully committing. Enterprise-level clients, however, might need a subscription plan if they want more sophisticated features.

Pros

• Web scraping scheduling

• Offers free web scraping courses

Cons

• Steep learning curve

• Tiered support availability

Pricing: Starts at $189/month.

Free trial: Offers a free subscription with basic features.

Data delivery: CSV and JSON.

Other: Infinite scroll scraping, supports redirects and cookies.

3. Octoparse

Just like Parsehub, Octoparse also offers an accessible point-and-click interface eliminating the need for coding. Moreover, its AI-powered auto-detect feature allows it to extract web data without relying on classical methods such as HTML selectors.

Pros: 

• Extract data from dropdown menus

• You can choose between running the tasks on the cloud or on your device

Cons:

• Steep learning curve

• Limited customer support

Pricing: Starts at $75/month.

Free trial: Offers a free subscription with basic features.

Data delivery: Excel, CSV, HTML, JSON, XML, or directly to a database.

Other: API integration, templates (for standard subscription and above), ad blocking.

4. Dexi

Dexi is similar to Parsehub in terms of usability and has a bit of a learning curve. However, it also offers plans for people who just want to get online data without a hassle. Dexi offers three types of robots to execute web scraping tasks, such as Extractor, Crawler, and Pipes.

Pros:

• Can take screenshots for fail analysis 

• Visualization tools

Cons:

• Lacks advanced functionality for lower-tier subscriptions

Pricing: Starts at around $119/month, depending on the project.

Free trial: Yes.

Data delivery: CSV, JSON, XML.

Other: Image extraction, research management.

5. Web Scraper

Unlike other options in this list, Web Scraper also offers a browser extension that is completely free of charge to use locally. However, for bigger web data needs, you're better off taking advantage of some of its paid subscriptions with additional features. It's worth noting that this tool does have a learning curve, so newcomers who are not familiar with sitemaps or web page structure may initially find it challenging.

Pros

• Can be integrated with custom proxies

• Browser extension free to use

Cons

• Can be complex to master

Pricing: Starts at $50/month.

Free trial: Free browser extension to be used locally.

Data delivery: CSV, XLSX, JSON, access it via API.

Other: Dropbox export, Google Sheets export, Google Drive export, Amazon S3 export.

6. Import.io

Import.io began as an open-source web data extraction tool and has grown into a company offering premium scraping solutions. With its user-friendly interface and appealing design, Import.io is a great no-code solution that simplifies data extraction. Its ability to facilitate multi-URL training and enable downloading of images and files makes it an incredibly convenient choice.

Pros

• Among the easiest to use

• PII masking

Cons

• Tiered support

Pricing: Starts at $199/month.

Free trial: 14-day free trial.

Data Delivery: JSON, CSV, or to a Google Sheet.

Other: Multi-URL training, extractor auto-optimization, website screenshots.

7. ScrapeHero

ScrapeHero specializes in custom-built solutions for their customers, as well as providing retail store location datasets. With their bespoke solutions, they take care of everything, and naturally, these services start at $199 per month per website. However, they also offer Crawlers that can be used through self-service at a much cheaper rate.

Pros

• Very easy to use

• Affordable

Cons

• Can’t customize a scraper through a point-and-click system

• Lacks extended geo-location customization

Pricing: $5/month.

Free trial: Yes for self-service, no for custom-built solutions.

Data delivery: JSON, CSV, or Excel.

Other: Supports Amazon S3, Dropbox, and API Integration (based on subscription).

8. WebAutomation

Web Automation specializes in no-code web data extraction by providing templates of over 500 website templates. If that’s not enough, you can also build new extractors using a point-and-click interface or ask them to build a solution for you. 

Pros

• Can be integrated with third-party tools

Cons

• Interface could be improved

• Confusing credit system

Pricing: Starts at $74/month.

Free trial: 14-day trial. 

Data delivery: CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML.

Other: Data transfer to Shopify, Dropbox, Google Sheets, and more.

9. DataGrab

DataGrab is a no-code web scraping platform that offers a Chrome extension to set up scraping using a point-and-click interface and a cloud service to run them in the cloud at scale. It handles concurrency and proxy rotation automatically. It is designed to be ease to use by non-technical people.

Pros:

Intuitive point-and-click interface

Scrapers can be run in the user's browser via the Chrome extension

Can be integrated with Google Sheets

Cons:

currently, it's more suitable for tabular listings, but there are improvements under development to handle sites with any structure

Pricing: starts at $25/month, with options to buy credits in bulk

Free trial: Yes

Data delivery: JSON, CSV, Google Sheet

Other: the platform also offers pre-scraped datasets and custom solutions if needed

Price and features comparison table