Web scraping has become an indispensable tool for businesses of all sizes looking to gather data for competitive intelligence, lead generation, pricing optimization and more. A recent survey found that 82% of companies are now using web scraping in some form, up from just 45% in 2017 (Source).
But as the demand for web data grows, so too does the need for tools that make scraping accessible to non-programmers. Enter no code web scrapers – visual tools that enable anyone to extract data from websites without writing a single line of code.
Once a niche category, no code scrapers have exploded in popularity and capability in recent years. The global market for no code web scraping tools is expected to surpass $1.2 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 28% (Source).
So what‘s driving this rapid adoption? As a web scraping consultant and the founder of a proxy service, I‘ve seen firsthand how no code tools are transforming the data gathering landscape. Here‘s why they‘ve become so critical and an analysis of the top providers leading the charge in 2024.
The Advantages of No Code Web Scraping
The key benefits driving the surge in no code web scraping tools include:
Ease of Use
No code tools enable anyone to scrape websites with just a few clicks. Rather than grappling with Python scripts or complex scraping frameworks, you can simply point and click to identify the data you want to extract. Visual workflow builders make it intuitive to set up scrapers, even for non-techies.
Speed to Value
With a no code tool, you can go from idea to insight in a matter of minutes. There‘s no lengthy development or QA process. Just fire up your scraper and start gathering data immediately. This makes no code ideal for testing new ideas and rapidly iterating.
Reduced Maintenance
Custom web scrapers are notorious for requiring constant tweaking and debugging as target websites change. No code tools largely abstract this headache away. The best ones automatically detect and adapt to structural changes on target sites. You‘re no longer on the hook to troubleshoot and fix brittle scraping scripts.
Cost Savings
Hiring developers to build and maintain custom web scrapers is expensive, often prohibitively so for smaller companies. No code tools level the playing field with affordable plans that scale to meet a variety of data needs and budgets.
Key Considerations for Choosing a No Code Web Scraper
So what separates the best no code web scraping tools from the rest? Based on our team‘s extensive testing and experience, here are the key factors to look at:
Performance & Stability
The top tools can scrape quickly and consistently at scale while gracefully handling errors. Look for features like built-in proxy rotation, auto-retry on failures, and options to control concurrency.
Parsing Power
Some no code scrapers struggle with complex, JavaScript-heavy websites. The best can handle all the modern web has to offer, including single-page apps, infinite scroll, iframes, shadow DOM and more.
Workflow & Integrations
Web scraping doesn‘t happen in a vacuum. Look for tools that work well with your existing stack. Webhook and API options let you feed data into other apps with ease. Scheduling keeps your data fresh on autopilot.
Customization & Control
While pre-built templates and recipes make it quick to spin up scrapers, every target site is a bit different. Top tools expose CSS and XPath selectors for fine-grained control. Some even let you use RegEx or inject custom JavaScript for truly advanced scraping.
Proxy Options
To avoid blocks and bans, professional web scraping requires rotating proxy IPs. The best no code tools integrate this seamlessly with options for both datacenter and residential proxies. Ideally, they also include country and city-level proxy targeting.
Customer Support
Responsive and knowledgeable customer service is a must for mission-critical scraping. Whether you‘re a novice getting up to speed or need help troubleshooting an edge case, top-notch support will be there when it counts.
Comparing the Top No Code Web Scrapers for 2024
With those key criteria in mind, let‘s dive into an in-depth comparison of the top no code web scraping providers:
1. Bright Data Collector
Bright Data (formerly Luminati) is our top overall pick by a healthy margin. Its Collector tool pairs an intuitive point-and-click interface with unrivaled performance and reliability via its huge global proxy network.
Standout Features:
- Largest proxy pool on the market with over 72M residential IPs
- Highly customizable selector system for precise targeting
- AI-powered error handling and auto-retry
- Flexible scheduling and data export options
At the high end, Bright Data offers true enterprise-grade web data collection via Collector. But it comes with a steeper learning curve and higher price tag than some alternatives. Plans start at $500/month with a two-year commitment.
However, for large scale scraping where failure isn‘t an option, Collector is as bulletproof as it gets in a no code package. Global brands like Nike, Microsoft, and eBay rely on it daily to power mission-critical data pipelines.
2. Apify
Apify gets our nod as the best no code web scraping tool for most people. It hits the sweet spot of power, ease of use, and affordability. With 1000+ pre-made templates, a robust task scheduler, and loads of integration options, Apify makes it a breeze to extract web data for a variety of common use cases.
Standout Features:
- Point-and-click and AI-powered scraping options
- Integrated proxy rotation with 50M+ IPs
- Zapier, Make, and Slack integrations
- Built-in data deduplication and collection storage
- Active community with a wealth of tutorials and open-source templates
Apify‘s generous free plan is great for getting started. Paid plans start at $49/month, with usage-based "platform credits" that roll over each period.
The main downside is that for more complex JavaScript-heavy sites, Apify can struggle vs. best-in-class tools. And its proxy network, while large, isn‘t quite as robust as Bright Data‘s. But for the majority of scraping needs, Apify is a powerhouse that‘s hard to beat.
3. ScrapingBee
ScrapingBee has quickly made a name for itself as one of the most user-friendly no code web scraping tools on the market. With a generous free plan, simple usage-based pricing, and a clean UI, it‘s an excellent choice for newcomers to web scraping.
Standout Features:
- Intuitive browser extension for point-and-click scraping
- Geotargeting with 30+ country options
- Rendering JavaScript, handling cookies/sessions, and solving CAPTCHAs automatically
- Zapier and Webhooks integration
ScrapingBee‘s free plan includes 1000 free monthly requests, plenty for light scraping projects. Paid plans start at $29/month for 100K requests. There are no contracts or complex pricing tiers, just straightforward and affordable usage-based billing.
While it lacks some of the enterprise bells and whistles of tools like Collector, ScrapingBee excels at its core mission: making web data extraction dead simple. It‘s the easiest way to scrape most popular websites at a modest scale.
4. Mozenda
Mozenda is one of the most established no code web scraping tools, launched way back in 2007. And it‘s still going strong, with a loyal user base that appreciates its simple UI and transparent pricing.
Standout Features:
- Point-and-click scraper setup with a live preview mode
- Pagination and multi-page navigation
- Scheduled scraping and alerts
- Direct integrations with AWS, Azure, Snowflake, and more
Mozenda‘s pricing is refreshingly straightforward, with plans starting at $250/month for 25K monthly page credits. Discounts are available for annual billing, and there‘s a 30-day free trial.
While its feature set and UI feel a bit dated compared to newer tools, Mozenda remains a solid choice for no-frills, set-and-forget web scraping. Its direct integration with popular cloud data warehouses is a plus for enterprises.
5. ParseHub
ParseHub is a powerful desktop-based tool for scraping both static and dynamic websites. With an intuitive click-and-drag workflow builder and advanced features like infinite scroll handling and multi-page navigation, it‘s well suited to tackling complex scraping projects.
Standout Features:
- Extracting data behind login forms
- Handling JavaScript, AJAX, cookies and sessions
- Relative element selection for easier maintenance
- Run scrapers on a schedule or via API
ParseHub offers a free plan for scraping up to 200 pages per month. Paid plans start at $149/month for 20 private projects and 10K page credits. Enterprise plans with higher limits and dedicated support are also available.
One downside is that ParseHub is a local app, so you‘ll need to keep your computer online to run scrapers. And like most no code tools, it can struggle with the gnarliest JavaScript-heavy sites. But for most small to medium scraping needs, ParseHub packs an impressive punch.
Advanced Tips for No Code Web Scraping
Ready to take your no code scraping game to the next level? Here are some expert tips for better data quality and performance:
Use Residential Proxies
For scraping large sites or those with sophisticated anti-bot defenses, residential proxies are a must. Unlike datacenter IPs, residential proxies come from real devices on consumer ISP networks. They‘re much harder for websites to detect and block.
Slow Your Scraper Down
Too many requests too quickly is a surefire way to get rate limited or banned. No code scrapers make it easy to inadvertently hammer sites. Be a good citizen by setting a request delay and monitoring your scraper‘s impact on target servers.
Use Geotargeting
Many websites serve different content to visitors from different countries. Geotargeting your scraper ensures you get the right data. The best no code tools offer country and even city-level IP targeting.
Automate QA
Just because your scraper worked yesterday doesn‘t mean it‘s collecting the right data today. Website updates often break delicate scraping logic. Setup a test suite with validation rules and automatically alert on failures.
Sanitize Your Data
Raw HTML is full of inconsistencies and edge cases that can throw off your analysis. Take advantage of your tool‘s data cleaning features or post-process results yourself. At a minimum, standardize number/date/time formats and strip out any markup.
The Future of No Code Web Scraping
As powerful as today‘s no code web scraping tools are, even more exciting breakthroughs are on the horizon:
Computer Vision
Advances in machine learning are enabling tools to "see" and extract data from websites just like a human would. This will make scrapers far more resilient to cosmetic and structural changes. Expect more no code tools to add computer vision capabilities soon.
Conversational UI
Imagine simply telling your scraper what data you want in plain English. With the rapid progress of large language models like GPT-4, conversational interfaces for web scraping are quickly becoming a reality.
Automated Insights
Today‘s tools are great at collecting raw data but leave the analysis up to you. The next generation will use AI to automatically surface insights and anomalies, making it even easier to get value from web data.
API-First Design
Currently, most no-code tools are built around visual workflow builders first with APIs as an afterthought. Newer entrants are flipping the script by treating the API as the primary interface, opening up exciting possibilities for programmatic control and integration.
These and other innovations are ushering in a new era of no code web scraping, making it more accessible and powerful than ever before. As the demand for web data continues to explode across every industry, expect no code tools to play an increasingly central role.
