13 Best Web Scraping Software Tools [Reviewed and Ranked]
Web scraping is the process of extracting data from websites, and the right tools make the job so much faster and easier.
It involves making HTTP requests to a website’s server, downloading the HTML of the web page, and parsing that HTML to extract the data you’re interested in.
Web scraping can be a useful tool for collecting and organizing data from the internet, but it can also be a time-consuming and challenging process.
To make the process easier, there are a number of web scraping tools available that can automate the data extraction process.
In this guide, we’ll review some of the best web scraping tools on the market and discuss the benefits of using each one.
What Is The Best Web Scraping Tool?
Here are my top picks of the best web scraping tools.
1. ParseHub
ParseHub is a powerful web scraping tool that can handle dynamic websites and JavaScript-heavy websites.
It has a point-and-click interface that allows you to easily select the data you want to extract, and it also offers advanced features like CAPTCHA solving and automatic IP rotation to bypass website blocks.
Benefits
- Easy to use point-and-click interface.
- Can handle dynamic and JavaScript-heavy websites.
- Advanced features like CAPTCHA solving and automatic IP rotation.
Cons
- Some users have reported that the point-and-click interface can be slow.
Getting started with ParseHub
To get started with ParseHub, you’ll need to sign up for an account and install the ParseHub desktop app.
From there, you can create a new project and use the point-and-click interface to select the data you want to extract.
2. WebScraper
WebScraper is a Chrome extension that allows you to extract data from websites with just a few clicks.
It has a simple interface that allows you to select the data you want to extract and export it to a CSV file.
Benefits
- Easy to use Chrome extension.
- Can extract data from websites with just a few clicks.
- Exports data to CSV file.
Cons
- Limited to only extracting data from websites that you can visit in your Chrome browser.
Getting started with WebScraper
To get started with WebScraper, you’ll need to install the WebScraper extension in your Chrome browser.
Once installed, you can visit a website and use the WebScraper interface to select the data you want to extract.
3. Import.io
Import.io is a cloud-based web scraping tool that allows you to extract data from websites and APIs.
It has a point-and-click interface similar to ParseHub, but it also offers integrations with popular business intelligence tools like Tableau and Google Sheets.
Benefits
- Cloud-based platform.
- Easy to use point-and-click interface.
- Integrations with popular business intelligence tools.
Cons
- Some users have reported that the point-and-click interface can be slow.
4. Beautiful Soup
Beautiful Soup is a Python library for extracting data from HTML and XML files.
It’s a popular choice for web scraping because of its simplicity and flexibility.
It works by parsing the HTML or XML of a web page and creating a Python object that can be easily navigated and manipulated.
Benefits
- Simple and easy to use.
- Flexible and can be used for extracting data from both HTML and XML files.
- Can be integrated with other Python libraries and tools.
Cons
- May require some programming knowledge to use.
- Some users have reported that it can be slower than other web scraping tools.
Getting started with Beautiful Soup
To get started with Beautiful Soup, you’ll need to install the library in your Python environment.
You can then use the Beautiful Soup API to parse the HTML or XML of a web page and extract the data you’re interested in.
5. Scrapy
Scrapy is another popular Python library for web scraping.
It’s a more powerful and flexible option than Beautiful Soup, but it also requires more programming knowledge to use.
Scrapy offers features like automatic handling of AJAX, cookies, and JavaScript, as well as the ability to scrape multiple pages in a single run.
Benefits
- Powerful and flexible.
- Features like automatic handling of AJAX, cookies, and JavaScript.
- Can scrape multiple pages in a single run.
Cons
- Requires more programming knowledge to use.
- Some users have reported that it can be difficult to learn and set up.
Getting started with Scrapy
To get started with Scrapy, you’ll need to install the library in your Python environment.
You’ll also need to set up a Scrapy project and define your scraping rules in a Python script.
6. Octoparse
Octoparse is a cloud-based web scraping tool that offers both a point-and-click interface and the ability to write custom scripts.
It can handle dynamic and JavaScript-heavy websites, and it also offers features like CAPTCHA solving and automatic IP rotation.
Benefits
- Cloud-based platform.
- Point-and-click interface and the ability to write custom scripts.
- Can handle dynamic and JavaScript-heavy websites.
- Advanced features like CAPTCHA solving and automatic IP rotation.
Cons
- Some users have reported that the point-and-click interface can be slow.
Getting started with Octoparse
To get started with Octoparse, you’ll need to sign up for an account and install the Octoparse desktop app.
From there, you can use the point-and-click interface to select the data you want to extract, or you can write a custom script using the Octoparse API.
7. Mozenda
Mozenda is a cloud-based web scraping tool that offers a point-and-click interface for extracting data from websites.
It can handle dynamic and JavaScript-heavy websites, and it also offers integrations with popular business intelligence tools like Tableau and Power BI.
Benefits
- Cloud-based platform.
- Easy to use point-and-click interface.
- Can handle dynamic and JavaScript-heavy websites.
- Integrations with popular business intelligence tools.
Cons
- Some users have reported that the point-and-click interface can be slow.
Getting started with Mozenda
To get started with Mozenda, you’ll need to sign up for an account and install the Mozenda desktop app.
From there, you can use the point-and-click interface to select the data you want to extract.
8. Webhose.io – (Now Webz.io)
Webhose.io is a cloud-based web scraping platform that offers a variety of APIs for extracting data from websites and social media platforms.
It has a range of advanced features, including automatic handling of AJAX, cookies, and JavaScript, as well as the ability to scrape multiple pages in a single run.
Benefits
- Cloud-based platform.
- Advanced features like automatic handling of AJAX, cookies, and JavaScript.
- Can scrape multiple pages in a single run.
Cons
- May require some programming knowledge to use.
Getting started with Webhose.io
To get started with Webhose.io, you’ll need to sign up for an account and select the API you want to use.
You’ll then need to make API requests using the Webhose.io API documentation.
9. Diffbot
Diffbot is a cloud-based web scraping platform that uses machine learning to extract structured data from websites.
It offers a range of APIs for different types of data, including articles, products, and images.
Benefits
- Cloud-based platform.
- Uses machine learning to extract structured data.
- Range of APIs for different types of data.
Cons
- May require some programming knowledge to use.
Getting started with Diffbot
To get started with Diffbot, you’ll need to sign up for an account and select the API you want to use.
You’ll then need to make API requests using the Diffbot API documentation.
10. ScrapingBee
ScrapingBee is a cloud-based web scraping platform that offers a variety of APIs for extracting data from websites and social media platforms.
It has a range of advanced features, including automatic handling of AJAX, cookies, and JavaScript, as well as the ability to scrape multiple pages in a single run.
11. Scrapingdog
Scrapingdog is a cloud-based web scraping platform that offers a variety of APIs for extracting data from websites and social media platforms.
It has a range of advanced features, including automatic handling of AJAX, cookies, and JavaScript, as well as the ability to scrape multiple pages in a single run.
Benefits
- Cloud-based platform.
- Advanced features like automatic handling of AJAX, cookies, and JavaScript.
- Can scrape multiple pages in a single run.
Cons
- May require some programming knowledge to use.
Getting started with Scrapingdog
To get started with Scrapingdog, you’ll need to sign up for an account and select the API you want to use.
You’ll then need to make API requests using the Scrapingdog API documentation.
12. Grepsr
Grepsr is a cloud-based web scraping platform that offers a range of services for extracting data from websites and APIs.
It has a range of advanced features, including automatic handling of AJAX, cookies, and JavaScript, as well as the ability to scrape multiple pages in a single run.
Benefits
- Cloud-based platform.
- Advanced features like automatic handling of AJAX, cookies, and JavaScript.
- Can scrape multiple pages in a single run.
Cons
- May require some programming knowledge to use.
Getting started with Grepsr
To get started with Grepsr, you’ll need to sign up for an account and select the service you want to use.
You’ll then need to follow the instructions provided by Grepsr to extract the data you’re interested in.
13. Scraper API
Scraper API is a cloud-based web scraping platform that offers a variety of APIs for extracting data from websites and social media platforms.
It has a range of advanced features, including automatic handling of AJAX, cookies, and JavaScript, as well as the ability to scrape multiple pages in a single run.
Benefits
- Cloud-based platform.
- Advanced features like automatic handling of AJAX, cookies, and JavaScript.
- Can scrape multiple pages in a single run.
Cons
- May require some programming knowledge to use.
Getting started with Scraper API
To get started with Scraper API, you’ll need to sign up for an account and select the API you want to use.
You’ll then need to make API requests using the Scraper API documentation.
Benefits of using web scraping tools
Automation
One of the biggest benefits of using a web scraping tool is the ability to automate the data extraction process.
With a web scraping tool, you can set up a script to extract data from multiple websites on a regular basis, saving you the time and effort of manually visiting each website and extracting the data yourself.
Data Accuracy
Web scraping tools can also help improve the accuracy of your data by standardizing the data format and eliminating errors that may occur during manual data entry.
A large volume of data
If you need to collect a large volume of data from multiple websites, a web scraping tool can save you a significant amount of time and effort.
How do I choose the right web scraping tool for my needs?
When choosing a web scraping tool, consider the following factors:
Your technical skills
If you have programming knowledge, you may be more comfortable with a tool like Beautiful Soup or Scrapy.
If you don’t have programming skills, you may prefer a tool with a more user-friendly interface like ParseHub or Import.io.
The complexity of the websites you need to scrape
If you need to scrape dynamic or JavaScript-heavy websites, you’ll want a tool that is capable of handling these types of websites, like ParseHub or Scrapy.
The volume of data you need to scrape
If you need to scrape a large volume of data from multiple websites, you may want to consider a tool with advanced features like automatic IP rotation to avoid getting blocked, like ParseHub.
Frequently asked questions about web scraping tools
In general, web scraping is not illegal as long as it is done for legitimate purposes.
However, it is important to respect the terms of service of the websites you are scraping and to obtain permission before scraping sensitive or personal data.
* Use a web scraping tool that offers features like automatic IP rotation to bypass website blocks
* Use a reasonable number of requests per second and limit the number of requests you make to a single website.
* Respect the terms of service of the websites you are scraping and obtain permission before scraping sensitive or personal data.
Conclusion
Web scraping tools can save you a significant amount of time and effort when it comes to collecting and organizing data from the internet.
Whether you’re a developer looking for a powerful and flexible option like Scrapy, or a non-technical user looking for a more user-friendly tool like ParseHub, there are a number of options available to suit your needs.
When choosing a web scraping tool, consider your technical skills, the complexity of the websites you need to scrape, and the volume of data you need to collect.
By using a web scraping tool, you can automate the data extraction process, improve the accuracy of your data, and collect a large volume of data from multiple websites.
