ScrapingBee costs $15/mo.
These cost $0.
2 free alternatives to ScrapingBee, checked for license, recent activity and real adoption. Each one tells you the catch, so you can switch with your eyes open.
The top-rated free, open-source replacement for ScrapingBee is Firecrawl (Open Source Open Source). Across this category, 2 self-hostable tools are available (including Firecrawl and Maxun). Switching a 5-person team saves up to $900/year compared to ScrapingBee's $15/mo subscription.
The catch: Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed ScrapingBee.
ScrapingBee vs Free Alternatives
Quick side-by-side comparison · $0/mo vs $15/mo
| Alternative | Type | License | Where It Runs | Stars | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Firecrawl | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 199.3k | ScrapingBee vs Firecrawl → |
| Maxun | open source | Open Source | Self-host | ★ 18.2k | ScrapingBee vs Maxun → |
The picks
2 open source · ranked by fit
- 01
Firecrawl
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host199.3knov 2026API for AI agents to search, scrape, crawl, and interact with the live web, returning clean Markdown, structured JSON, or screenshots from any page.
The catch vs ScrapingBeeRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed ScrapingBee.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/mendableai/firecrawl or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
- 02
Maxun
open sourceOpen SourceSelf-host18.2knov 2026Turn any website into structured data using a visual recorder, natural language prompts, or API. Includes proxy rotation, scheduling, and webhook integrations.
The catch vs ScrapingBeeRequires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed ScrapingBee.
Install, platforms & data +
- platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- install
- Clone https://github.com/getmaxun/maxun or deploy with Docker Compose
- setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- your data
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- checked
- 2026-11-07
ScrapingBee Head-to-Head Comparisons (2027)
Side-by-side trade-off breakdowns · 2 free alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers · ScrapingBee open-source replacements
What is the best free alternative to ScrapingBee?+
The top free alternative to ScrapingBee is Firecrawl (open source, Open Source). API for AI agents to search, scrape, crawl, and interact with the live web, returning clean Markdown, structured JSON, or screenshots from any page. Other popular ScrapingBee replacements include Maxun.
Can I self-host a free replacement for ScrapingBee?+
Yes. Of the 2 free alternatives to ScrapingBee, 2 can be self-hosted on your own server or local machine: Firecrawl (Open Source), Maxun (Open Source).
How much does switching from ScrapingBee to a free alternative save?+
ScrapingBee starts at $15/month per seat ($180/year). Switching a 5-person team to a free alternative like Firecrawl saves $900 per year in software subscription fees.
Should I vibe-code or build my own ScrapingBee clone from scratch?+
Our build verdict for ScrapingBee is NO (use a free alternative, save the tokens). Instead of paying recurring SaaS fees for ScrapingBee or rebuilding it from scratch, deploy one of the 2 battle-tested open-source alternatives like Firecrawl.
What is the catch when switching from ScrapingBee to Firecrawl?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed ScrapingBee.
