What is scrapestack?

scrapestack is an API service allowing customers to scrape websites without having to worry about technical issues like proxies, IP blocks, geo-targeting, CAPTCHA solving, and more. Simply send a valid website URL and the scrapestack API will return its full HTML content (as seen in the browser, including JavaScript rendering) as a response.

To learn more about the API, you can get a free API access key, take a look at the extensive API Documentation and make your first API requests right away.

Who runs the API?

scrapestack is a product built and maintained by apilayer, a software company based in London, United Kingdom and Vienna, Austria. apilayer is the company behind popular API and SaaS products worldwide, including weatherstack, invoicely and eversign.

How scalable is this service?

Scrapestack is a REST API service built on top of apilayer cloud infrastructure, making it highly scalable and capable of handling anything from thousands of API requests per month all the way to millions per day. Powered by a system that scales up and down when needed, the API provides the highest possible level of speed for any API request at any stage.

What is the difference between standard (datacenter) proxies and premium (residential) proxies?

Datacenter (we call them "standard") proxies are the most common proxies used on the internet. They are not owned by any ISP and simply mask your origin IP address by showing the datacenter proxy address and the information associated with the company that owns the respective datacenter.

Residential ("premium") proxies provide IP addresses that are connected to real residential addresses and devices, which makes them much less likely to get blocked while scraping the web. We highly recommend using residential proxies for your web scraping needs as they make it easy to work around geo-blocked content and harvest data at scale.

What is the difference between free and paid subscriptions?

The scrapestack Free Plan is a way of getting familiar with the API, offering basic API functionality and a limitation of 100 API requests that can be processed by the API per month.

As soon as your use of the API requires a more advanced set of features, such as cpncurrent requests or premium proxy access, you can choose from one of the available paid subscriptions or contact us for a custom solution.

Which subscription plan fits my needs?

The most decisive factor when it comes to your technical requirements is the number of API requests you need to make on a monthly basis. Other factors include HTTPS encryption, access to premium proxies, concurrent requests, a more diverse set of geolocations, and more.

Signing up for the Free Plan is a great way of getting to know the API and implementing it without any commitments.

Which payment methods are supported?

Payments can be made via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, Diner's Club, American Express). Enterprise and high-volume customers may request annual bank transfer payments to be enabled. You can change your payment method at any given time in the "Payment" section of your account dashboard.

Can I also pay yearly?

Yes. If you choose annual billing, the total price of your subscription plan will be up to 15% lower than the total amount you would pay with a monthly payment frequency.

How do I cancel/downgrade?

You can initiate a cancellation or downgrade by selecting a new plan and providing at least one reason for your decision. The customer service team will cancel or downgrade your plan. Downgrades are not effective immediately; your premium subscription will remain active until the end of the current billing period.

How do I change between monthly and yearly billing?

To change your subscription from monthly to yearly billing, submit a request on the Contact Us page on the website following these steps:

Step 1: Sign in to your account

Step 2: Go to Contact Us page

Step 3: Fill out the form and choose the “Sales” category for this request.

Step 4: In the text box, include your specific request for example “Change from Monthly to Yearly subscription.”

What is an API Request?

Pricing is based on the number of monthly API requests allowed. Each time the scrapestack service is used to process a URL, one API request is made. In the event that an error should occur, your request does not count towards the monthly volume.

What happens if I exceed my API Request volume?

Users will be automatically notified via e-mail and on their Account Dashboard once at least 75%, 90%, and 100% of their monthly API Request allowance has been reached. After reaching 100% of the allowance, overages fees will apply so we make sure you won’t experience any disruptions and your website/application will keep running smoothly. You can learn more about overages billing here.

What is the API's uptime?

Our API's system status is closely monitored around the clock. Every effort is made to ensure the highest possible level of availability and consistency, and we are proud to have an average uptime rate of nearly 100% (99.9%), calculated based on the past 12 months.

There is a public API status page available at the following URL: status.scrapestack.com.

What is included in Platinum Support?

Platinum Support includes dedicated account management, priority bug fixes, and access to exclusive support resources. It ensures you receive top-tier assistance for any issues you encounter, helping you maintain and optimize your system performance.

How much does Platinum Support cost?

The cost of Platinum Support varies depending on your subscription plan:
- Standard Plan: $479.88 billed annually
- Professional Plan: $599.88 billed annually
- Professional Plus Plan: $719.88 billed annually
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing billed annually

How do I select Platinum Support when purchasing a plan?

When you select a pricing plan, the Platinum Support option is automatically checked. You will see a checkbox next to “Include Platinum Support” with the corresponding annual price. You can uncheck this box if you do not wish to include Platinum Support.

How does Platinum Support appear on my invoice?

When you select Platinum Support, your invoice will display “Selected: [Your Plan] + Platinum Support.” The total amount charged will include the cost of your chosen plan and the annual fee for Platinum Support. For example, if you select the Professional Plan, your invoice will read “$59.99/month + $599.88/year for Platinum Support.”

Can existing customers upgrade to include Platinum Support?

Yes, existing customers can upgrade their plans to include Platinum Support. The option will be automatically checked when viewing available plans, showing the respective annual fee for Platinum Support. You can select or unselect this option as needed.

How is the billing period for Platinum Support handled?

The billing period for Platinum Support is annual. When you purchase Platinum Support, the renewal date will be one year from the purchase date. Your invoice will show the purchase date, renewal date, and the total annual amount for Platinum Support.

Can I opt out of Platinum Support during the purchase process?

Yes, Platinum Support is an optional service, you can uncheck the Platinum Support box during the purchase process if you prefer not to include it.

Can I switch back to standard support after upgrading to Platinum Support?

Yes, you can switch back to standard support at any time. However, the change will take effect at the start of your next billing cycle. Contact our support team to adjust your plan.

What is an overage?

An overage occurs when you go over a quota for your API plan. When you reach your API calls limit, we will charge you a small amount for each new API call so we can make sure there will be no disruption in the service we provide to you and your website or application can continue running smoothly.

Prices for additional API calls will vary based on your plan. See the table below for prices per call and an example of an overage billing.

Note: For complete details, please refer to the overages documentation here.

Why does APILayer have overage fees?

Overage fees allow customers to continue using an API once a quota limit is reached. We want to make sure your website or application continues running at all times, so charges will apply if you go over your monthly quota limit. If you notice you are going over your quota limit each month, look on your dashboard for an upgraded plan to help with larger request limits.

How do I know if I will be charged for overages?

When you are close to reaching your API calls limit for the month, you will receive an automatic notification (at 75%, 90%, and 100% of your monthly quota). You can keep track of your quota usage to prevent overages by tracking the number of API calls you make and checking the dashboard for up-to-date usage statistics.

How will I be charged for my API subscription?

You will be charged for your monthly subscription plan, plus any overage fees applied. Your credit card will be billed after the billing period has ended.

What happens if I don't have any overage fees?

In this case, there will be no change to your monthly invoice. Only billing cycles that incur overages will see any difference in monthly charges. The Business Continuity plan is an insurance plan to be used only if needed and guarantees your end users never see a drop in coverage from you.

What if I consistently have more API calls than my plan allows?

If your usage consistently surpasses the set limits each month, you may face additional charges for the excess usage. Nevertheless, as your monthly usage reaches a certain threshold, it becomes more practical to consider upgrading to the next plan. By doing so, you ensure a smoother and more accommodating experience for your growing customer base. Find out about our pricing plans here.

I would like to upgrade my plan. How can I do that?

You can easily upgrade your plan by going to your Dashboard and selecting the new plan that would be more suitable for your business needs. Additionally, you may contact your Account Manager to discuss a custom plan if you expect a continuous increase in usage.