Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ScrapingBee VS Ghost Browser

Compare ScrapingBee VS Ghost Browser and see what are their differences

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ScrapingBee logo ScrapingBee

ScrapingBee is a Web Scraping API that handles proxies and Headless browser for you, so you can focus on extracting the data you want, and nothing else.

Ghost Browser logo Ghost Browser

Ghost Browser improves your productivity with built in tab management and multi-session browsing so you can log into multiple accounts from one window.
  • ScrapingBee Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-12

Web Scraping is hard, scraping at scale can be very challenging.

You have to handle:

  • Javascript rendering ๐Ÿ’ป
  • Chrome headless ๐Ÿ› 
  • Captcha ๐Ÿค–
  • Proxy ๐Ÿ•ต๏ธโ€โ™€๏ธ

ScrapingBee is a simple API that does all the above for you, and much more.

  • Ghost Browser Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-23

In addition to Ghost Browser's productivity sidebar and built-in multi-session browsing, you can assign a different proxy to each tab for maximum identity protection.

Ghost Browser is used by customer support teams, web developers, QA testers, marketing professionals and social media managers to cut up to hours off of their day. See how Ghost is being used by these departments and more on our case studies page: https://ghostbrowser.com/case-studies/

ScrapingBee

$ Details
freemium $49 / Monthly (Freelance / 10,000 searches / 100,000 credits)
Platforms
REST API
Release Date
2019 July

ScrapingBee features and specs

  • Easy to Use
    ScrapingBee provides a simple API that allows developers to scrape web pages without worrying about handling proxies or web browser rendering.
  • JavaScript Rendering
    With built-in JavaScript rendering, ScrapingBee can handle complex web pages that rely heavily on JavaScript for content display, making it suitable for scraping modern websites.
  • Proxy Management
    ScrapingBee automatically manages proxies, meaning developers don't have to deal with proxy rotation, blacklisting, or bans.
  • Rate Limiting Control
    The service offers control over rate limits, making it possible to scrape at a custom speed that suits your needs and prevents being blocked by target websites.
  • Custom Headers Support
    ScrapingBee allows the use of custom headers, enabling users to mimic different browsers or add specific headers required by the target site.
  • Geolocation
    It provides geolocation-based scraping, which is useful for accessing content that is region-restricted.

Possible disadvantages of ScrapingBee

  • Cost
    ScrapingBee is a paid service, and costs can add up depending on the volume and complexity of your scraping needs.
  • Rate Limits
    Even though it offers control over rate limits, there are still predefined limits depending on your plan, which might not suit very high-volume scraping needs.
  • Dependency on External Service
    Relying on an external service means that you are dependent on ScrapingBee's uptime and performance, which may affect your operations if the service faces downtime.
  • Data Privacy
    Using a third-party service for web scraping means sharing your scraping activities with ScrapingBee, which could raise data privacy concerns.
  • Limited Customization
    While ScrapingBee handles many aspects of web scraping for you, it may not offer the level of customization that a self-built scraping solution could provide.

Ghost Browser features and specs

  • Multi-Session Browsing
    Ghost Browser allows users to simultaneously log into multiple sessions of the same website using different tabs, which is particularly useful for tasks such as social media management and QA testing.
  • Project Management
    The browser supports the organization of tabs into projects, making it easier to manage various workflows and switch between different tasks without losing context.
  • Chromium-Based
    As a Chromium-based browser, Ghost Browser supports all Chrome extensions and enjoys similar security and performance benefits, providing a familiar and robust user experience.
  • Efficiency and Productivity
    Ghost Browser enhances productivity by reducing the need for multiple browser profiles and windows. Users can handle various accounts and projects more efficiently in a single interface.
  • Security Features
    The browser includes various security features such as sandboxing, which isolates each tab to prevent website errors or malware from affecting other tabs or the operating system.

Possible disadvantages of Ghost Browser

  • Cost
    While there is a free version, many advanced features of Ghost Browser are locked behind a subscription paywall, which may be a barrier for some users.
  • Performance Impact
    Running multiple sessions in several tabs can be resource-intensive, potentially leading to slower performance, especially on older or less powerful computers.
  • Learning Curve
    Users accustomed to traditional browsing experiences may find Ghost Browser's interface and features initially challenging to navigate, resulting in a learning curve.
  • Limited Support
    Being a niche browser, Ghost Browser has limited community support and troubleshooting resources compared to more mainstream browsers like Chrome or Firefox.
  • Privacy Concerns
    As with any browser that handles multiple sessions and accounts, users may have concerns about privacy and data security, especially in terms of how their data is managed and stored.

Analysis of ScrapingBee

Overall verdict

  • ScrapingBee is generally considered a good choice for web scraping, especially for users who want to streamline the process and avoid the complexities of managing their own infrastructure. It is well-regarded for its ease of use, reliability, and comprehensive feature set.

Why this product is good

  • ScrapingBee is a popular web scraping service because it provides a simple and efficient way to scrape websites without the need to manage proxy servers or deal with headless browser setup. It offers features like rendering JavaScript, handling CAPTCHAs, and supporting various customization options, making it suitable for different scraping needs.

Recommended for

  • Developers looking to automate data extraction from websites
  • Businesses needing reliable web scraping solutions without investing in infrastructure
  • Users who require JavaScript rendering and CAPTCHA handling in their scraping tasks
  • Projects that require scalable and customizable web scraping options

Analysis of Ghost Browser

Overall verdict

  • Ghost Browser is generally considered a good tool for those who need to manage multiple accounts or projects simultaneously. Its unique features can significantly boost productivity for users who deal with complex web-based tasks. However, its niche focus might not make it the best choice for casual users who do not require session management.

Why this product is good

  • Ghost Browser is a specialized web browser designed to enhance productivity by allowing users to manage multiple accounts and tasks within a single window. With features like session isolation, users can effortlessly switch between different login sessions for various websites without any conflicts. Additionally, Ghost Browser is built on the Chromium engine, ensuring compatibility with Chrome extensions and a familiar interface for Chrome users. Freelancers, digital marketers, and social media managers often appreciate its capabilities for streamlining workflows.

Recommended for

  • Digital marketers managing multiple client accounts
  • Social media managers who need to access various accounts simultaneously
  • Web developers and testers who require isolated browsing sessions
  • Freelancers handling multiple projects

ScrapingBee videos

No ScrapingBee videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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Ghost Browser videos

Meet Ghost Browser

More videos:

  • Review - Ghost Browser Review
  • Demo - Ghost Browser Demo - The Productivity Browser for Tech Pros

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ScrapingBee and Ghost Browser)
Web Scraping
100 100%
0% 0
Web Browsers
0 0%
100% 100
Data Extraction
100 100%
0% 0
Customisable Web Browser
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ScrapingBee and Ghost Browser

ScrapingBee Reviews

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Ghost Browser Reviews

6 Alternative Browsers That Aren't Chrome or Firefox
Tabbed projects are also available, which is very useful when you're working on a project and want to bring up all relevant bookmarks in a single click. Plus, Ghost Browser is a Chromium browser, so it's compatible with the Chrome Web Store.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ScrapingBee should be more popular than Ghost Browser. It has been mentiond 3 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ScrapingBee mentions (3)

  • Self-hosted, simple web browser service โ€“ send URL, get screenshots
    If youโ€™re worried about the security risks, edge cases, maintenance pain and scaling challenges of self hosting there are various solid hosted alternatives: - https://browserless.io - low level browser control - https://scrapingbee.com - scraping specialists - https://urlbox.com - screenshot specialists* Theyโ€™re all profitable and have been around for years so you can depend on the businesses and the tech. *... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Are there any APIs that maintain a database of subscriptions?
    If you really just need the data you can use something like https://scrapingbee.com to scrape the info from the various price pages to make sure your info is always up to date. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Our bootstrapped SaaS just turned 3 and reached $1.5m ARR: the lessons learned.
    Well done! And posting here was a great idea. Not sure I would have found scrapingbee.com otherwise. We will probably become a customer. Signed up for the trial account. Source: about 4 years ago

Ghost Browser mentions (1)

  • Help! I want to listen in the browser without signing into chrome.
    If none of that will work, I think you're looking at getting permission to use something like GhostBrowser or Wavebox on your work computer, or to be allowed to use the SessionBox Chrome extension, which might be the easiest sell if you offer to eat the cost yourself. This is a first-world problem for sure, but I feel for you all the same; few things can make my workday shittier more quickly than bad music or no... Source: over 4 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ScrapingBee and Ghost Browser, you can also consider the following products

Apify - Apify is a web scraping and automation platform that can turn any website into an API.

Vivaldi - Vivaldi is a free, fast web browser designed for power-users. You decide how you browse. Download Vivaldi's fully customisable browser now and browse your way.

Scraper API - Scale Data Collection with a Simple API.

Pale Moon - Pale Moon is an Open Source, Mozilla-derived web browser available for Microsoft Windows and Linux, focusing on efficiency and ease of use.

Zyte - We're Zyte (formerly Scrapinghub), the central point of entry for all your web data needs.

Midori - Midori is a lightweight, fast, and free web browser.