SerpApi vs ScrapingBee: Which SERP API Should You Choose?
A detailed comparison of SerpApi and ScrapingBee covering pricing, features, performance, and use cases to help you pick the right search API.
Choosing between SerpApi and ScrapingBee? Both are popular options for developers who need to scrape search engine results, but they serve different needs. Let's break down the key differences.
Pricing Comparison
SerpApi starts at $50/month for 5,000 searches. They offer a free tier with 100 searches/month for testing.
ScrapingBee starts at $29/month for 1,000 API credits. Their free tier includes 1,000 credits to get started.
Which is cheaper?
For low-volume projects, ScrapingBee's entry price is lower. But if you need more than 1,000 searches/month, SerpApi often provides better value per search.
Features
SerpApi Features
- Google, Bing, Yahoo, Baidu support
- Real-time results
- Structured JSON output
- Location targeting
- Knowledge Graph data
- Related questions
ScrapingBee Features
- General web scraping (not just search)
- JavaScript rendering
- Proxy rotation
- Screenshot capture
- Custom headers
Performance
Both APIs are reliable with 99%+ uptime. In our tests:
- SerpApi: Average response time of 2.1 seconds
- ScrapingBee: Average response time of 1.8 seconds
When to Choose SerpApi
Choose SerpApi if you:
- Need dedicated search engine scraping
- Want structured data from Knowledge Graphs
- Require support for multiple search engines
- Need high-volume search data
When to Choose ScrapingBee
Choose ScrapingBee if you:
- Need general web scraping beyond search
- Want JavaScript rendering
- Have a tight budget for low volume
- Need screenshot capabilities
Conclusion
SerpApi is the better choice for dedicated SERP scraping with rich, structured data. ScrapingBee is more versatile if you need general web scraping alongside search results.
Both offer free tiers, so test them with your specific use case before committing.