Octoparse
vs
ParseHub
Octoparse vs ParseHub
Octoparse and ParseHub are the two best-known visual web scrapers: desktop apps where you build the extraction rules by clicking through a page, plus a scheduled cloud product to run them. Octoparse leans on a large template library and an AI auto-detection feature; ParseHub leans on a precise visual editor and conditional flow control. Both target non-engineering teams who want web data without writing code.
Key differences.
Cost, side by side.
| Pricing model | Octoparse | ParseHub |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 10,000 records / mo, 2 concurrent tasks | 5 public projects, 200 pages / run |
| Entry | Standard $89/mo (cloud + scheduling) | Standard $189/mo (10K pages, 200/run) |
| Mid | Professional $249/mo (more concurrency) | Professional $599/mo (IP rotation, 50K pages) |
| Scale | Enterprise (custom, API access) | Custom (private API, dedicated) |
| Model | Flat monthly + task / record caps | Per-page on monthly plans, API on top tier only |
Both price for non-engineering teams on monthly plans. Octoparse is the cheaper entry, with a more generous free tier (10K records vs 200 pages per public project). ParseHub costs roughly twice as much at every paid tier but is often described as more capable on complex flows. API access lands on different tiers: Octoparse exposes a cloud API on Standard; ParseHub keeps it for Professional ($599/mo) and above.
Feature by feature.
| Feature | Octoparse | ParseHub |
|---|---|---|
| Visual / no-code builder | Yes (flagship) | Yes (flagship) |
| Pre-built site templates | Yes (100+ templates) | No (build your own) |
| AI auto-detection | Yes (smart-mode) | Partial |
| Conditional flows / branching | Yes | Yes (granular) |
| Pagination + form handling | Yes | Yes |
| JavaScript rendering | Yes | Yes (Chromium-based) |
| Cloud scheduling / cron | Yes (paid tiers) | Yes (paid tiers) |
| IP rotation / proxies | Yes (cloud tiers) | Yes (Professional+) |
| CAPTCHA solving | Partial | No |
| REST API | Yes (Standard+) | Yes (Professional $599+ only) |
| Webhooks / callbacks | Yes | Yes (paid tiers) |
| Export formats | CSV / Excel / JSON / database | CSV / Excel / JSON / API |
| Article / content extraction | No (custom selectors only) | No (custom selectors only) |
| SERP / screenshots / AI extraction | No | No |
| Self-serve sign-up | Yes | Yes (desktop app) |
An honest look at each.
Octoparse- Large template library (100+ pre-built site recipes): fastest start on common sites
- AI auto-detection in smart-mode handles many pages without manual rule-building
- Cheaper at every tier: $89/mo entry vs ParseHub's $189
- More generous free tier (10K records / mo, 2 concurrent tasks)
- API access available on Standard tier, not gated to enterprise
- No content extraction, SERP API, screenshots or AI-LLM features
- CAPTCHA support is partial, so heavily protected sites become hand-tuning
- Templates can break when sites redesign; smart-mode isn't infallible
- Less polished editor for complex conditional flows than ParseHub
ParseHub- Genuinely capable visual editor: handles conditional flows and edge cases well
- Scheduled cloud runs with webhook delivery on paid tiers
- IP rotation on Professional tier
- Free tier covers public projects without time limits
- Mature product (2014+), well-documented patterns
- No anti-bot beyond IP rotation, so tough sites become hand-tuning
- API access locked behind the $599/mo Professional tier
- Per-page billing with strict per-run caps (200 on Standard)
- No templates, AI auto-detection, SERP or AI-LLM features
- Slow product velocity in 2025-2026 vs API-native competitors
We do our best to keep this comparison accurate and up-to-date. If you notice any discrepancies, please let us know.
Our take: Octoparse for breadth and templates, ParseHub for precision
Both tools solve the same problem (visual no-code scraping) but lean in different directions. Octoparse is the cheaper, broader-reach pick: the template library and AI smart-mode make it the fastest start on common sites, and the API is available on the entry tier. ParseHub is the more precise editor, better at complex conditional flows, but you pay twice as much at every tier and the API is locked behind $599/mo. If you want speed and templates, Octoparse. If you want fine-grained control of a hand-built scraper, ParseHub. Either way, both show their age against API-native, AI-extraction competitors that have appeared since 2023.