Looking for an Apify Alternative?
CrawlForge replaces complex actor configurations with 23 MCP-native tools and simple per-tool credit pricing. Get started in minutes.
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Overview
If Apify's actor ecosystem feels overwhelming, CrawlForge offers a simpler path to web scraping. Instead of browsing a marketplace of thousands of actors, configuring inputs, and managing compute units, CrawlForge gives you 23 focused tools with predictable per-use credit costs.
CrawlForge is built on the Model Context Protocol, which means AI agents discover and call tools directly. No need to find the right actor, configure it, and wrap it in an API. Your agents see all 23 tools and their capabilities through the MCP interface.
The pricing model is also simpler. Instead of calculating compute units based on CPU time, memory, and data transfer, CrawlForge charges 1-10 credits per tool call. You always know what a scraping operation will cost before you run it.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | CrawlForge | Apify | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup Complexity | API key, start calling tools | Find actor, configure, manage runs | |
| AI Agent Integration | MCP-native, direct tool calls | REST API, requires custom wrapping | |
| Pricing Model | Per-tool credits (1-10 per call) | Compute units (CPU/memory/time) | |
| Tool Discovery | Automatic via MCP protocol | Manual actor marketplace search | |
| Use Case Breadth | 23 general-purpose tools | Thousands of specialized actors | |
| Deep Research | Built-in multi-source research | Not built-in | |
| Scheduling | Via external cron/agents | Built-in scheduler | |
| Data Storage | Via external storage | Built-in dataset storage |
Pricing Comparison
| Tier | CrawlForge | Apify |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 1,000 credits | $5/mo in compute units |
| Starter | $19/mo — 5,000 credits | $49/mo — platform fee + compute |
| Professional | $99/mo — 50,000 credits | $149/mo — platform fee + compute |
| Business | $399/mo — 250,000 credits | Custom pricing |
Why Choose CrawlForge
- Simple per-tool credit pricing with no compute unit math
- MCP-native for automatic AI agent tool discovery
- Start scraping in minutes, not hours
- Consistent 23-tool API -- no actor hunting
- Built-in deep_research for multi-source analysis
- Lower entry price ($19 vs $49 for paid tier)
Where Apify Shines
- +Thousands of pre-built actors for niche use cases
- +Built-in scheduling and workflow orchestration
- +Built-in dataset storage and export
- +Self-hosting option available
- +Larger community of developers
The Verdict
CrawlForge is the best Apify alternative for developers who want simplicity. If you are tired of searching through actors, calculating compute costs, and managing complex configurations, CrawlForge's 23 focused tools with per-use pricing is refreshing.
Apify remains a strong choice for teams that need highly specialized scrapers for niche platforms, built-in scheduling, or a self-hosted deployment. The actor marketplace is unmatched in breadth.
Which one should you pick?
- You want one consistent API rather than navigating a marketplace of thousands of actors.
- You want to predict per-call cost without modelling compute units.
- You are building AI agents via MCP and want tool discovery to happen through the protocol.
- You want to start scraping immediately after signing up.
- You value built-in deep_research and a larger default free tier.
- You need a very specialised pre-built actor (social media, marketplaces, ecommerce scrapers).
- You need built-in scheduling, dataset storage, and workflow orchestration inside the platform.
- You have self-hosting or data residency needs Apify's Enterprise plan covers.
- You are a Python-heavy team already comfortable with Crawlee.
Migration example
Move a simple Apify run to a CrawlForge tool call. (Check Apify docs for current SDK options.)
Before — Apify
typescript// Before: Apify
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';
const client = new ApifyClient({ token: process.env.APIFY_TOKEN });
const run = await client.actor('apify/website-content-crawler').call({
startUrls: [{ url: 'https://example.com' }],
});After — CrawlForge
typescript// After: CrawlForge
const res = await fetch('https://www.crawlforge.dev/api/v1/tools/crawl_deep', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${process.env.CRAWLFORGE_API_KEY}`, 'Content-Type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify({ url: 'https://example.com', maxDepth: 2 }),
});
const run = await res.json();Frequently Asked Questions
Does CrawlForge replace Apify actors?
For general scraping workflows, yes — the 23 tools cover fetching, extraction, crawling, structured data, search, research, and more. For deeply specialised actors (for example, a prebuilt LinkedIn or Instagram scraper), you would either build that logic on CrawlForge primitives or stay on Apify for that specific flow.
How does compute-unit billing compare to credits?
Apify charges for compute based on CPU time, memory, and duration, plus platform fees on paid plans. CrawlForge charges a fixed number of credits per tool call, which is easier to forecast and cap.
Does CrawlForge have built-in scheduling?
No. Pair CrawlForge with your existing scheduler — Vercel cron, GitHub Actions, or any cron runner. Apify includes scheduling in the platform itself.
Can I bring my Crawlee code to CrawlForge?
CrawlForge is not Crawlee-compatible — it is API-first, not a framework. For most scraping tasks you simply call CrawlForge tools instead of orchestrating Crawlee crawlers.
Does CrawlForge offer self-hosting?
No. CrawlForge is a managed SaaS. Apify offers self-hosted deployments on its Enterprise plan if you need that.
Related resources
Getting started
Install CrawlForge MCP and run your first scrape in under a minute.
Browse all 23 tools
See every scraping, extraction, and research tool with credit costs.
Use cases
Lead enrichment, price monitoring, RAG pipelines, and more.
Pricing
Free 1,000 credits, then $19/mo Starter. Compare every plan.
All comparisons
See how CrawlForge stacks up against every major scraping API.
MCP web scraping guide
Why MCP-native scraping outperforms REST for AI agents.
Ready to Try CrawlForge?
Every new account gets 1,000 free credits. No credit card required.
Try CrawlForge Free — 1,000 Credits