SoftwareGlimpse

Apify vs Bright Data

Same-cluster web data / proxy collection peer comparison. Choose Apify when Actor-based scraping and automation is the job — not Bright Data proxy GB by default. Choose Bright Data when web data collection at scale — with proxy network reliability — is the primary job and budget supports GB/commitment pricing. Overall: Apify 7.5 vs Bright Data 7.7. Not hands-on lab tested; confirm live pricing and packaging. Compare published pricing, ITSM, observability, source control, hosting, web data, security, and integrations.

Independently recommendedLast updated Aug 18, 20265 evidence sources5 screenshotsHow we compare
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Apify logo

Apify

7.5/10

Actor platform for web scraping — Free $0 ($5 usage); Starter $29/mo ($26 annual); Scale $199; Business $999.

Best for

  • • Teams that want ready-made or custom Actors rather than raw proxy ops
  • • Developers who need compute + storage + proxy in one platform
  • • Projects that benefit from Apify Store scrapers

Starting from $29.00/user/mo

Free plan available

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VS

Our verdict

Our verdict

Bright Data is the stronger overall fit

Same-cluster web data / proxy collection peer comparison. Choose Apify when Actor-based scraping and automation is the job — not Bright Data proxy GB by default. Choose Bright Data when web data collection at scale — with proxy network reliability — is the primary job and budget supports GB/commitment pricing. Overall: Apify 7.5 vs Bright Data 7.7. Not hands-on lab tested; confirm live pricing and packaging.

Apify is better for

  • ✓ Free plan

Bright Data is better for

  • ✓ ITSM depth
  • ✓ Source control depth
  • ✓ Hosting panel depth
  • ✓ Web data / proxy depth

Tie

  • • Observability depth
  • • Integrations

Choose Apify if: Teams that want ready-made or custom Actors rather than raw proxy ops

Choose Bright Data if: Data engineering teams needing reliable residential/datacenter proxy networks

See detailed comparison ↓
Stronger overall fit
Bright Data logo

Bright Data

7.7/10

Web data / proxy platform — pay-as-you-go from ~$4/GB residential; starter commitments from ~$499/mo.

Best for

  • • Data engineering teams needing reliable residential/datacenter proxy networks
  • • Enterprises with budget for committed web-data infrastructure
  • • Projects with clear compliance review and acceptable-use alignment

Starting from $499.00/user/mo

No free plan

Visit Bright Data
Read review

Apify vs Bright Data at a glance

Criterion-level leaders from verified research.

Full scorecard →

Scorecard preview

Criterion leaders based on verified research — open the Scorecard tab for evidence detail.

  • Starting pricingDepends

    Apify

    Bright Data

  • Free planApify

    Apify

    Bright Data

  • User / licence minimumDepends

    Apify

    Bright Data

  • ITSM depthBright Data

    Apify

    Bright Data

  • Observability depthTie

    Apify

    Bright Data

Which It Development is better for you?

Quick picks based on fit — not a universal ranking.

  • → Apify

    Teams that want ready-made or custom Actors rather than raw proxy ops

    Pick Apify for Teams that want ready-made or custom Actors rather than raw proxy ops.

  • → Apify

    Developers who need compute + storage + proxy in one platform

    Pick Apify for Developers who need compute + storage + proxy in one platform.

  • → Apify

    Projects that benefit from Apify Store scrapers

    Pick Apify for Projects that benefit from Apify Store scrapers.

  • → Bright Data

    Data engineering teams needing reliable residential/datacenter proxy networks

    Pick Bright Data for Data engineering teams needing reliable residential/datacenter proxy networks.

  • → Bright Data

    Enterprises with budget for committed web-data infrastructure

    Pick Bright Data for Enterprises with budget for committed web-data infrastructure.

  • → Bright Data

    Projects with clear compliance review and acceptable-use alignment

    Pick Bright Data for Projects with clear compliance review and acceptable-use alignment.

The biggest differences

Where the products diverge most clearly on verified criteria.

  • Free plan

    Apify wins

    Apify

    Better for free plan

    Bright Data

    Trails Apify on this criterion

  • ITSM depth

    Bright Data wins

    Apify

    Trails Bright Data on this criterion

    Bright Data

    Bright Data leads on ITSM depth (8/10 vs 9/10). Landscape or cluster fit from vendor documentation.

  • Source control depth

    Bright Data wins

    Apify

    Trails Bright Data on this criterion

    Bright Data

    Bright Data leads on source control depth (8/10 vs 9/10). Landscape or cluster fit from vendor documentation.

  • Hosting panel depth

    Bright Data wins

    Apify

    Trails Bright Data on this criterion

    Bright Data

    Bright Data leads on hosting panel depth (8/10 vs 9/10). Landscape or cluster fit from vendor documentation.

  • Web data / proxy depth

    Bright Data wins

    Apify

    Trails Bright Data on this criterion

    Bright Data

    Bright Data leads on web data / proxy depth (8/10 vs 9/10). Landscape or cluster fit from vendor documentation.

  • Security & admin

    Bright Data wins

    Apify

    Trails Bright Data on this criterion

    Bright Data

    Bright Data leads on security & admin (7/10 vs 8/10). Landscape or cluster fit from vendor documentation.

Which should you choose?

Choose Apify if

  • Teams that want ready-made or custom Actors rather than raw proxy ops
  • Developers who need compute + storage + proxy in one platform
  • Projects that benefit from Apify Store scrapers

Choose Bright Data if

  • Data engineering teams needing reliable residential/datacenter proxy networks
  • Enterprises with budget for committed web-data infrastructure
  • Projects with clear compliance review and acceptable-use alignment

How we compare

A short look at the comparison process. Full methodology

  1. 1

    Collect

    Collect official product information, pricing, and product evidence.

  2. 2

    Normalize

    Map evidence to the same category evaluation criteria for both products.

  3. 3

    Compare

    Evaluate both products against identical criteria — ties and depends are allowed.

  4. 4

    Explain

    Show why each product wins, loses, or ties, with evidence behind the outcome.

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  • Independent criterion outcomes
  • No invented scores or prices
  • Affiliate links never change winners

Some visit links may be affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Comparison outcomes are never based on commission.

Affiliate disclosure: some links may be affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rankings and scores are never based on commission. Full disclosure

Methodology disclosure: scores and recommendations follow SoftwareGlimpse evaluation criteria (version 1.0.0). Affiliate relationships do not determine rankings.

How we recommend: product claims are tied to recorded research where available.

AI-assisted disclosure: drafts may be AI-assisted from approved facts and assessments. Humans approve publishable editorial judgments. AI does not invent live prices or claim hands-on testing.