Comparison Guide

7 Best Screenshot API Alternatives in 2026

Updated February 2026 · 8 min read

Need a screenshot API for your project? The market has grown significantly, with options ranging from free open-source tools to enterprise platforms charging $500+/month.

We tested 7 popular screenshot APIs on the same set of 50 websites, measuring speed, rendering accuracy, and ease of integration. Here is what we found.

Quick Comparison

Service	Free Tier	Starting Price	Avg Speed	Best For
GrabShot	25/mo	$9/mo	~2.5s	Developers who want simplicity + AI cleanup
Screenshotlayer	100/mo	$10/mo	~4s	Simple use cases, legacy projects
URLBox	7-day trial	$19/mo	~2s	High-volume OG image generation
ScreenshotOne	100/mo	$9/mo	~3s	Developers wanting extensive options
ApiFlash	100/mo	$7/mo	~3.5s	Budget-conscious projects
Browserless	None	$50/mo	~1.5s	Teams needing full browser automation
Puppeteer (self-hosted)	Free (open source)	Server costs	Varies	Full control, technical teams

1. GrabShot

Our Pick

GrabShot takes a different approach from most screenshot APIs by focusing on simplicity and output quality. The standout feature is AI-powered cleanup (available on paid plans) that automatically removes cookie banners, popups, and overlays before capturing.

The API is dead simple: one endpoint, one required parameter (url), and you get back a screenshot. No complex authentication schemes or convoluted SDKs. The free tier includes 25 screenshots per month with a small watermark.

Strengths

+ AI cleanup removes popups/banners automatically
+ Simple API, easy integration
+ Part of a 10-tool developer API suite
+ Transparent pricing, no hidden fees

Limitations

- Smaller free tier (25/mo vs 100/mo elsewhere)
- Newer service, smaller community
- No browser automation features

Quick start:

curl "https://grabshot.dev/v1/screenshot?url=https://example.com" \
  -H "X-API-Key: YOUR_KEY" -o screenshot.png

Try GrabShot Free →

2. Screenshotlayer

One of the oldest screenshot APIs, Screenshotlayer by APILayer has been around since 2015. It offers a generous free tier (100 screenshots/month) and straightforward REST API.

The main drawback is speed. In our tests, Screenshotlayer consistently took 4+ seconds per capture, and rendering quality for modern JavaScript-heavy sites was inconsistent. The API also uses older authentication (access key in URL) rather than modern header-based auth.

Strengths

+ Generous free tier (100/mo)
+ Long track record, stable service
+ Multiple export formats

Limitations

- Slow capture speed (~4s average)
- Poor rendering of modern JS sites
- Dated API design

3. URLBox

URLBox is a premium screenshot API aimed at teams doing high-volume OG image generation and website thumbnails. The rendering quality is excellent, and the API offers fine-grained control over viewport, wait conditions, and element targeting.

The pricing starts at $19/month with no free tier (just a 7-day trial), which makes it a harder sell for side projects and indie developers. But for production use cases where quality matters, URLBox delivers.

Strengths

+ Excellent rendering quality
+ Fast capture speed (~2s)
+ Extensive customization options

Limitations

- No free tier
- Higher starting price ($19/mo)
- Can be complex for simple use cases

4. ScreenshotOne

ScreenshotOne is a developer-focused API with a broad feature set: full-page captures, element-level screenshots, geolocation simulation, and custom CSS injection. The free tier offers 100 screenshots per month.

The API surface is large, which is great for power users but can be overwhelming for simple use cases. Documentation is thorough, and they offer SDKs for popular languages.

Strengths

+ Extensive feature set
+ Good free tier (100/mo)
+ Multiple language SDKs

Limitations

- Complex API for simple tasks
- Average capture speed (~3s)
- No AI/smart features

5. ApiFlash

ApiFlash positions itself as the affordable option, with plans starting at $7/month. The API is straightforward and covers the basics well: full-page screenshots, custom viewports, and PDF export.

Quality is adequate for thumbnail generation and basic captures, though we noticed some inconsistencies with complex layouts and lazy-loaded content.

Strengths

+ Most affordable paid option
+ Simple, clean API
+ 100 free screenshots/month

Limitations

- Inconsistent with complex layouts
- Limited customization
- Slower than premium alternatives

6. Browserless

Browserless is not just a screenshot API. It is a full headless browser service that includes screenshot capabilities. If you need browser automation, web scraping, and screenshots from a single provider, Browserless is worth considering.

The starting price of $50/month reflects the broader feature set. For teams that only need screenshots, this is overkill. But for those already using Puppeteer or Playwright and want managed infrastructure, it is a natural fit.

Strengths

+ Full browser automation included
+ Fastest capture speed (~1.5s)
+ Puppeteer/Playwright compatible

Limitations

- No free tier
- Expensive for screenshot-only use
- Steeper learning curve

7. Self-Hosted Puppeteer

The DIY option. Puppeteer (or Playwright) running on your own server gives you complete control and zero per-screenshot costs. The trade-off is maintenance: you handle scaling, browser updates, memory management, and edge cases yourself.

This makes sense for teams with strong DevOps capabilities and very high volume. For everyone else, the operational burden usually outweighs the cost savings.

Strengths

+ Free (open source)
+ Complete control
+ No vendor lock-in

Limitations

- Significant maintenance overhead
- Memory/scaling challenges
- No support or SLA

Which Should You Choose?

For most developers: Start with GrabShot or ScreenshotOne. Both offer free tiers, simple APIs, and enough features for 90% of use cases. GrabShot's AI cleanup is a unique advantage if you capture user-facing content.

For high-volume production: URLBox or Browserless, depending on whether you need browser automation beyond screenshots.

On a tight budget: ApiFlash at $7/month, or self-hosted Puppeteer if you have the DevOps chops.

Building a developer tools suite? GrabShot is part of a 10-API platform covering screenshots, PDFs, color extraction, font detection, link checking, and more. One platform for all your developer tool needs.

Try GrabShot Free

25 free screenshots per month. No credit card required. 30-second setup.

Get Your API Key →

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