February 16, 2026 · 8 min read
Screenshot API Pricing Comparison 2026
Choosing a screenshot API? Price matters, but so does what you get per dollar. Here's an honest breakdown of every major player.
The Quick Overview
We compared 5 popular screenshot APIs on their entry-level paid plan. All prices as of February 2026.
| API | Free Tier | Starter Price | Screenshots/mo | Cost per Screenshot | Device Frames | AI Cleanup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GrabShot | 25/mo | $9/mo | 1,000 | $0.009 | Yes | Yes |
| URLBox | None | $19/mo | 2,000 | $0.0095 | No | No |
| ScreenshotOne | 100/mo | $29/mo | 5,000 | $0.0058 | No | No |
| Screenshotlayer | 100/mo | $9.99/mo | 5,000 | $0.002 | No | No |
| ApiFlash | 100/mo | $7/mo | 1,000 | $0.007 | No | No |
What the Numbers Don't Show
Raw cost per screenshot is one metric, but consider what you're actually getting:
- Device frames turn a flat screenshot into a marketing asset. If you'd otherwise pay a designer $5-20 per mockup, that changes the math completely.
- AI cleanup (removing cookie banners, popups, chat widgets) saves manual editing time. At GrabShot's Starter plan, you get both features included.
- Free tier generosity matters for testing. GrabShot's 25 free screenshots include all features (even AI cleanup), so you can fully evaluate before paying.
Deep Dive: When Each API Makes Sense
GrabShot — Best for Marketing Teams & Content Creators
If you need screenshots that look good in blog posts, social media, or pitch decks, GrabShot is the clear choice. Device frames (iPhone, MacBook, iPad) and AI cleanup are unique features. The $9/mo Starter plan is the cheapest way to get production-ready screenshots without post-processing.
Best for: SaaS companies needing OG images, marketers creating content, agencies building client reports.
ScreenshotOne — Best for High-Volume Raw Captures
If you just need raw page captures at scale and don't care about frames or cleanup, ScreenshotOne offers good value at the $29/mo tier with 5,000 screenshots. Their API is straightforward and reliable.
Screenshotlayer — Best for Budget Bulk Captures
At $0.002 per screenshot, Screenshotlayer wins on raw price. The trade-off: older rendering engine, no modern features, and the free tier is very limited in resolution. Fine for monitoring or archival; not great for anything user-facing.
URLBox — Best for Complex Rendering Needs
URLBox handles tricky rendering cases well (SPAs, lazy-loaded content, custom viewports). No free tier means you commit upfront, but for developers who need pixel-perfect captures of complex pages, it delivers.
The Verdict
For most developers and teams, GrabShot offers the best combination of features and price. The device frames alone justify the cost if you'd otherwise spend time in Figma mocking things up. Start with the free tier (25 screenshots, all features) and upgrade when you need volume.
For pure bulk capture with no frills, Screenshotlayer is cheapest. For complex rendering needs, URLBox is solid despite the price.
Try GrabShot Free
25 free screenshots per month. Device frames, AI cleanup, and full API access included. No credit card required.
Get Your Free API Key →FAQ
Can I switch APIs later?
Yes. Most screenshot APIs use similar REST patterns (pass a URL, get an image back). Switching usually takes under an hour of code changes.
Do any offer annual discounts?
ScreenshotOne and URLBox offer ~20% off for annual billing. GrabShot currently offers monthly billing only, plus a 10% launch discount (code: PH10OFF).
What about self-hosting Puppeteer?
Totally viable for low volume. Expect to spend $20-50/mo on a VPS with enough RAM, plus maintenance time. At scale, managed APIs are cheaper per-screenshot than running your own infrastructure.