Scrnify vs. ScreenshotOne: A Pay-As-You-Go Alternative for Screenshot APIs

4/14/2025

Hey there! Laura and Heidi here from SCRNIFY!

Are you tired of being locked into monthly subscription plans for screenshot APIs when your usage varies from month to month? We've been there too! That's why when we built SCRNIFY, we focused on creating a flexible pay-as-you-go model that adapts to your actual needs. But how does our approach compare to established players like ScreenshotOne?

In this comprehensive comparison, we'll dive deep into SCRNIFY and ScreenshotOne, focusing specifically on their pricing models, features, ease of use, and performance. If you're a developer looking for a flexible screenshot API without the commitment of a subscription, you're in the right place!

Get free access to the SCRNIFY API during our open beta!

Core Features: Head-to-Head Comparison

Let's start by comparing the key features offered by both SCRNIFY and ScreenshotOne:

Feature SCRNIFY ScreenshotOne
Image Formats PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF, JP2, TIFF, AVIF, HEIF
Video Capture ✅ (Up to 60 seconds) ✅ (Growth & Scale plans only)
Full-Page Screenshots ✅ ✅
Element Screenshots ❌ ✅ (via CSS selectors)
Viewport Control ✅ (Custom dimensions) ✅ (Custom & device presets)
API Request Options GET GET & POST
Caching ✅ ✅
Signed Requests/Security ✅ ✅
Webhook Support ❌ ✅
HTML Rendering ❌ ✅
PDF Export ❌ ✅
Ad/Cookie Blocking ✅ ✅
Language Libraries/SDKs Limited Multiple (JS, Python, PHP, Ruby, Java, Go, C#)
Pay-as-you-go Pricing ✅ ❌

As you can see, both services offer robust screenshot capabilities, but there are some notable differences. ScreenshotOne has been around longer and offers a wider range of output formats and advanced features like element selection via CSS selectors and direct HTML rendering. However, SCRNIFY's straightforward API and pay-as-you-go model make it more accessible for developers with variable usage patterns or those who want to avoid monthly commitments.

Pricing Model Deep Dive

Now let's get to the heart of the matter - pricing! This is where the two services differ significantly.

ScreenshotOne's Subscription Tiers

ScreenshotOne uses a traditional subscription-based model with different tiers:

Basic Plan: $17/month

  • 2,000 screenshots per month
  • 40 requests per minute
  • $0.009 per extra screenshot
  • Core features included

Growth Plan: $79/month

  • 10,000 screenshots per month
  • 80 requests per minute
  • $0.006 per extra screenshot
  • Additional features: scrolling screenshots, video generation, IP location choice

Scale Plan: $259/month

  • 50,000 screenshots per month
  • 150 requests per minute
  • $0.004 per extra screenshot
  • All features including GPU rendering

All plans include a free tier with 100 screenshots per month for testing.

SCRNIFY's Pay-As-You-Go Model

SCRNIFY takes a completely different approach with a simple pay-as-you-go pricing model:

  • Single rate: 0.008€ per screenshot or video second
  • No monthly commitment: Pay only for what you use
  • No tiered plans: The same rate applies regardless of volume
  • Video pricing: Each second of video counts as one screenshot

🎉 Currently in open beta with completely free usage! 🎉

Cost Comparison Scenarios

Let's compare the costs for different usage levels:

Scenario 1: Low usage (500 screenshots/month)

  • SCRNIFY: 4.00€ (≈$4.40)
  • ScreenshotOne: $17 (Basic plan)

Scenario 2: Medium usage (5,000 screenshots/month)

  • SCRNIFY: 40.00€ (≈$44.00)
  • ScreenshotOne: $17 + $27 extra (3,000 × $0.009) = $44.00 (Basic plan + overages)

Scenario 3: High usage (15,000 screenshots/month)

  • SCRNIFY: 120.00€ (≈$132.00)
  • ScreenshotOne: $79 + $30 extra (5,000 × $0.006) = $109.00 (Growth plan + overages)

Scenario 4: Very high usage (60,000 screenshots/month)

  • SCRNIFY: 480.00€ (≈$528.00)
  • ScreenshotOne: $259 + $40 extra (10,000 × $0.004) = $299.00 (Scale plan + overages)

Scenario 5: Sporadic usage (0 screenshots one month, 2,000 the next)

  • SCRNIFY: 0€ then 16.00€ (≈$17.60)
  • ScreenshotOne: $17 each month = $34 total

The key difference is the commitment model:

  • SCRNIFY: No monthly fees or commitments. If you take 0 screenshots in a month, you pay €0. If your usage fluctuates wildly, you only pay for what you actually use.

  • ScreenshotOne: Requires a subscription, even if your usage varies. If you subscribe to the Basic plan at $17/month but only use 100 screenshots, you're still paying the full amount.

For developers with variable usage patterns, small projects, or those just getting started, SCRNIFY's pay-as-you-go model can be more cost-effective. For large-scale consistent usage, ScreenshotOne's volume discounts in higher tiers might work out better.

Ease of Use & Developer Experience

Let's look at how easy it is to get started with both services.

SCRNIFY API

SCRNIFY's API is designed to be simple and straightforward. Here's a basic example to capture a screenshot:

GET https://api.scrnify.com/capture
  ?key=YOUR_API_KEY
  &url=https%3A%2F%2Fexample.com
  &type=image
  &format=png
  &width=1920
  &height=1080

For enhanced security, SCRNIFY also offers signed requests using HMAC-SHA256:

const crypto = require('crypto');

function generateSignature(queryString, secret) {
  const hmac = crypto.createHmac('sha256', secret);
  hmac.update(queryString);
  return hmac.digest('hex');
}

// Example usage
const params = new URLSearchParams({
  key: 'your_api_key',
  url: 'https://example.com',
  type: 'image',
  format: 'png',
  width: '1920',
  height: '1080',
  cache_ttl: '3600'
});

const signature = generateSignature(params.toString(), 'your_api_secret');
params.append('signature', signature);

const finalUrl = `https://api.scrnify.com/capture?${params.toString()}`;

ScreenshotOne API

ScreenshotOne offers both GET and POST API options with more customization parameters:

GET https://api.screenshotone.com/take
  ?access_key=YOUR_ACCESS_KEY
  &url=https://example.com
  &format=png
  &width=1920
  &height=1080

Or using POST with JSON:

POST https://api.screenshotone.com/take
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "access_key": "YOUR_ACCESS_KEY",
  "url": "https://example.com",
  "format": "png",
  "width": 1920,
  "height": 1080
}

ScreenshotOne also offers SDK libraries for various programming languages, including JavaScript, Python, PHP, Ruby, Java, Go, and C#, which can simplify integration.

Documentation Comparison

  • SCRNIFY: Clean, straightforward documentation focused on core functionality. The documentation is still evolving as the service is in beta.

  • ScreenshotOne: Comprehensive documentation with extensive examples, language-specific SDKs, and detailed explanations of all parameters and features.

Both services provide clear examples and parameter explanations, but ScreenshotOne's documentation is more mature and comprehensive, reflecting its longer time in the market.

Performance & Reliability

While we don't have exact benchmark data to compare the two services side-by-side, we can discuss the general performance aspects:

Response Times

  • SCRNIFY: Optimized for fast delivery with screenshots typically generated in seconds. The service is built on modern cloud infrastructure to ensure rapid processing.

  • ScreenshotOne: Known for speed and reliability, with optimized infrastructure. They offer different request rate limits based on your plan (40-150 requests per minute).

Scalability

  • SCRNIFY: Built on scalable cloud infrastructure that can accommodate varying loads. As a newer service, it's designed with modern scaling practices in mind.

  • ScreenshotOne: Well-established infrastructure with proven ability to handle high volumes, supporting "millions of screenshots a month" according to their marketing.

Reliability

  • SCRNIFY: Running 24/7 with high availability, though being newer in the market means it has less of a track record.

  • ScreenshotOne: Established service with years of operation and a proven reliability record, offering priority support on higher-tier plans.

Pros and Cons Summary

SCRNIFY Pros:

  • ✅ Pay-as-you-go pricing with no monthly commitments
  • ✅ Simple, straightforward API
  • ✅ Video capture included at base pricing
  • ✅ Currently free during beta period
  • ✅ No overage concerns or surprise bills

SCRNIFY Cons:

  • ❌ Fewer output formats
  • ❌ No element selection capability
  • ❌ Limited SDK support
  • ❌ Newer service with less established track record
  • ❌ No PDF export

ScreenshotOne Pros:

  • ✅ Comprehensive feature set
  • ✅ Wide range of output formats
  • ✅ Element selection via CSS selectors
  • ✅ Extensive documentation and SDKs
  • ✅ Established reliability and performance

ScreenshotOne Cons:

  • ❌ Subscription-based pricing only
  • ❌ Monthly commitment required
  • ❌ Some features limited to higher-tier plans
  • ❌ Can be expensive for sporadic usage
  • ❌ Video capture only available on higher tiers

Who is SCRNIFY For?

SCRNIFY is an ideal choice for:

  1. Developers with variable usage needs who don't want to be locked into a monthly subscription
  2. Startups and small teams looking to minimize fixed costs
  3. Projects with sporadic screenshot requirements where usage might be high one month and low the next
  4. Developers building MVPs or prototypes who need screenshot functionality without commitment
  5. Budget-conscious teams who want predictable per-screenshot pricing
  6. Projects requiring video capture without upgrading to a higher-tier plan

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Screenshot API

When deciding between SCRNIFY and ScreenshotOne, your choice should be guided by your specific needs:

Choose SCRNIFY if:

  • You want pay-as-you-go pricing without monthly commitments
  • Your usage varies significantly month to month
  • You need video capture at an affordable rate
  • You prefer a simpler API with fewer options to manage
  • You're building an MVP or have budget constraints

Choose ScreenshotOne if:

  • You have consistent, high-volume screenshot needs
  • You require advanced features like element selection and PDF export
  • You need a wide variety of output formats
  • You want access to comprehensive SDKs in multiple languages
  • You value an established service with a longer track record

Both services offer high-quality screenshot capabilities, but they cater to different usage patterns and priorities. SCRNIFY's pay-as-you-go model represents a fresh alternative in a market dominated by subscription services, making professional screenshot capabilities more accessible to developers with variable needs.

Get free access to the SCRNIFY API during our open beta and start generating screenshots today! Sign up now at scrnify.com

Have you tried either of these screenshot APIs? What features matter most to you? Let us know in the comments!

Cheers, Laura & Heidi 🇦🇹

P.S. We're constantly improving SCRNIFY based on developer feedback. If there are features you'd like to see added, drop us a line at support@scrnify.com!

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