Scrnify vs. Urlbox: A Pay-As-You-Go Screenshot API Comparison

3/21/2025

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 we built SCRNIFY with a pay-as-you-go model in mind. But how does our approach compare to established players like Urlbox?

In this article, we'll dive deep into a comparison between SCRNIFY and Urlbox, focusing specifically on their features, pricing models, 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!

Feature Comparison

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

Feature SCRNIFY Urlbox
Full-page screenshots ✅ ✅
Custom viewport size ✅ ✅
Image formats PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP PNG, JPEG, WebP
PDF export ❌ ✅
Video capture ✅ (Up to 60 seconds) ✅
Animation capture ✅ (GIF format) ✅
Custom wait events ✅ (Multiple options) ✅
Custom User-Agent ✅ ✅
Ad/cookie blocking ✅ ✅
API access ✅ ✅
Caching ✅ ✅
Webhook support ❌ ✅
Signed/secure API requests ✅ ✅
HTML input (not just URL) ❌ ✅
Metadata extraction ❌ ✅
Markdown extraction ❌ ✅
Pay-as-you-go pricing ✅ ❌

As you can see, both services offer robust screenshot capabilities, but there are some notable differences. Urlbox has been around longer and offers some additional features like PDF export, metadata extraction, and the ability to render HTML directly (not just URLs). However, SCRNIFY's straightforward API and pay-as-you-go model make it more accessible for developers with variable usage patterns.

Pricing Comparison

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

SCRNIFY Pricing

SCRNIFY uses a simple pay-as-you-go 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 (e.g., a 60-second video = 60 screenshots)

Example costs:

  • 500 screenshots: 4.00€
  • 5,000 screenshots: 40.00€
  • 15,000 screenshots: 120.00€
  • 60-second video: 0.48€

🎉 Currently in open beta with free usage! 🎉

Urlbox Pricing

Urlbox uses a subscription-based model with different tiers:

  • Lo-Fi Plan: Starts at $19/month for up to 2,000 renders ($9.50 per 1,000)
  • Hi-Fi Plan: Starts at $49/month for up to 5,000 renders ($9.80 per 1,000)
  • Ultra Plan: Starts at $99/month for up to 15,000 renders ($6.60 per 1,000)
  • Business Plan: Starts at $495/month base + $3 per 1,000 renders
  • Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing with unlimited renders

Each plan includes different features and limitations:

  • Lower tiers have restrictions on 3rd party website screenshots
  • Higher tiers include more privacy features, rendering options, and better support
  • All plans have a 7-day free trial (no credit card required)

Pricing Analysis

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 you take 10,000, you pay €80. Simple and predictable.

  • Urlbox: Requires a subscription, even if your usage varies. If you subscribe to the Hi-Fi plan at $49/month but only use 100 screenshots, you're still paying the full amount.

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

Ease of Use

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, you can use signed requests:

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()}`;

Urlbox API

Urlbox offers both synchronous and asynchronous API options. Here's a basic example for their API:

POST https://api.urlbox.io/v1/render/sync
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_SECRET_KEY
Content-Type: application/json

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

Urlbox also offers SDK libraries for various programming languages, including Python, Ruby, Node.js, and .NET, which can simplify integration.

Developer Experience Comparison

Both APIs are RESTful and relatively easy to use, but there are some differences in the developer experience:

  • SCRNIFY: Simple GET-based API that's easy to integrate directly into image tags or make requests from any language. The parameters are straightforward and focused on the core screenshot functionality.

  • Urlbox: More sophisticated API with both synchronous and asynchronous options, more parameters, and official SDK libraries. Better suited for complex use cases but requires more integration work for simple scenarios.

Performance

While we don't have exact benchmark data to compare the two services, 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.

  • Urlbox: Known for their speed and reliability, having been in the business for over a decade. They claim to be able to handle "one million screenshots before breakfast."

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.

  • Urlbox: Well-established infrastructure with proven ability to handle high volumes. They mention having customers taking "tens of thousands of screenshots per minute."

Reliability

  • SCRNIFY: Running 24/7 with high availability, but as a newer service, it doesn't have the same track record as Urlbox.

  • Urlbox: Long-established service with a decade of experience in the screenshot business, providing a reliable service to hundreds of customers.

Pros and Cons

Let's summarize the key advantages and disadvantages of each service:

SCRNIFY

Pros:

  • True pay-as-you-go pricing with no monthly commitments
  • Simple, straightforward API
  • Video capture capabilities at the same per-second rate
  • Currently in free beta
  • Modern infrastructure built for scalability

Cons:

  • Newer service with a shorter track record
  • Fewer advanced features (no PDF export, HTML input, or metadata extraction)
  • No official SDK libraries yet
  • Limited webhook/integration capabilities

Urlbox

Pros:

  • Long-established service with proven reliability
  • Comprehensive feature set including PDF export and metadata extraction
  • Multiple API endpoints with both sync and async options
  • Official SDK libraries for multiple programming languages
  • Advanced capabilities like custom JavaScript execution and HTML input

Cons:

  • Subscription-based pricing requiring monthly commitments
  • More complex API with many options
  • Higher entry cost for small projects or variable usage
  • Tiered plans with feature limitations on lower tiers

Conclusion

Both SCRNIFY and Urlbox offer powerful screenshot APIs, but they cater to different needs and priorities.

Choose SCRNIFY if:

  • You value pay-as-you-go pricing without monthly commitments
  • Your screenshot needs vary from month to month
  • You need a simple, straightforward API for basic screenshot functionality
  • You want to capture video content with the same simple pricing model
  • You're currently in a testing/development phase and can benefit from the free beta

Choose Urlbox if:

  • You have consistent, high-volume screenshot needs
  • You require advanced features like PDF export and metadata extraction
  • You need to render HTML directly (not just URLs)
  • You value a long-established service with proven reliability
  • Integration with webhooks and various storage options is important to you

For developers who value flexibility and want to avoid monthly subscription commitments, SCRNIFY's pay-as-you-go model offers a compelling alternative to traditional screenshot APIs. The ability to only pay for what you use, combined with the current free beta offer, makes it an excellent choice for developers looking to incorporate screenshot functionality into their applications without the overhead of a subscription.

Ready to give SCRNIFY a try? Sign up for the free beta today!

Cheers, Laura & Heidi 🇦🇹

P.S. Have you tried generating screenshots programmatically before? What challenges did you face? Let us know on Twitter!

Sources:

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