Start with Firecrawl
If the job is docs ingestion, site-to-markdown, or preparing public web pages for LLM context.
ObservedSmall tests only
Comparison matrix
Firecrawl vs ScrapingBee vs ZenRows vs Scrape.do for AI-agent web data workflows
Start with workflow fit, not a generic “best scraping API” claim.
Which should I try first?
Start with ScrapingBee
If the job is a managed scraping API and you may later test rendering, screenshots, or extraction rules.
ObservedJS not tested
Keep ZenRows in the shortlist
If JavaScript-heavy public pages are central, but treat ZR-1 as a basic fetch test, not a rendering benchmark.
ObservedRaw output
Keep Scrape.do in the shortlist
If API-focused scraping and commercial terms clarity matter, while accepting raw HTML/text output in the first small test.
ObservedRaw output
Evidence Matrix
Firecrawl currently has the strongest observed fit for docs/site-to-markdown workflows in this project. ScrapingBee has one successful small public-docs fetch using markdown/text output and remains a candidate for managed public page extraction. ZenRows and Scrape.do now each have one successful basic API fetch, but both returned raw/full HTML-like text rather than cleaned markdown.
| Dimension | Firecrawl | ScrapingBee | ZenRows | Scrape.do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primary fit | inferred Docs/site crawling for LLM-ready data | inferred Managed public page extraction and scraping API workflows | inferred JS-heavy public page scraping workflows | inferred API-focused scraping comparison with partner terms clarity |
| Evidence level | observed Official facts + 2 small internal tests | observed Official facts + 1 small internal test | observed Official facts + 1 small internal test | observed Official facts + 1 small internal test |
| Observed status | FC-1 docs markdown passed; FC-3 pricing-page text signal passed | SB-1 public docs markdown/text passed | ZR-1 public docs basic API request passed with raw/full HTML-text response | SD-1 public docs basic API request passed with raw/full HTML-text response |
| Cost signal | observed Dashboard showed score/credit signal 1 | observed SB-1 showed about 1 / 1,000 credits | unverified Unknown | unverified Unknown |
| Markdown / text | Usable in small docs and pricing-page tests | Usable in small docs-page test | Basic fetch passed; clean markdown not observed | Basic fetch passed; clean markdown not observed |
| Pricing structure | Pricing terms captured; markdown table not preserved | Not tested | Unverified | Unverified |
| JS rendering | Not tested in this project | Official feature exists; not tested here | Official positioning suggests fit; not tested here | Unverified |
| Public affiliate link readiness | not ready | not ready | not ready | not ready |
Claim policy
| Claim type | Status | How this page may use it |
|---|---|---|
| Workflow-fit recommendation | allowed | Use "start with" or "consider" language tied to a specific use case. |
| Small internal test result | allowed with caveat | Describe as observed evidence, not as a benchmark or broad performance claim. |
| Best overall vendor | prohibited | Do not use absolute ranking language. |
| JS rendering performance | unverified | Do not claim until a specific rendering test is run and labeled. |
| Affiliate monetization readiness | not ready | Do not publish referral links until vendor-specific blockers are cleared. |
Consider Firecrawl when
Your first job is turning docs, sites, or public pages into LLM-readable content.
Review Firecrawl evidenceConsider ScrapingBee when
You want a managed scraping API and may later test rendering, screenshots, or extraction rules.
Review ScrapingBee evidenceKeep ZenRows when
JavaScript-heavy public pages are likely central, with careful editorial framing.
Review ZenRows caveatsKeep Scrape.do when
Partner terms clarity matters, while promo-rule gaps remain unresolved.
Review Scrape.do caveatsWhat would block publication?
Do not publish this comparison if affiliate terms prohibit review/comparison content, if source pages cannot be freshly verified, or if the page reads like an absolute ranking instead of a workflow-fit guide.
| Vendor | Current blocker | Required before public affiliate use |
|---|---|---|
| Firecrawl | vendor reply waiting | Resolve commission framing conflict and confirm attribution, payout, disclosure, coupon, social, and trademark rules. |
| ScrapingBee | approval pending | Wait for approval and confirm attribution, coupon, disclosure, social, and brand rules. |
| ZenRows | high caution | Decide basic-fetch-only vs ZR-2; confirm backend terms; avoid bypass framing. |
| Scrape.do | vendor reply waiting | Confirm 7-day attribution, PPC, brand, coupon, disclosure, and social rules. |