Screenshot API Comparison 2026

Choosing a screenshot API? Here is how the major services compare on features, pricing, and developer experience.

Feature	SnapAPI	ScreenshotOne	Screenshotlayer	URLBox
Free Tier	50 req/mo	100 req/mo	100 req/mo	No free tier
Starting Price	$5/mo	$29/mo	$9.99/mo	$19/mo
Screenshots	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Metadata Extraction	Yes	No	No	Limited
PDF Generation	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Text Extraction	Yes	No	No	No
SEO Audit	Yes ($5)	No	No	No
Full-page Screenshots	Yes	Yes	Paid only	Yes
Custom Viewport	Yes	Yes	Paid only	Yes
JavaScript Rendering	Yes (Chromium)	Yes	Yes	Yes
OpenAPI Spec	Yes	No	No	No
Self-hostable	Open source	No	No	No

Why SnapAPI?

Key Advantages

Lowest price point - $5/mo vs $9.99-$29/mo for competitors
4-in-1 API - Screenshots + Metadata + PDF + Text extraction in one service
SEO Audit - Built-in website audit with 23 checks (unique feature)
Open source - Self-host if you prefer, or use the managed API
OpenAPI spec - Auto-generate client libraries in any language
No vendor lock-in - Simple REST API with standard authentication

Detailed Breakdown

SnapAPI

SnapAPI is a lightweight, fast screenshot and web data API built on Node.js + Playwright. It offers four endpoints (screenshot, metadata, PDF, text) with a generous free tier and the lowest paid pricing in the market. Unique features include built-in SEO auditing and full OpenAPI documentation.

ScreenshotOne

ScreenshotOne is a well-established screenshot API focused on high-quality image rendering. It offers advanced options like animations and delays but lacks metadata extraction. Pricing starts at $29/mo for 1,500 screenshots.

Screenshotlayer

Screenshotlayer by APILayer is one of the oldest screenshot APIs. It is reliable but basic - no PDF generation or metadata extraction. Advanced features like full-page capture require paid plans. Starting at $9.99/mo.

URLBox

URLBox offers premium screenshot rendering with features like retina screenshots and custom CSS injection. It is the most feature-rich for pure screenshots but has no free tier and starts at $19/mo.

FAQ

Which screenshot API is the cheapest?

SnapAPI offers the lowest starting price at $5/month for 500 requests. The next cheapest is Screenshotlayer at $9.99/month.

Which API offers the most features?

SnapAPI is the only service that combines screenshots, metadata extraction, PDF generation, text extraction, and SEO auditing in a single API.

Can I self-host a screenshot API?

SnapAPI is open source and can be self-hosted. None of the other compared services offer this option.

Do I need a credit card for the free tier?

SnapAPI free tier requires no credit card. You get 50 requests per month just by signing up with your email.