ApiFlash Alternative — SnapRender
ApiFlash is a screenshot API built on AWS Lambda, known for fast response times and a straightforward API. It's a clean, minimal product. But when you look at the volume you get for your money, the difference between ApiFlash and SnapRender is striking: 100 screenshots for $7/mo versus 2,000 screenshots for $9/mo.
Here's the full comparison.
Quick Overview
ApiFlash is a screenshot API powered by AWS Lambda. Its architecture gives it fast cold-start times, often delivering sub-second responses. The API is deliberately simple, with fewer parameters to learn. At $7/mo for 100 screenshots, it's priced for very low-volume use cases.
SnapRender is built on Puppeteer and Chromium with Cloudflare R2 caching. For $9/mo, you get 2,000 screenshots — 20 times the volume of ApiFlash's entry plan. We also include features like device emulation, dark mode capture, PDF output, ad blocking, and cookie banner removal, along with official Node.js and Python SDKs.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | SnapRender | ApiFlash |
|---|---|---|
| PNG output | Yes | Yes |
| JPEG output | Yes | Yes |
| WebP output | Yes | Yes |
| PDF output | Yes | No |
| Device emulation | Yes | Limited |
| Dark mode capture | Yes | No |
| Ad blocking | Yes | No |
| Cookie banner removal | Yes | No |
| Smart caching (R2) | Yes | Basic |
| SSRF protection | Yes | Yes |
| Node.js SDK | Yes | Limited |
| Python SDK | Yes | No |
| Response time | Fast (with caching) | Very fast (Lambda) |
| Free tier | 500/mo, no card | 100/mo |
Pricing Comparison
| Volume | SnapRender | ApiFlash |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | $0 — 500/mo, no card | $0 — 100/mo |
| Entry paid plan | $9/mo — 2,000/mo | $7/mo — 100/mo |
| ~2,000 screenshots | $9/mo (Starter) | ~$100+/mo |
| ~10,000 screenshots | $29/mo (Growth) | Not practical |
| ~50,000 screenshots | $79/mo (Business) | Not practical |
Cost Per Screenshot
| Tier | SnapRender | ApiFlash |
|---|---|---|
| Entry paid plan | $0.0045/screenshot | $0.07/screenshot |
| Mid-tier | $0.0029/screenshot | N/A |
| High volume | $0.00158/screenshot | N/A |
The per-screenshot cost difference is dramatic. At ApiFlash's entry plan, you're paying $0.07 per screenshot. At SnapRender's entry plan, you're paying $0.0045 per screenshot — roughly 15x less.
Where SnapRender Wins
20x More Screenshots at a Similar Price
This is the defining difference. For $9/mo with SnapRender, you get 2,000 screenshots. For $7/mo with ApiFlash, you get 100. If you're building anything beyond a simple proof of concept, ApiFlash's low volume limits will push you to much higher pricing tiers very quickly.
More Features Out of the Box
SnapRender includes PDF output, device emulation, dark mode capture, ad blocking, and cookie banner removal. ApiFlash keeps things minimal, which is fine if all you need is basic PNG captures, but most production use cases eventually need at least some of these features.
Official SDKs for Node.js and Python
We provide maintained, documented SDKs for both major server-side languages. ApiFlash has limited SDK support, which means more manual HTTP work for developers.
Scales to High Volume
With plans up to 200,000 screenshots at $199/mo, SnapRender is designed to grow with your usage. ApiFlash's pricing structure makes high-volume usage prohibitively expensive.
Where ApiFlash Wins
Raw Speed
ApiFlash's Lambda-based architecture gives it very fast response times, especially for first-time captures. If sub-second response time on uncached screenshots is critical for your use case, ApiFlash's architecture is optimized for this. SnapRender is fast too, especially for cached responses, but Lambda's cold-start optimization gives ApiFlash an edge on initial captures.
Simple API
ApiFlash's API is deliberately minimal. If you want the fewest possible parameters and the simplest possible integration, ApiFlash delivers that simplicity. Of course, this simplicity also means fewer features when you need them.
Slightly More Free Screenshots
ApiFlash offers 100 free screenshots per month compared to our 500. If you're running a very small project and don't want to pay anything, ApiFlash gives you a bit more room in the free tier.
Who Should Choose SnapRender?
SnapRender is the better fit if you:
- Need more than 100 screenshots per month (which is most production use cases)
- Want features like PDF output, dark mode, ad blocking, or device emulation
- Need official Node.js and Python SDKs
- Want predictable, affordable pricing as your usage grows
- Prefer a free tier that doesn't require a credit card
Who Should Stay with ApiFlash?
ApiFlash might work for you if you:
- Need fewer than 100 screenshots per month and want them fast
- Only need basic PNG captures with no additional features
- Prioritize raw response speed above all other factors
- Prefer the simplest possible API surface
Getting Started with SnapRender
Sign up for free (no credit card) and try SnapRender with your actual use cases.
curl "https://api.snap-render.com/v1/screenshot?url=https://example.com&format=png" \
-H "X-API-Key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
-o screenshot.png
With smart R2 caching, your repeated requests will return near-instantly from cache, giving you speed and volume.
Bottom Line
ApiFlash is a fast, simple screenshot API that works well for very low-volume use cases. But at $0.07 per screenshot versus SnapRender's $0.0045, the math simply doesn't work for most real-world applications. SnapRender gives you 20x the volume at a similar price point, with more features and better SDKs. If you need more than a handful of screenshots per month, the choice is clear.