Best Screenshot API in 2026: Comparison & Pricing Guide
Whether you're building link previews, generating social media cards, archiving web pages, or creating visual reports, you need a screenshot API that's reliable, affordable, and easy to integrate. The market has matured significantly, and there are now several solid options to choose from.
In this guide, we compare the top 6 screenshot APIs available in 2026, covering their features, pricing, strengths, and weaknesses. By the end, you'll have a clear picture of which API is the best fit for your specific needs.
What to Look for in a Screenshot API
Before diving into comparisons, here's a checklist of features and factors that matter when evaluating a screenshot API:
Core Features
- Output formats: PNG and JPEG are standard, but WebP (for smaller files) and PDF (for documents) are increasingly important
- Device emulation: Capture pages as they appear on specific mobile devices, tablets, or desktop resolutions
- Dark mode: Capture pages in dark mode for apps that support it
- Full-page capture: Render the entire scrollable page, not just the viewport
- Lazy-load handling: Wait for lazy-loaded images and content before capturing
Quality of Life
- Ad blocking: Remove ads for cleaner captures
- Cookie banner removal: Automatically dismiss GDPR consent popups
- Caching: Avoid re-rendering the same page repeatedly
- SSRF protection: Security against server-side request forgery attacks
Developer Experience
- Official SDKs: Node.js and Python at minimum
- Documentation quality: Clear, complete, with working code examples
- Free tier: Ability to evaluate without a credit card
- Predictable pricing: Know what you'll pay before you scale
Reliability
- Uptime: Consistent availability
- Rendering accuracy: Pages should look like they do in a real browser
- Error handling: Clear error messages and retry guidance
The Top 6 Screenshot APIs in 2026
Here's our breakdown of the major players:
1. SnapRender
Best for: Developers who want the best value and a modern developer experience.
SnapRender is a screenshot API built on Puppeteer and Chromium with smart caching via Cloudflare R2. It supports PNG, JPEG, WebP, and PDF output, with features like device emulation, dark mode capture, ad blocking, and cookie banner removal. Official SDKs are available for Node.js and Python.
Pricing:
| Plan | Price | Screenshots/mo | Burst Rate | Cache TTL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 500 | 5/min | 1 day |
| Starter | $9/mo | 2,000 | 30/min | 7 days |
| Growth | $29/mo | 10,000 | 60/min | 30 days |
| Business | $79/mo | 50,000 | 120/min | 30 days |
| Scale | $199/mo | 200,000 | 300/min | 30 days |
Strengths: Best cost per screenshot at every tier, generous free tier (500/mo, no credit card), modern tech stack, smart R2 caching, official SDKs for Node.js and Python.
Considerations: Newer to the market, some advanced enterprise features (webhooks, signed URLs) are still on the roadmap.
2. ScreenshotOne
Best for: Developers who need maximum configurability.
ScreenshotOne is an indie product by Dmytro Krasun with over 200 API parameters. It's been around for several years and has built a loyal user base through comprehensive documentation and a wide feature set.
Pricing: $17/mo for 2,000 screenshots. Free tier: 100/mo (credit card required).
Strengths: 200+ parameters for fine-grained control, established track record, comprehensive documentation, strong community.
Considerations: Higher price per screenshot than newer alternatives, free tier requires credit card.
3. Urlbox
Best for: Enterprise teams that need premium support and integrations.
Urlbox is the premium option in the screenshot API space. It's enterprise-focused, with features like webhook notifications, signed URLs, and integrations with Zapier and Make.
Pricing: $19/mo for 2,000 screenshots. Higher tiers require contacting sales.
Strengths: Enterprise features (webhooks, signed URLs), extensive integrations, dedicated support, long track record.
Considerations: Most expensive per screenshot, higher tiers require sales process, less accessible for individual developers.
4. CaptureKit
Best for: Budget-conscious developers with low volume needs.
CaptureKit offers the lowest entry price at $7/mo for 1,000 screenshots. Recently acquired by Web API Group, it's positioned as an affordable option for developers who need basic screenshot capabilities.
Pricing: $7/mo for 1,000 screenshots.
Strengths: Lowest absolute entry price, strong SEO presence (easy to find tutorials and guides).
Considerations: Low volume for the price (only 1,000 screenshots), limited SDK support (no Python), fewer advanced features.
5. ScreenshotAPI.net
Best for: Teams that need scheduled, recurring screenshots.
ScreenshotAPI.net's standout feature is built-in screenshot scheduling. If you need to capture pages on a recurring basis, it handles the scheduling for you. Recently acquired by XO Capital.
Pricing: $9/mo for 1,000 screenshots.
Strengths: Built-in scheduling, been in market for several years.
Considerations: Half the volume of SnapRender at the same price, no Python SDK, no dark mode or cookie banner removal.
6. ApiFlash
Best for: Very low volume use cases where speed is paramount.
ApiFlash is built on AWS Lambda, which gives it fast response times. The trade-off is limited volume: $7/mo only gets you 100 screenshots.
Pricing: $7/mo for 100 screenshots.
Strengths: Very fast response times due to Lambda architecture, simple API.
Considerations: Very low volume for the price, no PDF output, no ad blocking, no cookie banner removal, limited SDK support.
Feature Comparison Matrix
| Feature | SnapRender | ScreenshotOne | Urlbox | CaptureKit | ScreenshotAPI | ApiFlash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNG | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| JPEG | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WebP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
| Device emulation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | Basic | Limited |
| Dark mode | Yes | Limited | Yes | No | No | No |
| Ad blocking | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Cookie removal | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited | No | No |
| Smart caching | R2 | CDN | CDN | Basic | Basic | Basic |
| Node.js SDK | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Python SDK | Yes | Yes | Community | No | No | No |
| Free tier (no card) | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Scheduling | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Webhooks | Planned | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Pricing Comparison
| Volume | SnapRender | ScreenshotOne | Urlbox | CaptureKit | ScreenshotAPI | ApiFlash |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 500/mo | 100/mo* | Trial | Trial | 100/mo | 100/mo |
| ~1,000 | $9/mo | $17/mo | $19/mo | $7/mo | $9/mo | ~$70/mo |
| ~2,000 | $9/mo | $17/mo | $19/mo | ~$14/mo | ~$18/mo | ~$140/mo |
| ~10,000 | $29/mo | $47/mo | $49/mo | ~$49/mo | ~$49/mo | N/A |
| ~50,000 | $79/mo | Custom | Custom | Custom | Custom | N/A |
*Credit card required
Cost Per Screenshot at Entry Plan
| API | Entry Price | Screenshots | Cost Per Screenshot |
|---|---|---|---|
| SnapRender | $9/mo | 2,000 | $0.0045 |
| CaptureKit | $7/mo | 1,000 | $0.007 |
| ScreenshotAPI | $9/mo | 1,000 | $0.009 |
| ScreenshotOne | $17/mo | 2,000 | $0.0085 |
| Urlbox | $19/mo | 2,000 | $0.0095 |
| ApiFlash | $7/mo | 100 | $0.07 |
Our Recommendation
Choosing the "best" screenshot API depends on your priorities:
Best overall value: SnapRender. We're biased, but the numbers speak for themselves. SnapRender offers the lowest cost per screenshot at every tier, a free tier that doesn't require a credit card, official SDKs for Node.js and Python, and a modern feature set that covers the vast majority of use cases. If you're starting a new project or re-evaluating your current API, SnapRender is the strongest choice for most developers.
Best for maximum configurability: ScreenshotOne. If you need 200+ parameters and very granular control over your captures, ScreenshotOne is the most configurable option available.
Best for enterprise: Urlbox. If you need webhooks, signed URLs, dedicated support, and enterprise-grade SLAs, Urlbox is purpose-built for that market.
Best for scheduled captures: ScreenshotAPI.net. If built-in scheduling is a must-have, ScreenshotAPI.net is the only API that offers it natively.
Best for ultra-low volume: ApiFlash. If you need fewer than 100 fast screenshots per month and nothing else, ApiFlash's Lambda-based architecture delivers.
FAQ
Do I need a screenshot API, or can I self-host?
You can self-host using Puppeteer, Playwright, or similar tools. However, managing a headless browser in production involves handling memory leaks, scaling, security (SSRF prevention), caching, and monitoring. A screenshot API handles all of this for you. For most teams, the API cost is much lower than the engineering time required to maintain a self-hosted solution.
What output format should I use?
- PNG: Best for high-quality captures where file size isn't a concern
- JPEG: Good balance of quality and file size for photographs and complex pages
- WebP: Best compression with good quality, ideal for web display
- PDF: Best for document generation, reports, and archiving
How do screenshot APIs handle JavaScript-heavy pages?
Modern screenshot APIs (including SnapRender) use headless Chromium, which fully renders JavaScript, CSS, and dynamic content. The browser waits for the page to load, including lazy-loaded content, before capturing. This means SPAs, React apps, and dynamically rendered pages are captured accurately.
What about GDPR and cookie banners?
Some screenshot APIs (including SnapRender) can automatically dismiss cookie consent banners before capturing. This gives you cleaner screenshots without manual intervention.
How does caching work?
SnapRender caches screenshots in Cloudflare R2 with configurable TTLs (1 day on Free, up to 30 days on Growth and above). When you request a screenshot of a URL that's been recently captured, the cached version is returned instantly. This saves time, reduces costs (cached requests may not count against your quota), and improves performance.
Can I capture pages that require authentication?
Most screenshot APIs, including SnapRender, support passing custom headers and cookies, which can be used to authenticate with protected pages. However, for complex authentication flows (OAuth, multi-factor), you may need to handle the auth separately and pass session cookies to the API.
What is SSRF protection and why does it matter?
Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) is a security vulnerability where an attacker could use a screenshot API to access internal network resources. SnapRender blocks requests to localhost, private IP ranges, cloud metadata endpoints, and other internal addresses, protecting both your infrastructure and ours.