Codeless web scraping allows you to retrieve data without having to understand code or invest a lot of time and money into developing a scraper. That is a good option for non-tech specialists and newbies who want to dip their toes into scraping. There are plenty of options available, and while it may seem hard to choose, there are several important criteria you should pay attention to when choosing the best tool for you. Read further to learn about them and the most promising no-code apps. 

How to choose a no-code web scraper? 

“What do I need a web scraper for, and what results do I expect?” This question should be your starting point while choosing a scraping tool. There are some must-have features every scraping tool should offer, like accuracy, speed, the ability to bypass anti-bot systems, and consideration of legal issues. There are also more advanced features like scheduling, pre-made templates, and apps that are made especially for particular use cases, such as lead scraping. You need to decide whether you need them; however, be ready that such tools may be more expensive. Price and the opportunity to get a free trial or a starter plan are also important to consider. So, do not look for just the best tool, as even the most decent one could disappoint you if chosen without your particular needs in mind. Below is the list of the most recommended apps and their description.

Best no-code scraping tools 

Web Scraper

Whether you are a pro in need of a bunch of features or a newbie, and a free browser extension is enough to satisfy your needs, Web Scraper offers you both options. Its always free Chrome plugin is good for local use, while plans provide an extended set of tools. There is a free 7-day trial available. Web scraper supports third-party proxies and tools, so you can integrate it with Dropbox, Google Sheets, Google Drive, or Amazon S3. You can also have data in various formats, such as CSV, XLSX, and JSON, or you can access it via API. Web scraper has an excellent 99.9% success rate due to features like CAPTCHA bypass, bot protection bypass, and auto-retry with IP and fingerprint rotation. To automate scraping and save time, you can use the scheduling option to scrape the target website hourly, daily, or weekly. Web scraper is good for complex websites and is totally code-free, with a point-and-click interface. However, you may need a little time to learn how to use the tool.

Apify

In a nutshell, Apify is a web scraping platform where you can find an extensive library of pre-built web scrapers, AI agents, and automation tools – created specially for different websites and social media. Those templates are called actors; you can use them without coding skills. Apify, however, is universal as it offers options for those equipped with tech skills as well. It provides an intuitive interface, scheduling options, support of various data formats including JSON, CSV, HTML, Excel, integration with Google Drive, Gmail, and more, and a cloud-based solution for processing and storing data. Apify is easy to use with proxies, which makes web scraping less complex and more fruitful. Active Discord community is another advantage, as you can find up-to-date tips and lifehacks. However, targeting a complex website may require some coding skills to leverage additional features. Also, pay attention to the fact that Apify may be a poor choice for some domains, and the app may be costly. 

Simplescraper

The app is suitable for scraping JavaScript-based websites. It leverages an AI enhancer to deliver data in a structured format. Its simple point-and-click interface takes seconds to understand, and detailed documentation answers all possible questions. The tool offers proxy rotation, CAPTCHA solving, automatic choice of selectors, and auto-retry logic. The best part is that you can use a free version that is enough to scrape single pages locally, and the lack of concurrency limits will speed up the scraping process. Suppose you need more features like scheduling or want to scrape multiple pages with dynamic elements. In that case, there are four subscription options to choose from. Features like Google Sheets, Zapier, Airtable integration, and webhooks are included even in the cheapest plan, and Pro, Premium, and Scale plans are perfect for SERP scraping. Simplescraper could only struggle with complex websites; otherwise, it is an attention-worthy solution.

ScraperAPI

Do you have a large scraping project at hand? Tools from ScraperAPI deserve your attention. You can find low-code and no-code options targeted at different needs. Whether you want to extract data from marketplaces, automate market research processes, monitor SERP, etc., you get data in structured JSON format. You do not have to stumble upon HTML tags or scripts you are not interested in. Anti-scraping systems, CAPTCHAs, and other roadblocks won’t bother you either, while webhooks and scheduling options, including cron, allow you to run scraping jobs on autopilot. The tool is 100% compliant with CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) and GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), so you do not have to worry about legal issues. The only slight disadvantage is that the tool offers proxies from only 50 countries; however, you can fix it by using proxies from a reliable provider like DataImpulse. 

WebAutomation

That G2 and Capterra-approved solution provides templates for more than 500 websites. Can not find a necessary one? Create your own with the point-and-click interface, or ask its team, and they will build a custom web scraper for you. You can have data in several formats, including CSV, JSON, JSON, XML, and Excel, and transfer information to Shopify, Dropbox, Google Sheets, and more. WebAutomation handles CAPTCHAs and IP rotation, and you can integrate the tool with other third-party instruments to further enhance your anonymity and bypass anti-scraping systems. Whether you need AI, financial, hospitality, or marketing data, the tool is suitable for many use cases. A 14-day free trial allows you to try the app and see whether it suits you. No credit card is required – so there is no pressure as well. 

What else should you remember about no-code web scraping?

Besides choosing a reliable scraper, do not forget to stick to local laws and legal regulations. Before scraping, ensure you do not violate the target website’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Also, do not neglect additional tools like anti-detect browsers and proxies. They will help you avoid triggering anti-bot systems and get over geo-based limits. Choose those tools just as meticulously as scrapers. For example, at DataImpulse, you can have ethically-derived proxies for scraping needs for just $1 per 1 GB, so it won’t drain your wallet while bringing your scraping to a new level.

Final words

Thankfully, today, web scraping is available not only to developers but also to marketers, financial pros, and others in desperate need of data but without coding skills. Numerous tools exist, so you can choose the one that suits your use case best. Keep in mind the features you need and the volumes of data you will extract, pay attention to the complexity of target websites, and calculate how much money you are willing to invest in your scraping project. That will help you choose the one tool among dozens of options. Also, pay attention to integration possibilities with third-party tools like proxies, as they can benefit even the best scraper and help you forget about IP rate limits and bans altogether. For that, you can rely on DataImpulse to get whitelisted IPs from 195 countries, which is perfect for web scraping projects. Contact us at [email protected] or click the “Try now” button to start with us.