API COMPARISON 2026
Best Screenshot APIs Compared
Take website screenshots without running Puppeteer. Compare the top screenshot APIs by price, features, and ease of use.
Screenshot APIs let you capture any webpage as an image using a simple HTTP request. No Puppeteer setup, no Chrome installation, no memory management headaches. Send a URL, get back a PNG or JPEG.
They're used for OG image generation, visual regression testing, social media previews, monitoring dashboards, content archival, and thumbnail generation.
Feature Comparison
| Feature |
ScreenshotOne |
APIFlash |
URLBox |
Screenshotlayer |
Frostbyte |
| Free tier |
100 screenshots/mo |
100 screenshots/mo |
No free tier |
100 screenshots/mo |
200 credits |
| Signup |
Email + credit card |
Email signup |
Email + credit card |
Email signup |
One API call (no form) |
| Paid from |
$14.90/mo |
$7/mo |
$19/mo |
$9.99/mo |
$1 = 500 credits |
| Output formats |
PNG, JPEG, WebP, PDF |
PNG, JPEG |
PNG, JPEG, WebP, PDF, SVG |
PNG, JPEG, GIF |
PNG, JPEG |
| Full-page capture |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Custom viewport |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Dark mode |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Wait for selector |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes (delay) |
| HTTPS |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Paid only |
Yes |
| GitHub Action |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
| Other APIs included |
No |
No |
No |
No |
40+ APIs |
Provider Breakdown
ScreenshotOne — Most features
- WebP, PDF, and HTML output
- Element selector for partial captures
- Custom CSS/JS injection
- Geolocation spoofing
- Free tier requires credit card
- Starts at $14.90/mo for paid
- Single-purpose API
APIFlash — Cheapest paid tier
- Simple, clean API
- Cheapest paid plans ($7/mo)
- Thumbnail generation
- No dark mode support
- PNG and JPEG only
- Limited customization
URLBox — Enterprise grade
- Most output formats (SVG, PDF)
- Retina/HiDPI support
- S3/webhook integration
- Custom fonts
- No free tier
- Starts at $19/mo
- Requires credit card to try
Frostbyte Agent Gateway Best Value
- No signup form — API key in one call
- 200 free credits, no credit card needed
- Full-page, custom viewport, dark mode
- GitHub Action for CI/CD pipelines
- 40+ other APIs included (geo, crypto, DNS...)
- Pay-as-you-go: $1 = 500 screenshots
- PNG and JPEG only (no WebP/PDF)
- No CSS/JS injection
- Newer service
Try It Right Now
Capture a screenshot of any website in 30 seconds. No Puppeteer, no Chrome, no signup form.
1. Get a free API key
curl -X POST https://api-catalog-three.vercel.app/api/keys/create
2. Capture a screenshot
curl "https://api-catalog-three.vercel.app/v1/agent-screenshot/api/screenshot?url=https://github.com&width=1280&height=720" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KEY" \
--output screenshot.png
JavaScript (Node.js)
const res = await fetch(
'https://api-catalog-three.vercel.app/v1/agent-screenshot/api/screenshot?url=https://github.com',
{ headers: { Authorization: 'Bearer YOUR_KEY' } }
);
const buffer = Buffer.from(await res.arrayBuffer());
fs.writeFileSync('screenshot.png', buffer);
When to Use Each Provider
Choose ScreenshotOne if...
You need advanced features like CSS injection, geolocation spoofing, or WebP output. Best for complex capture requirements.
Choose URLBox if...
You're building at enterprise scale and need S3 integration, Retina rendering, custom fonts, and SLA guarantees.
Choose Frostbyte if...
You want the fastest way to get started (no signup form), need screenshots as part of a larger toolchain (with geo, crypto, DNS APIs), or want to integrate screenshots into CI/CD with a ready-made GitHub Action.
Choose APIFlash if...
You want the cheapest paid option for moderate volume and don't need advanced features.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free screenshot API?
Frostbyte offers the most flexible free tier with 200 credits, no signup form, and no credit card required. APIFlash and ScreenshotOne offer 100 free screenshots per month. The key difference: Frostbyte includes 40+ other APIs with the same key.
Do I need Puppeteer to take website screenshots?
No. Screenshot APIs handle the browser rendering for you. Instead of installing Puppeteer (200MB+), managing Chrome, and dealing with memory/CPU issues, you make a single API call. This is especially useful in serverless environments where running a headless browser isn't practical.
Can I take full-page screenshots with an API?
Yes. Most screenshot APIs support full-page capture. Add fullPage=true to your request, and the API will scroll the entire page and return a single stitched image. Frostbyte, ScreenshotOne, APIFlash, and URLBox all support this.
Which screenshot API has a GitHub Action?
Frostbyte offers a free GitHub Action (frostbyte-screenshot-action) that captures screenshots at 5 viewport sizes and uploads them as build artifacts. No other major screenshot API provides a native GitHub Action.
How much do screenshot APIs cost?
Free tiers range from 100-200 screenshots per month. Paid plans: APIFlash from $7/mo, Screenshotlayer from $9.99/mo, ScreenshotOne from $14.90/mo, URLBox from $19/mo. Frostbyte uses pay-as-you-go pricing at $1 for 500 screenshots (no monthly subscription).