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10 Best Puppeteer Alternatives for Web Scraping in 2024

10 Best Puppeteer Alternatives for Web Scraping in 2024

Augustas Pelakauskas

2024-07-265 min read
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Web scraping is essential for developers who need to extract large-scale data from web pages efficiently. Puppeteer has been a leading tool in this domain due to its powerful capabilities for browser automation. However, you may seek Puppeteer alternatives due to specific feature requirements, such as cross-browser compatibility.

What is Puppeteer?

Puppeteer is a Node.js library that provides a high-level API to control Chrome/Chromium and, to some extent, Firefox over the DevTools Protocol. It allows you to perform automated tasks such as web scraping, web testing, and rendering through a headless browser:

  • Headless browser automation

  • Web testing

  • Full-page screenshot capture

  • Web scraping

  • Page interaction

  • Emulation

  • Performance monitoring

  • PDF generation

Without undermining the numerous advantages, here are some limitations that could force you to seek Puppeteer alternatives:

  1. Cross-browser compatibility: Puppeteer is primarily designed for Chrome/Chromium, which may not suffice for projects requiring multi-browser support.

  2. JavaScript dependence: Puppeteer requires Node.js and is heavily dependent on JavaScript. Such dependency might not fit the environments where integrating JavaScript is challenging or undesirable. Only unofficial support is available for Python and PHP.

Top 10 Puppeteer alternatives for web scraping

All of the following web automation tools can provide a varying degree of web scraping prowess.

1. Katalon

Katalon is an all-in-one solution that supports web, API, mobile, and desktop automation. Mainly known for its user-friendly interface, which includes built-in recording and scripting modes, Katalon fits both beginners and experienced developers.

The tool simplifies automation by providing a platform that integrates various tools and frameworks. Katalon is widely used in the industry for its ability to manage complex testing scenarios with ease.

  • Main features: Cross-browser testing, built-in recording, and scripting modes.

  • Pros: Easy setup, extensive community support, and robust reporting.

  • Cons: Limited free version, may be overkill for simpler tasks.

  • Price: Free (basic plan); paid plans start at $175/month.

2. Jest

Jest is a JavaScript testing framework developed by Facebook with a focus on simplicity and support for large web applications. A zero-configuration setup makes it a good choice for starting to test quickly.

Jest is particularly popular among developers working with React due to its built-in support for snapshot testing. This feature helps ensure that the UI does not change unexpectedly, making Jest a reliable tool for front-end testing.

  • Main features: Snapshot testing, instant feedback, and powerful mocking capabilities.

  • Pros: Easy to set up and use, integrates well with React.

  • Cons: Primarily focused on JavaScript unit testing, not specialized for complex scraping tasks.

  • Price: Free.

3. Cypress

Cypress is a next-generation front-end testing tool built for the modern web. It’s designed to address the key pain points developers and QA engineers face when testing modern applications.

Cypress offers a unique interactive testing experience, allowing you to watch tests running in real-time as they develop. The real-time feedback helps to identify issues quickly and speeds up debugging. Cypress is widely appreciated for its ease of use and comprehensive documentation.

  • Main features: End-to-end testing, real-time reloads, and network traffic control.

  • Pros: Easy to write and debug, robust documentation.

  • Cons: Limited to JavaScript, not suitable for multi-browser testing out-of-the-box.

  • Price: Free (basic features); paid plans start at $67/month.

4. Rainforest QA

Rainforest QA offers a no-code solution for scalable, fast QA testing. The tool allows non-technical team members to create and execute tests.

The combination of automated and human-powered testing delivers fast and accurate results. Rainforest QA is a solution for teams looking to scale their testing efforts without investing heavily in automation frameworks or scripting expertise.

  • Main features: Cross-browser testing, scalable cloud execution, and detailed reporting.

  • Pros: No coding required, fast execution on real devices.

  • Cons: Can be expensive for small teams, less control over scripting.

  • Price: Custom pricing.

5. WebdriverIO

WebdriverIO is a testing utility for WebDriver in Node.js known for its seamless integration with various services and tools. A scalable framework for writing and running automated tests, WebdriverIO supports a wide range of browsers and offers extensive customization options through its plugin system. It’s a good fit if you need a high degree of control over your testing environment.

  • Main features: Synchronous commands, support for multiple services and plugins.

  • Pros: Multiple browser support, flexible and extensible.

  • Cons: Can be complex to set up, requires more initial configuration.

  • Price: Free.

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  • 6. Testim

    Testim leverages machine learning to automate the authoring, execution, and maintenance of tests. It reduces the effort required to create reliable tests by using AI to identify and handle application changes.

    Testim's self-healing capabilities ensure that tests remain robust even as the application evolves. It’s a good choice if you’re looking to minimize test maintenance and improve accuracy.

    • Main features: AI-driven tests, cross-browser compatibility, and self-healing tests.

    • Pros: High reliability, reduced maintenance efforts.

    • Cons: Steeper learning curve, higher cost.

    • Price: Free trial, custom pricing.

    7. Selenium

    Selenium is a framework for web testing across different browsers and platforms. It’s one of the industry's most widely used testing frameworks due to its support for multiple programming languages.

    Selenium provides a suite of tools and libraries for automating browser interactions. Its open-source nature and strong community support make it a reliable choice.

    • Main features: Cross-browser support, large community, and extensive language support.

    • Pros: Highly flexible, wide adoption.

    • Cons: Steeper learning curve, requires significant configuration.

    • Price: Free.

    8. Keploy

    Keploy is an open-source, no-code backend tool that simplifies web automation. It focuses on automating the generation of test cases, API mocking, and assertions without coding. Keploy aims to make backend testing accessible to developers of all skill levels.

    Keploy’s automated test case generation helps to ensure thorough test coverage, while API mocking enables testing in isolated environments. Keploy is ideal for teams looking to reduce extensive manual effort.

    • Main features: Automated test case generation, API mocking, and assertions.

    • Pros: Simplifies backend testing, no coding required.

    • Cons: Still growing, limited community support.

    • Price: Free.

    9. Playwright

    Playwright is an open-source automation library designed for end-to-end testing. Developed by Microsoft, Playwright offers multi-language support and web application testing across multiple browsers with ease.

    Features such as auto-waiting for UI elements and detailed tracing enhance the testing process by reducing flakiness and providing comprehensive debugging information. Playwright's modern approach to browser automation makes it a strong contender for those who seek a universal solution.

    • Main features: Cross-browser support, auto-waiting for UI elements, and detailed traces.

    • Pros: Supports multiple browsers, easy to use.

    • Cons: Relatively new, fewer resources compared to older tools.

    • Price: Free.

    10. AskUI

    AskUI provides an innovative way to automate UI tasks using natural language processing (NLP). You can describe actions in natural language, which AskUI then translates into automated tasks. Such an approach is highly intuitive, especially if you lack coding experience.

    AskUI's visual element recognition and cross-platform support make it a good choice if you’re looking to simplify desktop automation processes.

    • Main features: NLP-driven commands, cross-platform support, and visual element recognition.

    • Pros: Intuitive to use, supports multiple platforms.

    • Cons: Less traditional, may require adjustment for experienced coders.

    • Price: Free trial, custom pricing.

    Puppeteer alternatives comparison

    Tool Best Features Pricing
    1. Katalon Cross-browser testing Free basic plan; $175/month
    2. Jest Snapshot testing, Mocking Free
    3. Cypress Real-time reloads Free (the basics); $67/month+
    4. Rainforest QA No-code, scalable cloud execution Custom pricing
    5. WebdriverIO Multiple services, plugins Free
    6. Testim AI-driven, self-healing tests Free trial; custom pricing
    7. Selenium Cross-browser support Free
    8. Keploy Automated test generation Free
    9. Playwright Auto-waiting, multiple browsers Free
    10. AskUI NLP-driven desktop automation Free trial; custom pricing

    Conclusion

    Puppeteer is specifically designed for Chrome, with limited Firefox/Edge support, and heavily depends on JavaScript, which, in some cases, prompts you to look for more versatile solutions.

    Puppeteer alternatives like Selenium and Playwright provide robust cross-browser support, while innovative solutions such as Testim and AskUI leverage AI and natural language processing for intuitive automation.

    Each tool comes with its own set of strengths and trade-offs, making it essential to evaluate them based on your specific web scraping requirements.

    About the author

    Augustas Pelakauskas

    Senior Copywriter

    Augustas Pelakauskas is a Senior Copywriter at Oxylabs. Coming from an artistic background, he is deeply invested in various creative ventures - the most recent one being writing. After testing his abilities in the field of freelance journalism, he transitioned to tech content creation. When at ease, he enjoys sunny outdoors and active recreation. As it turns out, his bicycle is his fourth best friend.

    All information on Oxylabs Blog is provided on an "as is" basis and for informational purposes only. We make no representation and disclaim all liability with respect to your use of any information contained on Oxylabs Blog or any third-party websites that may be linked therein. Before engaging in scraping activities of any kind you should consult your legal advisors and carefully read the particular website's terms of service or receive a scraping license.

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