Compare/Head to head

Apify vs PhantomBuster

Same facts, side by side: starting price, free tier, MCP, API and what each one is actually built for.

Starting price

Apify

$19/mo Free tier

Actor marketplace and scraping platform with MCP. Free includes $5 usage; paid Starter is $19/mo plus pay-as-you-go.

Where Apify fits

  • Builders running scrapers and agents in the cloud
  • GTM teams buying ready-made Store Actors
  • Desks that want MCP to search and run Actors
  • Startups that will start on Free with $5 usage

PhantomBuster

$69/mo Free tier 14 day free trial

Cloud automations for LinkedIn and the public web, with MCP on every plan. Start is $69/mo, or $56/mo billed annually.

Where PhantomBuster fits

  • Growth teams automating LinkedIn and Sales Nav lists
  • Agencies running several Phantoms in parallel
  • Builders wiring HubSpot, n8n, Zapier, Make, or MCP
  • Users who want cloud runs instead of a desktop scraper

At a glance

DetailApifyPhantomBuster
Starting price$19/mo$69/mo
Free tier✓Yes✓Yes
Free trialNot on record14 day free trial
MCP server✓Yes✓Yes
Public API✓Yes✓Yes
Listed underLead generation, SourcingLead generation, LinkedIn, Outreach
Capterra4.8 from 538 reviews4.5 from 64 reviews

Where they pull apart

Apify

Stands out: Hosted MCP at mcp.apify.com plus a Store of ready-made Actors, on a prepaid usage meter with overage billed on paid plans.

Watch out: Unused prepaid usage expires each cycle. Usage beyond Starter's $19 is billed on the next invoice, and residential proxy costs extra per GB.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who need unused credits to roll over
  • Non-technical teams that will not operate Actors

PhantomBuster

Stands out: Hosted MCP at mcp.phantombuster.com plus 100+ Phantoms that run without your browser open.

Watch out: You act through your own social accounts, so limits and bans are on you. Execution hours, slots, and email credits all cap out. Exports on the trial are 10 rows.

Not the right fit for

  • Buyers who want a pre-built B2B database
  • Teams unwilling to connect their own LinkedIn accounts

Pros and cons

Apify

  • Free plan with $5 usage, no card
  • Starter $19/mo plus overage
  • Hosted MCP at mcp.apify.com
  • Prepaid usage expires each month
  • Overage on paid plans can surprise finance
  • Residential proxy is billed per GB extra

PhantomBuster

  • 14-day trial, then a limited free plan
  • MCP, API, and HubSpot / n8n / Zapier / Make
  • Unlimited users sharing one workspace meter
  • LinkedIn risk sits on the connected account
  • Hours, slots, and email credits all cap out
  • Trial exports stop at 10 rows

What each one costs

Apify

$19/mo

Free is $0 with $5 a month of platform usage. Starter is $19/mo plus pay-as-you-go, Scale $199/mo and Business $999/mo, each including that amount of prepaid usage, with lower compute-unit rates on higher plans. Unused prepaid usage expires at the end of each cycle, extra usage is billed on the next invoice, and proxies and extra resources are add-ons. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

PhantomBuster

$69/mo

Start is $69/mo billed monthly or $56/mo billed annually ($672/year). Grow is $159/mo ($128 annual) and Scale $439/mo ($352 annual). A 14-day trial is followed by a limited free plan. Confirm current terms on the vendor site.

Checked 4 Nov 2026

Common questions

Is Apify cheaper than PhantomBuster?
Apify starts lower, at $19/mo against $69/mo for PhantomBuster. That is the entry plan on each side, so the real number depends on seats and the tier you land on.
Can you try Apify or PhantomBuster for free?
Apify and PhantomBuster carry a free tier on our listing. PhantomBuster offers a 14 day free trial.
Does Apify or PhantomBuster have an MCP server?
Apify and PhantomBuster ship a first party MCP server, so an AI assistant can work the product directly.

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Editorial listings, never paid rankings. Prices checked 4 Nov 2026. Confirm current terms on the vendor site. Spot an error?