Apify is a powerful developer platform with 8,000+ scrapers. TheMapScraper is a focused Google Maps tool for non-technical users. Here is how they compare.
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Apify is a cloud-based web scraping and automation platform with a marketplace of 8,000+ pre-built scrapers called "actors." The Google Maps Scraper actor extracts business data — names, addresses, phone numbers, ratings, and reviews — from Google Maps at scale. It is designed for developers and technical teams who need flexible, programmable scraping with API access, scheduling, and webhook integrations.
Apify uses a pay-per-result model. The Google Maps actor costs approximately $0.50 per 1,000 results for basic data, rising to $6 per 1,000 when you add email enrichment. At scale, Apify also charges a platform fee starting at $29/month. In contrast, TheMapScraper uses a flat monthly subscription with 10 free leads per month and no credit card required. For non-technical users running regular searches, subscription pricing is easier to budget and avoids surprise bills.
Apify is powerful, but it is built for developers. If you just need a list of businesses from Google Maps — names, phones, emails, and addresses — you do not need an actor-based platform with JSON input schemas and API keys. TheMapScraper gives you the same core data in two minutes with no setup. It is free for up to 10 leads per month, and paid plans are priced for individual use rather than enterprise pipelines. Try the Google Maps lead scraper free — no credit card required.
| Feature | TheMapScraper | Apify |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Instant. Type a query and extract. | Create account, find the right actor, configure JSON inputs, run. |
| Technical skill | None. If you can use Google Maps, you can use TheMapScraper. | Medium. You need to understand actors, input schemas, and platform concepts. |
| Pricing | Simple subscription. 10 leads/month free, no credit card. Paid plans for higher volumes. | Pay per result. ~$0.50/1K for basic data, up to $6/1K with email enrichment. Platform fee $29+/mo at scale. |
| Google Maps focus | Purpose-built for Google Maps only. | General scraping platform. Google Maps is one of 8,000+ actors. |
| Extension required | No | No |
| CSV export | One-click CSV download. | JSON by default. CSV available but requires extra step. |
| Email extraction | Extracts emails when available on the listing. | Requires separate enrichment actor at additional cost. |
| Scheduling and automation | Not available. | Yes. Full scheduling, webhooks, and API. |
| API access | Not available. | Full REST API with SDKs. |
| Learning curve | 2 minutes. | 30-60 minutes to get comfortable. |
TheMapScraper
Instant. Type a query and extract.Apify
Create account, find the right actor, configure JSON inputs, run.TheMapScraper
None. If you can use Google Maps, you can use TheMapScraper.Apify
Medium. You need to understand actors, input schemas, and platform concepts.TheMapScraper
Simple subscription. 10 leads/month free, no credit card. Paid plans for higher volumes.Apify
Pay per result. ~$0.50/1K for basic data, up to $6/1K with email enrichment. Platform fee $29+/mo at scale.TheMapScraper
Purpose-built for Google Maps only.Apify
General scraping platform. Google Maps is one of 8,000+ actors.TheMapScraper
NoApify
NoTheMapScraper
One-click CSV download.Apify
JSON by default. CSV available but requires extra step.TheMapScraper
Extracts emails when available on the listing.Apify
Requires separate enrichment actor at additional cost.TheMapScraper
Not available.Apify
Yes. Full scheduling, webhooks, and API.TheMapScraper
Not available.Apify
Full REST API with SDKs.TheMapScraper
2 minutes.Apify
30-60 minutes to get comfortable.Common questions about TheMapScraper vs Apify.
Yes. TheMapScraper offers a free tier with 10 leads per month and no credit card required. It is purpose-built for Google Maps and requires no technical setup, making it a simple alternative to Apify's actor-based system for users who only need Google Maps data.
TheMapScraper is a focused, no-code tool built specifically for Google Maps scraping. Apify is a general-purpose scraping platform with 8,000+ actors for scraping virtually any website. TheMapScraper is faster to start and simpler to use; Apify offers more power and flexibility for developers.
Apify offers $5 in free monthly credits, which covers roughly 500–5,000 Google Maps listings depending on the actor used. TheMapScraper offers 10 free leads per month with no time limit and no credit card required, making it a straightforward option for small-scale use.
No credit card, no configuration, no learning curve