Apify vs PandorLabs: run a scraper or buy collected data?
Apify gives you tools to run scrapers yourself. PandorLabs gives you the data already collected: pick a dataset, grab a free sample, pay once and download CSV or JSONL with no scraper to configure, monitor or maintain.
By PandorLabs · Sources reviewed . This comparison focuses on buying web datasets and keeping them fresh.
Apify and PandorLabs at a glance
| What matters | PandorLabs | Apify |
|---|---|---|
| What you start with | Data already collected in a ready-to-download dataset. | An Actor and the inputs for its run.Apify Actor pricing and evaluation |
| Pricing model | One-time downloads from $499 with the price shown up front; API and feeds available. | Free plan with $5 monthly usage; paid plans plus usage. Actor charges depend on its model.PandorLabs pricing and purchase optionsApify plans and usage pricing |
| Effort | No setup: download the file or call the API. | Choose an Actor and configure its supported inputs.Apify Actor pricing and evaluation |
| Exports | CSV and JSONL, plus API and MCP access. | JSON, CSV, Excel, XML, HTML, RSS and JSONL dataset exports.PandorLabs pricing and purchase optionsApify dataset storage and exports |
| Recurring data | Managed feeds with monitoring and maintenance included. | Schedules can run Actors and saved tasks.PandorLabs pricing and purchase optionsApify schedules |
| Try before you buy | Free 100-row CSV sample, no credit card. | Free plan usage for test runs.PandorLabs pricing and purchase optionsApify plans and usage pricing |
Skip the scraper, get the data
An Apify Actor is a tool you run: you choose inputs, start runs and review the output. That is great when you want to build your own collection workflow. When what you really want is the data itself, PandorLabs removes every one of those steps.
Each PandorLabs dataset is already collected, cleaned and ready to download. Open the dataset page, look at the preview rows, and you know exactly what you will get. No inputs to tune, no runs to babysit, nothing to maintain.
One clear price instead of usage math
Apify’s Free plan includes $5 of monthly usage, with paid plans and per-Actor charges on top. PandorLabs keeps it simple: the dataset page shows one price for the whole file, from $499, and that is exactly what checkout charges.
You know the total before you start, it does not depend on how many pages a site has or how a run behaves, and up to one million rows are included in a standard purchase.
Files your tools already understand
Apify stores Actor output in datasets with exports such as CSV, JSONL and Excel. PandorLabs delivers every purchase as both CSV and JSONL, with clear columns and one row per record, ready for spreadsheets, notebooks, BI tools and data warehouses.
Prefer to work programmatically? Pull the same data through the PandorLabs API, or connect your AI agent through the MCP server and query datasets directly from your assistant.
Recurring data without the maintenance
Apify supports schedules for Actors and saved tasks, which you then monitor and maintain. A PandorLabs managed feed takes that work off your plate: we collect on a daily, weekly or monthly schedule, monitor every delivery and keep it flowing when sites change.
Your team simply receives fresh, consistent files. Catalog sources have no setup fee, and a paid pilot lets you validate the feed before committing.
Need data from a site we do not cover yet?
Describe the website, records and fields you need in the AI request box. PandorLabs agents build the collection for you and email a sample as soon as it is ready. Once approved, the dataset is yours to buy once or receive as a feed.
You get the flexibility of custom scraping with the convenience of a finished dataset, and nobody on your team has to write or run a scraper.
Do I need to run anything to use PandorLabs data?
No. Datasets are already collected. Download CSV or JSONL right after checkout, or use the API or MCP server.
Can PandorLabs collect a website that is not in the catalog?
Yes. Describe what you need in the AI request box and our agents build the dataset and email you a sample.
Which is better for a one-time research project?
If the dataset exists in the PandorLabs catalog, it is the fastest route: grab the free sample, pay once and have the full file in minutes.
Datasets ready to download
- Zillow Property Dataset · 15,132,518 rows
- Company Job Postings Dataset · 4,810,382 rows
- Trustpilot Companies Dataset · 1,151,833 rows
Download a free 100-row CSV sample from any dataset page, no credit card required, and see the real columns for yourself.