Octoparse Alternative
An Octoparse alternative that works on the page you are already looking at
The short version
Octoparse is a desktop client with Auto-detect. Its Standard plan lists preset templates, cloud extraction, scheduling, IP rotation, residential proxies and CAPTCHA solving. DataLens is a Chrome and Edge extension: you open the page, pick a list, check the columns and export. There is no desktop app to install. If you need cloud runs or schedules, Octoparse is the better fit.
Why people look past Octoparse
- You would rather not install a desktop client, and want to scrape the page you already have open in your browser.
- Your pages have comment threads with nested replies, or numbers drawn in scrambled fonts, and you want them in one export.
- You need a file now and do not need cloud runs, schedules, proxies or CAPTCHA solving.
Octoparse vs DataLens at a glance
| What you need | Octoparse | DataLens |
|---|---|---|
| Finding the data on a page | Listed Auto-detect is described as an Octoparse AI feature. Source: Octoparse docs: Auto-detect · as of 2026-11-03 | Yes DataLens detects the lists on the page; you pick one and check the columns. |
| Pagination and field checks | Listed The 10.2.1 release notes mention Field Fixer, an AI assistant that checks data fields and pagination and fixes them on request. Source: Octoparse download page · as of 2026-11-03 | Yes Scrolls, clicks "load more" and goes to the next page until the end or your row limit. |
| Pages you are signed in to | Listed The Auto-detect docs list a page that requires login as a case where you edit the workflow manually. Source: Octoparse docs: Auto-detect · as of 2026-11-03 | Yes Runs in your own browser with your own session. |
| Cloud runs and scheduling | Listed Standard lists cloud extraction with up to 3 concurrent cloud processes and task scheduling; Professional up to 20. The Free plan is local extraction only. Source: Octoparse pricing page · as of 2026-11-03 | No No cloud runs and no schedules. You can re-run a saved scrape by hand from History. |
| Proxies and CAPTCHA solving | Listed IP rotation, residential proxies and automatic CAPTCHA solving are listed under Standard. Source: Octoparse pricing page · as of 2026-11-03 | No No proxies and no CAPTCHA solving. It runs in your own browser. |
| Export formats and destinations | Listed The Free plan lists Excel, CSV, JSON, HTML and XML exports; Standard lists a Data Export API; Professional lists saving to Google Sheets, Google Drive, Dropbox and S3. Source: Octoparse pricing page · as of 2026-11-03 | Partly Downloads Excel, CSV or JSON files. No direct push to Sheets, Airtable or Notion, and no public API. |
| Where you use it | Listed A desktop client for Windows and Mac. The download page does not mention a browser extension. Source: Octoparse download page · as of 2026-11-03 | Partly Chrome and Edge extension only. Nothing to install on the desktop. |
Octoparse details come from its public pages, checked 2026-11-03. "Not listed" means we did not find it on those pages; it does not mean the feature is missing.
Octoparse pricing next to DataLens
List prices from the official pages, checked 2026-11-03. "Per 1,000 rows" divides the price by the base rows it buys, assuming you use all of it.
| Plan | Price | What you get | Per 1,000 rows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Source: Octoparse pricing page · as of 2026-11-03 | $0 | 10 tasks, 1 device, local extraction only, 2 concurrent local runs. Export up to 50K rows a month and 10,000 rows per export. | — |
| Standard, yearly Source: Octoparse pricing page · as of 2026-11-03 | $828 per year, paid upfront | From $69 a month billed yearly. 100 tasks, cloud extraction with up to 3 concurrent cloud processes, IP rotation, residential proxies, automatic CAPTCHA solving, scheduling, Data Export API, 500+ preset templates. | — |
| Standard, monthly Source: Octoparse blog: pricing · as of 2026-11-03 | $83 per month | The pricing page does not show a monthly-billed price; its blog lists Standard from $83 a month. | — |
| Professional, yearly Source: Octoparse pricing page · as of 2026-11-03 | $2988 per year, paid upfront | $249 a month billed yearly. 250 tasks, up to 20 concurrent cloud processes, advanced API, save to Google Sheets, Google Drive, Dropbox and S3. | — |
| Professional, monthly Source: Octoparse blog: pricing · as of 2026-11-03 | $299 per month | The Octoparse pricing blog lists Professional at $299 a month. | — |
| Plan | Price | What you get | Per 1,000 rows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free credits | $0 | New accounts get 100 credits once. Detecting lists, adjusting columns and previewing are free. | — |
| 10,000-credit pack | $7 one-time | 10,000 credits, one-time, valid 30 days. 1 credit per scraped row; detail-page fields cost 2 credits per row. | $0.70 |
| 30,000-credit pack | $15 one-time | 30,000 credits, one-time, valid 30 days. | $0.50 |
| 100,000-credit pack | $40 one-time | 100,000 credits, one-time, valid 60 days. | $0.40 |
- Octoparse's listed plans are priced per plan, with task and cloud-process limits, so we have not calculated a per-1,000-row figure for it. DataLens charges 1 credit per row, and its packs list at $0.70, $0.50 and $0.40 per 1,000 base rows.
- Octoparse Free exports up to 50K rows a month (10,000 per export) with local extraction. DataLens gives 100 credits once. For free local volume, Octoparse Free is far larger.
- DataLens packs are one-time and never auto-renew, but credits expire: 30 days for the 10,000 and 30,000 packs, 60 days for the 100,000 pack. Detail-page fields cost 2 credits per row.
- Paid Octoparse plans list a 5-day money-back guarantee.
- Octoparse also lists pay-per-result templates at $0.001 to $3 per thousand results, custom crawler builds from $399 and a data service from $599.
Where Octoparse is stronger
- A far bigger free tier: local extraction with up to 50K rows exported a month.
- Cloud extraction with concurrent cloud processes, and task scheduling, listed on Standard.
- IP rotation, residential proxies and automatic CAPTCHA solving, listed on Standard.
- A Data Export API, plus saving to Google Sheets, Google Drive, Dropbox and S3 on Professional.
- 500+ preset templates listed on Standard, and paid crawler setup and data services.
Where DataLens fits better
- No desktop app to install: you work on the page you are already looking at.
- Detail-page fields and nested replies are collected in one pass.
- Numbers drawn in scrambled fonts are read from the screen and exported as real text.
Switch to DataLens if
- You want to scrape the page open in your browser without installing a desktop client.
- Your pages have nested replies or scrambled-font numbers.
- A downloaded Excel, CSV or JSON file is all you need.
Stay with Octoparse if
- You need scrapes to run in the cloud or on a schedule.
- You need proxies, IP rotation or CAPTCHA solving.
- You want a large free local tier, an API, or saves to Google Sheets, Drive, Dropbox or S3.
Frequently asked questions
Is DataLens an Octoparse alternative?
For some jobs. Octoparse is a desktop client with Auto-detect. Its Standard plan lists templates, cloud extraction and scheduling. DataLens is a Chrome and Edge extension where you open the page, pick a list and export. If you need cloud runs, schedules, proxies or CAPTCHA solving, Octoparse is the better fit.
How do the free tiers compare?
Octoparse Free lists local extraction with up to 50K rows exported a month and 10,000 per export. DataLens gives 100 credits once, at 1 credit per row. For free volume, Octoparse Free is much larger.
Can DataLens run in the cloud or on a schedule like Octoparse?
No. DataLens has no cloud runs and no schedules; you can re-run a saved scrape by hand from History. Octoparse lists cloud extraction and task scheduling under Standard.
Does DataLens use proxies or solve CAPTCHAs?
No. DataLens runs in your own browser with your own login, with no proxies and no data-center requests, and it does not solve CAPTCHAs. Octoparse lists IP rotation, residential proxies and automatic CAPTCHA solving under Standard.
Does DataLens handle detail pages and nested replies?
Yes. DataLens opens each detail page and adds the fields you pick to the same row, at 2 credits per row. A list inside a list, such as comments with replies, is collected with its parent row.
Do I need to move anything over from Octoparse?
No. DataLens exports Excel, CSV or JSON files, and Octoparse exports include those formats, so your finished files carry over as they are. DataLens does not import Octoparse tasks; you open the page and pick the list again. Install the extension. New accounts get 100 credits once, and you sign in when you start your first scrape.
Where does my data go when I use DataLens?
DataLens runs in your own browser with your own login, with no proxies and no data-center requests. To work out the columns it sends a condensed outline of the page structure to our AI service, and finished rows are saved to your DataLens account. The privacy policy has the details.
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Competitor details last checked 2026-11-03.
Spotted something out of date? Email support@datalens.uk and we will check it.
Octoparse and other product names are trademarks of their owners. DataLens is not affiliated with them.