Simplescraper vs ScrapeMaster: 100 Credits/Month vs Unlimited Free Scraping

TL;DR

Simplescraper is a clean, visual web scraper with a 100-credit-per-month free tier and paid plans from $35 to $70 per month. ScrapeMaster offers AI-powered detection, pagination, detail page following, and export to CSV/XLSX/JSON — completely free with no credit limits and no account required.

What is Simplescraper?

Simplescraper is a Chrome extension that lets you point and click on elements to define what data you want to extract. It has a clean interface, API access for automation, and a Chrome Web Store rating of 4.5 stars.

The tool targets non-technical users who want a visual scraping experience without writing code. You click on examples of the data you want, and Simplescraper identifies similar elements across the page.

Simplescraper's credit system

Simplescraper uses a credit-based pricing model:

• Free: 100 scrape credits per month
• Plus: $35/month — more credits, priority support
• Pro: $70/month — even more credits, API access, advanced features

What counts as a credit varies by operation. A single page scrape uses credits, and credits are consumed whether the extraction succeeds or fails.

Why 100 credits is less than it sounds

100 credits per month works out to roughly 3 scraping sessions per day. If you are scraping a product catalog with 50 items across 5 pages, that is 5 credits for one extraction. Do that 20 times in a month and you have used your allowance.

For users who scrape occasionally and predictably, 100 credits may be sufficient. For anyone who scrapes frequently, experiments with different sites, or handles pagination across many pages, the limit becomes restrictive quickly.

Feature comparison

Data detection:

• Simplescraper: Point-and-click visual selection (you click examples of data you want)
• ScrapeMaster: AI-powered auto-detection (analyzes page and identifies data automatically)

Setup time:

• Simplescraper: 1 to 5 minutes (clicking elements to teach the scraper)
• ScrapeMaster: 2 to 4 seconds (automatic)

Pagination:

• Simplescraper: Limited support
• ScrapeMaster: Full support — next-page buttons, numbered pagination, load-more buttons, infinite scroll

Detail page following:

• Simplescraper: Limited
• ScrapeMaster: Built-in — follows links to scrape deeper data

Column customization:

• Simplescraper: Via element selection
• ScrapeMaster: Rename, remove, and reorder columns after detection

API access:

• Simplescraper: Yes (paid plans)
• ScrapeMaster: No (browser extension only)

Scheduled scraping:

• Simplescraper: Yes (paid plans)
• ScrapeMaster: No (on-demand only)

Export formats:

• Simplescraper: CSV, JSON, API
• ScrapeMaster: CSV, XLSX, JSON, clipboard

Free tier:

• Simplescraper: 100 credits/month
• ScrapeMaster: Unlimited

Account required:

• Simplescraper: Yes
• ScrapeMaster: No

Paid plans:

• Simplescraper: $35-$70/month
• ScrapeMaster: None (free)

When Simplescraper is the better choice

Simplescraper has advantages for specific use cases:

• Recurring, scheduled scraping — If you need to scrape the same site automatically every day or week, Simplescraper's scheduling and API features (on paid plans) are useful
• API integration — If you need to trigger scraping programmatically from another tool, Simplescraper's API access is valuable
• Specific element targeting — If AI auto-detection picks up the wrong data, Simplescraper's point-and-click lets you precisely define what to extract

When ScrapeMaster is the better choice

ScrapeMaster is better for:

• Ad-hoc scraping — When you scrape different sites frequently and do not want to set up a new scraper each time
• Budget-conscious users — Zero cost, zero limits, zero surprises
• Speed — AI detection in 2 to 4 seconds vs. manual element selection
• Pagination-heavy jobs — Full automatic pagination support across all types (next-page, load-more, numbered, infinite scroll)
• Detail page scraping — Following links to extract deeper data
• No-account simplicity — No signup, no credit tracking, no monthly limits to manage

The cost comparison over time

Light use (5 scraping sessions per month):

• Simplescraper: Free (within 100 credits)
• ScrapeMaster: Free

Moderate use (30 sessions per month):

• Simplescraper: $35/month ($420/year) — free tier exceeded
• ScrapeMaster: Free

Heavy use (100+ sessions per month):

• Simplescraper: $70/month ($840/year)
• ScrapeMaster: Free

The cost difference is significant for regular users. Over two years, moderate Simplescraper usage costs $840. ScrapeMaster costs $0.

Related reading

• 10 Best Free Web Scraper Chrome Extensions in 2026 (No Coding Required) — see where Simplescraper and ScrapeMaster rank in a broader comparison
• Thunderbit vs ScrapeMaster: Per-Row Pricing vs Completely Free Web Scraping — another credit-based scraper compared to ScrapeMaster
• How to Export Website Data to Google Sheets or Excel (Free, No Code) — what to do with your scraped data once you have it

Frequently asked questions

Can Simplescraper's free tier handle my needs?

If you scrape fewer than 100 credits worth of data per month (roughly 3 to 5 small scraping sessions), the free tier works. If your usage is unpredictable or you occasionally need to scrape heavily, you will hit the limit.

Does ScrapeMaster have an API?

No. ScrapeMaster is a Chrome extension designed for on-demand, interactive scraping. For API-driven or scheduled scraping, Simplescraper or cloud-based tools are better suited.

Which has better data accuracy?

Both produce accurate results when they detect the right elements. Simplescraper's point-and-click gives you precise control over what is extracted. ScrapeMaster's AI is generally accurate but may occasionally need column adjustment.

Can I switch from Simplescraper to ScrapeMaster?

Yes. Install ScrapeMaster from the Chrome Web Store and start using it alongside or instead of Simplescraper. There is no migration needed — each scraping session is independent.

Bottom line

Simplescraper is a well-designed tool with a restrictive pricing model. If you need API access and scheduled scraping, it may justify the $35 to $70 per month. For everything else — ad-hoc extraction, pagination, detail pages, and general data collection — ScrapeMaster does it for free with no limits.