Fact-checked comparison
Screenshotor vs Screenshotlayer: pricing, features, and best fit
APILayer screenshot API with URL-parameter captures, full-height screenshots, viewport controls, TTL caching, CDN delivery, WebP, Retina/2x support, and S3/FTP export on higher plans. This article compares that public positioning with Screenshotor, a screenshot API built around async jobs, webhooks, dashboard history, temporary download URLs, and optional AI vision on completed captures.
Sources checked
Official competitor pages checked on 2026-05-28. Pricing changes often, so verify again before buying.
Quick verdict
Choose Screenshotor when the screenshot is part of your own product workflow: create a job, receive a webhook, store a result, and optionally ask AI to interpret the final image.
Why Screenshotor can be the better fit
- Screenshotor is easier to reason about when every capture has a job status, history record, webhook event, and download URL.
- Screenshotor adds optional AI vision on the rendered image, which Screenshotlayer pricing/docs do not present as the central workflow.
- Screenshotor avoids routing you through a broad API marketplace if you only want screenshot automation.
When Screenshotlayer makes sense
Screenshotlayer is not just a keyword target. It has real strengths, and the best choice depends on your workload.
- Screenshotlayer is attractive when CDN caching, APILayer billing, S3/FTP export, and URL-parameter calls match your existing stack.
- Its public pricing includes a larger 75,000-snapshot tier than Screenshotor currently shows on the homepage.
Pricing snapshot
Screenshot API pricing is rarely apples-to-apples. Compare fresh renders, cached hits, credits, AI calls, overages, and storage.
Screenshotor
- Free: 100 credits
- Starter: $9/month for 2,500 credits
- Pro: $29/month for 10,000 credits
- Scale: $99/month for 50,000 credits
Screenshotlayer
Free 100 snapshots; paid monthly plans publicly list $19.99 for 10,000, $59.99 for 30,000, and $149.99 for 75,000 snapshots, plus overage pricing.
Fact-checked highlights
- Public pricing lists a free 100-snapshot plan, Basic at $19.99/month for 10,000 snapshots, Professional at $59.99/month for 30,000, and Enterprise at $149.99/month for 75,000.
- Docs list fullpage=1 for full-height captures, viewport controls, force refresh, TTL caching with a default 30-day cache, placeholders, Retina/2x scaling, and WebP support.
- Professional and Enterprise documentation covers direct export to AWS S3 or FTP.
- APILayer docs publish plan-based rate limits and a broader API marketplace context.
Screenshotor at a glance
Screenshotor targets teams that want a modern REST workflow: create a capture, track status, download assets, and optionally attach AI analysis to the finished image.
- Async-first screenshot jobs. Create captures with POST /v1/screenshot, poll job status, list history, and fetch time-limited download URLs when rendering finishes.
- Optional AI vision on the rendered image. Turn on aiVision to send the completed PNG, JPG, or WEBP capture through OpenRouter vision models using your prompt, useful for summaries and structured extraction.
- Webhook delivery. Send webhookUrl to get notified when queued work completes so backends do not need tight polling loops.
- Safety-minded URL handling. DNS and network checks aim to reduce SSRF risk before navigation, with additional blocking options for private targets during browsing.
- Banner handling you control per request. Opt into bannerBlocking with hide, reject, or accept modes plus extra selectors for stubborn consent UI.
Screenshotlayer at a glance
APILayer screenshot API with URL-parameter captures, full-height screenshots, viewport controls, TTL caching, CDN delivery, WebP, Retina/2x support, and S3/FTP export on higher plans.
When teams shortlist it
- You already buy APIs through APILayer or want the screenshot API inside that marketplace model.
- You need CDN-oriented URL captures, default caching, and direct S3/FTP export on higher plans.
- You prefer an older, parameter-based API shape over dashboard-first screenshot job management.
Decision checklist
Use this table to decide whether you need Screenshotor's job and AI workflow or Screenshotlayer's particular strengths.
| Topic | Screenshotor | Screenshotlayer |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing shape | Credit tiers top out publicly at 50,000 credits for $99/month. | Snapshot tiers run from 100 free to 75,000 snapshots for $149.99/month, with overages listed. |
| Caching model | Screenshotor focuses on job records and time-limited download URLs. | Screenshotlayer docs emphasize CDN support and TTL caching, with a default cache window documented as 30 days. |
| Exports | Use webhook/polling and download URLs, then store the file in your own workflow. | Professional and Enterprise docs describe export parameters for AWS S3 and FTP destinations. |
| AI analysis | AI vision can be requested with the screenshot job. | Evaluate Screenshotlayer for rendering and CDN workflows, not AI screenshot analysis. |
Questions teams ask before switching
Is Screenshotlayer still useful if I need a modern dashboard workflow?
Yes, but it is strongest when APILayer billing, URL parameters, CDN caching, and S3/FTP export fit your architecture. Screenshotor is more focused on queued jobs, webhooks, history, and AI-assisted captures.
Which product has more public quota at the top tier?
Screenshotlayer publicly lists 75,000 snapshots on Enterprise. Screenshotor publicly lists 50,000 credits on Scale. Compare overages, cache accounting, and what each request consumes before deciding.
Does Screenshotlayer include AI vision?
Its public screenshot docs focus on rendering, caching, viewport controls, and exports. Screenshotor makes optional OpenRouter vision part of the screenshot workflow.
More comparisons
Browse the full list on the comparison hub.