Scrapfly Download: How to Use Web Scraping API, Cloud Browser & Screenshot API

Scrapfly bundles three powerful web data tools under a single API key: a resilient Web Scraping API, a hosted stealth Cloud Browser over CDP, and a dedicated Screenshot API. If you’re landing here because you searched for “Scrapfly download,” you are likely looking for two things: how to fetch and save scraped data (HTML, markdown, structured JSON) and how to capture and download screenshots from any webpage – all while bypassing bots. This guide walks through exactly that, with practical request examples, response handling, and a look at how an alternative like AdsCrawl's real browser automation fits when you need deep anti‑detect control.

At AdsCrawl, we’ve tested multiple scraping stacks. Here’s how you get results from Scrapfly, including the download mechanics you need for your pipelines.

What Is Scrapfly?

Scrapfly Download: Web Scraping API, Cloud Browser & Screenshots product interface and feature overview.

Scrapfly’s platform is designed so you can scrape, drive a browser, or take screenshots with one API key. The three main entry points are:

• Web Scraping API – Anti‑bot bypass, proxy rotation, JavaScript rendering toggle. Returns clean HTML, markdown, or parsed data.
• Cloud Browser – A remote, headful Chromium instance accessible over CDP (Compatible with Playwright/Puppeteer). Great for complex browser automation at scale.
• Screenshot API – Captures full‑page, viewport, or element screenshots with ad‑block, cookie dismissal, and custom viewport. Saves images to Scrapfly’s servers and gives you authenticated download URLs.

All three share the same credit‑based billing, real‑time telemetry, and the same underlying stealth engine. In the following sections, we’ll cover how to actually retrieve and store the data you request.

Downloading Data with the Web Scraping API

When you send a POST to https://api.scrapfly.io/scrape with your target URL and API key, the response contains a result object. Inside, you get the scraped content directly, no secondary download needed for text. However, to persist the data locally, you can simply write the response body to a file. Here’s a minimal Bash example:

curl -X POST "https://api.scrapfly.io/scrape" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "url": "https://example.com",
    "key": "YOUR_KEY"
  }' > scraped-data.json

This saves the entire JSON response. To extract just the HTML or markdown content, parse the result.content field. For a long‑term storage pipeline, you’ll typically stream the content directly to your database or object store. The API also supports render_js=true to execute JavaScript; processed page source appears under the same content field.

Scrapfly’s Anti‑bot Bypass ensures pages that would normally return a CAPTCHA are successfully fetched. Only successful bypasses are billed, so you don’t pay for failed attempts.

Downloading Screenshots from the Screenshot API

Scrapfly Download: Web Scraping API, Cloud Browser & Screenshots product interface and feature overview.

Screenshot capture is where the “download” keyword really matters. Scrapfly saves screenshots on their servers and provides an authenticated URL in the API response. You then download the image file with a second request.

There are two ways to take screenshots:

1. Through the Web Scraping API (by adding screenshots parameters while enabling render_js).
2. Through the dedicated Screenshot API (https://api.scrapfly.io/screenshot).

We’ll focus on the Web Scraping API method because it’s more common for full scraping workflows. The dedicated endpoint is a simplified GET‑based interface ideal when you only need a screenshot.

Capture a Full‑Page Screenshot

Send a scrape request with JS rendering and a screenshots array:

curl -G \
  --url "https://api.scrapfly.io/scrape" \
  --data-urlencode "key=YOUR_KEY" \
  --data-urlencode "url=https://web-scraping.dev/product/1" \
  --data-urlencode "render_js=true" \
  --data-urlencode "screenshots[fullpage]=fullpage"

The response includes a result.screenshots.fullpage object with a url field.

Download the Screenshot File

That url is authenticated. Append your API key as a query parameter and save the content:

curl "https://api.scrapfly.io/4d1b.../main?key=YOUR_KEY" > fullpage.png

Replace the URL with the one from your response. The file will be in PNG format by default; you can change it to JPEG or WebP via the format parameter. The screenshot stays accessible for the duration of your log retention (minimum one week).

Element‑Specific Screenshots

Instead of a full page, target a CSS selector with screenshots[widget]=.widget-class. The download mechanism is identical—just grab the url from the corresponding key in the result.

Flags That Improve Screenshots

Add the screenshot_flags parameter to control quality and visibility:

• load_images – Renders actual images (additional credit cost).
• block_banners – Dismisses cookies and overlays.
• high_quality – Disables compression.
• dark_mode – Applies a dark color scheme.
• print_media_format – Renders the page in print mode.

Example: screenshot_flags=load_images,block_banners,high_quality

If you need to capture interactive states that require clicks or scripts, consider using the Cloud Browser or a dedicated browser automation API with native CDP access.

Cloud Browser: Downloading the Browser Interaction Output

Scrapfly Download: Web Scraping API, Cloud Browser & Screenshots product interface and feature overview.

The Cloud Browser exposes a remote Chromium via WebSocket (CDP). It’s not a direct “download” API; instead, you control a real browser programmatically with Puppeteer or Playwright. Whatever you scrape or extract during that session is your responsibility to capture and save. The advantage is complete stealth and the ability to automate complex flows that a simple scrape can’t handle.

Connection example (using Puppeteer):

const browser = await puppeteer.connect({
  browserWSEndpoint: 'wss://browser.scrapfly.io/cdp?key=YOUR_KEY'
});
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
const content = await page.content();
// Save content to disk
fs.writeFileSync('page.html', content);

Because you own the extraction logic, you decide what to download—HTML, screenshots, or PDFs.

For teams that want browser automation without managing the extraction code, an alternative like AdsCrawl’s API provides pre‑built endpoints that return HTML, markdown, and screenshots directly, alongside CDP remote control.

Getting Started in 3 Steps

1. Get a free API key from Scrapfly.io (1,000 free credits, no credit card).
2. Choose your tool. For quick scraping, the Web Scraping API; for visual captures, the Screenshot API; for heavy browser automation, the Cloud Browser.
3. Write your download logic using the patterns above. Always handle HTTP errors and respect concurrency limits.

Scrapfly’s credit system deducts credits based on request complexity. The response headers X-Scrapfly-API-Cost and X-Scrapfly-Remaining-Api-Credit help you budget. For a detailed pricing breakdown, see our Scrapfly Pricing comparison.

Scrapfly vs. AdsCrawl: When a Pure Browser API Makes Sense

Scrapfly Download: Web Scraping API, Cloud Browser & Screenshots product interface and feature overview.

Both platforms tackle anti‑bot detection, but they take different architectural paths:

• Scrapfly integrates scraping, cloud browser, and screenshot functionality with a full proxy mesh and built‑in auto‑bypass. It’s a one‑stop shop for many scraping tasks.
• AdsCrawl is a browser‑first automation API optimized for anti‑detect sessions, remote CDP, and structured output (HTML, markdown, screenshots). It includes AdsPower fingerprint profile integration and concurrent session management, making it a strong fit for monitoring, price tracking, and AI‑data pipelines that require consistent, repeatable browser environments.

If your workflow demands complete control over the browser fingerprint and the ability to run thousands of isolated sessions, AdsCrawl’s approach can simplify infrastructure while still delivering direct downloads of scraped content and screenshots.

Related reading

• Scrapfly Web Scraping, Cloud Browser & Screenshot API: Full Breakdown - Explore Scrapfly's Web Scraping API, Cloud Browser, and Screenshot API. Learn anti-bot bypass, capture features, and how AdsCrawl compares for anti‑detect automation.
• Top 10 Anti-Detect Browser Automation & Data Extraction Platforms 2026 - Discover the top 10 anti-detect browser automation and data extraction platforms for 2026. We rank AdsCrawl #1 and compare features, anti-fingerprinting, API, and pricing.

Sources and further reading

• Scrapfly - Web Scraping API, Cloud Browser, Screenshot API - Power web scrapers and AI agents with Scrapfly's web data platform. One API key for anti-bot bypass, stealth Chromium over CDP, residential proxies, screenshots, and structured extraction.
• Scrapfly Web Scraping API | Screenshots - Scrapfly's screenshots feature allows takings screenshots of scraped web pages or web page parts. Used together with headless browsers to capture any web page.
• Scrapfly Screenshot API | API Specification - Scrapfly API - API Specification - Everything you need to take screenshots of any web pages with Scrapfly API. Available options, tips and errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I download a screenshot from Scrapfly?

After a successful screenshot request, the response contains result.screenshots.[name].url. Append your API key as a query parameter (?key=YOUR_KEY) and download with curl or any HTTP client. The link is valid for your account’s log retention period.

Can I download scraped data directly as a file?

Yes. The Web Scraping API returns JSON with the page content in the result.content field. You can save the whole response or extract the HTML/markdown string and write it to a file.

Does the Screenshot API support downloading images in different formats?

Yes. Use the format parameter (png, jpeg, webp, gif). The default is PNG. For the Web Scraping API, specify screenshot_flags=high_quality to control compression.

What’s the difference between the Web Scraping API and Cloud Browser?

The Web Scraping API is a simplified HTTP request‑response model with optional JS rendering. The Cloud Browser gives you direct WebSocket access to a real Chrome instance, suitable for complex interactions, multi‑step flows, and full browser automation.

Is there a free tier?

Scrapfly offers 1,000 free credits upon signup, no credit card required. This lets you test all three products. After that, you can scale with pay‑as‑you‑go plans.

Conclusion

Scrapfly’s platform delivers a unified way to scrape, screenshot, and drive browsers with anti‑bot bypass built in. For straightforward data extraction, the Web Scraping API gives you raw content to download immediately. When you need screenshots, both the embedded capture and the dedicated API provide authenticated URLs you can pull into your storage. And when you require full browser automation, the Cloud Browser hands you the keys to a real Chromium instance.

For teams exploring alternatives, especially those needing fine‑grained anti‑detect configuration and bundled structured output, AdsCrawl’s browser automation API is worth comparing side‑by‑side with Scrapfly. Check our head‑to‑head breakdown to see which fits your AI data pipeline best.

Regardless of your choice, the key to a reliable scraping setup is combining the right abstraction with clear download logic—and you now have the blueprints for both.