Screenshot API Comparison 2026: PageBolt vs ScreenshotOne vs Urlbox
Choosing a screenshot API? This guide compares the three most popular options in 2026 — feature by feature, pricing tier by tier — so you can pick the right one for your project.
TL;DR Comparison
| Feature | PageBolt | ScreenshotOne | Urlbox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free (100/mo) | Free (100) | $19/mo |
| Mid-tier price | $79/mo | $79/mo | $99/mo |
| Mid-tier requests | 25,000 | 10,000 | 15,000 |
| Screenshot formats | PNG, JPEG, WebP | PNG, JPEG, WebP | PNG, JPEG, WebP |
| PDF generation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| OG image generation | ✓ | — | — |
| Video recording | ✓ | — | — |
| Voice narration (TTS) | ✓ | — | — |
| Browser sequences | ✓ | — | — |
| MCP server (AI agents) | ✓ | — | — |
| CI/CD integration | ✓ | — | — |
| Style themes & frames | 18 themes | — | — |
| Device presets | 25+ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ad/cookie blocking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dark mode capture | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Geolocation emulation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Metadata extraction | ✓ | ✓ | — |
| S3/storage upload | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Caching | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free trial | Free tier (forever) | 100 free shots | 7-day trial |
| Credit card required | No | No | No (trial) |
Overview of Each Platform
PageBolt
PageBolt is a web capture platform that bundles 7 APIs under one key: screenshots, PDFs, OG images, video recording with voice narration, browser sequences, CI/CD integration, and an MCP server for AI agents. It launched in 2025 and is the newest of the three, but offers the broadest feature set. The free tier includes 100 requests/month across all APIs with no credit card required.
Best for: Developers who need more than screenshots — video demos, OG images, browser automation, or AI agent integration.
ScreenshotOne
ScreenshotOne is a focused screenshot API built by a solo founder. It's proven and reliable, with strong SEO content and a solid developer experience. Plans start at $17/month for 2,000 screenshots. Higher tiers add features like geolocation selection, scrolling screenshots, and GPU rendering. Overages are billed per 1,000 screenshots.
Best for: Developers who only need screenshots and PDFs, and want a simple, battle-tested solution.
Urlbox
Urlbox is an established screenshot API with a focus on rendering accuracy and reliability. Plans start at $19/month for 2,000 renders. Urlbox excels at complex rendering scenarios and offers built-in caching and S3 upload. Enterprise options include dedicated rendering clusters.
Best for: Enterprise teams needing high-reliability screenshots with built-in storage and caching.
Pricing Comparison
| Tier | PageBolt | ScreenshotOne | Urlbox |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | 100 req/mo (7 APIs) | 100 screenshots | 7-day trial |
| ~$20-30/mo | $29 — 5,000 req | $17 — 2,000 shots | $19 — 2,000 renders |
| ~$80-100/mo | $79 — 25,000 req | $79 — 10,000 shots | $99 — 15,000 renders |
| ~$200-260/mo | $199 — 100,000 req | $259 — 50,000 shots | $498 — Business tier |
| Overage billing | None (hard limit) | $0.004-0.009/shot | Automatic scaling |
Key takeaway: At the $79/month tier, PageBolt gives you 2.5x more requests than ScreenshotOne (25,000 vs 10,000) AND includes video recording, OG images, browser sequences, and more. PageBolt also never surprise-bills you — when you hit your limit, calls return a 402 error instead of incurring overages.
Try PageBolt free — no credit card
100 requests/month on all 7 APIs. Or try the sandbox — 5 screenshots/day, no account needed.
Feature Deep-Dive
Video Recording
PageBolt is the only platform in this comparison that offers programmatic video recording. You define a sequence of browser actions, and PageBolt records them as a polished MP4 with smooth cursor movement, click highlighting, step notes, and optional AI voice narration (Audio Guide). This is a complete category that ScreenshotOne and Urlbox don't address.
If you need demo videos for your changelog, docs, onboarding flows, or investor decks, PageBolt eliminates the manual recording → editing → re-recording cycle.
Screenshot Quality & Options
All three platforms produce high-quality screenshots using Chromium. All support device presets, dark mode, ad blocking, and full-page capture. The differences are in the extras:
- PageBolt adds 18 style themes (macOS frames, gradient backgrounds, shadows), element selector capture, custom CSS/JS injection, and metadata extraction in the same request.
- ScreenshotOne adds caching, S3 upload, signed links, and stealth mode for anti-bot detection.
- Urlbox adds caching, storage, and handles particularly complex rendering scenarios well.
Browser Automation
Only PageBolt offers multi-step browser sequences — navigate, click, fill forms, scroll, and capture screenshots at each step. ScreenshotOne and Urlbox are single-action APIs: you provide a URL, they return a screenshot. If you need to log in, dismiss a modal, or interact with the page before capturing, PageBolt handles it natively.
AI Integration (MCP Server)
PageBolt includes a built-in MCP server that lets AI coding assistants (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf) call PageBolt directly. Say "screenshot my-app.com in dark mode" in your IDE and get the result inline. Neither ScreenshotOne nor Urlbox offer this.
When to Choose Each
- Choose PageBolt if you need more than screenshots — video demos, OG images, browser automation, or AI integration. Also the best value per request at every price point.
- Choose ScreenshotOne if you only need screenshots/PDFs and want a proven, minimal API with built-in caching and S3 upload.
- Choose Urlbox if you're an enterprise team needing guaranteed rendering quality, dedicated infrastructure, and built-in storage at scale.
Verdict
For most developers building modern applications, PageBolt offers the best combination of capabilities and value. You get 7 APIs for the price others charge for one, with a generous free tier to start. The video recording with voice narration is genuinely unique — no other screenshot API offers anything like it.
If you specifically need caching/CDN features or S3 upload integration, ScreenshotOne and Urlbox have an edge there. But for raw capabilities per dollar, PageBolt is the clear winner in 2026.
Start free with PageBolt — 100 requests/month, all 7 APIs, no credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best screenshot API in 2026?
For most developers, PageBolt offers the best combination of features and value in 2026. It bundles 7 APIs (screenshots, PDFs, OG images, video recording, browser sequences, CI/CD, MCP server) under one key, starting with a free tier of 100 requests/month. At the $79/month tier, you get 25,000 requests — 2.5x more than ScreenshotOne's equivalent plan. If you only need simple screenshots with caching, ScreenshotOne or Urlbox are solid alternatives.
What is the cheapest screenshot API?
PageBolt and ScreenshotOne both offer free tiers (100 requests). For paid plans, PageBolt starts at $29/month for 5,000 requests ($0.0058/request), ScreenshotOne starts at $17/month for 2,000 screenshots ($0.0085/screenshot), and Urlbox starts at $19/month for 2,000 renders ($0.0095/render). On a per-request basis, PageBolt is the most cost-effective at every tier.
Which screenshot API supports video recording?
Only PageBolt offers programmatic video recording. You define a sequence of browser actions, and PageBolt records them as a polished MP4 with cursor effects, click highlighting, and optional AI voice narration (Audio Guide). ScreenshotOne added basic animated GIF screenshots on higher tiers, but neither ScreenshotOne nor Urlbox offer full video recording with audio narration.
Do screenshot APIs require a credit card?
PageBolt and ScreenshotOne do not require a credit card for their free tiers. Urlbox offers a 7-day free trial without a credit card. PageBolt's free tier is permanent (100 requests/month forever), not a trial — you can use it indefinitely without ever entering payment information.