Quick Decision Matrix
| Factor | API | Web Scraping |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Only if provider offers | Works on any public website |
| Reliability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good |
| Cost | £0-£1000s/month | One-time or low monthly |
| Data Quality | Structured, clean | Requires processing |
| Rate Limits | Strict limits | Flexible |
Use API When:
- ✅ Official API exists and is affordable
- ✅ You need guaranteed data structure
- ✅ Rate limits meet your needs
- ✅ You want official support
- ✅ Legal/compliance is critical
Use Web Scraping When:
- ✅ No API exists or it's too expensive
- ✅ API rate limits are restrictive
- ✅ You need data API doesn't provide
- ✅ Monitoring competitor websites
- ✅ Aggregating data from multiple sources
Cost Comparison Example
Scenario: Collecting 100,000 records/month
- API Option: £200-2,000/month (recurring)
- Scraping Option: £5,000 setup + £200-500/month
- 3-Year Total API: £7,200-72,000
- 3-Year Total Scraping: £12,200-23,000
Hybrid Approach
Best of both worlds:
- Use APIs where available and cost-effective
- Supplement with scraping for additional data
- Fall back to scraping if API fails
- Compare prices regularly
Bottom Line
Always check for APIs first. They're usually easier and more reliable. Use web scraping when APIs don't exist, are too expensive, or don't provide the data you need.
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