The Octoparse alternative without a desktop app
Octoparse is a desktop app from the 2010s. Stekpad is a Chrome extension plus a Claude MCP server. Same point-and-click, 10x better integrations, zero install pain.
The short answer
Octoparse is a desktop app from the 2010s. Stekpad is a Chrome extension plus a Claude MCP server. Same point-and-click, 10x better integrations, zero install pain.
Stekpad vs Octoparse
| Feature | Stekpad | Octoparse |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome extension (no desktop app) | ||
| Point-and-click selectors | ||
| AI selector engine | Gemma | Rule-based |
| Claude MCP server | ||
| Scheduled runs | Cloud €29/mo | Cloud (separate SKU) |
| Scrape behind login | Your session | Task Mode |
| Starting price | €0 / €99 lifetime | €75/month |
| Free tier | Unlimited local | 10 tasks |
Why operators switch from Octoparse
Octoparse pioneered point-and-click scraping, but it shows its age. The desktop app is heavy, the UI is dated, and cloud runs live behind a separate Octoparse Cloud subscription with its own pricing.
Stekpad is built as a Chrome extension — it installs in one click and scrapes any page you can open in Chrome. Selectors adapt automatically via the Gemma selector engine, so you do not rebuild recipes every time a competitor changes their DOM.
For operators who want modern integrations (Google Sheets, Notion, Airtable, Claude MCP) without juggling a desktop app, Stekpad is a direct upgrade.
Related on Stekpad
More in this cluster
Clay Alternative: Scrape Enrichment Data Without Buying Credits
Explains the Clay pricing model (per-credit enrichment) and how teams hit the cost wall fast on high-volume GTM campaigns. Positions Stekpad as a complementary layer: scrape the raw data yourself (LinkedIn, Crunchbase, company websites), feed structured rows into Clay or use them directly in Sheets/Airtable. Covers the 4 most common Clay enrichment use-cases and how to replicate each with a Stekpad recipe. Includes a cost comparison table (1,000 enrichments: Clay credits vs Stekpad free tier).
PhantomBuster Alternative: What to Use Instead
Explains why teams leave PhantomBuster: per-phantom pricing that compounds, cookie exposure on third-party servers, and phantom fragility on DOM changes. Positions Stekpad as the browser-native replacement: runs in your session, one-click schema, no phantom credits. Includes a feature comparison table (pricing model, auth handling, schema flexibility, MCP support). Ends with a migration checklist for the most-used PhantomBuster phantoms (LinkedIn scraper, Google Maps, website data).
Stekpad pricing — start free, upgrade when you need more
Stekpad's free tier runs point-and-click scraping with native Google Sheets export; paid plans add scheduled runs, MCP access, and multi-seat use — with no per-row credits or phantom slot fees.
Bardeen alternative — scraping-first with MCP and live export
Stekpad is built specifically for structured data extraction — not workflow automation with scraping bolted on — so it handles authenticated pages, outputs clean schemas, and ships an MCP server that Bardeen does not offer.
Ready to leave Octoparse?
Free forever for personal use. Pro at €12/month or €99 lifetime.