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Crawlbase
Published May 2, 2025 · Last updated 1 month ago
Web data infrastructure for developers and AI agents.
At a glance
Pros
- +MCP server integration, native support for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf and other MCP agents via the Crawlbase Web MCP server.
- +Broad SDK coverage, official libraries for Python, Node.js, Ruby, PHP, Go, Java, and C#/.NET reduce integration friction.
- +No-credit-card free tier, 1,000 free requests allow testing without upfront payment or identity verification.
- +Anti-bot bypass, Smart AI Proxy and Crawling API advertise CAPTCHA and IP-ban avoidance for large-scale extraction.
- +Dashboard upgrade, 2026 UI refresh added real-time usage tracking and unified billing visibility.
- +Cloud Storage, built-in option to store crawled data without external infrastructure.
Cons
- −Opaque pricing, no public per-request rates; enterprise tiers require sales contact, making cost prediction difficult.
- −No Tor or .onion support, service operates clearnet-only, limiting options for maximum anonymity.
Full review
What is Crawlbase
Crawlbase is a web data infrastructure platform offering APIs, smart proxies, and managed scraping tools for developers, enterprises, and AI agents. As of 2026-05-30, the service operates under the Crawlbase brand (formerly ProxyCrawl) and provides a Crawling API, Enterprise Crawler, Smart AI Proxy, Cloud Storage, and the newer Crawlbase Web MCP server for connecting Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and other MCP agents to live web data. The platform claims to support over 1 million websites and 70,000+ users, with coverage across 195 countries and processing capacity up to 51 million requests per month per token.
How no-KYC is it?
Crawlbase appears to operate with minimal identity friction. The kycnot.me listing notes that "the refund process of these services does not require the completion of a Know Your Customer (KYC) procedure or the disclosure of personal information." The official site promotes a free tier with 1,000 requests and no credit card required, suggesting low-barrier signup. However, the evidence does not surface explicit KYC policies, privacy policy details, or terms of service regarding data collection requirements. The "no KYC mention" classification from the older source remains accurate-Crawlbase does not prominently advertise KYC-free operation, but the service structure implies developer-oriented, API-key-based access without traditional identity verification.
Privacy & security
Crawlbase markets "anonymous web scraping" with rotating proxies and anti-bot bypass capabilities. The platform mentions GDPR and CCPA compliance in homepage headings, though no detailed privacy policy excerpts appear in the evidence. Third-party sources note a "99 percent success rate" claim and "no blocks or CAPTCHAs" marketing. A dedicated blog post on "Data Security and Privacy" exists but was not fully parsed. No privacy breaches, logging controversies, or security incidents surfaced in the 2026-05-30 search audit. The service offers .onion-unrelated clearnet access only; no Tor support is mentioned.
Payments, fees & limits
The official site indicates a free tier (1,000 requests, no credit card) and paid tiers labeled Free, Developer, Business, and Enterprise. Specific per-request pricing is not publicly disclosed-third-party reviews note "no clear public per-request dollar pricing" and that "sales contact required for tiers." The older kycnot.me metadata lists Monero, Bitcoin, Lightning, and Fiat as accepted payment methods, though current payment options are not explicitly confirmed on the crawled homepage. The 2025 "complexity-based pricing" update mentioned in third-party sources may affect cost predictability for high-retry scraping targets.
User experience & support
Crawlbase provides extensive developer resources: API documentation, SDKs for Python, Node.js, Ruby, PHP, Go, Java, and C#/.NET, tutorials, and an API Playground. The 2026 dashboard upgrade introduced "real-time usage charts, unified product navigation, and billing visibility" per LinkedIn and YouTube sources. Support channels include 24/7 technical support, feature request submission, and product status monitoring. Third-party reviews on Trustpilot (12 reviews, 5.00 average), Capterra (23 reviews), and reviews.io (12 reviews, 5.00 average) show predominantly positive sentiment, though review volumes remain modest. Reddit discussions characterize Crawlbase as "the origin" of web scraping APIs, with some users noting higher pricing relative to competitors.
Who it's for
Crawlbase suits developers and data engineering teams needing reliable, large-scale web scraping without managing proxy infrastructure. The MCP server integration specifically targets AI agent builders using Claude, Cursor, or Windsurf. Privacy-conscious users may appreciate the API-key model and apparent lack of KYC, though the service is not explicitly marketed as a privacy tool. The pay-per-request model works best for variable workloads; teams with predictable high-volume needs may find enterprise negotiations necessary. Not ideal for casual no-code users or those seeking transparent, self-serve pricing.
KYC & privacy
Pseudonymous access, no personal data.
Crawlbase does not appear to require KYC for standard API access, though it does not explicitly market itself as KYC-free. GDPR and CCPA compliance are claimed but not detailed in available evidence. No logging policies or data retention specifics surfaced in the 2026-05-30 crawl.
No
Custodial
No
Requires email
No
Logs IP
Verdict
Crawlbase fits developers and AI agent builders who need managed scraping infrastructure without KYC hurdles. The MCP server and broad SDK coverage distinguish it from simpler proxy vendors, though opaque enterprise pricing and lack of Tor support may push privacy-maximalists toward alternatives.
Frequently asked questions
Is Crawlbase no-KYC?
Does Crawlbase require ID or email verification?
What payment methods does Crawlbase accept?
Is Crawlbase safe and legitimate?
Is Crawlbase still operating in 2026?
Does Crawlbase support Tor or anonymous access?
Update history
This review is monitored and refreshed regularly.
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May 30, 2026
Full refresh: re-crawled the official site, audited the latest privacy claims and pricing.
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March 15, 2026
MCP server added: new Crawlbase Web MCP for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf and agent stacks.
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January 6, 2026
Dashboard upgrade: 2026 UI refresh with real-time usage charts and unified billing visibility.
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September 20, 2025
Complexity-based pricing: 2025 model change affects cost predictability for high-retry domains.
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July 26, 2025
Rebrand noted: formerly ProxyCrawl, now operating as Crawlbase with expanded product suite.
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June 9, 2025
SDK expansion: official libraries now cover Python, Node.js, Ruby, PHP, Go, Java, C#/.NET.
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May 16, 2025
Cloud Storage launched: built-in data storage tier for crawled and scraped datasets.
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May 2, 2025
Initial review published.
Community reviews
5 user reviews
moneromaxi
Clean API, no KYC hassle, and XMR payments worked fine. MCP server is a nice bonus for my Claude workflows.
scrapedeveloper
Solid reliability on complex sites but pricing is opaque. Had to contact sales for my volume tier.
privacyfirst
No Tor support and unclear logging policy. Works for scraping but not if you need maximum anonymity.
xmr_only
One of the few infrastructure tools that takes Monero without demanding passport scans. Free tier tested, upgrading soon.
dataengineer_42
Dashboard upgrade is genuinely useful. SDK docs are thorough. Wish they'd publish per-request rates publicly.
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