Apify vs Shields
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Apify vs Shields: common questions
Which is more reliable, Apify or Shields?
Both are neck-and-neck — Apify and Shields each measure 100% uptime over 90 days on our probe schedule. Reliability here is verified from our own scheduled checks; use the 30-day bars above to see which has been steadier lately.
Which is faster, Apify or Shields?
Shields has the lower median latency in our checks — Apify responds in 381 ms versus Shields at 30 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.
Do Apify and Shields need an API key?
Shields needs no key, while Apify requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Shields first.
Can I call Apify and Shields from the browser?
Only Shields is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Apify needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.
Are Apify and Shields free for commercial use?
Apify has unclear commercial terms, and Shields has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.