Urlbox

Active

Country: United Kingdom (GB)
Founded: 2012
Developer: Urlbox (UK-based)
Pricing: Freemium with paid plans starting after 7-day trial
Open source: No
Platforms: Web

Indexes

Screenshot Tools

Overview

Urlbox is a web-based API service that generates screenshots, PDFs, videos, metadata, and HTML from website URLs or HTML input. It supports customizable rendering options such as viewport size, full-page capture, and format selection. Targeted at developers integrating web capture into applications, it provides both simple URL-based requests and a JSON REST API for synchronous or asynchronous processing.

Key Features

Screenshot Generation - Captures full-page or thumbnail screenshots in PNG or other image formats from URLs.
PDF Export - Converts web pages to PDF with options for full-page rendering.
Video Recording - Generates videos of web pages using specified rendering options.
Viewport Customization - Sets width, height, and device emulation for mobile or desktop views.
Authenticated Requests - Secures API calls with HMAC SHA256 tokens to prevent unauthorized usage.
JSON REST API - Supports POST requests to /v1/render/sync for programmatic control.
Metadata Extraction - Retrieves page metadata alongside visual captures.
HTML Rendering - Processes HTML strings directly without requiring a live URL.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Free Trial	7 days free	Limited renders, API key access, unauthenticated requests.
Starter	Paid (details in dashboard)	Basic rendering volume, authenticated requests, standard formats.
Pro	Paid (details in dashboard)	Higher volume, async rendering, custom options, priority support.

Platforms & Requirements

Urlbox operates entirely via web API with base URL https://api.urlbox.com, accessible from any internet-connected device or server. Requires API key and secret from dashboard after signup. No client-side apps; all processing is cloud-based with no specified minimum hardware requirements.

Integrations & Ecosystem

REST API (JSON POST with Bearer token)
Make.com (via API key)
.NET SDK (GitHub)
Glide Apps
Custom script integration
Webhook support for instant modules

Alternatives

App	Difference
ScreenshotAPI.net	Similar API focus but emphasizes simpler pricing without auth tokens.
BrowserShot (Puppeteer-based)	Self-hosted open-source option using headless Chrome, no cloud dependency.
ApiFlash	Chrome-based rendering with more emphasis on real-browser simulation.
Thumbly	Lightweight thumbnail service with fewer advanced options like video.

Reputation

Urlbox is regarded as a reliable screenshot API with consistent rendering quality, particularly for full-page captures. Users appreciate the customization options and ease of integration via simple URLs or JSON API. Some note limitations in free tier volume and the need for token management in production.

Sources (10)