Why are the prices for crawling the same request so different?
When you receive quotes for crawling, you may notice that the prices vary significantly among different companies for the same request. Some may only include small-scale development costs, while others may include costs for large-scale operations and infrastructure.
The reason for the price discrepancy lies in what is included in the calculation. The cost of crawling is determined by multiple factors, not just a single item. Therefore, understanding the structure will help you compare what to look for in the quotes.
Composition of Crawling Costs
Crawling costs are typically divided into two main categories:
- One-time Development Cost: Custom crawler development, adding features, maintenance
- Operating Cost: Server cost, proxy (IP) cost, AI API cost, etc., incurred monthly
In other words, there are separate costs for "creating once" and "running monthly." When comparing quotes, it is essential to understand how these two categories are divided to avoid unexpected charges later on.
Factors Influencing Quotes
Even for the same 'crawling' task, the cost can vary significantly depending on the following factors:
| Factor | Impact on Cost |
|---|---|
| Difficulty of Target Site | Channels with strong blocking like Coupang or SNS require premium proxies and additional infrastructure, leading to increased costs |
| Scale and Frequency of Data Collection | The number of products/keywords and the collection frequency (daily/real-time) result in increased server/proxy costs |
| Complexity of Items | Differences in development and processing depending on whether it's just simple prices or includes reviews/sellers/options |
| Data Integration Method | Whether it's downloading to Excel, automatic API/DB integration |
| AI Analysis | Adding AI for sentiment analysis, classification, translation incurs additional API costs and separate fees |
| Maintenance | Whether site changes are covered at no cost or billed separately per incident |
Especially, 'Difficulty of Target Site' and 'AI Analysis' are significant factors that can greatly affect the quotes. Channels with strong blocking require dynamic IP and CAPTCHA response infrastructure, and adding AI analysis increases processing costs by adding analysis columns to the collected data.
Rough Estimate: What Increases or Decreases Costs
It's challenging to provide an exact amount as it varies depending on the requirements. However, here is a rough estimate. Collecting data from publicly available single sites in small quantities periodically is the most cost-effective. On the other hand, dealing with heavily blocked channels on a large scale, close to real-time, and adding AI analysis will increase the costs. In other words, once you determine 'which site, how much, which items, and how to collect,' you can outline the costs.
Most Common Trap: Hidden Costs
One easily overlooked aspect in quotes is 'hidden costs.' Most companies budget annually, so if you try to expand the collection sites or add items midway, you will incur additional one-time development costs each time. Once the budget is set, these additional costs can become obstacles to expansion.
Therefore, when initially requesting a quote, it's advisable to inquire about the following:
- Will there be additional development costs each time a site is added?
- If the site structure changes and data collection stops, is the modification free or subject to separate charges?
- Can the scale be reduced or canceled during the contract period?
Billing Methods: Per Item vs. Subscription
Crawling billing is generally divided into two main categories.
Per Item (Credit) Method — Pay based on the number of items collected. This method may be more suitable for small-scale or one-time collections.
Subscription — Includes crawler development, maintenance, and additional development in a monthly fee. Even if you expand the sites, there are no separate development costs (operating costs such as servers/proxies increase with data collection volume). It allows for expansion without additional costs and can be canceled if needed.
If you need to collect data from multiple sites continuously, the subscription model often results in lower overall costs compared to repeating one-time development costs. In fact, some Hashscraper clients have mentioned that their total costs were about 40-50% lower with this model compared to others.
In summary, for small-scale collections or one-time tasks, per item billing may be suitable, while for continuous operation of multiple sites, the subscription model may be more advantageous.
Checklist Before Requesting a Quote
To receive an accurate crawling quote, it's helpful to compile and provide the following information when making a request:
- Target sites and items for collection
- Collection scale (number of products/keywords) and frequency (daily/weekly, etc.)
- Data receiving method (Excel, email, API, DB)
- Need for AI analysis (sentiment, classification, translation, etc.)
- Future expansion plans (possibility of adding sites/items)
The clearer this information is, the more accurate the quote will be, reducing the chances of disputes due to hidden costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the approximate cost of crawling?
It's challenging to provide a fixed amount as it varies depending on the requirements. Collecting data from a simple site in small quantities results in lower costs, while collecting from heavily blocked channels on a large scale or with AI analysis incurs higher costs. If you provide the specifics, we can give you an accurate estimate.
Q: Is the quote free of charge?
Yes. If you provide information about the target sites and scale, we can provide a breakdown of the costs free of charge.
Q: Which is more cost-effective, per item or subscription?
For small-scale collections or one-time tasks, per item billing may be suitable, while for continuous operation of multiple sites, the subscription model may result in lower overall costs.
Recommended Reads
- Guide to Choosing a Crawling Service Provider — 7 things to check before outsourcing data collection
- Coupang Crawling/Data Collection Guide — What to collect, how to collect, and what to watch out for
- Why do large companies' data teams give up on crawling themselves?
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