Back to blog
Comparisons2026-05-06·10 min read

IBLead vs Apify 2026: Cheaper for Google Maps (€44 vs $99)

By Ibrahim DemolCEO IBLeadUpdated June 12, 2026

IBLead vs Apify is a choice between two opposing philosophies. Apify is a general-purpose technical platform — powerful, flexible, but complex to set up. IBLead is a specialized pre-indexed Google Maps database — simple, fast, and cheaper. If you want local leads without writing a line of code or waiting for a scrape, IBLead is for you.


TL;DR — Quick Comparison

Criteria IBLead Apify
Type of Tool Pre-indexed database Scraping platform
Specialization Google Maps only Multi-sources (web, Amazon, LinkedIn…)
Required Skills None Technical (API, JSON, GPS polygons)
Export Time Instant Variable (minutes to hours)
Data Update Every week At the time of scrape
Entry Price €44/month ~€49/month (limited free tier)
Email Enrichment Included Separate actor, additional credits
Detected Web Technologies 160+ Depends on the actor used
Google Reviews per Listing Up to 500 Configurable
SIRET Matching (France)

Price Comparison

Apify — Pricing

Apify operates on a credit system consumed with each execution. The actual cost depends on the number of results, the depth of the scrape, and the proxies used.

Plan Price Included Credits
Free €0 $5 credits/month
Starter ~€49/month ~$50 credits
Scale ~€499/month ~$500 credits

To extract 10,000 Google Maps listings with Apify (via the Google Maps Scraper actor), expect around $2 to $5 in credits depending on the setup. But this number can rise quickly if you add email enrichment (separate actor), residential proxies, or if you restart frequent extractions. The free tier is not sufficient for serious prospecting.

IBLead — Pricing

IBLead charges by credits. One credit = one exported contact. No surprises, no hidden costs.

Volume IBLead Cost Estimated Apify Cost
10,000 leads €44 ~€10-25 (excluding proxies)
20,000 leads €89/month ~€20-50
40,000 leads €179/month ~€40-100
100,000 leads €449/month ~€100-250

Key Difference: with IBLead, the price is fixed and predictable. With Apify, it varies based on the complexity of the extraction, the proxies, and the actors used. For a sales team that exports regularly, IBLead is easier to budget.


Feature Comparison

Feature IBLead Apify
City Search
Country-wide Search ✅ (polygon required)
Postal Code Search ✅ (manual setup)
Filter by Google Rating
Filter by Number of Reviews
Filter by Email Presence ❌ (post-processing)
Filter by Web Technology
Email Enrichment Included ❌ (separate actor)
Google Reviews (full text) ✅ up to 500 ✅ (configurable)
Detection of 160+ Technologies
SIRET / Executive Matching (FR)
CSV Export
REST API
Automatic Alerts (Watches)
Multi-source Scraping
Scraping LinkedIn / Amazon
Technical Skills Required None Yes (JSON, GPS, API)
Export Time Instant Variable

Where IBLead Wins

1. Instant Export, No Waiting

With Apify, you launch a scrape and wait. For 1,000 results, it takes a few minutes. For 50,000 results with email enrichment, it can take several hours. And if Google blocks the requests, you start over.

IBLead does the opposite. Everything is already indexed and updated weekly across 37 countries. You filter, click Export, and download your CSV in under 2 minutes. No waiting, no scrape failures, no surprises.

For a sales team that needs leads this morning, the difference is tangible.

2. Email Enrichment Included from the Start

On Apify, email enrichment is not included in the Google Maps Scraper. You must use a second actor — the "Google Maps Email Extractor" — which consumes additional credits and requires retrieving the Run ID from your first extraction to pass it as input. That's two steps, two configurations, two sources of cost.

With IBLead, the email is extracted directly from each business's website. It appears in your CSV at the time of export. No additional manipulation.

3. Detection of 160+ Web Technologies — Exclusive

IBLead analyzes each business's website and identifies 160+ technologies: CMS (WordPress, Shopify, Wix), analytics tools (Google Analytics, Hotjar), advertising pixels (Facebook Pixel, Google Ads), email marketing solutions (Mailchimp, HubSpot), and payment systems (Stripe, PayPal).

Specifically: you can target only restaurants that use WordPress and do not yet have a Facebook pixel. Or real estate agencies on Wix without Google Analytics. This level of targeting does not exist on Apify.

Apify can extract technologies if you configure a specific actor for that — but it requires development and additional credits.

4. Automatic SIRET Matching for the French Market

If you are prospecting in France, IBLead enriches each listing with data from the official register: SIRET, SIREN, APE code, legal form, executive name, company creation date.

Apify does not touch SIRET data. To obtain this information with Apify, you would need to manually cross-reference your exports with an external source like the Sirene API — which represents significant development work.

5. Fixed and Predictable Pricing

€44 for 10,000 leads. That's €0.004 per contact. This figure does not change based on city, category, or search complexity.

With Apify, the cost per lead varies. A simple extraction in the city center costs less than an extraction with a geographic polygon, email enrichment, and residential proxies. For a team prospecting at scale, this unpredictability complicates budget management.

6. No Technical Skills Required

Apify requires understanding JSON formats, GPS coordinates (longitude before latitude — a common mistake), geographic polygons, Run IDs, and the chaining logic between actors. It's accessible for a developer or technical ops. Not for a salesperson or startup founder.

IBLead works like a search engine. You choose a category, a city, filters. You export. That's it.

7. Automatic Alerts on New Businesses

IBLead offers a "Watches" feature: you set up a search once, and you receive an automatic alert when new businesses match your criteria. Useful for agencies wanting to detect new openings in a sector or geographic area.

Apify does not offer this feature natively for Google Maps.


Where Apify Wins

1. Multi-source Flexibility

Apify is not limited to Google Maps. The platform offers hundreds of actors to scrape Amazon, LinkedIn, Booking, Trustpilot, e-commerce sites, forums, and practically any web page. If your needs go beyond Google Maps — for example, cross-referencing Google Maps data with Trustpilot reviews — Apify is the only option.

IBLead specializes in Google Maps. This is its strength for local B2B prospecting, but it is also its limitation if you have broader needs.

2. Granular Control over Extraction

Apify allows you to define search areas by circle, polygon, or multipolygon. You can extract exactly the businesses within a 1.5 km radius around a GPS point, or cover two geographically separated islands in a single extraction. This level of geographical precision is useful for very specific use cases — logistics, real estate, local market analysis.

IBLead offers search by city, department, region, country, or postal code. It's sufficient for 95% of commercial prospecting cases, but less precise than a custom GPS polygon.


Who Should Use What?

Choose IBLead if:

  • You are prospecting local businesses (restaurants, agencies, artisans, shops)
  • You want ready-to-use leads in under 5 minutes
  • You have no technical skills — or you don't want to need them
  • You are prospecting in France and want SIRET and executive data
  • You want to target by web technology (WordPress, Shopify, Facebook Pixel…)
  • You need a predictable budget: €0.004 per contact, no surprises
  • You export regularly and want alerts on new businesses

Choose Apify if:

  • You have technical skills or a dev team
  • You need to scrape other sources than Google Maps (LinkedIn, Amazon, custom websites)
  • You need extreme geographical precision (custom GPS polygon)
  • You are building an automated and customized data pipeline
  • You have very specific needs that off-the-shelf tools do not cover

FAQ

IBLead vs Apify: what is the real difference?

Apify is a general-purpose scraping platform. You configure your own extractions, manage the actors, proxies, and credits. IBLead is a specialized pre-indexed Google Maps database. You filter and export — without technical configuration. For local B2B prospecting, IBLead is faster and cheaper. For multi-source or very technical needs, Apify is more flexible.

Is Apify free?

Apify offers a free tier with about $5 in credits per month. It's enough for testing, not for serious prospecting. To extract 10,000 Google Maps listings with email enrichment, expect between €10 and €25 in credits depending on the setup, plus proxy costs if necessary.

Can IBLead replace Apify for Google Maps scraping?

For local B2B prospecting, yes. IBLead covers 50M+ businesses in 37 countries, with 50+ fields per listing, email enrichment included, and detection of 160+ technologies. If your need is limited to extracting Google Maps leads, IBLead is simpler, faster, and cheaper than Apify. If you need to scrape other sources, Apify remains necessary.

How does IBLead handle the 120 results limit of Google Maps?

IBLead completely bypasses this issue. The database is pre-indexed — everything has already been extracted and structured. You are not limited to 120 results per search. You can export thousands of businesses for an entire city, department, or country in a single export.

Can I test IBLead before subscribing?

Yes. IBLead offers 200 free credits. No credit card is required.


Conclusion

IBLead vs Apify is a simple choice once you clarify your need.

Apify is a technical tool for teams that want total control over their extractions, scrape multiple sources, and have the skills to configure actors, GPS polygons, and data pipelines. It’s a serious, well-built platform suited for developers and ops.

IBLead is made for sales teams, agencies, and founders who want qualified Google Maps leads now, without technical friction. €44 for 10,000 contacts with email, web technologies, and SIRET data included. Export in 2 minutes.

If you are prospecting local businesses in France or Europe, IBLead is the most straightforward Apify alternative.

free credits — 200 credits included

Ready to get started?

Access every Google Maps business, enriched with emails and legal data.

Try IBLead free