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How the Browserless Screenshot API works
The current REST endpoint accepts a POST request with a token and JSON body. Supply either a URL to navigate to or HTML to render; do not include both in the same request. The response is image data, with PNG, JPEG, or WebP selected through screenshot options. Browserless describes REST APIs as managed endpoints for individual browser tasks rather than infrastructure you operate yourself. Browserless’s screenshot endpoint documentation describes the request and options.
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This review covers documented behavior, not hands-on tests. Documentation establishes available controls but does not establish comparative speed, visual fidelity, or success rates against other providers.
How to take a screenshot with the Browserless REST API
Send a POST with your Browserless token and a JSON body containing one of url or html, plus the screenshot options you need. Store the returned response bytes as an image file. Use the current endpoint URL and authentication format shown in your Browserless account or current API documentation; older BaaS v1 examples may be deprecated.
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At a high level, a URL-based request has this shape:
POST [current Browserless REST screenshot endpoint]
Content-Type: application/json
{
"url": "https://example.com",
"options": {
"type": "png",
"fullPage": true
}
}The endpoint and token are account-specific details; consult the current official REST screenshot documentation for the exact request URL and authentication instructions before running a request. The response body contains the image bytes, so a client must write the body to a file rather than expect a JSON image object.
Which capture options matter most?
Choose page, element, or region
- Viewport: captures the visible browser area.
- Full page: captures the page beyond the current viewport. For long pages with lazy-loaded content, scrolling may be necessary before capture.
- Selector: captures an element identified by a CSS selector.
- Clip: captures a fixed rectangular region.
For element and clip behavior, check the current option names and required fields in the REST screenshot reference.
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Set the output and rendering dimensions
The documented options include PNG, JPEG, and WebP output, quality controls, viewport dimensions, device scale settings, and transparent backgrounds where supported by the interface. JPEG quality applies to lossy output; the documented screenshot options do not apply quality to PNG. Set the viewport deliberately: the page renders at that width, so a mobile-layout capture requires mobile-sized viewport dimensions rather than simply saving a desktop capture in a smaller image.
Wait for the right page state
Depending on the interface, you can wait for page events, selectors, functions, or a timeout. Navigation behavior can be adjusted through gotoOptions, and request rejection controls can block selected requests. A global query timeout bounds the overall REST operation; narrower navigation and selector waits govern individual stages. The BrowserQL screenshot schema documents a 30-second default screenshot timeout, but that default should not be assumed to apply to every REST request, plan, or account setting.
bestAttempt can continue after certain navigation or wait failures and return whatever page state is available. Use it only when a partial capture is preferable to an error; it does not guarantee that the desired content loaded.
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Can you capture a full page, and will lazy-loaded images appear?
Full-page capture is documented, but lazy-loaded material may not exist in the rendered page until the browser scrolls near it. Browserless documents scrollPage: true as a way to trigger lazy loading; combine it with full-page capture when you need the whole long page. Image-waiting is a separate option and is not documented as a substitute for scrolling. A successful response can therefore still omit content that never loaded or was blocked.
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Use the selector-capture option with a CSS selector for the element you want. Choose a selector that uniquely identifies the intended content and wait for it to appear before capture. If the selector is absent, changes across sessions, or is inside content that has not loaded yet, the capture may fail or return an unintended result. For a fixed geometric crop rather than a DOM element, use the clip option instead.
What the stateless REST model means for workflows
Browserless describes REST APIs as stateless, single-action endpoints: each request starts a browser, performs its task, and closes it. Cookies and page state are discarded after the response. A later request should not be expected to inherit a login, an earlier click, filled form values, or other browser state.
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For a workflow that must click, fill a form, and then capture the resulting page, use a persistent browser session, BrowserQL persisted state, or a single-session function workflow rather than chaining REST screenshots and expecting continuity.
Bot protection and incomplete captures
Automation defenses can yield a blank or white image, a CAPTCHA, an access-denied page, or missing elements even when the HTTP request itself completes. Browserless points to its /unblock capability for some defenses and residential proxies as a possible aid. These are mitigations, not guarantees: its REST overview cautions that advanced fingerprinting and interactive CAPTCHAs can still prevent access. The outcome depends on the target site and can change over time.
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Browserless documents browser time metering in 30-second increments, rounding partial increments up. Plan-specific concurrency and session-duration caps also apply; proxy bandwidth and CAPTCHA solves may consume units. These rules make task duration and concurrency relevant to both throughput and cost. Current plan prices and the quotas available to a particular buyer are not established here, so verify the applicable pricing and account limits before budgeting.
For high-volume work, account for retries, wait durations, proxy use, and tasks that take longer than one billing increment. A capture that times out or is blocked may still have operational consequences; inspect the current account metering rules rather than infer cost from image count alone.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| Blank image, CAPTCHA, or access denied | Bot defenses or advanced fingerprinting prevented normal page access. | Check whether the target is blocking automation. Browserless documents /unblock and residential proxies as possible mitigations, not certain fixes. |
| Images or lower-page content are missing | Lazy-loaded content was never triggered by scrolling, or the content had not finished loading. | Use scrollPage: true with full-page capture where appropriate, and set a suitable wait condition. Image waiting alone is not a substitute for scrolling. |
| The capture shows the wrong responsive layout | The page was rendered at an unintended viewport width. | Set viewport dimensions for the target layout before navigation and capture. |
| A selector capture fails or captures the wrong area | The selector is missing, unstable, non-unique, or not yet present. | Use a stable CSS selector and wait for it before capturing; use a clip when you need fixed coordinates. |
| A request times out | The overall query timeout or a narrower navigation/selector wait expired. | Distinguish the global timeout from stage-specific waits, then set realistic limits for the page and use bestAttempt only if partial output is useful. |
| A second request is no longer logged in | REST requests discard browser cookies and state after each task. | Move the workflow to a persistent session, BrowserQL persisted state, or a single-session function workflow. |
| Legacy instructions do not match current behavior | The example may target deprecated BaaS v1 material. | Use current BaaS v2 or BrowserQL documentation rather than transferring old limitations or request details. |
Browserless or a screenshot-focused alternative?
Browserless is a reasonable managed-browser choice when the task is one request and you need its documented screenshot controls or broader browser workflow options. Its stateless REST model is the key constraint for multi-step pages, and its metering, concurrency, and session caps should be checked against your workload. The available documentation does not support a claim that it is faster, more reliable, or visually better than another provider.
ScreenshotNeo is the alternative to try first for straightforward website screenshot API work: it removes cookie and consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture, bills only clean shots, and its paid plan starts at $5 for 3,000 shots.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo takes a URL in one GET request and returns an image or PDF. Its screenshot options include format and capture controls; see the ScreenshotNeo API documentation for the full parameter reference. For example, this cURL request saves a WebP capture of Stripe:
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpCookie banners, popups, and chat widgets are removed before the shot. Bot checks, blank pages, and failed loads are never billed. An MCP server lets AI agents use ScreenshotNeo from Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client. The free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000.
Sign up for ScreenshotNeo’s free plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Browserless return an image file or JSON?
The screenshot REST endpoint returns image bytes; your client should save the response body as the chosen image format.
Can a Browserless REST screenshot keep a login for the next request?
No. REST tasks discard cookies and browser state after the response; use a persistent session or another stateful execution pattern.
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