The Tool Desk
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Browserless and Puppeteer solve different parts of the problem
Browserless is a managed browser service. Its REST /screenshot endpoint accepts a URL or raw HTML plus screenshot options, and returns PNG, JPEG, or WebP image bytes. The endpoint requires an API token. See the Browserless screenshot documentation.
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Puppeteer is a Node.js library for automating a browser. Its Page.screenshot() method captures the current page and returns image data; in supported environments, you can also save the capture to a path. Puppeteer is the better fit when your application must launch or connect to a browser, navigate, interact, and then take the shot. See the Puppeteer screenshot guide and Page.screenshot() API.
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So the practical distinction is not simply “API versus library.” Browserless REST is a hosted capture workflow, while Puppeteer is a browser-control library. You can also use Puppeteer with a managed Browserless browser.
Choose based on how much browser control you need
| Need | Better starting point | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Capture a URL once with a small request | Browserless REST /screenshot |
The hosted endpoint handles the browser workflow and returns image bytes. |
| Run scripted navigation or interact before capture | Puppeteer | Your code controls the browser and can perform steps before calling Page.screenshot(). |
| Automate with Puppeteer but avoid managing the browser runtime locally | Puppeteer connected to Browserless | Browserless documents connecting Puppeteer to its managed browser endpoint. |
| Avoid a hosted service dependency | Locally managed Puppeteer | Your application runs and manages its browser environment; it does not rely on Browserless’s hosted endpoint. |
Browserless REST adds a service token and hosted-endpoint dependency. A local Puppeteer setup instead requires your application to install, launch, and manage a compatible browser environment. The cited product documentation does not establish a general price or speed winner, so choose based on control and deployment requirements rather than assuming one is cheaper or faster.
Capture a screenshot with Browserless REST
Send a GET request to the current /screenshot endpoint with a URL and your Browserless API token. The response is image data, so save the response body as a file:
curl -G 'https://production-sfo.browserless.io/screenshot'
--data-urlencode 'token=YOUR_API_TOKEN'
--data-urlencode 'url=https://example.com'
-o screenshot.pngBrowserless documents a URL or raw HTML as input, Puppeteer-style screenshot options, and PNG, JPEG, or WebP output. Consult its current endpoint documentation for request parameters and output settings. A GET request is a good fit for a single capture; use the documented options to tune navigation and capture behavior for the page you need.
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This Node.js example launches a browser, navigates to a page, takes a full-page PNG, and closes the browser even if the capture fails:
import puppeteer from 'puppeteer';
const browser = await puppeteer.launch();
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com', { waitUntil: 'networkidle2' });
await page.screenshot({ path: 'screenshot.png', fullPage: true });
} finally {
await browser.close();
}Install Puppeteer in your Node.js project with npm install puppeteer. The official guide shows the launch, navigation, screenshot, and close sequence. fullPage is false by default, so set it to true when you need the full document rather than the visible viewport. Use clip to capture a defined rectangle instead.
When a script needs browser interaction, place those steps before page.screenshot()—for example, navigate to a route, click a control, or wait for page content. Always close the browser when finished so the process does not leave browser resources running.
Use screenshot options deliberately
Full page, viewport, and clipping
Both Browserless and Puppeteer document full-page capture and clipping. In Puppeteer, fullPage controls whether the screenshot spans the page beyond the viewport, and clip limits capture to a rectangle. Browserless REST accepts Puppeteer-style screenshot options and also documents viewport controls. Use a viewport capture for a screen-sized view, full-page for a long document, or clipping when only a particular region matters.
Image format and appearance
Puppeteer’s screenshot options include type, quality, and omitBackground, among others. Browserless documents PNG, JPEG, and WebP output. Pick a format based on the output you need; for lossy formats such as JPEG, quality is relevant. To preserve transparency where supported, consider the background option and format together.
Waits, navigation, and lazy-loaded content
Browserless exposes request-level wait settings and navigation options. Its documentation also describes scrollPage, which can trigger lazy-loaded content before a full-page capture. This can help with pages that only load images or sections as the visitor scrolls, but it does not guarantee that every site has finished rendering. In Puppeteer, choose a suitable page.goto() wait condition and, where necessary, wait for a selector or other page-specific signal before capturing.
Combine Puppeteer with Browserless when you need both
When you need Puppeteer’s interaction model but prefer a managed browser, connect Puppeteer to a Browserless browser endpoint. Browserless’s example uses Puppeteer to connect, navigate, take a full-page screenshot, and close the connection. The connection pattern looks like this:
import puppeteer from 'puppeteer-core';
const browser = await puppeteer.connect({
browserWSEndpoint: 'YOUR_BROWSERLESS_WEBSOCKET_ENDPOINT'
});
try {
const page = await browser.newPage();
await page.goto('https://example.com');
await page.screenshot({ path: 'screenshot.png', fullPage: true });
} finally {
await browser.close();
}Use the connection URL and authentication details provided for your Browserless account; do not publish a token or endpoint containing credentials in client-side code or a public repository. For the service’s documented connection example, see Connect Puppeteer to Browserless.
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A screenshot can faithfully capture the page the automated browser received, even when that page is not the intended site content. Browserless documents blank or white captures, CAPTCHA pages, and access-denied or HTTP 403 pages as possible symptoms on sites that block automation.
- Blank or white image: Check whether navigation completed and whether the page content appeared before capture. Try a page-specific wait or Browserless’s documented wait settings.
- CAPTCHA or access denied: The site may be blocking automated access. Browserless points to its
/unblockAPI for some bot-detection cases, but it is not guaranteed to work on every site. - Missing content in a full-page image: If the site lazy-loads content on scroll, use Browserless’s
scrollPageoption or use Puppeteer to scroll and wait before taking the screenshot. - Unexpectedly partial capture: Check that Puppeteer’s
fullPageis set to true, or review the clipping rectangle and viewport settings.
Do not treat a successful HTTP response or an image file as proof that the page rendered correctly; inspect the returned capture when accuracy matters.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo is the alternative to try first if you want a screenshot API without setting up or managing a browser. One GET request can return an image or PDF. Its clean-shot options accept cookie and consent banners like a visitor and remove 60+ known consent platforms, newsletter popups, and chat widgets; each cleanup step can be turned off. Bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, and cache hits are not billed, and responses identify the page verdict and billing status with X-Page-Verdict and X-Billed headers. It also offers an MCP server for AI agents, including Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients.
Example using cURL (see the ScreenshotNeo API docs for options):
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curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://example.com -o shot.webpScreenshotNeo includes 1,000 screenshots a month free with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000. Sign up for ScreenshotNeo and start with 1,000 free screenshots a month, no card required.
Frequently asked questions
Can Browserless take a screenshot from HTML instead of a URL?
Yes. Browserless documents its REST screenshot endpoint as accepting raw HTML as well as a URL.
Does Puppeteer save screenshots directly to a file?
Yes. Puppeteer’s screenshot API returns image data and supports saving to a path in supported environments, as shown in its screenshot guide.
Quick Recap
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