PhantomBuster alternative
Looking for a PhantomBuster alternative that returns data instead of account automation? CrustAPI gives you public Google data, LinkedIn profiles, and local business leads as clean JSON from the API, or the same rows as CSV. One credit per successful call, and credits never expire.
One request, real response
Ask for local businesses and each lead comes back as clean JSON from the API. The same rows are available as CSV that drop straight into Sheets or a CRM, like this:
Change type to pull a different Google surface, and page with num for more results.
The full record, ready to use
Every result comes complete, so you build a list or a dataset with no second call. Here is the same example record as CSV, for Sheets or a database:
Or the same record as the clean JSON the API returns:
vs PhantomBuster
PhantomBuster automates actions on your own connected accounts. CrustAPI returns public data as an API and never logs in as you. Here is how they line up on the things people compare.
| PhantomBuster | CrustAPI | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing model | Monthly subscription, measured by execution time and plan tier | Prepaid credits, one per successful call; Maps bills one per business returned, every other search is one flat credit per query, and a call that returns nothing is free |
| Free tier | Time-limited free trial | 3,000 credits every month, no card, refreshed monthly |
| Credit expiry | Allowance tied to your monthly plan | Paid credits never expire |
| Account login | Runs through your own connected LinkedIn or social account | No login. Public, logged-out data only |
| What it returns | Social automation output tied to each run | The whole Google menu, Search, Maps, News, Shopping, Images, Videos, Scholar, Patents, Places, Reviews, Autocomplete, and Webpage, as one clean JSON schema, plus LinkedIn profiles and local business leads. Take it as clean JSON from the API, or the same rows as CSV |
| Owning the data | Export from each run | No storage limits. Keep it, export it, build on it |
When PhantomBuster is the better pick: you need to act, not just read. PhantomBuster sends connection requests, auto-messages, follows, and runs multi-step outreach sequences on the accounts you connect. It also ships pre-built no-code automations across many social networks and can reach the deeper fields that only show up when you are logged in. CrustAPI does none of that. It returns public data as clean JSON and never touches your accounts. If you want the data half without the account risk, CrustAPI fits; if you need the outreach automation, keep PhantomBuster for that job.
One credit per successful call
Prepaid packs, and credits never expire: 25k for $49 · 100k for $149 · 500k for $549 · 2.5M for $1,999 · up to 250M, all self-serve, ex-tax. A Maps search that returns 20 leads costs 20 credits; every other search is one flat credit per query, and a call that returns nothing costs nothing. There is no monthly seat and nothing to cancel.
What CrustAPI covers
Every surface below returns the same clean JSON, billed one credit per successful call. Maps bills one credit per business returned; every other search is one flat credit per query. Swap the type parameter to move between them, no new integration each time.
Related: Google Maps scraper API · Google Search API · Google News API · LinkedIn profile scraper · Business leads database · Docs
Common questions
Clay
Try it on a search you actually run
3,000 free credits covers a real batch of leads. Run one search and look at the JSON that comes back.
Get 3,000 free credits