🚀 Time to Modernize

ToolCenter vs Screenshotlayer

Screenshotlayer is one of the oldest screenshot APIs around, but its technology hasn't kept up. ToolCenter uses modern headless Chromium, supports 5 different APIs, and renders pages the way modern browsers actually do.

Start Free →

100 API calls/month free • No credit card required

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

Feature	ToolCenter	Screenshotlayer
Free Tier	100 calls/mo	100 calls/mo
Paid Plans From	€9/mo (10K calls)	$9.99/mo (5K calls)
Rendering Engine	Headless Chromium	Older engine
JavaScript Rendering	✅ Full SPA support	Basic / Unreliable
Screenshot API	✅	✅
PDF Generation	✅	❌
QR Code API	✅	❌
OG Image Generator	✅	❌
Metadata Extraction	✅	❌
Output Formats	PNG, JPG, WebP	PNG, JPG, GIF
Full Page Capture	✅	Paid plans only
Dark Mode	✅	❌
Ad Blocking	✅	❌
Custom CSS/JS	✅	CSS only (paid)
HTTPS Support	✅ Always	Paid plans only
API Style	REST + JSON	GET with query params

Why It's Time to Leave Screenshotlayer

🌐

Modern Rendering Engine

Screenshotlayer uses an older rendering engine that struggles with modern JavaScript frameworks like React, Vue, and Next.js. ToolCenter uses headless Chromium — the same engine that powers Google Chrome — so every page renders perfectly.

🔐

HTTPS on Every Plan

Screenshotlayer restricts HTTPS capture to paid plans. In 2026, virtually every website uses HTTPS. ToolCenter supports HTTPS on all plans, including the free tier — no artificial limitations.

🧰

5 Tools Instead of 1

Screenshotlayer only captures screenshots. ToolCenter bundles PDF generation, QR code creation, OG image generation, and metadata extraction — all sharing the same API key and quota.

⚡

Faster & More Reliable

Screenshotlayer has been known for slow response times and occasional rendering failures on complex pages. ToolCenter delivers results in 2-5 seconds with consistent, pixel-perfect output.

API Call Comparison

Screenshotlayer

GET http://api.screenshotlayer.com/api/capture
  ?access_key=YOUR_KEY
  &url=https://example.com
  &viewport=1920x1080
  &format=PNG
  &force=1

# HTTP only on free plan!
# No dark mode, no ad blocking
# Limited JS rendering
# Viewport as WxH string

ToolCenter ✨

POST https://toolcenter.dev/api/v1/screenshot
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

{
  "url": "https://example.com",
  "width": 1920,
  "height": 1080,
  "format": "png",
  "fullPage": true,
  "darkMode": true,
  "blockAds": true,
  "blockCookieBanners": true
}
# HTTPS always, modern JSON API

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my screenshotlayer screenshots look broken on modern sites?

Screenshotlayer uses an older rendering engine that doesn't fully support modern CSS features (Grid, Flexbox, CSS variables) or JavaScript frameworks (React, Vue, Angular). ToolCenter uses headless Chromium, which renders pages exactly as they appear in Chrome — perfect for SPAs and modern web apps.

Will the migration break my existing integration?

You'll need to update your API call — switching from GET with query params to POST with a JSON body, and using Bearer token auth instead of an access_key parameter. The response is a binary image, same as screenshotlayer. Most developers complete the migration in 10-15 minutes.

Is screenshotlayer still maintained?

Screenshotlayer is part of the APILayer/apilayer family of APIs. While it still works, it hasn't received significant feature updates in years. ToolCenter is actively developed with new features shipping regularly — dark mode, device emulation, and cookie banner blocking were all added recently.

How much will I save by switching?

Screenshotlayer's Basic plan costs $9.99/mo for 5,000 captures. ToolCenter's Pro plan costs €9/mo for 10,000 calls across 5 APIs. That's roughly twice the volume for a lower price, with dramatically more features included. The Business plan (€29/mo, 50K calls) saves even more at scale.