Screenshot API for developers — urlshot.io

URLShot is a screenshot API that turns any public web page URL into a PNG, JPEG, or WebP image with a single HTTP request. Pages render in a real Chromium browser, so JavaScript, web fonts, and lazy-loaded content appear exactly as visitors see them.

What is URLShot?

URLShot is a developer-facing screenshot API that accepts a page URL plus capture parameters and returns the rendered image directly in the HTTP response. It runs pages through a real Chromium browser rather than a headless renderer, so scripts execute, web fonts load, and lazy content appears before the shot is taken. Any language that can send an HTTP request can use it — no SDK is required.

Key Features

• Real browser rendering — JavaScript runs, web fonts load, and lazy content appears; choose to shoot on page load, when the network goes quiet (wait_until=networkidle0), or after a delay.
• Multiple output formats — Return PNG for lossless images, or JPEG and WebP with a configurable quality setting (format=webp&quality=80).
• Full-page capture — Grab just the visible screen or the entire page top to bottom in one image with full_page=true.
• Flexible viewports — Widths from 200 to 3840 pixels, with device scale factors up to 3× for Retina-sharp output (viewport_width=1920&device_scale_factor=2).
• Dark mode emulation — Tell the page the visitor prefers dark mode before it loads with dark_mode=true.
• Cookie banner blocking — One parameter hides consent pop-ups and unlocks scrolling; custom selectors, CSS, or scripts can hide anything else.
• Single endpoint — One API call with query parameters returns the image bytes; non-2xx responses return a JSON error envelope with code, message, and requestId.

Who is it for?

• Backend and full-stack developers who need programmatic page captures inside an application without running their own headless browser infrastructure.
• Marketing and SEO teams generating preview thumbnails or social share images for lists of URLs.
• QA and monitoring engineers capturing pages at fixed viewports to compare visual output over time.
• Designers and content teams producing dark-mode and mobile-width screenshots of live sites.

What can you do with URLShot?

• Automated thumbnail generation: Send a URL and receive a WebP or PNG to store or serve as a link preview.
• Dark-mode and mobile previews: Capture the same page twice with dark_mode=true or a 390 px mobile viewport to compare layouts.
• Full-page archiving: Use full_page=true to save an entire scrolling page as one image for records or review.
• Retina asset production: Request a 1920 px viewport at 2× density for crisp images on high-DPI screens.

How does URLShot work?

1. Create a free API key in the dashboard.
2. Send a request to the single screenshot endpoint with the target URL and options.
3. Save the returned image bytes to a file or upload them to storage.

Pricing

URLShot offers a free tier of 100 screenshots per month with no credit card required. Paid tiers are not detailed on the page.

FAQ

Is URLShot free to use?

URLShot includes 100 free screenshots every month and does not require a credit card to sign up. The free quota resets monthly, and the page does not list paid tier pricing.

What image formats does URLShot return?

URLShot returns PNG, JPEG, or WebP. You choose the format and, for lossy formats, a quality value such as quality=80 to control file size.

Does URLShot render JavaScript-heavy pages?

Yes. Pages load in a real Chromium browser, so JavaScript executes, web fonts load, and lazy-loaded content appears. You can time the capture on page load, on network idle, or after a delay.

Can URLShot capture dark mode or mobile layouts?

Yes. Setting dark_mode=true tells the page the visitor prefers dark mode before it loads, and viewport widths from 200 to 3840 pixels cover mobile through desktop layouts.

Are there limits on the live demo?

The