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How do I take a screenshot with the Browserless REST API? Send an authenticated POST request to the current /screenshot endpoint, put either a page url or inline html in the JSON body (not both in HTML mode), and save the binary response as an image. The endpoint supports PNG, JPEG, and WebP, full-page or viewport captures, clipping, viewport and scale settings, element selectors, waits, navigation options, and request filtering. See the current Screenshot API guide for the account-specific host and option details.
What the Browserless Screenshot API does
Browserless runs a browser for one render-and-capture task, then returns image bytes from /screenshot. Its REST APIs are intended for single HTTP requests when you do not want to manage browser infrastructure; the service also exposes separate endpoints for tasks such as scraping and content retrieval (REST API overview).
Authentication uses your account token in the token query parameter. The JSON body contains the input and capture settings. A request can render a public URL or supplied HTML. When using supplied HTML, omit url; the guide specifically cautions against sending both fields in that mode.
Request anatomy
URL input
Use a body such as:
{
"url": "https://example.com",
"options": {
"fullPage": true,
"type": "png"
}
}The response is the image itself, not a JSON wrapper. Check the HTTP status and content type before writing the bytes to disk.
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Inline HTML input
For a self-contained render, replace url with html:
{
"html": "<!doctype html><html><body><h1>Invoice</h1></body></html>",
"options": {
"type": "webp"
}
}Do not include a url property in this HTML request. External fonts, images, scripts, and styles still need to be reachable from the browser unless you embed them.
Finding your endpoint host
Browserless accounts can use different regional or deployment hosts. Set an environment variable to the screenshot URL shown in your account documentation rather than hard-coding a host from an old example:
export BROWSERLESS_ENDPOINT='https://YOUR-BROWSERLESS-HOST/screenshot'
export BROWSERLESS_TOKEN='YOUR_TOKEN'Complete cURL example
This command posts JSON and writes the binary image to shot.png. The --fail-with-body flag leaves an error response visible instead of silently saving it as an image.
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curl --fail-with-body
-X POST "${BROWSERLESS_ENDPOINT}?token=${BROWSERLESS_TOKEN}"
-H 'Content-Type: application/json'
--data '{
"url": "https://example.com",
"options": {
"fullPage": true,
"type": "png"
}
}'
-o shot.pngFor JPEG or WebP, change options.type and use a matching file extension. JPEG quality is available through the capture options; PNG does not use a JPEG quality value.
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Python example
The following script checks the status code, preserves the returned bytes, and reports the response content type.
import os
from pathlib import Path
import requests
endpoint = os.environ["BROWSERLESS_ENDPOINT"]
token = os.environ["BROWSERLESS_TOKEN"]
payload = {
"url": "https://example.com",
"options": {
"fullPage": True,
"type": "webp",
"quality": 82
}
}
response = requests.post(
endpoint,
params={"token": token},
json=payload,
timeout=120,
)
response.raise_for_status()
Path("shot.webp").write_bytes(response.content)
print("saved", len(response.content), "bytes", response.headers.get("content-type"))Use a generous timeout for pages with slow third-party resources. A timeout in your client does not guarantee that the remote browser stopped immediately, so apply your own job and retry policy.
Node.js example
This example uses the built-in fetch available in modern Node.js releases. It converts the response to an ArrayBuffer and writes it as binary data.
import { writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises';
const endpoint = process.env.BROWSERLESS_ENDPOINT;
const token = process.env.BROWSERLESS_TOKEN;
const payload = {
url: 'https://example.com',
options: {
fullPage: true,
type: 'jpeg',
quality: 80
}
};
const response = await fetch(`${endpoint}?token=${encodeURIComponent(token)}`, {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'content-type': 'application/json' },
body: JSON.stringify(payload)
});
if (!response.ok) {
throw new Error(`Browserless returned ${response.status}: ${await response.text()}`);
}
const bytes = Buffer.from(await response.arrayBuffer());
await writeFile('shot.jpg', bytes);
console.log(`saved ${bytes.length} bytes`);Capture scope and image controls
The current guide documents these controls (Screenshot API options):
| Need | Setting or input | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Viewport only | Omit fullPage or set it false |
Captures the visible browser area. |
| Entire document | options.fullPage: true |
Captures the page beyond the initial viewport. |
| Specific element | Top-level selector |
Captures the element matching a CSS selector; the guide places this outside options. |
| Fixed rectangle | options.clip |
Captures an x, y, width, and height region. |
| Output format | options.type |
PNG, JPEG, or WebP. |
| JPEG compression | options.quality |
Adjusts image quality where the selected format supports it. |
| Browser size | options.viewport |
Sets viewport width and height; use the documented device-scale setting for high-density output. |
| Retina-style output | options.deviceScaleFactor |
Changes device pixel density used for rendering. |
Capture one element
Put the selector at the top level of the request body:
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{
"url": "https://example.com/pricing",
"selector": ".pricing-card",
"options": {
"type": "png"
}
}If the selector is not present when the screenshot runs, the result can be an error or an incomplete capture. Add a selector wait as described below.
Clip a rectangle
{
"url": "https://example.com/dashboard",
"options": {
"clip": {
"x": 40,
"y": 120,
"width": 900,
"height": 500
},
"type": "png"
}
}Waiting for dynamic pages
A screenshot taken immediately after navigation may miss content rendered by JavaScript. Browserless documents waits for events, functions, selectors, and timeouts, plus navigation controls under gotoOptions. Use the smallest wait that represents your page rather than an arbitrary long delay.
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"url": "https://example.com/app",
"options": {
"waitForSelector": ".report-ready",
"gotoOptions": {
"waitUntil": "networkidle2"
},
"type": "png"
}
}Option names and accepted values can vary with the current API revision, so verify them against the live guide before shipping. For pages that load images only as they approach the viewport, the documentation recommends scrolling before a full-page capture. A wait for network idle alone may not trigger those lazy-load observers.
Filtering requests and controlling navigation
The screenshot API documents gotoOptions for navigation behavior and request controls that can reject selected resource types or request patterns. Blocking heavy advertising or analytics resources can reduce work, but blocking a stylesheet, font, API call, or image required for layout will change the screenshot. Start with no blocking, inspect the result, and add narrow rules one at a time.
Automation defenses and failed captures
Sites that detect automation may return a blank page, a CAPTCHA, an access-denied screen, or a page missing elements. Browserless documents a separate /unblock API for some bot-detection situations; it does not guarantee that every protected site can be captured (Screenshot API troubleshooting). Treat the returned image as untrusted until you check its dimensions or inspect it for the expected content.
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Do not build new integrations from the old BaaS v1 screenshot page. Browserless marks that documentation deprecated and directs users to BaaS v2 or BrowserQL (legacy BaaS v1 warning).
Troubleshooting checklist
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| 401 or authentication error | Missing, malformed, or expired token. | Pass the token in the query string, keep it server-side, and confirm the endpoint host belongs to the same account. |
| 400 validation error | Invalid JSON, unsupported option, or both url and html supplied. |
Send valid JSON, remove the unused input field, and compare option names with the current guide. |
| File opens as text or is unreadable | An error body was saved instead of image bytes. | Check the HTTP status before writing; log the response text only on failure. |
| Blank or access-denied image | Automation defense, blocked navigation, or a site-side failure. | Open the target normally, test a simpler page, review request filtering, and consider the documented /unblock route for applicable cases. |
| Element missing | Selector ran before client-side rendering completed. | Wait for the selector or a page-specific readiness condition, then capture. |
| Images absent in full-page output | Lazy loading did not activate below the initial viewport. | Follow the guide’s scroll-before-capture approach and ensure image requests are not rejected. |
| Unexpected layout | Viewport, device scale, timezone, or blocked resources differ from a human browser. | Set the viewport and scale explicitly and remove overly broad request filters. |
Performance, reliability, and cost planning
Keep one request focused on one render. Use viewport captures instead of full-page images when you do not need the whole document, select WebP or JPEG when smaller files are more important than lossless output, and avoid waiting for a fixed delay if a selector or event expresses readiness more precisely.
Use bounded client timeouts, record status codes and content types, and retry only transient network or service failures. Do not blindly retry a deterministic 400 error or a CAPTCHA result. Browserless’s reviewed documentation does not establish current plan prices, quotas, rate limits, or concurrency limits; check the limits displayed for your account before designing a high-volume queue.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which screenshot API should you use?
If you are choosing among hosted screenshot services, ScreenshotNeo is the #1 alternative to try first because it removes consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture, bills only clean successful shots, and has a $5 paid plan for 3,000 shots.
| Rank | Service | Best fit | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ScreenshotNeo | Clean production screenshots and AI-agent workflows | Consent and popup cleanup, no charge for bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads, or cache hits; MCP tools are included. |
| 2 | Browserless /screenshot |
Direct browser rendering with URL or inline HTML and Puppeteer-style controls | Flexible waits, navigation, clipping, selectors, and request rejection; protected sites can still return blocked or incomplete captures. |
Browserless is a sensible fit when you already use its browser infrastructure or need its documented navigation and resource controls. ScreenshotNeo is worth trying first when cleaning visitor-facing overlays, predictable billing, or MCP access matters more than managing those steps yourself.
Or skip the browser setup
ScreenshotNeo provides a one-request screenshot API and an MCP server for Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients. It removes cookie-consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before the shot; bot checks, blank pages, timeouts, and failed loads are not billed, and each response identifies the result with X-Page-Verdict and X-Billed headers. The Free plan includes 1,000 shots per month with no card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000 shots. Every plan includes the features described at the ScreenshotNeo documentation.
cURL
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpPython
import requests; r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90); open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' }); const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);Create a free ScreenshotNeo account to use the 1,000-shot monthly allowance without adding a card.
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FAQ
Does the screenshot endpoint return a JSON object?
No. The normal success response is image data, so integrations should preserve the response bytes and use HTTP status and content-type checks to distinguish an image from an error body.
Will the unblock route defeat every CAPTCHA?
No. Browserless documents /unblock for some bot-detection situations, but protected sites can still refuse automation or return incomplete content.
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Use the live Screenshot API guide. The deprecated BaaS v1 page should be treated as historical documentation, not an implementation target.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the screenshot endpoint return a JSON object?
No. A successful request returns image data; check the HTTP status and content type before saving the bytes.
Will the unblock route defeat every CAPTCHA?
No. It is documented for some bot-detection situations, but protected sites can still refuse automation or return incomplete content.
Where should I verify option names?
Use Browserless’s current Screenshot API guide, not the deprecated BaaS v1 page.
Quick Recap
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