Question 1

Do failed screenshots count against my limit?

Accepted Answer

No. Only successfully rendered screenshots that are not served from cache count toward your monthly quota. If a request fails due to a network or browser error, it does not count.

Question 2

Do cached screenshots count against my quota?

Accepted Answer

No. Screenshots served from cache (via the cache_ttl parameter) do not count against your quota. Only new, unique captures count.

Question 3

What happens when I exceed my screenshot limit?

Accepted Answer

Captures continue uninterrupted. Overage screenshots are billed at the per-extra rate shown on your plan. Videos are blocked when the monthly video limit is reached.

Question 4

Will I be notified when reaching my limit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You will receive an email at 90% and 100% of your monthly quota so you can upgrade before hitting the limit.

Question 5

Can I cancel anytime?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can cancel at any time from the billing page. You will retain access until the end of your paid period with no further charges.

Question 6

Does Paddle store my credit card details?

Accepted Answer

No. All payment processing is handled by Paddle, our billing provider. We never see or store your payment details.

Question 7

What programming languages do you support?

Accepted Answer

The API is a standard REST endpoint, so any language that can make HTTP requests works. We maintain official SDKs for Node.js, Python, Go, and Java, and examples for cURL.

Question 8

Is there a rate limit?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Rate limits depend on your plan. The free tier allows 1 request/second. Paid plans have higher concurrency limits. Check the API docs for the exact limits per plan.

Question 9

Can I use both GET and POST requests?

Accepted Answer

Yes. GET requests pass all parameters as query-string values. POST requests accept a JSON body. Both methods are fully supported and functionally equivalent.

Question 10

How do I capture pages behind authentication?

Accepted Answer

You can pass cookies via the cookies parameter, or an Authorization header via the authorization parameter. Both are forwarded to the browser before rendering.

Question 11

Does the API support async operations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pass async=true and webhook_url=your-endpoint to fire an asynchronous capture. You will receive a signed HMAC-SHA256 webhook payload when the result is ready. No polling needed.

Question 12

Can I inject custom JavaScript before capturing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Use the custom_js parameter to run arbitrary JavaScript before the screenshot is taken, such as clicking buttons, modifying the DOM, or filling forms.

Question 13

What image formats are supported?

Accepted Answer

PNG (default), JPEG, and WebP for images. PDF for documents. MP4, WebM, MOV, AVI, and GIF for video recordings.

Question 14

Can I capture the full page, not just the viewport?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pass full_page=true to automatically scroll the entire page and capture a full-height screenshot. Use full_page_max_height to set a maximum height.

Question 15

How do I get a PDF from a URL?

Accepted Answer

Set format=pdf in your request. You can control paper size with pdf_paper_format, margins with pdf_margin, orientation with pdf_landscape, and backgrounds with pdf_print_background.

Question 16

Can I render HTML or Markdown directly to PDF?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Set source=html and pass your HTML string via the html parameter. Set source=markdown for Markdown. This bypasses URL fetching entirely, making it great for invoice or report templates.

Question 17

What PDF paper sizes are supported?

Accepted Answer

A4, Letter, Legal, A3, A5, Tabloid, and custom dimensions in millimetres. Pass pdf_paper_format=A4 or define custom width and height.

Question 18

How do I block cookie banners and ads?

Accepted Answer

Pass block_cookie_banners=true, block_ads=true, and/or block_chats=true. These inject actively maintained filter lists before rendering so your screenshot is always clean.

Question 19

How does caching work?

Accepted Answer

Pass cache_ttl=seconds to cache the result. Identical requests within the TTL window return the cached screenshot instantly, both faster and free (does not count against your quota).

Question 20

What is the maximum cache TTL?

Accepted Answer

The maximum cache_ttl value is 2592000 seconds (30 days). After expiry, the next identical request triggers a fresh capture.

Question 21

Can I force a fresh capture even if cached?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Change any parameter (e.g. add a timestamp to a custom header) to bust the cache, or call with a different URL variation. Cache keys are based on the full set of options.

Question 22

How fast are responses?

Accepted Answer

Uncached screenshots typically return in 1–4 seconds depending on page complexity and wait conditions. Cached responses are served from the CDN in milliseconds.

Frequently Asked Questions.

Billing & Limits

API & Integration

Screenshots & PDF

Caching & Performance

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