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Ansel Barrett

Ansel works as a contributing author at Octoparse, where he leverages his interest in coding, machine learning, and other AI technologies to provide valuable insights into web scraping.
202 posts

What Is a Web Crawler? How It Works and What It Does

avatarAnsel Barrett
Web crawlers find and index pages so search engines know what exists. This guide covers how they work, Googlebot vs GPTBot, the AI crawler blocking debate, and when crawling beats scraping.
2026-06-26T18:52:15+00:00 · 6 min read

Best Dropshipping Niches in 2026 (and How to Pick One)

avatarAnsel Barrett
The best dropshipping niches for 2026, what makes a niche profitable, and a simple process to validate one before you commit. Backed by current trend data.
2026-06-25T11:34:17+00:00 · 5 min read

Octoparse Pricing 2026: Free Plan & Paid Plans Explained

avatarAnsel Barrett
Octoparse pricing starts at $0. See free plan limits, Standard and Professional costs, add-on fees, and discounts. Find your plan in 5 minutes.
2026-06-22T14:37:30+00:00 · 5 min read

10 Best Open Source Web Scrapers & Libraries in 2026 (Python, JS, AI-Native)

avatarAnsel Barrett
We tested 10 open source web scrapers in 2026. Honest limitations, GitHub stats, real community issues, and a no-code alternative for when code is not the answer.
2026-06-10T19:29:04+00:00 · 8 min read

How to Do a Social Media Competitor Analysis: A Step-by-Step Guide

avatarAnsel Barrett
Learn how to run a social media competitor analysis step by step. Identify competitors, track the right metrics, collect data, and turn findings into action.
2026-06-05T18:58:55+00:00 · 8 min read

The Fastest Way to Handle Paginated Pages: Every Type Explained

avatarAnsel Barrett
Learn how to handle web scraper pagination: next button, page numbers, infinite scroll, Load More, and AJAX, with step-by-step Octoparse walkthroughs.
2026-06-03T15:17:18+00:00 · 8 min read

What Is Data Scraping? A Complete Guide (2026)

avatarAnsel Barrett
Data scraping is the automated extraction of data from websites, apps, and legacy systems. Learn how it works, which tools to use, and how to stay legally compliant with real examples for every skill level.
2026-05-25T17:49:17+00:00 · 7 min read

Is There Such a Thing as a Free Octoparse Web Scraper?

avatarAnsel Barrett
Yes, Octoparse web scraper is free to start: Desktop free plan, MCP connector, and free templates included. Here's exactly what you get at zero cost.
2026-05-18T20:47:35+00:00 · 5 min read

How to Scrape Data from a Website: From No-Code to Python (2026)

avatarAnsel Barrett
Learn how to scrape data from a website using no-code tools, Python, and browser extensions. Step-by-step guide covering 3 Octoparse methods, Python tutorials, and real examples. Start collecting data in minutes.
2026-04-30T15:10:10+00:00 · 6 min read

We Tested 12 Free Web Scrapers in 2026:Here’s What Each Free Tier Actually Gets You

avatarAnsel Barrett
Tired of scrapers that aren't really free? We tested 12 free web scraping tools and listed exactly what each free tier gives you: no vague limits, no hidden walls. Find your fit in 2 minutes.
2026-04-24T22:16:15+00:00 · 8 min read

Top 10 Web Scraping Services for Business 2026

avatarAnsel Barrett
Compare the top 10 web scraping services in 2026. Click to see how Octoparse, ScraperAPI, Bright Data, Apify, and others stack up on features, pricing, and ease of use.
2026-04-05T09:00:00+00:00 · 10 min read

AI Agent vs RPA: What’s the Difference and How They Work Together

avatarAnsel Barrett
AI agents and RPA are not the same thing, and they are not competing for the same job. Here is what actually sets them apart, how they work together, and why it matters for enterprise automation decisions in 2026.
2026-04-04T09:00:00+00:00 · 6 min read