Altova MapForce
Altova MapForce is a graphical data mapping tool for transforming and integrating XML, JSON, database, and EDI data through a drag-and-drop interface that generates execution code automatically.
Apify
Apify is a comprehensive web scraping and automation platform that allows you to extract data from any website and automate manual web workflows using ready-made or custom tools.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Altova MapForce | Apify |
|---|---|---|
| Website | altova.com | apify.com |
| Pricing Model | One_time | Freemium |
| Starting Price | $??/month | Free |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 30 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✘ No free plan | ✓ Has free plan |
| Product Demo | ✓ Request demo here | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 1992 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Beverly, USA | Prague, Czech Republic |
Overview
Altova MapForce
Altova MapForce is a visual data mapping and integration tool that simplifies how you transform complex data structures. Instead of writing manual transformation code, you use a graphical interface to map data between XML, JSON, databases, EDI, Excel, and Web services. You can simply drag lines between source and target structures to define your data movements and apply built-in functions for data processing.
The software helps you automate recurring integration tasks by generating royalty-free code in Java, C#, or C++, or by deploying mappings to MapForce Server. It is ideal for data architects and developers in finance, logistics, and healthcare who need to manage high-volume data conversions without the overhead of manual coding. You can choose between Professional and Enterprise editions depending on your need for EDI or Web services support.
Apify
Apify is a versatile platform designed to help you collect data from the web and automate repetitive browser tasks. You can choose from hundreds of ready-to-use scrapers for popular sites like Amazon, Google Maps, and Instagram, or build your own custom automation tools using JavaScript or Python. It handles the heavy lifting of proxy management, browser scaling, and scheduling so you can focus on the data itself.
You can integrate the extracted data directly into your existing workflows using webhooks or native connectors for tools like Zapier and Make. Whether you are a developer looking for a scalable infrastructure or a business analyst needing clean market data, the platform provides the flexibility to crawl at any scale. It effectively solves the problem of manual data entry and brittle DIY scraping scripts.
Overview
Altova MapForce Features
- Drag-and-Drop Mapping Connect source and target data structures visually by dragging lines between fields to define your transformation rules.
- Multi-Format Support Map data across XML, JSON, relational databases, Excel, and flat files within a single unified mapping project.
- Extensive Function Library Apply built-in mathematical, string, and logical functions to your data during the mapping process to ensure accuracy.
- Automatic Code Generation Generate royalty-free C#, C++, or Java code from your visual mappings to integrate into your own applications.
- EDI Integration Map and transform electronic data interchange formats like X12, EDIFACT, and HL7 for seamless supply chain communication.
- Interactive Data Preview View the results of your data mapping instantly with a built-in execution engine before deploying to production.
Apify Features
- Apify Store. Access hundreds of pre-built scrapers for popular websites so you can start extracting data in minutes without writing any code.
- Smart Proxy Management. Rotate through data center and residential proxies automatically to avoid IP bans and bypass sophisticated anti-scraping bot protections.
- Custom Actor Development. Build and deploy your own scraping scripts in the cloud using JavaScript, TypeScript, or Python with built-in library support.
- Automated Scheduling. Set your scrapers to run at specific intervals so you always have the most up-to-date information for your reports.
- Webhooks and API. Trigger actions in other apps automatically when a crawl finishes or access your data programmatically via a REST API.
- Headless Browser Support. Run Playwright, Puppeteer, or Selenium in the cloud to scrape modern, dynamic websites that require user-like interactions.
Pricing Comparison
Altova MapForce Pricing
- XML to XML mapping
- Database to XML mapping
- JSON and Excel support
- Built-in data processing functions
- Java, C#, and C++ code generation
- Visual data mapping debugger
- Everything in Professional, plus:
- EDI data mapping (X12, EDIFACT)
- Web services integration (SOAP/REST)
- XBRL data mapping
- NoSQL database support
- Advanced data streaming for large files
Apify Pricing
- $5 platform credits monthly
- 20 shared proxy IPs
- Unlimited local runs
- Discord community support
- Access to Apify Store
- Everything in Free, plus:
- $49 platform credits monthly
- 30-day data retention
- Email support
- Shared and residential proxy access
Pros & Cons
Altova MapForce
Pros
- Handles extremely complex XML and EDI structures easily
- Generates clean and efficient royalty-free source code
- Visual debugger makes finding mapping errors very simple
- Supports a massive range of legacy and modern formats
- Stable performance even with very large data sets
Cons
- Interface feels dated compared to modern web apps
- Steep learning curve for non-technical business users
- Licensing costs can be high for small teams
- Requires separate server purchase for automated execution
Apify
Pros
- Extensive library of ready-made scrapers saves significant time
- Excellent documentation makes it easy for developers to start
- Reliable proxy rotation effectively bypasses most website blocks
- Highly scalable infrastructure handles large-scale crawls easily
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Credit consumption can be difficult to predict initially
- Residential proxies can become expensive for high-volume tasks