maxun
Maxun is an open-source, no-code platform for web scraping, crawling, and data extraction that turns websites into structured APIs. It offers both visual robot-building (via recording or AI prompts) and programmatic access through SDKs, with self-hosting capability.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | getmaxun/maxun |
| Owner | getmaxun |
| Primary language | TypeScript |
| License | AGPL-3.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 16.4k |
| Forks | 1.4k |
| Open issues | 116 |
| Latest release | v0.0.43 (2026-06-24) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-03 |
| Source | https://github.com/getmaxun/maxun |
What maxun is
TypeScript-based platform combining browser automation (Playwright), LLM-powered extraction, and REST APIs. Supports extraction robots (recorded or AI-driven), web scraping to Markdown/HTML, full-site crawling, and scheduled automation. Deployable via Docker or local setup.
Get the maxun source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/getmaxun/maxun.gitcd maxun# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Evaluate hosted (app.maxun.dev) vs. self-hosted trade-offs: hosted removes ops burden but introduces data residency and vendor control concerns; self-hosted requires Docker/database expertise.
- AGPLv3 license mandates source-disclosure for derivative networked software—review legal implications before deployment in closed-source commercial products.
- Test extraction robots against target websites in staging; early-stage project may have edge cases around pagination, JavaScript rendering, or layout changes.
- Plan for proxy/IP rotation (README sponsors proxy services); web scraping at scale often triggers rate limits and blocks without proper infrastructure.
- SDK integration (Node.js available) enables programmatic scheduling and result retrieval; document robot definitions and API contracts before team deployment.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Strict Commercial Licensing Requirements — AGPLv3 requires source code disclosure for networked software deployments. If you cannot open-source modifications or need proprietary use without reciprocal obligation, requires legal review.
- High-Volume, Mission-Critical Extraction — Project is in 'early stages of development' per README. Production reliability, uptime SLAs, and edge-case handling are not production-hardened. Requires thorough testing.
- Zero Maintenance / Fully Managed Expectation — Self-hosting variant requires infrastructure management, database setup (Neon or local), and dependency updates. Hosted version available but introduces vendor lock-in.
- Complex Authentication or JavaScript-Heavy Watermarked Sites — Platform supports login extraction, but success depends on site-specific patterns. Highly obfuscated or dynamic sites may require manual robot adjustments.
License & commercial use
Licensed under AGPLv3 (GNU Affero General Public License v3.0). This is a copyleft license requiring that any modifications or derivative works distributed as a network service must provide source code to users. Unlike permissive licenses (MIT, Apache 2.0), AGPLv3 imposes reciprocal obligations.
Commercial use of Maxun itself (as-is) is permitted. However, if you modify Maxun and deploy it as a service (including self-hosted internal tools exposed to other users), AGPLv3 requires you to disclose source code and modifications. If you integrate Maxun as a library in a proprietary application, consult legal counsel—the scope of 'network service' and derivative works can be ambiguous. The README explicitly requests commercial users 'contribute back or support development,' signaling expected compliance.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
Project involves browser automation and web scraping; consider: (1) Data sensitivity of extracted content (PII, credentials); (2) stored credentials for login-gated sites—authentication storage mechanism not detailed; (3) self-hosting exposes database and runtime to network; (4) extraction robots may inadvertently expose sensitive patterns or selectors in definitions; (5) early-stage code maturity means security audit history unknown; (6) external proxy services (RapidProxy, MangoProxy) introduce third-party IP and data transit trust assumptions. No security policy or disclosure process mentioned in README.
Alternatives to consider
Brightdata (Commercial)
Fully managed, closed-source web scraping platform with 72M+ IPs, enterprise SLAs, and legal compliance infrastructure. No open-source or self-hosting. Suited if you avoid AGPLv3 licensing concerns and need vendor accountability.
Apify (Commercial, open SDK)
Hybrid: managed platform with open-source Actor SDK (Apache 2.0). Easier commercial licensing path; production-hardened; active marketplace. Higher cost than Maxun but lower operational risk.
Scrapy (Open Source, BSD License)
Mature Python framework (not no-code). Requires development; steep learning curve. Permissive licensing and full code control. Better for engineering teams, not business analysts.
Build on maxun with DEV.co software developers
Evaluate Maxun's hosted platform at app.maxun.dev or self-host with Docker. Test a pilot robot against your target sites, then assess AGPLv3 licensing and operational fit with your team.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
Explore the category and the services that help you build with it.
maxun FAQ
Can we use Maxun commercially without open-sourcing our modifications?
What happens if a website layout changes?
Is the hosted version (app.maxun.dev) production-ready?
How does pricing work for the hosted version?
Software developers & web developers for hire
Need help beyond evaluating maxun? DEV.co is a software development agency offering software development services and web development for teams of every size. Our software developers and web developers build custom software, web applications, APIs, and open-source devops integrations — and maintain them long-term.
Ready to automate your web data extraction?
Evaluate Maxun's hosted platform at app.maxun.dev or self-host with Docker. Test a pilot robot against your target sites, then assess AGPLv3 licensing and operational fit with your team.