WebGrab+Plus vs Alternatives: Which to ChooseWebGrab+Plus is a popular, open-source scraper specifically designed to retrieve TV and movie program guides (EPG data) from websites and produce XMLTV-format files for media center applications. If you’re deciding whether to use WebGrab+Plus or an alternative solution, this article compares features, flexibility, setup complexity, community support, and typical use cases to help you choose.
What WebGrab+Plus is best at
WebGrab+Plus excels at structured EPG scraping:
- Flexible site parsing: It uses site-specific “grabbers” (configuration files) so it can adapt to many different provider websites and HTML structures.
- XMLTV output: Produces industry-standard XMLTV files compatible with Kodi, Emby, Plex (with plugins), NextPVR, and others.
- Wide channel mapping: Supports detailed channel matching and mapping so guide data lines up with your tuner/channel IDs.
- Frequent updates: Community members maintain and add grabbers for new websites and layout changes.
- Scheduling: Can be run regularly (cron/Task Scheduler) to keep program data up to date.
Typical users: power users running home media servers, enthusiasts needing precise channel mapping, and people who prefer granular control over scraped EPG data.
Common alternatives
Below are the main categories of alternatives, from turnkey services to other open-source tools:
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Commercial EPG providers
- Gracenote, Rovi (now part of TiVo) — licensed professional EPG services with broad, reliable coverage.
- Paid XMLTV services — websites or vendors that sell pre-built XMLTV files or APIs.
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Other open-source & community tools
- XMLTV scripts/collectors — generic scrapers that may support specific regions.
- EPG Collector / EPG-Importer — tools that collect data from sources like XMLTV, SchedulesDirect, or combine web scraping with local data.
- SchedulesDirect — subscription-based API providing standardized guide data (popular with MythTV, NextPVR, and other DVRs).
-
Automated online services & APIs
- Web-based scraping services that generate XMLTV, sometimes with a GUI to map channels.
- Third-party community-run XMLTV feeds (region-specific).
Feature comparison
| Feature / Factor | WebGrab+Plus | Commercial EPG Providers | SchedulesDirect / Paid APIs | Other open-source scrapers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Paid (often expensive) | Subscription (modest) | Free |
| Control / Customization | High (grabbers, mappings) | Low | Medium | Medium–High |
| Data reliability | Medium–High (depends on grabbers) | Very high | High | Varies |
| Ease of setup | Moderate (config files, learning curve) | Easy (turnkey) | Easy–Moderate | Varies |
| Coverage (regions/channels) | Good where grabbers exist | Extensive | Extensive for supported regions | Varies |
| Legal/licensing clarity | Depends on source sites | Clear licensed data | Clear licensed data | Varies |
| Community support | Active user community | Vendor support | Official support/community | Varies |
Pros and cons — quick rundown
Pros of WebGrab+Plus
- Highly customizable for matching and parsing odd website layouts.
- No subscription fees.
- Produces standard XMLTV output usable by many apps.
Cons of WebGrab+Plus
- Setup and maintenance require technical work (editing grabbers, updating when sites change).
- Legality depends on the terms of the scraped websites; less clean than licensed providers.
- Some channel/region coverage gaps until community members add grabbers.
Pros of commercial providers / paid APIs
- Reliable, licensed, and often more complete data.
- Easier, minimal setup; vendor support.
- Better for professional or large-scale deployments.
Cons of commercial providers / paid APIs
- Cost — can be prohibitive for hobbyists.
- Less control over data formatting and mapping.
When to choose WebGrab+Plus
Choose WebGrab+Plus if:
- You run a personal/home media server and want free, flexible EPG data.
- You need custom parsing for niche or regional websites.
- You’re comfortable editing config files and troubleshooting occasional breakages.
- You prefer community-driven, no-cost solutions and are willing to contribute fixes.
When to choose a paid provider or API
Choose a commercial EPG provider or paid API if:
- You need guaranteed coverage, reliability, and licensing assurance.
- You run a business or public-facing service where downtime or incorrect guides is unacceptable.
- You want an easy setup with official support and SLA.
Practical tips for deciding and for hybrid approaches
- Start with SchedulesDirect or a small paid API if you want quick, reliable results; switch to WebGrab+Plus if you need extra channels or customization not covered.
- Use WebGrab+Plus for supplemental scraping: combine licensed API data with web-scraped feeds to fill gaps, but be mindful of licensing terms.
- Check community grabber repositories first — if your country/provider already has maintained grabbers, setup time drops dramatically.
- Automate with task scheduler/cron and monitor logs; set up alerts or a simple smoke test that validates XML output daily.
- Keep backups of working grabbers and channel maps so you can quickly revert when site changes break scrapers.
Setup and maintenance overview (concise)
- Install WebGrab+Plus on Windows/Linux.
- Download or create grabber files for your target sites.
- Configure channels.xml and webgrab.conf (region, time zone, channel mapping).
- Run the grabber and inspect XMLTV output; adjust mappings.
- Schedule regular runs and monitor for broken grabbers after website changes.
Final recommendation
- For hobbyists and tinkerers who want control and zero subscription cost: WebGrab+Plus is an excellent choice.
- For reliability, full licensing, and minimal maintenance: choose a paid EPG provider or SchedulesDirect.
- Consider hybrid setups: use a paid API as primary source and WebGrab+Plus to supplement missing channels or local listings.
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