The real tradeoff is not HTTP versus browser scraping. It is cost and complexity versus the protection profile in front of the target.
Use HTTP when
- the page returns the data you need without client-side execution
- there are no strong anti-bot signals
- cheaper proxy tiers already succeed
Use a browser when
- the page requires rendered DOM state
- HTTP routes hit challenge pages
- the report shows that only browser-capable combinations succeed
Avoid premature escalation
Browser automation is powerful, but it should be the route you choose on purpose, not the route you choose first.
Run the free check to see whether your target is HTTP-friendly or browser-only.