Guide to exporting website technology data in bulk with Wappalyzer

If you’ve ever needed a big list of what runs under the hood on thousands of websites—think CMS, analytics, ecommerce tech, JavaScript libraries—you’ve probably realized it’s not as easy as clicking “export” somewhere. This guide is for folks who want to grab a ton of tech stack data, fast, without getting stuck in manual work or tool limitations. Whether you’re prospecting, doing competitive research, or just nerding out, this walk-through will help you export website technology data in bulk, using Wappalyzer—warts and all.

Why Bulk Exporting Website Tech Data is a Pain (and Why Wappalyzer Helps)

Let’s be honest: most browser extensions or “website technology lookup” tools are built for one-off checks. That’s fine if you’re nosy about a competitor’s site. But when you want to scan hundreds or thousands of domains, you run into walls:

  • Browser extensions can’t handle bulk.
  • Manual lookups are mind-numbing.
  • Many APIs are limited, expensive, or both.
  • Data quality is all over the place.

That’s where Wappalyzer comes in. It’s one of the more reliable tools for detecting what’s running on websites, and it actually has a few options for bulk exporting data.

But it’s not perfect. There are caveats, costs, and a few pitfalls to avoid. Let’s get into it.

Step 1: Figure Out What You Actually Need

Before you sign up for anything, get clear on your end goal:

  • Do you need tech stack info for a set list of domains?
  • Are you scraping the top 10,000 sites, or something more niche?
  • What data points matter—just CMS and analytics, or the full kitchen sink?

It sounds basic, but you’ll save money and headaches if you know your scope. Wappalyzer is great, but it’s not always cheap, especially in bulk.

Pro tip: If you only need a handful of websites, don’t bother with bulk export—use the Wappalyzer browser extension or free lookup, and call it a day.

Step 2: Sign Up for Wappalyzer and Explore Your Options

First, create a Wappalyzer account. The free tier is limited—you’ll need a paid plan or credits for bulk exports. Here are your main options:

1. Wappalyzer's Online Bulk Lookup Tool

  • Lets you upload a list of domains (CSV or TXT).
  • Processes them and gives you downloadable data.
  • Pricing is per lookup or via subscription.

2. Wappalyzer API

  • Programmatic access, best for automation or integrating into your own scripts.
  • You get JSON results—easy to parse or stuff into a database.
  • Pricing is per request; volume discounts exist, but it adds up fast.

3. Chrome/Firefox Extension

  • Good for one-off or small jobs.
  • Not practical for bulk data—you’ll be clicking for hours.

Reality check: The browser extension is not designed for bulk. Sure, there are hacky ways to automate it, but you’ll hit rate limits or get your account flagged. Stick to the API or the bulk lookup tool if you’re serious.

Step 3: Prepare Your Domain List

Wappalyzer wants a list of clean, valid domains. Get your list in order:

  • One domain per line (no http:// or https:// prefixes needed—just the bare domain).
  • Use a CSV or TXT file.
  • Remove duplicates and dead domains if possible; you’ll pay for every lookup, working or not.

Pro tip: If you’re pulling from a big list, consider running a quick status check first (e.g., with a tool like httpstat or a simple curl script) to weed out domains that don’t resolve.

Step 4: Upload and Kick Off Bulk Analysis

If Using the Online Bulk Lookup

  1. Log in to your Wappalyzer dashboard.
  2. Look for “Bulk Lookup” or “Bulk Scan”—the UI changes sometimes, but it’s usually pretty obvious.
  3. Upload your domain list.
  4. Select the data points you want (sometimes you can narrow it down—e.g., only CMS, e-commerce, analytics).
  5. Confirm the number of credits needed and pay up if required.
  6. Start the scan.

Wappalyzer will chew through your list. For a few hundred sites, it might take minutes. For tens of thousands, expect hours. You’ll get an email or dashboard notification when it’s done.

If Using the API

If you’re comfortable with code, or need to automate:

  1. Get your API key from your Wappalyzer account.
  2. Write a script (Python is common) to call the API for each domain.
  3. Respect their rate limits—hammering the API can get you blocked.
  4. Parse and save the JSON results.

Here’s a bare-bones Python example (don’t just copy-paste—read the docs first):

python import requests

API_KEY = 'YOUR_API_KEY' DOMAINS = ['example.com', 'anotherdomain.com']

for domain in DOMAINS: resp = requests.get( f'https://api.wappalyzer.com/v2/lookup/?urls={domain}', headers={'x-api-key': API_KEY} ) print(resp.json())

Heads up: The API isn’t free, and you’ll burn through credits quickly on large lists.

Step 5: Download and Parse the Results

Once the scan is done, download your data:

  • The online tool usually spits out a CSV. Each row = one domain, with columns for each detected technology.
  • The API gives you JSON—convert it to CSV if you need (there are lots of scripts or tools for this).

What you’ll get: Typically, for each domain, you’ll see things like:

  • Detected technologies (e.g., WordPress, Google Analytics, Shopify)
  • Categories (CMS, e-commerce, CDN, etc.)
  • Version info (sometimes, not always)
  • Confidence scores (how sure Wappalyzer is)

What’s Missing or Flaky

  • Not every tech is detectable, especially if sites hide stuff or heavily customize.
  • Some results will be blank or have “unknown.”
  • You might see false positives—Wappalyzer looks for patterns, not actual plugin lists.
  • Version detection is hit-or-miss.

Don’t trust this data for legal or compliance use—take it as a helpful starting point, not gospel.

Step 6: Clean Up and Use Your Data

Now you’ve got your exported data. Before you jump into analysis:

  • Spot-check a few rows against live sites. If something looks weird, it probably is.
  • Remove blanks, duplicates, or obviously broken rows.
  • If you need to merge with other datasets (CRM, lead lists, etc.), use domain as your key.

Pro tip: Don’t assume Wappalyzer will catch every tool on every site. It’s best for general trends, not forensic-level accuracy.

What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore

What Works Well

  • Speed: For up to a few thousand sites, Wappalyzer is fast and (usually) reliable.
  • Breadth: Picks up most major web tech: CMS, e-commerce, analytics, JS libraries, etc.
  • Export: Easy CSV format, straightforward for spreadsheets or databases.

What Doesn’t

  • Cost: Bulk lookups get expensive, fast. If you’re scanning tens of thousands of domains, prepare your wallet.
  • Accuracy: You’ll get some false positives/negatives. Sites can obfuscate or strip meta tags.
  • Granularity: Some data (like versions) is often missing or out of date.

What to Ignore

  • Don’t waste time on browser extensions for bulk jobs.
  • Don’t expect to get 100% perfect data—use it as a guide, not a final answer.
  • Avoid “free bulk” Wappalyzer clones online; most are scams, spammy, or offer stale data.

Pro Tips for Bulk Exporting Without Losing Your Mind

  • Test with a small batch first. Don’t upload your whole list until you’re sure it works.
  • Monitor usage and costs. Wappalyzer will happily burn through your credits if you’re not careful.
  • Keep your scripts simple. Overcomplicating (with retries, proxies, etc.) usually isn’t worth the pain unless you’re running at huge scale.
  • Respect their terms. Wappalyzer does not love being hammered or resold—read the fine print if you’re running this for clients.

Wrapping Up: Don’t Overthink It

Exporting website technology data in bulk is rarely as simple as it sounds, but with the right tools and expectations, you can get what you need without pulling your hair out. Wappalyzer is about as good as it gets for this job, but keep your scope realistic, check your results, and don’t get hung up on perfection. Start small, iterate, and remember—sometimes “good enough” is all you need.