What is Apify?
Apify is a cloud platform for web scraping and automation. It hosts 2,000+ pre-built scrapers called "actors" that extract structured data from websites. Users pick a tool, configure inputs, and download results as JSON, CSV, or Excel. No coding required for most actors. Apify has 1 million+ registered users and was founded in 2015.
Is Apify free to use?
Yes. Apify offers a free tier with $5 in platform credits every month. No credit card required. The free tier covers roughly 1,000–2,000 results on most actors. Paid plans start at $49/month (Starter) for higher volume needs.
What are the best Apify scrapers?
The most popular Apify scrapers by user count are: Google Maps Scraper (237,000+ users), Instagram Scraper (161,000+ users), TikTok Scraper (110,000+ users), Web Scraper (99,000+ users), Website Content Crawler (93,000+ users), and Google Search Scraper (82,000+ users). Browse the full directory at TryApify.com for all 230+ verified actors.
How do I scrape Google Maps with Apify?
Use the Google Maps Scraper by Compass (the most popular actor with 237,000+ users). Create a free Apify account, find the actor in the store, enter your search query (e.g., "coffee shops in Seattle"), set a result limit, and click Start. You'll get business names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, ratings, and hours in 5–10 minutes.
How do I scrape Instagram with Apify?
Use the Instagram Scraper (161,000+ users) for posts and hashtags, or Instagram Profile Scraper (77,000+ users) for profile data. Create a free Apify account, configure your target profiles or hashtags, and run the actor. Results include follower counts, post engagement, bios, and contact info.
Is web scraping legal?
Scraping publicly available data is generally legal. US courts (hiQ v. LinkedIn, 2022) have ruled that scraping public web data does not violate the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. In the EU, public data scraping is generally permitted under GDPR when done for legitimate purposes. Always check each website's Terms of Service and avoid scraping private or personal data without consent.