Apify for developers
Quick answer: Apify provides REST API v2, JavaScript and Python SDKs, Crawlee (open-source scraping framework), and integrations with n8n, Make, Zapier, Google Sheets, LangChain, AWS S3, Airbyte, and more. You can run Actors, pull datasets, and wire web data into any stack.
This hub is the entry point for engineers: APIs, SDKs, Crawlee, custom Actors, production monitoring, and every integration guide we publish on Use Apify. If you already write scrapers and want serverless runs, scheduling, and managed storage, start here, then open the tutorials below for your language and workflow.
Developer resources at a glance
| Resource | What it is | Start here |
|---|---|---|
| REST API v2 | HTTPS JSON API for runs, datasets, schedules, webhooks | Apify API tutorial |
| JavaScript / TypeScript SDK | Official apify-client + Crawlee on Node | Crawlee Node.js tutorial |
| Python SDK | Official apify-client + Crawlee for Python | Crawlee Python tutorial |
| Crawlee | MIT-licensed scraping & browser automation library | crawlee.dev · GitHub |
| Apify CLI | Local run, push, and Actor lifecycle from the terminal | Covered in Build your first Actor |
| Actor runtime | Docker-based serverless containers with platform storage | Build your first Actor |
| Integrations | n8n, Make, Zapier, Sheets, LangChain, S3, Airbyte, Slack, Drive | Integrations hub |
Crawlee runs locally without Apify; deploying to Apify adds cloud scaling, proxies, datasets, webhooks, and scheduling without new code paths.
Quick code example: start an Actor via the API
Replace APIFY_TOKEN with a token from Integrations → API in the Apify Console. The Actor ID in the URL uses username~actor-name form (compass~crawler-google-places).
curl -sS -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/compass~crawler-google-places/runs" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer ${APIFY_TOKEN}" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"input":{"searchStringsArray":["coffee shop Austin"],"maxCrawledPlacesPerSearch":50}}'
The response includes data.id (run ID) and data.defaultDatasetId. Poll GET https://api.apify.com/v2/actor-runs/RUN_ID with the same Authorization header until data.status is SUCCEEDED, then list dataset items via the API or an SDK.
JavaScript (Node.js) using the official client:
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';
const client = new ApifyClient({ token: process.env.APIFY_TOKEN });
const run = await client.actor('compass/crawler-google-places').call({
searchStringsArray: ['coffee shop Austin'],
maxCrawledPlacesPerSearch: 50,
});
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
console.log(items.length, 'places');
For Python, see the same flow with apify_client.ApifyClient in the Apify API tutorial.
Create a free Apify account · Open API reference (official)
All developer docs on this site
Foundations
| Guide | Description |
|---|---|
| Build your first Apify Actor | Scaffold, local test (apify run), deploy (apify push) |
| Apify API tutorial | Tokens, runs, datasets, schedules, best practices |
| Crawlee JavaScript / TypeScript tutorial | CheerioCrawler, PlaywrightCrawler, TypeScript |
| Crawlee Python tutorial | Python Crawlee, Playwright, parsers |
| Scraping dynamic websites | SPAs, headless Chrome, waiting strategies |
| Processing scraped data | Clean, transform, and route results |
Shipping and operations
| Guide | Description |
|---|---|
| GitHub CI/CD integration | Test and deploy Actors from GitHub Actions |
| Advanced Actor monitoring | Logs, metrics, and production alerts |
| Apify Standby mode | Low-latency always-warm Actors |
| Resume scraping | Checkpoints for long crawls |
| Apify Tasks and Schedules | Recurring runs without external cron |
Integrations (step-by-step)
| Guide | Description |
|---|---|
| Integrations overview | Map of iPaaS, AI, storage, and analytics |
| Make integration | Visual automation with Apify modules |
| n8n integration | Self-hosted workflows with the Apify node |
| Zapier integration | Connect thousands of SaaS apps |
| LangChain integration | Loaders and tools for RAG pipelines |
| Google Sheets integration | Push dataset rows to spreadsheets |
| Google Drive integration | Store exports and artifacts in Drive |
| Slack integration | Notify channels from run events |
| AWS S3 integration | Land datasets in S3 buckets |
| Airbyte integration | Sync into warehouses and BI tools |
Monetization
| Guide | Description |
|---|---|
| Monetize your Actors | Store pricing, payouts, and product patterns |
Developer workflow (end to end)
1. Prototype locally → Crawlee + Apify CLI (`apify run`)
2. Version control → Git + code review
3. Deploy → `apify push` to Apify Cloud
4. Automate → API, SDK, or integrations (n8n / Make / Zapier)
5. Observe → Runs, logs, webhooks, datasets
6. Monetize (optional) → Publish to the Apify Store
AI and agent development
- MCP: give Claude Desktop, Cursor, or other MCP clients access to Actors via Use Apify MCP servers
- LangChain: document loaders and tools via LangChain integration
- RAG data: use cases and architecture via Data for AI & RAG
Sign up for Apify. The free plan includes monthly credits to build, run, and integrate your first Actors without a credit card.
FAQ
Apify exposes a full REST API v2 for runs, storage, and scheduling. Official SDKs exist for JavaScript/TypeScript and Python (apify-client). Crawlee is the open-source scraping framework maintained by Apify and works on or off the platform.
Create an API token in the Apify Console, then call POST /v2/acts/{actorId}/runs with JSON input, or use apify-client's actor().call() in Node or the equivalent in Python. See the quick examples on this page and the Apify API tutorial for polling, datasets, and webhooks.
Crawlee is an MIT-licensed library for building scrapers with Playwright, Puppeteer, Cheerio, or plain HTTP. You can run it entirely on your own machines. Deploying the same code as an Actor on Apify adds managed browsers, proxies, datasets, and scheduling.
Common integrations include n8n, Make, Zapier, Google Sheets, Google Drive, Slack, LangChain, AWS S3, and Airbyte. See the integrations overview for the full map and setup guides.
Yes. Use the GitHub CI/CD guide to run tests on push and deploy new Actor versions automatically.
Publish an Actor to the Apify Store and choose a pricing model. Other users pay per usage; you earn revenue. Details are in the monetize Actors guide.