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Apify: automation features and setup
A platform for running data collection tools and browser automation in the cloud. Offers ready-made components called Actors that can be run manually, on a schedule, or through an API.
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Overview
An Actor receives structured input, performs a task, and returns a result that can be passed to another workflow. This lets you connect web data collection to a spreadsheet, research, or an internal system without managing every server yourself. The catalog includes components from different creators, and you can also develop a private component. Choose based on the quality of results on the target website and the component's maintenance, not just its name or a single successful example.
Features
- Catalog of ready-made Actors for data collection and processing
- Scheduled runs or API-based execution
- Storage for results and connections to other automation tools
Business uses
- Tracking price changes in a public catalog
- Collecting information pages for business research and updating an internal database
Getting started
- Choose an Actor suited to the data source and desired output format.
- Run a small example and check for missing or duplicate records.
- Connect the output to its destination and add a schedule only after checking the cost.
What to check
- Check who maintains the component, when it was updated, and how it is billed.
- Make sure collection is permitted under your access rights and that the process detects changes to the website structure.
Sources to check next
Vendor features and prices change. Confirm details on the linked official pages before you rely on them.