# Apify

> Apify platform for platform-specific scraping beyond WebFetch/BrightData. Support for 5 priority platforms: LinkedIn (beyond MCP), Instagram, YouTube (comments + meta), Google Maps, Facebook (public). Uses APIFY_TOKEN from `~/.claude/.env`. [WHAT] Apify skill for OSINT and intelligence monitoring. Complements the scraping skill for platforms where tiers 1-4 are insufficient. Cost awareness: each run costs credits — start narrow. [WHEN] Use when: apify, deep LinkedIn scraping, Instagram scraping, YouTube comments, Google Maps reviews, Facebook public page, "platform-specific scraping", "deep-scrape Instagram profile". NOT for: regular site (use scraping tier 1-3), single LinkedIn post (use linkedin MCP). [LANGUAGE] English and other languages.

- Skill: `carlheath/apify` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add carlheath/apify`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/carlheath/apify/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: AI & ML
- Author: carlheath (https://skillmd.com/u/carlheath)
- Updated: 2026-09-17
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/carlheath/apify

---


# Apify

**Role:** platform-specific deep scraping via Apify actors.
**Auth:** `APIFY_TOKEN` in `~/.claude/.env`.

## 5 priority platforms

### 1. LinkedIn (deep)
The LinkedIn MCP provides basic data. Apify actors provide:
- Full activity history on a profile
- A company's full employee list (if public)
- Search results across many profiles

Actor: `apify/linkedin-profile-scraper` or `bebity/linkedin-jobs-scraper`

### 2. Instagram
- Profile data, posts, reels meta
- Comments (for OSINT/sentiment)

Actor: `apify/instagram-scraper`

### 3. YouTube
The youtube-transcript MCP provides transcripts. Apify provides:
- Comments (sentiment analysis, OSINT)
- Channel meta (all videos)
- Search results

Actor: `streamers/youtube-scraper`

### 4. Google Maps
Reviews, contact info, opening hours for locations. For research on physical places.

Actor: `compass/google-maps-extractor`

### 5. Facebook (public only)
Public pages, group posts if public, events.

Actor: `apify/facebook-pages-scraper`

## Usage

```bash
# Generic Apify call via API
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/${ACTOR_ID}/runs?token=${APIFY_TOKEN}" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"startUrls": [{"url": "..."}], "maxItems": 50}'

# Fetch results
curl "https://api.apify.com/v2/datasets/${DATASET_ID}/items?token=${APIFY_TOKEN}"
```

## Cost discipline

- **Start with `maxItems: 10-50`** for validation
- If results look right, scale up
- Log runs to `~/.claude/logs/apify-runs.jsonl` with cost
- Warn the user when a run exceeds $1

## Use cases

| Scenario | Actor | Expected cost |
|----------|-------|---------------|
| Background check on person (LinkedIn deep) | linkedin-profile-scraper | $0.10-0.50 |
| Company employees for OSINT | linkedin-jobs-scraper | $1-5 |
| Sentiment analysis on YouTube comments | youtube-scraper | $0.20-1 |
| Background on a physical location | google-maps-extractor | $0.10-0.30 |

## Version history

- v3.0 (2026-05-02): initial public release.