Skip to main content

How Apify Store works

Out of the 3,000+ Actors on Apify Store marketplace, hundreds of them were created by developers just like you. Let's get acquainted with the concept of Apify Store and what it takes to publish an Actor there.

What are Actors (and why they're called that)?​

Actors are serverless cloud applications that run on the Apify platform, capable of performing various computing tasks on the web, such as crawling websites or sending automated emails. They are developed by independent developers all over the world, and you can be one of them.

The term "Actor" is used because, like human actors, these programs follow a script. This naming convention unifies both web scraping and web automation solutions, including AI agents, under a single term. Actors can range in complexity and function, targeting different websites or performing multiple tasks, which makes the umbrella term very useful.

What is Apify Store?​

Apify Store is a public library of Actors that is constantly growing and evolving. It's basically a publicly visible (and searchable) part of the Apify platform. With over 3,000 Actors currently available, most of them are created and maintained by the community. Actors that consistently perform well remain on Apify Store, while those reported as malfunctioning or under maintenance are eventually removed. This keeps the tools in our ecosystem reliable, effective, and competitive.

Types of Actors​

  • Web scraping Actors: for instance, Twitter (X) Scraper extracts data from Twitter.
  • Automation Actors: for example, Content Checker monitors website content for changes and emails you once a change occurs.
  • Bundles: chains of multiple Actors united by a common data point or target website. For example, Restaurant Review Aggregator can scrape reviews from six platforms at once.

Learn more about bundles here: Actor bundles

Public and private Actors​

Actors on Apify Store can be public or private:

  • Private Actors: these are only accessible to you in Apify Console. You can use them without exposing them to the web. However, you can still share the results they produce.
  • Public Actors: these are available to everyone on Apify Store. You can choose to make them free or set a price. By publishing your web scrapers and automation solutions, you can attract users and generate income.

How Actor monetization works (briefly)​

You can monetize your Actors using three different pricing models:

  • Pay for usage: charge based on how much the Actor is used.
  • Pay per result: the price is based on the number of results produced, with the first few free.
  • Pay per event: the price is based on specific events triggered by the Actor.
  • Monthly billing: set a fixed monthly rental rate for using the Actor.

For detailed information on which pricing model might work for your Actor, refer to How Actor monetization works.

Actor ownership on Store​

Actors are either created and maintained by Apify or by members of the community:

  • Maintained by Apify: created and supported by the Apify team.
  • Maintained by Community: created and managed by independent developers from the community.

To see who maintains an Actor, check the upper-right corner of the Actor's page.

When it comes to managing Actors on Apify, it’s important that every potential community developer understands the differences between Apify-maintained and Community-maintained Actors. Here’s what you need to know to navigate the platform effectively and ensure your work stands out.

Community-maintained Actors​

✨ Features and functionality: offers a broader range of use cases and features, often tailored to specific needs. Great for exploring unique or niche applications.

🧑‍💻 Ownership: created and maintained by independent developers like you.

🛠 Maintenance: you’re responsible for all updates, bug fixes, and ongoing maintenance. Apify hosts your Actor but does not manage its code.

👷‍♀️ Reliability and testing: it’s up to you to ensure your Actor’s reliability and performance.

☝️ Support and Issues: Apify does not provide direct support for Community-maintained Actors. You must manage issues through the Issues tab, where you handle user queries and problems yourself.

✍️ Documentation: you’re responsible for creating and maintaining documentation for your Actor. Make sure it’s clear and helpful for users.

Test your Actor!

For the best results, make sure your Actor is well-documented and thoroughly tested. Engage with users through the Issues tab to address any problems promptly. By maintaining high standards and being proactive, you’ll enhance your Actor’s reputation and usability in Apify Store.

Importance of Actor testing and reliability​

It's essential to test your Actors and make sure they work as intended. That's why Apify does it on our side as much as you should do it on yours.

Apify runs automated tests daily to ensure all Actors on Apify Store are functional and reliable. These tests check if an Actor can successfully run with its default input within 5 minutes. If an Actor fails for three consecutive days, it’s labeled under maintenance, and the developer is notified. Continuous failures for another 28 days lead to deprecation.

To restore an Actor's health, developers should fix and rebuild it. The testing system will automatically recognize the changes within 24 hours. If your Actor requires longer run times or authentication, contact support to explain why it should be excluded from tests. For more control, you can implement your own tests using the Actor Testing tool available on Apify Store.

Actor metrics and reliability score​

On the right panel of each Actor on Store, you can see a list of Actor metrics.

Actor metrics such as the number of monthly users, star ratings, success rates, response times, creation dates, and recent modifications collectively offer insights into its reliability. Basically, they serve as a shorthand for potential users to assess your Actor's reliability before even trying it out.

A high number of monthly users indicates widespread trust and effective performance, while a high star rating reflects user satisfaction. A success rate nearing 100% demonstrates consistent performance. Short response times show a commitment to addressing issues promptly, though quicker responses are ideal. A recent creation date suggests modern features and ongoing development, while recent modifications point to active maintenance and continuous improvements. Together, these metrics provide a comprehensive view of an Actor’s reliability and quality.

Reporting Issues in Actors​

Each Actor has an Issues tab in Apify Console and on the web. Here, users can open an issue (ticket) and engage in discussions with the Actor's creator, platform admins, and other users. The tab is ideal for asking questions, requesting new features, or providing feedback.

Since the Issues tab is public, the level of activity — or lack thereof — can be observed by potential users and may serve as an indicator of the Actor's reliability. A well-maintained Issues tab with prompt responses suggests an active and dependable Actor.

Learn more about how to handle the Issues tab

Resources​