How to Use Apify for Web Scraping & Automation in 2026

Quick Start

This guide covers every Apify feature:

• Começando — Create account and basic setup
• How to Use AI Web Scraper — Scrape any website without writing code
• How to Use Apify Store — Find ready-made scrapers for any task
• How to Use Actors — Run cloud programs that collect data automatically
• How to Use Integrations — Connect scraped data to your favorite apps
• How to Use AI Agents — Automate complex web tasks with AI
• How to Use Anti-blocking — Avoid blocks and CAPTCHAs while scraping
• How to Use Proxy — Route requests through residential and datacenter proxies
• How to Use Crawlee — Build custom scrapers with open-source library
• How to Use Code Templates — Start projects fast with pre-built boilerplate

Time needed: 5 minutes per feature

Also in this guide: Pro Tips | Common Mistakes | Solução de problemas | Preços | Alternativas

Why Trust This Guide

I’ve used Apify for over 12 months and tested every feature covered here. This how to use Apify tutorial comes from real hands-on experience — not marketing fluff or vendor screenshots.

Here’s my personal take on using Apify:

Apify is one of the most powerful web scraping and automação tools available today.

But most users only scratch the surface of what it can do.

This guide shows you how to use every major feature.

Step by step, with screenshots and pro tips.

Apify Tutorial

This complete Apify tutorial walks you through every feature step by step, from initial setup to advanced tips that will make you a power user.

Apify

Scrape any website and automate web tasks without managing servers. Apify gives you 10,000+ ready-made raspadores plus tools to build your own. Start free — no credit card required.

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Getting Started with Apify

Before using any feature, complete this one-time setup.

It takes about 3 minutes.

Now let’s walk through each step.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Go to apify.com and click “Start free.”

Sign up with your email, Google, or GitHub account.

No credit card is required for the free plan.

✓ Checkpoint: Verifique o seu caixa de entrada for a confirmation email.

Step 2: Access the Apify Console

Apify runs entirely in your browser.

Log in and you’ll land on the Apify Console dashboard.

Here’s what the dashboard looks like:

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the main dashboard with your usage stats.

Step 3: Complete Initial Setup

Set your default proxy settings under Settings.

Connect your email for run notifications.

Browse the Apify Store to explore available Actors.

How to Use Apify AI Web Scraper

Extrator de dados web com IA lets you extract data from any website without writing a single line of code.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Watch AI Web Scraper in action:

Now let’s break down each step.

Step 1: Open the AI Web Scraper Actor

Go to Apify Store and search for “AI Web Scraper.”

Click “Try for free” to open the Actor configuration.

Step 2: Enter Your Target URL

Paste the website URL you want to scrape.

Describe what data you want in plain English.

The AI figures out the page structure for you.

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the input fields filled with your URL and instructions.

Step 3: Run and Export Results

Click “Start” to begin the scraping run.

Download results as JSON, CSV, or Excel when finished.

How to Use Apify Store

Loja Apify lets you find and use 10,000+ ready-made scrapers built by the community.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Watch Apify Store in action:

Now let’s break down each step.

Step 1: Browse the Store

Go to the Apify Store from the top navigation bar.

Use the search bar or filter by category.

Step 2: Select and Configure an Actor

Click on any Actor to see its description and pricing.

Check the ratings, reviews, and usage examples.

Click “Try for free” to open the input configuration.

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the Actor’s input form ready to fill out.

Step 3: Run the Actor

Fill in the required inputs like URLs or search terms.

Click “Start” and wait for the results.

How to Use Apify Actors

Actors let you run serverless cloud programs that scrape data or automate tasks.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Watch Actors in action:

Now let’s break down each step.

Step 1: Create a New Actor

Go to your Console and click “Actors” in the sidebar.

Click “Create new” and choose a template or start blank.

Step 2: Configure the Actor Settings

Set the memory allocation and timeout for your Actor.

Define input schema if you want custom parameters.

Write or paste your scraping code in the editor.

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the code editor with your Actor’s source code.

Step 3: Build and Run

Click “Build” to compile your Actor.

Then click “Start” to run it in the cloud.

How to Use Apify Integrations

Integrações let you send scraped data directly to tools like Google Sheets, Slack, and Zapier.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Watch Integrations in action:

Now let’s break down each step.

Step 1: Open the Integrations Tab

Go to any Actor or Task and click the “Integrations” tab.

You’ll see a list of available connections.

Step 2: Choose Your Destination

Select the app you want to send data to.

Authorize the connection with your account credentials.

Map the data fields to match your target app.

✓ Checkpoint: You should see a green “Connected” status next to your chosen app.

Step 3: Test the Integration

Run a small test to confirm data flows correctly.

Check the destination app for incoming data.

How to Use Apify AI Agents

Agentes de IA let you automate complex web tasks using AI-powered decision making.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Watch AI Agents in action:

Now let’s break down each step.

Step 1: Find an AI Agent Actor

Search the Apify Store for “AI agent” Actors.

Choose one that matches your task type.

Step 2: Define the Task Instructions

Describe what you want the agent to accomplish in plain English.

Set the target URLs and any constraints.

The AI agent plans and executes the steps for you.

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the agent’s task plan before it starts running.

Step 3: Review and Export Results

Monitor the agent’s progress in real time.

Download the collected data once the run completes.

How to Use Apify Anti-blocking

Antibloqueio lets you bypass CAPTCHAs, IP bans, and fingerprint detection while scraping.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Watch Anti-blocking in action:

Now let’s break down each step.

Step 1: Enable Anti-blocking in Your Actor

Open any Actor’s input settings.

Look for the “Proxy configuration” section.

Step 2: Choose Your Anti-blocking Strategy

Select between residential, datacenter, or browser-based proxies.

Enable browser fingerprinting if scraping JavaScript-heavy sites.

Set retry options for blocked requests.

✓ Checkpoint: You should see proxy and anti-blocking options enabled in the Actor config.

Step 3: Test on a Protected Website

Run a small test against your target site.

Check the logs for any blocked or failed requests.

How to Use Apify Proxy

Proxy lets you route scraping requests through millions of IP addresses worldwide.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Watch Proxy in action:

Now let’s break down each step.

Step 1: Access Proxy Settings

Go to your Apify Console and click “Proxy” in the sidebar.

You’ll see available proxy groups and usage stats.

Step 2: Configure Proxy Groups

Choose between datacenter, residential, or SERP proxies.

Set the country targeting for location-specific scraping.

Apply the proxy group to your Actor’s settings.

✓ Checkpoint: You should see proxy usage appearing in your dashboard stats.

Step 3: Monitor Proxy Performance

Check the proxy success rate in your run logs.

Switch proxy types if you see too many failures.

How to Use Apify Crawlee

Crawlee lets you build custom web scrapers using an open-source JavaScript or Python library.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Watch Crawlee in action:

Now let’s break down each step.

Step 1: Install Crawlee

Open your terminal and run “npx crawlee create my-project.”

Choose a scraper template from the list.

Step 2: Write Your Scraping Logic

Open the project and edit the main scraping file.

Define the URLs to crawl and the data to extract.

Crawlee handles retries, proxies, and queues automatically.

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the scraper project structure with your custom code.

Step 3: Deploy to Apify Cloud

Push your Crawlee project to Apify with “apify push.”

Run it in the cloud and schedule recurring runs.

How to Use Apify Code Templates

Code Templates let you start new scraping projects with pre-written boilerplate code.

Here’s how to use it step by step.

Watch Code Templates in action:

Now let’s break down each step.

Step 1: Browse Available Templates

Go to the Apify Console and create a new Actor.

Choose from templates for Cheerio, Playwright, Puppeteer, or Python.

Step 2: Customize the Template Code

Edit the target URLs and data extraction logic.

Modify the output schema to match your data needs.

The template handles error handling and storage for you.

✓ Checkpoint: You should see the customized code ready to build.

Step 3: Build and Test

Click “Build” and then “Start” to test your scraper.

Review the output dataset for accuracy.

Apify Pro Tips and Shortcuts

After testing Apify for over 12 months, here are my best tips.

Atalhos de teclado

Hidden Features Most People Miss

• Dataset Deduplication: Enable deduplication in dataset settings to remove duplicate records automatically before export.
• API Token Authentication: Use your personal API token with curl or Postman to trigger Actor runs without opening the Console.
• Scheduled Notifications: Set up email or Slack alerts for run completions, failures, or when your credits run low.

Apify Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Running Large Jobs Without Testing First

Mistake #2: Over-Allocating Memory for Simple Scrapers

Mistake #3: Ignoring Data Retention Limits

Apify Troubleshooting

Problem: Actor Run Fails With Timeout Error

Cause: The target website takes too long to respond or the Actor runs out of allocated time.

Consertar: Increase the timeout setting in Actor configuration and add retry logic for slow pages.

Problem: Scraped Data Returns Empty Results

Cause: The website loads content dynamically with JavaScript that the basic scraper cannot render.

Consertar: Switch from a Cheerio-based scraper to a Playwright or Puppeteer Actor that renders JavaScript.

Problem: Getting Blocked or Receiving CAPTCHA Pages

Cause: The target site detected your scraper through IP patterns or browser fingerprinting.

Consertar: Enable residential proxies and reduce the request rate to mimic human browsing behavior.

📌 Observação: If none of these fix your issue, contact Apify support.

O que é Apify?

Apify is a web scraping and automation platform that lets you extract data from any website at scale.

Think of it like an app store for web scrapers — pick one, run it, get data.

Watch this quick overview:

It includes these key features:

• AI Web Scraper: Extract data from any page using plain English instructions.
• Apify Store: Access 10,000+ ready-made scrapers for popular websites.
• Actors: Build and run serverless cloud programs for any scraping task.
• Integrações: Connect scraped data to Google Sheets, Slack, Zapier, and more.
• AI Agents: Automate multi-step web tasks with AI-powered decision making.
• Anti-blocking: Bypass CAPTCHAs, IP bans, and fingerprint detection.
• Proxy: Route requests through millions of datacenter and residential IPs.
• Crawlee: Build custom scrapers with a powerful open-source library.
• Code Templates: Start projects fast with pre-built scraper boilerplate code.

For a full review, see our Apify review.

Here’s a look at the top benefits:

Apify Pricing

Here’s what Apify costs in 2026:

Teste grátis: Yes, free plan with $5 in monthly credits and no credit card required.

Garantia de reembolso: No formal guarantee, but you can cancel anytime before the next billing cycle.

💰 Best Value: Scale plan — gives you $179 in platform credits and supports team collaboration.

Apify vs Alternatives

How does Apify compare? Here’s the competitive landscape:

Quick picks:

• Best overall: Apify — the most complete platform with Store, Actors, and cloud infrastructure.
• Best budget: Scrapy — completely free and open-source for Python developers.
• Best for beginners: Octoparse — visual point-and-click scraping with no coding required.
• Best for enterprise proxies: Bright Data — largest proxy network with advanced targeting options.

🎯 Apify Alternatives

Looking for Apify alternatives? Here are the top options:

• 🔧 Scrapy: Free open-source Python framework for developers who want full control over their scraping pipeline.
• 🏢 Dados brilhantes: Enterprise-grade proxy network with data collection tools for large-scale operations.
• 👶 Octoparse: No-code visual scraper perfect for non-technical users who need point-and-click data extraction.
• ⚡ ScrapingBee: Simple REST API for web scraping with built-in proxy rotation and JavaScript rendering.
• 🧠 ScrapeGraphAI: Open-source AI-powered scraping library that uses large language models to extract data.

For the full list, see our Alternativas ao Apify guide.

⚔️ Apify Compared

Here’s how Apify stacks up against each competitor:

• Apify vs Scrapy: Apify wins on ease of use and cloud hosting. Scrapy wins on flexibility and zero cost for Python experts.
• Apify vs Bright Data: Apify wins on pre-built Actors and Store. Bright Data wins on proxy network size and enterprise features.
• Apify vs Octoparse: Apify wins on developer tools and API access. Octoparse wins for non-technical users who prefer visual workflows.
• Apify vs ScrapingBee: Apify wins on feature depth and Actor marketplace. ScrapingBee wins on simple API-only scraping without overhead.
• Apify vs ScrapeGraphAI: Apify wins on cloud infrastructure and support. ScrapeGraphAI wins for AI-first data extraction at no cost.

Start Using Apify Now

You learned how to use every major Apify feature:

• ✅ AI Web Scraper
• ✅ Apify Store
• ✅ Actors
• ✅ Integrations
• ✅ AI Agents
• ✅ Anti-blocking
• ✅ Proxy
• ✅ Crawlee
• ✅ Code Templates

Next step: Pick one feature and try it now.

Most people start with AI Web Scraper.

It takes less than 5 minutes.

Perguntas frequentes

What is Apify used for?

Apify is used for web scraping, data extraction, and web automation. Businesses use it to collect product prices, generate leads, monitor competitors, and pull data from mídias sociais. It runs cloud-based scrapers called Actors that handle the entire process for you.

Is Apify scraping legal?

Web scraping publicly available data is generally legal in most countries. However, you should always respect a website’s terms of service and robots.txt file. Apify is SOC 2 Type II compliant and follows GDPR and CCPA regulations. Always consult a legal professional for your specific use case.

Is Apify API free?

Apify offers a free plan that includes $5 in monthly platform credits and API access. You can use the API to run Actors, manage datasets, and trigger scraping jobs. Paid plans start at $49 per month and include more credits and features.

Is Apify worth it?

Apify is worth it if you need regular web scraping without building your own infrastructure. The Store has 10,000+ ready-made scrapers that save hours of development time. For one-off scraping tasks, the free plan may be enough. For ongoing data collection, the paid plans provide good value.

Can Apify scrape Instagram?

Yes, Apify has several Instagram scraper Actors in the Store. You can extract posts, profiles, hashtags, comments, and follower data. Keep in mind that scraping Instagram may violate their terms of service, so use this feature responsibly and only for publicly available data.

How to use Apify for web scraping?

Create a free account on apify.com, then browse the Apify Store for a ready-made scraper. Enter the target URL, configure the input options, and click Start. Once the run completes, download results as JSON, CSV, or Excel. You can also build your own Actors from scratch using code templates.

O Apify é gratuito?

Apify has a free plan that gives you $5 in monthly platform credits, 4GB of Actor memory, and 7-day data retention. This is enough for small tests and personal projects. For regular or large-scale scraping, you’ll need a paid plan starting at $49 per month.