So you want to build an Actor and publish it on Apify Store. Where should you start? How can you make people want to use it?

To generate new Actor ideas, you can draw from your experiences. You can also use SEO tools to discover relevant search terms and explore sites related to web scraping, automation, or integrations. But for direct inspiration straight from Apify, check out our Actor Ideas page to see what data extraction tools are trending in the Apify community. Let's see how you can both use and contribute to this valuable resource.


What's the Ideas page?

The Ideas page is where users can submit and explore potential projects for Actors, including scrapers, integrations, and automations. It serves as a collaborative space for proposing new tool ideas and finding inspiration for building and developing web scraping and automation solutions.


How you, as a developer, can use the Ideas page

Got an innovative Actor idea or unsure what to build next? The Apify Ideas page is your go-to for submitting, developing, and claiming Actor concepts. If you're a developer ready to build an Actor using the Apify Ideas page, here’s how you can get involved:

  1. Browse the Ideas page

    Check out the Ideas page to find ideas that interest you. Look for ideas that align with your skills and the kind of Actor you want to build.

  2. Select an idea

    Once you’ve found a promising idea, review the details and requirements provided. If you see an idea you want to develop, make sure to check its current status. If it’s marked as Open to develop, you’re good to go.

  3. Develop your Actor

    Start building your Actor based on the idea. You don’t need to notify Apify about your development process. Focus on creating a functional and well-documented tool.

  4. Prepare for launch

    Once your Actor is ready, ensure it meets all quality standards and has a comprehensive README. This documentation should include installation instructions, usage details, and any other relevant information.

  5. Publish your Actor

    Deploy your Actor on Apify Store. Make sure it’s live and accessible for users.

  6. Claim your idea

    After your Actor is published, email [email protected] with the URL of your Actor and the original idea. This will allow us to tag the idea as Completed and link it to your new Actor, giving you credit and visibility.

  7. Monitor and optimize

    Make sure to monitor your Actor’s performance and user feedback. Use this information to make improvements and keep your Actor up to date.

By following these steps, you’ll be able to contribute to the community while also gaining recognition for your work.


Criteria for claiming an idea