---
title: "Apify MCP Server: Thousands of Ready-Made Scrapers for AI"
url: "https://mcpshelf.co/servers/apify"
description: "Apify's MCP server lets an assistant find and run Apify Store scrapers for Google Maps, Instagram, Amazon and more. Hosted and npx setup, tokens and costs."
updated: "2026-10-27"
site: "MCP Shelf"
---

# Apify

> Find and run ready-made Apify scrapers for maps, social media, shops and search.

## At a glance

Apify's server turns Apify Store into a tool box. The assistant searches the Store for an Actor (Apify's name for a packaged scraper or automation), reads its input schema and runs it, then pages through the results. Out of the box it also has a web search and a page fetcher.

Runs are billed to your Apify account like any other run, and some Actors charge per result, so set a spending limit before you let an agent loose. The hosted server at mcp.apify.com signs in with OAuth and gets new features first.

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| Made by | Apify |
| GitHub | https://github.com/apify/apify-mcp-server |
| Licence | MIT |
| npm package | [@apify/actors-mcp-server](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@apify/actors-mcp-server) 0.19.3 (21 Oct 2026) |
| GitHub stars | 13.3K |
| Last commit | 26 Oct 2026 |
| Tools | 10 |
| Runs on | Your computer or hosted |
| Install check | Needs your setup first |
| Category | [Browser and web data](https://mcpshelf.co/categories/browser-and-web) |

**Our check:** It needs something our Linux test machine does not have (an account, a desktop app, a Mac or a running service), so on 27 Oct 2026 we listed its tools from its package instead of running this config.

## Tools

We listed 10 tools on 27 Oct 2026. 7 only read; the rest can change things or run commands.

| Tool | Kind | What it is for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `search-actors` | reads | Searches Apify Store for scrapers and automations that fit a site or a job. |
| `fetch-actor-details` | reads | Returns an Actor's description, input schema, pricing and output schema, so the model can fill in the input correctly. |
| `call-actor` | changes | Runs an Actor with the given input and returns run details plus a short summary. |
| `get-actor-run` | reads | Checks the status and storage IDs of a run. |
| `get-dataset-items` | reads | Pages through the rows an Actor run produced. |
| `get-key-value-store-record` | reads | Reads one stored record, such as a screenshot or an output file, by key. |
| `abort-actor-run` | changes | Stops a run that is still going. |
| `search-apify-docs` | reads | Searches the Apify and Crawlee documentation. |
| `fetch-apify-docs` | reads | Fetches one documentation page in full. |
| `report-problem` | changes | Sends a problem report about a tool or Actor to Apify. |

### How clearly it describes its tools

10 of 10 tools have a description and 10 of 10 say whether they change things. The tool list takes at least ~2,700 tokens of context. Every tool says whether it only reads or can change things, so a client can ask before the risky ones.

### Tool groups

| Group | Covers |
| --- | --- |
| `actors` | search-actors, fetch-actor-details and call-actor: find and run any Actor. On by default. |
| `docs` | Search and read the Apify and Crawlee docs. On by default. |
| `apify/rag-web-browser, apify/web-fetch` | Two Actors loaded as direct tools by default: a web search that reads the top results, and a single-page fetcher. |
| `runs` | List runs, read their details and logs, and abort them. |
| `storage` | Datasets and key-value stores: list them, read schemas and records. |
| `tasks` | Create, update and publish saved Actor tasks. |
| `schedules` | Create, change and delete schedules that run Actors on a timer. |
| `builds, versions` | Build Actors, read build logs, and create or change an Actor's source files. |
| `api` | Search the Apify API reference and send read or write requests to any API path. |

## Set it up

### Claude Desktop

Where: claude_desktop_config.json (Settings → Developer → Edit Config)

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apify": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@apify/actors-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "APIFY_TOKEN": "YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### Claude Code

Where: Your terminal, in the project folder

```bash
claude mcp add-json apify '{"command":"npx","args":["-y","@apify/actors-mcp-server"],"env":{"APIFY_TOKEN":"YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN"}}'
```

### Cursor

Where: ~/.cursor/mcp.json, or .cursor/mcp.json in a project

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apify": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@apify/actors-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "APIFY_TOKEN": "YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### VS Code

Where: .vscode/mcp.json in your project

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "apify": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@apify/actors-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "APIFY_TOKEN": "YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### Windsurf

Where: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apify": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@apify/actors-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "APIFY_TOKEN": "YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### ChatGPT

Where: Not supported

ChatGPT only connects to remote servers by URL. This one runs on your computer, so use Claude, Cursor or VS Code.

Add "--tools", "actors,docs" to pin the tool set, since Apify says the defaults can change. Set "TELEMETRY_ENABLED": "false" in env to switch off its telemetry.

### Remote option

Apify recommends the hosted server: it signs in with OAuth, needs no install and can use rental Actors, which the local server cannot.

```
https://mcp.apify.com
```

## Settings

| Setting | Kind | Required | What it does |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `APIFY_TOKEN` | env | yes | Your Apify API token, from Apify Console → Settings → API & Integrations. Runs are billed to this account. Example: `apify_api_...` |
| `--tools` | flag | no | Picks tool groups, single tools or Actors to load. Without it you get the defaults, which Apify says may change, so pin it in anything you rely on. Example: `--tools actors,docs,apify/rag-web-browser` |
| `?tools=` | config | no | The same choice for the hosted server, as a query string on the URL. Example: `https://mcp.apify.com?tools=actors,docs` |
| `--ui` | flag | no | Returns interactive MCP App widgets for some tools in clients that can show them. Also UI_MODE in env. Example: `--ui true` |
| `TELEMETRY_ENABLED` | env | no | Set to false to turn off usage telemetry and Sentry error reporting. --telemetry-enabled=false does the same. Example: `false` |

## What it can touch

**It can read**

- Apify Store listings and Actor details
- Your runs, datasets and key-value stores
- Any public website an Actor scrapes

**It can change**

- Your Apify balance: each Actor run costs platform credits, and some Actors charge per result
- Actor tasks, schedules, builds and source files, when those tool groups are loaded

**Safer setup:** Load only --tools actors,docs, set a monthly spending limit in Apify Console, and leave the api, versions and schedules groups off unless you need them.

## Before you start

- An Apify account and API token (free plan available)
- Node.js 22 or newer for the local server

## Good for

- Pulling structured data from Google Maps, social networks or shops
- Web research that needs more than a single page fetch
- Running the scrapers you already use on Apify from a chat

## If it does not work

**A client still uses https://mcp.apify.com/sse**
The SSE endpoint was removed. Point the client at https://mcp.apify.com with no /sse on the end.

**The model cannot find a rental Actor**
Rental Actors only work through the hosted server. Switch from npx to https://mcp.apify.com.

**A run finishes but the model shows no data**
call-actor returns a summary, not the rows. Ask it to fetch the results with get-dataset-items.

**Unexpected charges**
Check the Actor's pricing with fetch-actor-details before running it, and keep a spending limit on the account.

## Similar servers

| Server | Tools | Runs on | Stars |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [BrowserTools MCP](https://mcpshelf.co/servers/browser-tools) | 16 | Your computer | 7.3K |
| [ExecuteAutomation Playwright MCP](https://mcpshelf.co/servers/executeautomation-playwright) | 33 | Your computer | 5.7K |
| [Wigolo](https://mcpshelf.co/servers/wigolo) | 10 | Your computer | 5.5K |
| [Perplexity MCP](https://mcpshelf.co/servers/perplexity) | 4 | Your computer or hosted | 2.6K |

## Questions

### Is the Apify MCP server free?

The server is free and open source (MIT). Running Actors uses your Apify credits; the free plan includes a small monthly amount.

### Hosted or local?

Apify recommends the hosted server: OAuth sign-in, no install, newer features and rental Actors. The local npx server suits clients that only start commands.

### Can it run without an account?

The hosted server lets you search Actors and the docs without a token. Running anything needs a token, or one of the agent payment options Apify documents.

### Which sites can it scrape?

Whatever the Actors in Apify Store cover, which includes Google Maps and Search, Instagram, TikTok, Amazon and general websites.

Full docs on GitHub: https://github.com/apify/apify-mcp-server

---

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