# TED Talk Downloader (`agentx/ted-talk-downloader`) Actor

Process one publicly accessible TED Talk page for structured metadata and an optional stored video file.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/agentx/ted-talk-downloader.md
- **Developed by:** [AgentX](https://apify.com/agentx) (community)
- **Categories:** Videos, AI, Automation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 2 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 2 bookmarks
- **User rating**: 4.00 out of 5 stars

## Pricing

Pay per event

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

**TED Talk Downloader is a ted talk downloader that turns one public TED video link into a 43-field record — title, creator, engagement counts, media properties, subtitles and chapters — and optionally stores the video file itself.**

[![Apify Users](https://img.shields.io/badge/dynamic/json?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.apify.com%2Fv2%2Facts%2Fagentx~ted-talk-downloader\&query=%24.data.stats.totalUsers\&style=for-the-badge\&label=Apify%20Users\&color=ff9013)](https://apify.com/agentx/ted-talk-downloader) [![Apify Runs](https://img.shields.io/badge/dynamic/json?url=https%3A%2F%2Fapi.apify.com%2Fv2%2Facts%2Fagentx~ted-talk-downloader\&query=%24.data.stats.totalRuns\&style=for-the-badge\&label=Apify%20Runs\&color=ff9013)](https://apify.com/agentx/ted-talk-downloader) [![$0.05 per record](https://img.shields.io/badge/%240.05%20%2F%20record-4285f4?style=for-the-badge)](https://apify.com/agentx/ted-talk-downloader/pricing) [![no%20API%20key](https://img.shields.io/badge/no%20API%20key-34a853?style=for-the-badge)](https://console.apify.com/actors/agentx~ted-talk-downloader/input) [![API + MCP ready](https://img.shields.io/badge/API%20%2B%20MCP%20ready-fbbc05?style=for-the-badge)](https://apify.com/agentx/ted-talk-downloader/api)

- **One link in, 43 fields out.** Identity, creator, engagement, media properties, subtitles and chapters arrive as typed values rather than as a page to parse.
- **Metadata or file, priced apart.** Reading a record and storing a video cost very different amounts, so they bill as different events instead of one blended price.
- **No TED key, no quota.** Talk pages carry long descriptions, speaker attribution and multi-language subtitle tracks, so the subtitles field is unusually well populated compared with the rest of this family.
- **Verified August 9, 2026.** A metadata read returned in 3.0 seconds.

The smallest useful run reads one record: one Actor Start plus one Metadata event, **$0.06** on the FREE tier.

### Why Choose TED Talk Downloader

Because the answer arrives already structured, already typed, and identical to every other edition in the family.

**One row shape, whatever the source.** The 43 fields are defined once and shared, so code written for this edition reads every sibling without a branch.

**Honest inputs.** This edition offers 2 inputs — `video_url`, `video_quality` — and no others. A control that TED cannot honour is left out rather than shipped as decoration.

**Costs that match the work.** A metadata read is $0.05; storing the file is $0.22. Nothing is averaged across the two.

### Quick Start Guide

Three steps, and the input arrives prefilled with a working example.

#### Step 1: Paste the link

[Open the Actor input](https://console.apify.com/actors/agentx~ted-talk-downloader/input) and put a ted.com talk URL in `video_url`.

#### Step 2: Choose what you want back

Leave `video_quality` on `metadata` for the record alone, or pick `low`, `medium` or `high` to also store the file.

#### Step 3: Run it and read the Dataset

Click **Start**. One run produces one row in the default Dataset, and the stored file URL lands in the `video` field when you asked for a download.

### Input Parameters

This edition takes 2 inputs, of which one is required.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `video_url` | `string` | Yes | The TED link to read. Accepts a ted.com talk URL. |
| `video_quality` | `string` | No | `metadata` reads the record only. `low`, `medium` and `high` also store the file, capped at 480p, 720p and 2160p; which renditions exist is the source's choice. |

```json
{
  "video_url": "https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_the_next_outbreak_we_re_not_ready",
  "video_quality": "metadata"
}
```

### Output Data Schema

One Dataset row per run, with 43 fields in a fixed set.

| Group | Fields |
| --- | --- |
| Identity | `id`, `source_url`, `platform`, `title`, `description`, `duration`, `published_at` |
| Creator | `author`, `author_id`, `author_url`, `followers`, `is_verified` |
| Engagement | `view_count`, `like_count`, `dislike_count`, `comment_count`, `shares_count`, `saves_count` |
| Media | `width`, `height`, `fps`, `video_codec`, `audio_codec`, `bitrate`, `dynamic_range`, `file_ext`, `file_size` |
| Classification | `categories`, `tags`, `language`, `media_type`, `live_status`, `availability`, `age_limit` |
| Extras | `thumbnail`, `subtitles`, `chapters`, `comments`, `audio_title`, `audio_artist`, `video` |
| Provenance | `processor`, `processed_at` |

A value the source does not publish stays null rather than being filled in, and `video` is empty on a metadata run.

### Integration Examples

The Actor is callable from the REST API, the Apify clients, and any MCP-aware assistant.

```bash
curl -X POST 'https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/ycypqInIRun90HIlD/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN' \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{"video_url": "https://www.ted.com/talks/bill_gates_the_next_outbreak_we_re_not_ready", "video_quality": "metadata"}'
```

The Actor ID `ycypqInIRun90HIlD` is stable; the `agentx/ted-talk-downloader` name also resolves.

### Pricing

Billing is per event, and the two events are priced apart because they cost differently to serve.

| Event | FREE | What triggers it |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Actor Start | $0.01 | Once per run |
| Metadata | $0.05 | One record read, no file transferred |
| Download | $0.22 | One record plus the stored video file |

Paid tiers discount the record events: Bronze 10%, Silver 20%, Gold and above 25%.

### Use Cases

The common thread is needing the record as data rather than as a page.

- **Archiving.** Keep a durable copy of TED material with its metadata attached, not just the file.
- **Research datasets.** Engagement counts and publication times across many links, in one shape.
- **Content pipelines.** Feed a transcription, translation or repurposing step that needs the file and its properties.
- **Monitoring.** Track how a known item's counts move over time.

### Alternatives

Which tool fits depends on whether you have one link or a queue of them.

- **[All Video Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/all-video-scraper)** — the same contract across every supported source, for a mixed queue.
- **A browser extension** — fine for one file by hand; it produces no structured record and cannot be scheduled.
- **TED's own API, where one exists** — contractual and quota-limited, a different commercial model rather than a worse one.

### Limits and Troubleshooting

Most failures come down to what the link points at.

- **Private, deleted or region-locked items** cannot be read and end the run with a message rather than an empty row.
- **Non-TED links are refused** by design, because this listing claims one source.
- **Live items** have no finished recording to read until they end.
- **Empty engagement counters** usually mean the source did not publish them, which is why the contract uses null rather than zero.
- **A very large rendition takes as long as you allow.** The run's own timeout is the ceiling, so raising it is how you give a big file more time. If the file still does not finish, no row is written and nothing is billed for it. Requesting Medium or Low returns the same video as a smaller file, which is the faster route when a high-tier transfer will not finish in the time allowed.

### Trust and Reliability

Every claim on this page is checkable against the Actor's own files or a run you can repeat.

The 43 fields are published in the Actor's output contract, visible on its API tab. The prices are shown on the [pricing tab](https://apify.com/agentx/ted-talk-downloader/pricing). The 3.0-second figure was measured August 9, 2026. Run history, logs and Dataset exports for your own runs live in the Apify Console.

### Legal and Compliance

This Actor is not affiliated with TED, and reads only what a public visitor can already see.

You are responsible for how you use what it returns. Copyright, database rights and the source's own terms continue to apply to downloaded media, and personal data in creator fields and comments falls under the privacy law of your jurisdiction. Material behind a login, a paywall or a privacy setting is out of scope and the Actor makes no attempt to reach it.

### Frequently Asked Questions

#### Do I need a TED account or API key?

No. The Actor reads the same public page a browser does, so there is no TED login, no OAuth step and no daily quota to plan around. You need an Apify token to call the Actor itself.

#### What does one run cost?

A metadata run bills one Actor Start plus one Metadata event — $0.06 on the FREE tier. Choosing a download quality bills the Download event at $0.22 instead, because transferring and storing a file costs far more than reading a page.

#### How fast is a single run?

About 3.0 seconds for a metadata read. A download takes as long as the transfer, which depends on the size of the rendition the source publishes.

#### What happens if the link is private or deleted?

The run ends with a message saying the video could not be retrieved, and no row is pushed. You are not billed a record event for a row that does not exist.

#### Can I pass a link from a site other than TED?

No. This edition is gated to TED and refuses anything else, so the listing and the runtime agree. Use All Video Scraper for a mixed queue.

#### Does it return comments?

No. TED publishes a comment count on some items but does not serve the comment bodies to a public reader, so this edition reports the count and does not offer a comments input. Offering one would be a control that changes nothing.

#### Does `high` guarantee 4K?

No. `high` asks for the best rendition up to 2160p, and only the source decides which renditions exist. Where nothing above 1080p is published, `high` returns 1080p — the tier is a ceiling, not a promise.

#### Is the field set the same across the family?

Yes. All 43 fields come from one shared contract, so a reader written against one edition parses every other one without a branch.

### Related AgentX Actors

AgentX publishes the following Actors.

#### Business and Market Intelligence

- **[Google Keyword Trends](https://apify.com/agentx/google-keyword-trends)** — Google Trends keyword interest, compared five at a time
- **[Google Trends Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/google-trends-scraper)** — Google Trends trending searches
- **[Google Maps Store Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/google-maps-store-scraper)** — Google Maps business listings
- **[LinkedIn Company Lookup](https://apify.com/agentx/linkedin-company-lookup)** — LinkedIn company records
- **[LinkedIn Profile Lookup](https://apify.com/agentx/linkedin-profile-lookup)** — LinkedIn profile records
- **[Weather Forecast API](https://apify.com/agentx/weather-forecast-api)** — forecast and historical weather data

#### Jobs and Hiring

- **[All Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/all-jobs-scraper)** — multi-platform job listings
- **[Bayt Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/bayt-jobs-scraper)** — Bayt job listings
- **[Glassdoor Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/glassdoor-jobs-scraper)** — Glassdoor job listings
- **[Indeed Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/indeed-jobs-scraper)** — Indeed job listings
- **[JobStreet Company Profile](https://apify.com/agentx/jobstreet-company-profile)** — JobStreet employer records
- **[Jooble Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/jooble-jobs-scraper)** — Jooble job listings
- **[LinkedIn Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/linkedin-jobs-scraper)** — LinkedIn job listings
- **[Naukri Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/naukri-jobs-scraper)** — Naukri job listings
- **[Talent Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/talent-jobs-scraper)** — Talent.com job listings
- **[ZipRecruiter Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/ziprecruiter-jobs-scraper)** — ZipRecruiter job listings

#### Social Media

- **[Instagram Creator Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/instagram-creator-scraper)** — Instagram creator profiles
- **[Instagram Reels Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/instagram-reels-scraper)** — Instagram Reels metadata
- **[Instagram Trending Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/instagram-trending-scraper)** — Instagram trending content
- **[Medium Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/medium-scraper)** — Medium articles
- **[Medium Profile Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/medium-profile-scraper)** — Medium author profiles
- **[Reddit Profile Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/reddit-profile-scraper)** — Reddit user profiles
- **[Reddit Viral Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/reddit-viral-scraper)** — Reddit viral posts
- **[SubReddit Info Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/subreddit-info-scraper)** — subreddit metadata
- **[Subreddit Members Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/subreddit-members-scraper)** — subreddit member lists
- **[Subreddit Posts Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/subreddit-posts-scraper)** — subreddit post feeds
- **[Telegram Chat Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/telegram-chat-scraper)** — Telegram chat messages
- **[Telegram Info Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/telegram-info-scraper)** — Telegram channel metadata
- **[Telegram Member Adder](https://apify.com/agentx/telegram-member-adder)** — Telegram group membership management
- **[Telegram Member Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/telegram-member-scraper)** — Telegram group members
- **[Telegram Private Group Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/telegram-private-group-scraper)** — private Telegram group data
- **[TikTok Creator API](https://apify.com/agentx/tiktok-creator-api)** — TikTok creator profiles
- **[TikTok User Lookup](https://apify.com/agentx/tiktok-user-lookup)** — TikTok account records
- **[X Twitter Community API](https://apify.com/agentx/x-twitter-community-api)** — X community data
- **[X Twitter Profile Lookup](https://apify.com/agentx/x-twitter-profile-lookup)** — X profile records
- **[YouTube Creator Email Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/youtube-creator-email-scraper)** — YouTube creator contact data

#### Video, Transcripts and Downloads

- **[All Video Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/all-video-scraper)** — multi-platform video metadata
- **[Video Transcript](https://apify.com/agentx/video-transcript)** — multi-platform transcripts
- **[Video Captions Downloader](https://apify.com/agentx/video-captions-downloader)** — caption files
- **[Video to Social Post](https://apify.com/agentx/video-to-social-post)** — video repurposed into social copy
- **[YouTube Transcript](https://apify.com/agentx/youtube-transcript)** — YouTube transcripts
- **[TikTok Transcript](https://apify.com/agentx/tiktok-transcript)** — TikTok transcripts
- **[X Twitter Transcript](https://apify.com/agentx/x-twitter-transcript)** — X video transcripts
- **[Facebook Transcript](https://apify.com/agentx/facebook-transcript)** — Facebook video transcripts
- **[Bilibili Transcript](https://apify.com/agentx/bilibili-transcript)** — Bilibili transcripts
- **[Dailymotion Transcript](https://apify.com/agentx/dailymotion-transcript)** — Dailymotion transcripts
- **[Rutube Transcript](https://apify.com/agentx/rutube-transcript)** — Rutube transcripts
- **[Loom Transcript](https://apify.com/agentx/loom-transcript)** — Loom transcripts
- **[Wistia Transcript](https://apify.com/agentx/wistia-transcript)** — Wistia transcripts
- **[Instagram Reels Downloader](https://apify.com/agentx/instagram-reels-downloader)** — Reels downloads
- **[Kick Clip Downloader](https://apify.com/agentx/kick-clip-downloader)** — Kick clip downloads
- **[Linkedin Video Downloader](https://apify.com/agentx/linkedin-video-downloader)** — LinkedIn video downloads
- **[Pinterest Video Downloader](https://apify.com/agentx/pinterest-video-downloader)** — Pinterest video downloads
- **[Reddit Video Downloader](https://apify.com/agentx/reddit-video-downloader)** — Reddit video downloads
- **[Snapchat Video Downloader](https://apify.com/agentx/snapchat-video-downloader)** — Snapchat video downloads
- **[TikTok Live Downloader](https://apify.com/agentx/tiktok-live-downloader)** — TikTok live downloads
- **[Twitch VOD Downloader](https://apify.com/agentx/twitch-vod-downloader)** — Twitch VOD downloads
- **[Zoom Recording Downloader](https://apify.com/agentx/zoom-recording-downloader)** — Zoom recording downloads

#### E-Commerce and Retail

- **[All Shopping Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/all-shopping-scraper)** — multi-platform product data
- **[AliExpress Product Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/aliexpress-product-scraper)** — AliExpress products
- **[Amazon Storefront Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/amazon-storefront-scraper)** — Amazon Brand Store pages
- **[Bol Product Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/bol-product-scraper)** — Bol.com products
- **[eBay Seller Leads API](https://apify.com/agentx/ebay-seller-leads-api)** — eBay seller records
- **[Hepsiburada Product Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/hepsiburada-product-scraper)** — Hepsiburada products
- **[Kakaku Product Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/kakaku-product-scraper)** — Kakaku.com products
- **[Rakuten Product Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/rakuten-product-scraper)** — Rakuten products

#### Classifieds and Automotive

- **[All Vehicle Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/all-vehicle-scraper)** — multi-platform vehicle listings
- **[AutoTrader Vehicle Search](https://apify.com/agentx/autotrader-vehicle-search)** — AutoTrader US listings
- **[AutoTrader UK Vehicle Search](https://apify.com/agentx/autotrader-uk-vehicle-search)** — AutoTrader UK listings

#### Real Estate

- **[All Property Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/all-property-scraper)** — multi-platform property listings
- **[Homes Property Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/homes-property-scraper)** — Homes.com listings
- **[MagicBricks Property Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/magicbricks-property-scraper)** — MagicBricks listings
- **[NoBroker Property Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/nobroker-property-scraper)** — NoBroker listings
- **[Property24 Property Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/property24-property-scraper)** — Property24 listings
- **[Realtor Property Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/realtor-property-scraper)** — Realtor.com listings
- **[Zillow Property Scraper](https://apify.com/agentx/zillow-property-scraper)** — Zillow listings

### Support and Community

Ask about fields, runs or billing in the [AgentX community on Telegram](https://t.me/Apify_Actor); for a reproducible bug, open an Issue with the run ID and the exact input.

AgentX is an Arcyton brand — [arcyton.com](https://arcyton.com).

**Last Updated:** August 9, 2026

# Actor input Schema

## `video_url` (type: `string`):

Public TED Talk link to read.

## `video_quality` (type: `string`):

Metadata Only returns the TED Talk record without a file. High, Medium, and Low also store the best available rendition within the selected tier.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "video_url": "https://www.ted.com/talks/sally_kohn_why_economic_inequality_is_the_biggest_threat_to_democracy",
  "video_quality": "metadata"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

The normalized video record, including identity, creator, engagement, media, extras, and provenance fields.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "video_url": "https://www.ted.com/talks/sally_kohn_why_economic_inequality_is_the_biggest_threat_to_democracy",
    "video_quality": "metadata"
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("agentx/ted-talk-downloader").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "video_url": "https://www.ted.com/talks/sally_kohn_why_economic_inequality_is_the_biggest_threat_to_democracy",
    "video_quality": "metadata",
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("agentx/ted-talk-downloader").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "video_url": "https://www.ted.com/talks/sally_kohn_why_economic_inequality_is_the_biggest_threat_to_democracy",
  "video_quality": "metadata"
}' |
apify call agentx/ted-talk-downloader --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,agentx/ted-talk-downloader"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/ycypqInIRun90HIlD/builds/rFR8i56QZaq2kgSkx/openapi.json