# Captcha solver (`boisterous_icon/captcha-solver`) Actor

Loads a URL, solves the image CAPTCHA via 2captcha, then returns the page content as markdown in the dataset. Input: URL and 2captcha API key.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/boisterous\_icon/captcha-solver.md
- **Developed by:** [Davide La Manna](https://apify.com/boisterous_icon) (community)
- **Categories:** Automation, Other, Developer tools
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 0 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

Pay per usage

This Actor is paid per platform usage. The Actor is free to use, and you only pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher subscription plan you have.

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

## 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

## Captcha Page Scraper

Solves image CAPTCHAs with 2captcha and returns the unlocked page content as markdown. Input: URL and 2captcha API key.

### Input

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|-------|------|----------|-------------|
| **startUrl** | string | Yes | URL of the page with image CAPTCHA (e.g. eTenders Malta CFT page). |
| **twoCaptchaApiKey** | string | Yes | Your [2captcha.com](https://2captcha.com) API key. Stored as secret. |

### Output

The Actor pushes a single object to the dataset:

| Field | Type | Description |
|-------|------|-------------|
| **url** | string | The requested URL. |
| **success** | boolean | Whether the CAPTCHA was solved and the page was scraped. |
| **error** | string or null | Error message if something failed; null on success. |
| **markdown** | string or null | Page content in markdown format; null on failure. |

### Example

**Input:**

```json
{
  "startUrl": "https://www.etenders.gov.mt/epps/prepareCurrentOpportunities.do?currentType=cft",
  "twoCaptchaApiKey": "YOUR_2CAPTCHA_API_KEY"
}
```

**Output (success):**

```json
{
  "url": "https://www.etenders.gov.mt/epps/prepareCurrentOpportunities.do?currentType=cft",
  "success": true,
  "error": null,
  "markdown": "# Page content\n\n## Simple search\n\n..."
}
```

### Requirements

- A valid [2captcha](https://2captcha.com) account and API key.
- The target page must use a normal image CAPTCHA (distorted text); the Actor looks for a captcha image and a text input to submit the solution.

### How it works

1. Opens the given URL in headless Chrome.
2. Locates the CAPTCHA image and sends it to 2captcha.
3. Waits for the solution, then fills the form and submits.
4. Extracts the page content (headings, paragraphs, tables, lists) and returns it as markdown.

# Actor input Schema

## `startUrl` (type: `string`):

URL of the page with image CAPTCHA (e.g. eTenders Malta CFT page)

## `twoCaptchaApiKey` (type: `string`):

Your 2captcha.com API key for solving the CAPTCHA

## Actor input object example

```json
{}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `overview` (type: `string`):

No description

# 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 = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("boisterous_icon/captcha-solver").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 = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("boisterous_icon/captcha-solver").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 '{}' |
apify call boisterous_icon/captcha-solver --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,boisterous_icon/captcha-solver"
        }
    }
}

```

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/zoL1Cr6HMaZEwnZyb/builds/bC7b0oQiCqV95nXeX/openapi.json