# AI Directories Scraper (`datacach/ai-directories-scraper`) Actor

Scrape the aidirectori.es directory of AI tools. Filter by category, pricing, tag, keyword or featured, or export the full catalog with name, website, description, tags, rating and more.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/datacach/ai-directories-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [DataCach](https://apify.com/datacach) (community)
- **Categories:** AI, Lead generation, Developer tools
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $3.00 / 1,000 results

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

## AI Directories Scraper

Extract the full **[aidirectori.es](https://www.aidirectori.es/ai-tools)** catalog of **AI tools** — names, websites, descriptions, categories, tags, pricing, ratings and more — as structured **JSON, CSV or Excel**. No API key, no login, no code.

### What is the AI Directories Scraper?

The **AI Directories Scraper** is a fast, no-code tool that **scrapes the aidirectori.es AI tools directory** through its public JSON **API**. It returns clean, structured **data** for every listed **AI tool** — roughly **1,443 tools** and growing. Leave every filter empty to **export the entire directory** in one run, or narrow the results by **category, pricing, tag, keyword, or featured status**.

It's built for anyone who needs the AI tools landscape as a dataset: **market researchers, founders, marketers, investors, directory builders, and data teams**. Because it talks directly to the site's API, it's **quick, reliable, and complete** — not a fragile page scraper.

### What can the AI Directories Scraper do?

- 🗂️ **Scrape the full AI tools catalog** (~1,443 tools) in a single run, or a targeted slice.
- 🔍 **Filter by category** (29 categories such as `image`, `video`, `business`, `nsfw`, `seo`), **pricing** (`FREE`, `FREEMIUM`, `PAID`), **tag** (276 tags), or a **free-text search query**.
- ⭐ **Extract only featured AI tools** with a single toggle.
- 🧬 Optionally include the **complete raw API object** (40+ fields per tool) alongside the curated output.
- 📤 **Export to JSON, CSV, Excel, HTML or XML** straight from the Apify dataset.
- 🔌 Use the **Apify API**, **schedule** recurring runs, set up **monitoring**, and connect to **Zapier, Make, Google Sheets, Slack** and more.
- 🌐 Optional **proxy rotation** via Apify Proxy for large exports.

### What data does the AI Directories Scraper extract?

Each AI tool is returned as one dataset item with these primary fields (representative — the full record has 29 curated fields):

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `name` | AI tool name |
| `url` | Listing page on aidirectori.es |
| `website` | The tool's own website |
| `tagline` | Short one-line pitch |
| `description` | Full description |
| `category` | Category (`slug` + `name`) |
| `tags` | List of topic tags (`slug` + `name`) |
| `pricing` | `FREE`, `FREEMIUM` or `PAID` |
| `rating` | Directory rating |
| `opens` | Popularity (times opened) |
| `featured` | Whether the tool is featured |
| `icon` / `frame` / `screenshots` | Tool imagery |
| `founderName` / `location` | Maker details |
| `socials` | Social links |
| `domainRating` | Domain authority score |
| `faqs` | Tool FAQ entries |
| `discountCode` / `isForSale` / `askingPrice` | Deal & acquisition info |
| `createdAt` / `updatedAt` | Listing timestamps |

With **Include raw data** enabled, an extra `rawData` field carries the complete, untouched API object (40+ fields).

### How do I scrape aidirectori.es AI tools?

1. Click **Try for free** / **Start** to open the Actor.
2. (Optional) Pick one or more **categories**, **pricing** types, or **tags**, or type a **search query**. Leave everything empty to grab the **whole catalog**.
3. (Optional) Set **Max items** to cap the results, or leave it at `0` for no limit.
4. Click **Run**.
5. When the run finishes, **download your data** as JSON, CSV or Excel from the **Output/Storage** tab — or pull it via the **Apify API**.

![AI Directories Scraper input form](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/BenjaminFloresV/public-datacach-apify-actors-media/main/ai-directories-scraper/ai-directory-scraper-input-screenshot.png)

### Input

All inputs are optional — the simplest run is just clicking **Run** to export the full directory.

- **Categories** — filter to one or more categories (e.g. `image`, `video`, `business`). Empty = all.
- **Pricing** — keep only `FREE`, `FREEMIUM`, and/or `PAID` tools. Empty = all.
- **Tags** — filter by tag slugs (e.g. `photography`, `ai-productivity-tools`). Empty = all.
- **Search query** — free-text search across name, tagline, description and tags.
- **Featured tools only** — return only featured listings.
- **Max items** — maximum number of tools to return (`0` = no limit).
- **Include raw data** — add the full raw API object to each item.
- **Proxy configuration** — optional Apify Proxy routing.

Filters combine as **OR within a field, AND across fields** — e.g. categories `image` OR `video`, that are **also** priced `FREE`.

### Free vs paid plans

Every filter and feature works on **both** plans — a paid plan simply removes the free-run caps. Limits are enforced automatically based on your Apify account, so there's nothing to configure.

| | 🆓 Free plan | ⭐ Paid plan |
|---|---|---|
| **AI tools per run** | Up to **10** | **Unlimited** (full catalog, ~1,443 tools) |
| **Filter combinations per run** | Up to **3** | Up to **200** |
| **Max items** setting | Capped at 10 | Honored as set (`0` = no limit) |
| **All filters** — category, pricing, tag, search, featured | ✅ | ✅ |
| **Include raw data** | ✅ | ✅ |
| **Proxy, scheduling, API & integrations** | ✅ | ✅ |

> A **filter combination** is one selection across the filter dimensions (`categories × pricing × tags`). For example, picking 2 categories and 2 pricing types creates 4 combinations — a free run uses the first 3. Leaving filters empty is a single combination (the whole catalog).

### Output example

Each result looks like this (JSON, one AI tool — trimmed for readability):

```json
{
  "name": "GeoPatrol",
  "slug": "geopatrol",
  "url": "https://www.aidirectori.es/ai-tools/geopatrol",
  "website": "https://geopatrol.net/",
  "tagline": "Reliable IP intelligence to enhance security, analytics, and personalization.",
  "description": "GeoPatrol is a cloud-based IP geolocation and network intelligence platform...",
  "category": { "slug": "cybersecurity", "name": "Cybersecurity" },
  "tags": [
    { "slug": "security", "name": "Security" },
    { "slug": "analytics", "name": "Analytics" }
  ],
  "pricing": "PAID",
  "rating": 0,
  "opens": 8,
  "featured": false,
  "icon": "https://cdn.aidirectori.es/ai-tools/icons/1783203417412-sczu5a92qca.webp",
  "screenshots": ["https://cdn.aidirectori.es/ai-tools/screens/1783203441799-af14jgd4cc7.webp"],
  "founderName": "Softech Tools Ltd.",
  "location": "Hong Kong",
  "socials": {},
  "faqs": [{ "question": "Do I need a key to try it?", "answer": "No..." }],
  "isForSale": false,
  "createdAt": "2026-07-04T22:13:46.996Z",
  "updatedAt": "2026-07-06T01:50:55.347Z"
}
```

### Use cases

- 📊 **Market research** — build a complete map of the AI tools landscape by category and pricing.
- 🎯 **Lead generation** — collect tool websites, founders, and locations for outreach.
- 📈 **Trend tracking** — schedule daily runs to catch newly added AI tools.
- 📰 **Directory & newsletter building** — power your own AI tools directory, roundup, or newsletter.
- 🆓 **Free-tool lists** — export only `FREE` tools in a niche (e.g. `image`, `video`).
- 🔬 **Data analysis & AI datasets** — feed structured AI-tool data into dashboards, models, or research.

### Other Actors you might like

Looking for more data scrapers? Explore the rest of my Actors on my [Apify profile](https://apify.com/) — from directory and marketplace scrapers to search-by-keyword tools.

### FAQ

#### Is it legal to scrape aidirectori.es?

This Actor collects **publicly available** data from the aidirectori.es API. Scraping public data is generally legal, but you are responsible for how you use the results. Do not collect personal data you don't have a lawful basis to process, and always respect the target site's terms of service and applicable laws (e.g. GDPR). If in doubt, seek legal advice.

#### Do I need an API key or account to use it?

No. The Actor requires **no API key and no login** to aidirectori.es. You only need a free Apify account to run it.

#### How many AI tools can I scrape?

The full directory is around **1,443 tools** and can be exported in a single run. Use **Max items** to cap the output, or leave it at `0` for everything that matches your filters.

#### Can I export the data to CSV or Excel?

Yes. Results are stored in an Apify dataset and can be downloaded as **JSON, CSV, Excel, HTML or XML**, or fetched programmatically via the **Apify API**.

#### How do I scrape only free AI tools?

Set the **Pricing** filter to `FREE` (optionally combine with a category or tag). You'll get only tools listed as free.

#### Can I schedule the scraper to run automatically?

Yes. Use Apify **Schedules** to run the Actor hourly, daily, or weekly, and connect it to **Zapier, Make, Google Sheets, Slack**, or webhooks to automate delivery.

#### Can I get the complete raw data for each tool?

Yes. Enable **Include raw data** and every item gains a `rawData` field with the full, untouched API object (40+ fields).

#### What's the difference between the free and paid plan?

Every filter and feature is available on both plans. **Free** runs are capped at **10 tools** and **3 filter combinations** per run; a **paid** plan lifts both caps — up to the full ~1,443-tool catalog and 200 filter combinations. See the **Free vs paid plans** section above for the full comparison.

### Support

Found a bug or need a change? Open an issue on the Actor's **Issues** tab, and I'll take a look. Need a custom scraper or a tailored export? Reach out — custom solutions are welcome.

# Actor input Schema

## `categories` (type: `array`):

Filter by one or more categories. Leave empty to include all categories. Multiple selections are combined with OR — a tool matching any of the chosen categories is returned.

## `pricing` (type: `array`):

Filter by pricing model. Leave empty to include all pricing types. Multiple selections are combined with OR.

## `tags` (type: `array`):

Filter by one or more tag slugs (e.g. <code>photography</code>, <code>ai-productivity-tools</code>, <code>content-creation</code>). See the full list of 276 tags in the README. Leave empty to ignore. Multiple selections are combined with OR.

## `searchQuery` (type: `string`):

Free-text search over the catalog. Matches the tool name, tagline, description and tags on the server. Leave empty to skip keyword search.

## `onlyFeatured` (type: `boolean`):

When enabled, returns only tools flagged as featured on the directory. When disabled (default), tools are not filtered by featured status.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of tools to return across all filters. Set to <code>0</code> for no limit (every matching tool). Free accounts are capped at 10 regardless of this value.

## `includeRawData` (type: `boolean`):

When enabled, each item includes a <code>rawData</code> field with the complete, untouched API object (40+ fields, including internal analytics and founder email). When disabled (default), only the curated fields are returned.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Route requests through Apify Proxy to avoid IP-based rate limits. Optional for this Actor — the target API has no anti-bot protection — but recommended for large runs.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "tags": [],
  "onlyFeatured": false,
  "maxItems": 0,
  "includeRawData": false,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `aiTools` (type: `string`):

Dataset containing all scraped AI tools

# 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 = {
    "tags": [],
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": true
    }
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("datacach/ai-directories-scraper").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 = {
    "tags": [],
    "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": True },
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("datacach/ai-directories-scraper").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 '{
  "tags": [],
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}' |
apify call datacach/ai-directories-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,datacach/ai-directories-scraper"
        }
    }
}

```

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/Nh4Z6r4ave9ehzzxE/builds/9TpxrH7UzPIzhVKtE/openapi.json