# Substack Scraper (`intelscrape/substack-scraper`) Actor

Scrape public Substack posts and authors via archive API. Optional paid posts-summary per publication with SoftCTA. Demo mode. Pay per post.

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

## Pricing

from $1.00 / 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.

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

## Substack Scraper – Posts, Authors & Newsletter Leads

![Actor Banner](https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/PyvJzfQg02FD3RYhd/records/substack-scraper-banner.png)

> 🇨🇳 **中文简介 (Chinese — China & Singapore):**
> 要研究 Substack 作者与帖子做内容/线索？抓取公开帖子与作者相关字段，按结果计费，无需 API Key。适合中新增长、媒体与研究团队。马上试跑，把作者线索送进工作流。

> 🇸🇬 **Ringkasan Melayu (Singapore):**
> Nak kaji penulis dan pos Substack untuk lead kandungan? Scrape pos awam dan isyarat penulis. Bayar per hasil, tiada API key. Sesuai untuk growth dan media di Singapura. Cuba di Apify hari ini.

#### 🤖 NEW: Connect This To Your AI!

Want to use this scraper directly inside Claude, Cursor, or ChatGPT? Check out **[Skip Trace MCP Server](https://apify.com/intelscrape/skip--trace)**. Combined IntelScrape agents over Model Context Protocol — autonomous leads, enrichment, and research workflows.

#### 🏆 Featured Bots by IntelScrape

1. **[Substack Scraper](https://apify.com/intelscrape/substack-scraper)** — Posts, Authors & Newsletter Signals
2. **[Skip Trace PRO](https://apify.com/intelscrape/skip-trace-pro)** — Name, Address, Phone & Email People Lookup
3. **[TruePeopleSearch Scraper](https://apify.com/intelscrape/truepeoplesearch-scraper)** — Phone & Email Matches
4. **[TikTok Scraper](https://apify.com/intelscrape/tiktok-scraper)** — Emails & Influencer Leads
5. **[Amazon Product Review Scraper](https://apify.com/intelscrape/amazon-product-review-scraper)** — Deep E-commerce & Review Extraction
6. **[Building Permit Scraper](https://apify.com/intelscrape/building-permit-scraper)** — US Cities Open Data
7. **[Google Maps No-Website Leads](https://apify.com/intelscrape/website-Leads)** — Local Businesses Without a Website
8. **[UCC Lien Scraper](https://apify.com/intelscrape/ucc-lien-scraper)** — Florida & New Jersey Filings
9. **[Skip Trace MCP Server](https://apify.com/intelscrape/skip--trace)** — Use Skip Trace inside Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT

***

⚡ **Use this Actor in n8n — no code**

Building no-code workflows in [n8n](https://n8n.io)? Use the official **Apify** node.

**Setup (30 seconds):**

1. Add the official **Apify** node.
2. Connect your **Apify API token**.
3. **Run an Actor** with ID: `IntelScrape/substack-scraper`.
4. Fill JSON input and run!

***

![price](https://img.shields.io/badge/price-$1.00_/_1K-e83e8c) ![billing-pay\_per\_result](https://img.shields.io/badge/billing-pay_per_result-2ea44f) ![API key](https://img.shields.io/badge/API_key-not_required-blue) ![coverage-Substack](https://img.shields.io/badge/coverage-Substack-8a2be2)

**Scrape public Substack posts and author signals** for research and outreach lists.
**Pay per result. No API key.**

> **Honest coverage & billing (read this):** Source is **public Substack archive API**. Billing: start **$0.005** + **$0.001 per post** + optional **posts-summary $0.01**/publication. `demoMode` fictional.

> **Soft CTA — posts-summary:** With `includePostsSummary` (default ON), each publication gets a `posts-summary` row ($0.01) with authors, date range, top titles, and SoftCTA links to **[Contact Info](https://apify.com/intelscrape/contact-info-scraper)**, **[Website Leads](https://apify.com/intelscrape/website-Leads)**, **[Google News](https://apify.com/intelscrape/google-news-scraper)**, **[TruePeopleSearch](https://apify.com/intelscrape/truepeoplesearch-scraper)**, and **[Skip Trace PRO](https://apify.com/intelscrape/skip-trace-pro)**. Continue your journey →

> **Honest billing add-on:** `posts-summary` is **$0.01 per publication** when delivered (opt out with `includePostsSummary: false`). Start + per-post still apply.

***

> 🧭 Built for **growth, media, and research teams.** Popular with teams in the **US, China, and Singapore**.

> ⭐ **Store rating is driven by daily power users.** If this Actor saves you time, please [leave a review](https://apify.com/intelscrape/substack-scraper).

> ⚖️ **Lawful business use only.** Scrape only publicly available data. You are responsible for lawful use and compliance with site terms.

> 📌 *Examples in this README are **fictional** unless stated otherwise.*

***

### 🕵️‍♂️ Why Choose Us vs. "Cheaper" Competitors?

| Feature | This Actor | Thin Store stubs |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **CN + SG sell blocks** | Full 简体中文 + Melayu | Missing / mojibake |
| **Honest PPE** | Documented start + per-result | Vague billing |
| **AI / n8n** | MCP + Actor ID | Often none |
| **Unique banner** | Niche HUD art | Generic / blank |

### What a result looks like

| title | author | url |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Sample Post | Jane Doe | https://example.substack.com/p/... |

### Quick start

```json
{
  "demoMode": true,
  "maxItems": 5
}
```

### Input / Output / Pricing

Aligns to live PPE events on the Actor (start + dataset item). Output: Apify dataset (JSON/CSV/Excel).

### Legal

Lawful business research only. Not affiliated with the source site. Comply with site terms and applicable law.

# Actor input Schema

## `publications` (type: `array`):

Substack hosts (e.g. example.substack.com).

## `maxPosts` (type: `integer`):

Maximum posts to push.

## `includePostsSummary` (type: `boolean`):

Push one posts-summary digest per publication (authors, date range, top titles + SoftCTA). Charges posts-summary $0.01 when ≥1 post.

## `demoMode` (type: `boolean`):

Push synthetic fixtures (no live scrape).

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "publications": [
    "platformer.substack.com"
  ],
  "maxPosts": 30,
  "includePostsSummary": true,
  "demoMode": false
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

Rows pushed to the default dataset.

# 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 = {
    "publications": [
        "platformer.substack.com"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("intelscrape/substack-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 = { "publications": ["platformer.substack.com"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("intelscrape/substack-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 '{
  "publications": [
    "platformer.substack.com"
  ]
}' |
apify call intelscrape/substack-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,intelscrape/substack-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/S4GJCRNXLypD2K80s/builds/tJ1ehlVvioHH9fP08/openapi.json