# AlternativeTo Scraper - Competitor Intelligence & Alternatives (`datavoyantlab/alternativeto-scraper`) Actor Extract competitor data from alternativeto.net - Get pricing, ratings, features, and product information. Perfect for market research and competitive analysis. Pay-per-event pricing - **URL**: https://apify.com/datavoyantlab/alternativeto-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [DataVoyantLab](https://apify.com/datavoyantlab) (community) - **Categories:** Lead generation, E-commerce, Developer tools - **Stats:** 14 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## 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/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. 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. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use 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 ## AlternativeTo.com Scraper - Extract Competitor Intelligence & Alternatives Data > **Professional web scraper for AlternativeTo.com** | Extract alternatives, competitor data, pricing, ratings, and detailed product information at scale. Built for market research, competitive analysis, and business intelligence. ### ๐Ÿš€ Why Use This Scraper? Extract comprehensive competitor and alternative product data from AlternativeTo.com automatically. Perfect for market research, competitive analysis, lead generation, and business intelligence. **Key Benefits:** - โœ… **Pay-Per-Event Pricing** - Only pay for what you scrape - โœ… **Complete Data Extraction** - Basic info + optional detailed data - โœ… **High Performance** - Fast and efficient scraping - โœ… **Pagination Support** - Automatically scrapes all pages - โœ… **Structured Output** - Clean JSON data ready for analysis ### ๐Ÿ“Š Example Output Here's what you get from a single alternative product: ```json { "alternativeName": "IFTTT", "alternativeUrl": "https://alternativeto.net/software/ifttt/about/", "sourceUrl": "https://alternativeto.net/software/zapier/", "description": "IFTTT automates over 1000 apps, devices, and services with no coding needed, supports 27 million users, partners with 900+ brands, and offers powerful automation features like filter codes, queries, multiple actions, connections, habit tracking, and location-triggered events.", "detailedDescription": "IFTTT automates over 1000 apps, devices, and services with no coding needed, supports 27 million users, partners with 900+ brands, and offers powerful automation features like filter codes, queries, multiple actions, connections, habit tracking, and location-triggered events.", "pricing": "Freemiumโ€ขProprietary", "detailedPricing": "Subscription ranging between $4 and $10 per month + free version with limited functionality.", "rating": 5, "likes": 436, "platforms": [ "Online", "Android", "iPhone", "Android Tablet", "iPad", "Apple Watch", "Android Wear" ], "tags": [ "Task Automation App" ], "features": [ "Lightweight", "Workflow Automation", "Customizable triggers", "Task Automation", "Service Integration", "Home Automation", "No Coding Required", "Live Push Notifications", "Facebook integration" ], "officialWebsite": "https://ifttt.com", "appStores": [ { "name": "Download from Google Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ifttt.ifttt)", "url": "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ifttt.ifttt" }, { "name": "Download from iPhone App Store (https://apps.apple.com/app/ifttt-automate-work-and-home/id660944635)", "url": "https://apps.apple.com/app/ifttt-automate-work-and-home/id660944635" } ], "developedBy": "IFTTT", "licensing": "Freemiumโ€ขProprietary", "popularAlternatives": [ { "name": "Zapier", "url": "https://alternativeto.net/software/zapier/about/" }, { "name": "Huginn", "url": "https://alternativeto.net/software/huginn/about/" }, { "name": "n8n.io", "url": "https://alternativeto.net/software/n8n-io/about/" }, { "name": "View all", "url": "https://alternativeto.net/software/ifttt/" } ], "hasDetailedData": true } ```` **Data Fields Include:** Product descriptions, ratings, pricing, platforms, tags, features, official websites, app stores, developer info, licensing, supported languages, and more. ### ๐ŸŽฏ Use Cases - **Competitive Intelligence**: Track alternatives, pricing, and features - **Market Research**: Discover complete market landscapes - **Lead Generation**: Find potential customers searching for alternatives - **Product Discovery**: Research categories and emerging tools - **Sales Intelligence**: Extract pricing strategies and market positioning ### โš™๏ธ Input Parameters #### Required - **`start_urls`** (array): List of AlternativeTo.com product page URLs - Example: `https://alternativeto.net/software/zapier/` #### Optional - **`fetchDetailedData`** (boolean, default: `false`): Enable detailed data extraction - โš ๏ธ **Charged event** - each alternative's detail page is a separate charge - When `true`: Extracts features, official website, app stores, developer info, licensing, detailed pricing - When `false`: Only extracts basic information (name, description, rating, platforms, tags) - โš ๏ธ **Free users**: Detailed data fetching is automatically disabled to prevent abuse - **`maxAlternativesPerProduct`** (integer, default: `0` = unlimited): Maximum number of alternatives to extract per product - Limits alternatives across all paginated pages for each product URL - Useful for cost control during testing - Set to `0` for unlimited extraction - โš ๏ธ **Free users**: Automatically limited to 10 alternatives per product (prevents abuse) #### Example Input ```json { "start_urls": [ { "url": "https://alternativeto.net/software/zapier/" } ], "fetchDetailedData": true, "maxAlternativesPerProduct": 50 } ``` ### ๐Ÿ“ค Output Data Structure #### Basic Fields (Always Included) - `sourceUrl`, `alternativeName`, `alternativeUrl`, `description` - `tags`, `platforms`, `pricing`, `rating`, `likes` - `hasDetailedData` #### Detailed Fields (When `fetchDetailedData: true`) - `detailedDescription`, `features`, `officialWebsite` - `appStores`, `otherLinks`, `developedBy`, `licensing` - `detailedPricing`, `alternativesCount`, `supportedLanguages` - `alternativeToCategories`, `popularAlternatives` ### ๐Ÿ’ฐ Pricing Model **Pay-Per-Event (PPE) pricing** - you only pay for what you use: 1. **`ACTOR_RUN`** - Charged once per Actor execution 2. **`LISTING_BASIC_SCRAPED`** - Charged per alternative extracted 3. **`LISTING_DETAIL_SCRAPED`** - Charged per detail page scraped (only if `fetchDetailedData: true`) ### ๐Ÿ”ง Features - โœ… **High Performance**: Fast and efficient scraping - โœ… **Multi-Page Support**: Automatically handles pagination across all pages - โœ… **Comprehensive Extraction**: 20+ data fields per alternative - โœ… **Batch Processing**: Process multiple product URLs in one run - โœ… **Automatic Deduplication**: Removes duplicate alternatives automatically - โœ… **Reliable Operation**: Robust error handling and retry logic ### ๐Ÿš€ Getting Started 1. Open this Actor on [Apify Platform](https://apify.com) 2. Configure input parameters (add URLs, choose basic/detailed data) 3. Click **Start** and monitor progress 4. Download results from the Dataset tab **Minimal Configuration:** ```json { "start_urls": [ { "url": "https://alternativeto.net/software/zapier/" } ] } ``` ### ๐Ÿ“ˆ Output Access Data is stored in the dataset with two views: - **Overview** - Basic alternative information - **Detailed** - Complete data with all detailed fields ### ๐Ÿ” SEO Keywords AlternativeTo scraper, competitor intelligence, market research tool, alternative products scraper, competitive analysis, product alternatives data, software alternatives API, competitor monitoring, market intelligence, product research, alternative discovery, competitor tracking, software comparison data, product alternatives API, market analysis tool, competitive intelligence platform ### ๐Ÿ†˜ Support - **Issues**: Report bugs or request features via Apify Platform - **Documentation**: Check the [Apify Docs](https://docs.apify.com) **Built with โค๏ธ using [Apify](https://apify.com) and [Crawlee](https://crawlee.dev)** # Actor input Schema ## `start_urls` (type: `array`): List of AlternativeTo.com product page URLs to scrape (e.g., https://alternativeto.net/software/algorithmia/) ## `fetchDetailedData` (type: `boolean`): Scrape detailed information from each alternative's page. โš ๏ธ This is a CHARGED EVENT per alternative. ## `maxAlternativesPerProduct` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of alternatives to extract per product across all pages (0 = unlimited). Useful for limiting costs. ## Actor input object example ```json { "start_urls": [ { "url": "https://alternativeto.net/software/algorithmia/" } ], "fetchDetailedData": true, "maxAlternativesPerProduct": 0 } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `dataset` (type: `string`): Complete dataset with all scraped alternatives ## `overview` (type: `string`): Overview table with basic alternative information ## `detailed` (type: `string`): Detailed view with all fields including detailed data (when available) # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "start_urls": [ { "url": "https://alternativeto.net/software/algorithmia/" } ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("datavoyantlab/alternativeto-scraper").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`๐Ÿ’พ 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); }); // ๐Ÿ“š Want to learn more ๐Ÿ“–? Go to โ†’ 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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "start_urls": [{ "url": "https://alternativeto.net/software/algorithmia/" }] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("datavoyantlab/alternativeto-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("๐Ÿ’พ Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # ๐Ÿ“š Want to learn more ๐Ÿ“–? Go to โ†’ https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "start_urls": [ { "url": "https://alternativeto.net/software/algorithmia/" } ] }' | apify call datavoyantlab/alternativeto-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=datavoyantlab/alternativeto-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "AlternativeTo Scraper - Competitor Intelligence & Alternatives", "description": "Extract competitor data from alternativeto.net - Get pricing, ratings, features, and product information. Perfect for market research and competitive analysis. Pay-per-event pricing", "version": "0.0", "x-build-id": "w9lCL9bSgsrRYGMM4" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/datavoyantlab~alternativeto-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-datavoyantlab-alternativeto-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/datavoyantlab~alternativeto-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-datavoyantlab-alternativeto-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/datavoyantlab~alternativeto-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-datavoyantlab-alternativeto-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "start_urls" ], "properties": { "start_urls": { "title": "AlternativeTo URLs", "type": "array", "description": "List of AlternativeTo.com product page URLs to scrape (e.g., https://alternativeto.net/software/algorithmia/)", "items": { "type": "object", "required": [ "url" ], "properties": { "url": { "type": "string", "title": "URL of a web page", "format": "uri" } } } }, "fetchDetailedData": { "title": "Fetch Detailed Competitor Data", "type": "boolean", "description": "Scrape detailed information from each alternative's page. โš ๏ธ This is a CHARGED EVENT per alternative.", "default": true }, "maxAlternativesPerProduct": { "title": "Max Alternatives per Product", "minimum": 0, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of alternatives to extract per product across all pages (0 = unlimited). Useful for limiting costs.", "default": 0 } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```