# Thumbtack Category Scraper (`getdataforme/thumbtack-category-scraper`) Actor Automate extraction of detailed Thumbtack service listings, including providers, ratings, pricing, and categories. Ideal for market research, competitive intelligence, and business automation.... - **URL**: https://apify.com/getdataforme/thumbtack-category-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [GetDataForMe](https://apify.com/getdataforme) (community) - **Categories:** Agents, Automation, Lead generation - **Stats:** 9 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $0.05 / actor start 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/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 ## Thumbtack Category Scraper ### Introduction The Thumbtack Category Scraper is a powerful Apify Actor designed to extract detailed service listings and category information from Thumbtack.com. It automates the process of gathering data on local services, providers, and pricing, enabling users to collect structured insights from search results efficiently. This tool is ideal for businesses, researchers, and developers seeking reliable data for market analysis, competitive intelligence, or integration into applications. ### Features - **Comprehensive Data Extraction**: Scrapes service categories, provider details, ratings, pricing, and contact information from Thumbtack search results. - **High Reliability**: Built on PlaywrightCrawler for robust handling of dynamic web content, ensuring accurate data capture even with JavaScript-heavy pages. - **Customizable Inputs**: Supports multiple start URLs for targeted scraping of specific categories, locations, or keywords. - **Scalable Performance**: Processes large volumes of data quickly, with built-in concurrency controls to optimize speed and avoid rate limits. - **Structured Output**: Delivers clean, JSON-formatted data ready for analysis, export, or integration with other tools. - **Error-Resilient**: Includes retry mechanisms and logging for seamless operation, minimizing failures during scraping. - **Apify Integration**: Fully compatible with Apify's ecosystem, allowing easy scheduling, monitoring, and result storage. ### Input Parameters | Parameter | Type | Required | Description | Example | |-----------|--------|----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------| | startUrls | array | Yes | An array of URLs to start the scraping process. Each URL should be a full Thumbtack search result page, including parameters like keywords and zip codes for precise targeting. | [{"url": "https://www.thumbtack.com/instant-results/?deprecate_spr=true&keyword_pk=264988177586236325&search_bar_query_pk=569668566740303886&zip_code=10701&user_query_pk=569668607452233730&ir_referrer=HOME_PAGE_SEARCH"}] | ### Example Usage #### Input JSON ```json { "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://www.thumbtack.com/instant-results/?deprecate_spr=true&keyword_pk=264988177586236325&search_bar_query_pk=569668566740303886&zip_code=10701&user_query_pk=569668607452233730&ir_referrer=HOME_PAGE_SEARCH" } ] } ```` #### Output JSON ```json [ { "category": "Plumbing", "providerName": "John's Plumbing Services", "rating": 4.8, "reviewCount": 125, "priceRange": "$50 - $200", "location": "Yonkers, NY", "description": "Expert plumbing repairs and installations.", "contact": "https://www.thumbtack.com/profile/johns-plumbing", "url": "https://www.thumbtack.com/instant-results/...", "scrapedAt": "2023-10-01T12:00:00Z" } ] ``` ### Use Cases - **Market Research**: Analyze service demand and pricing trends across different categories and locations. - **Competitive Intelligence**: Monitor competitors' offerings, ratings, and customer feedback to inform business strategies. - **Price Monitoring**: Track pricing fluctuations for services to optimize budgeting or pricing models. - **Content Aggregation**: Build databases of local service providers for directories or recommendation engines. - **Academic Research**: Gather data on service industries for studies in economics, sociology, or urban planning. - **Business Automation**: Integrate scraped data into CRM systems or dashboards for automated reporting and decision-making. ### Installation and Usage 1. Search for "Thumbtack Category Scraper" in the Apify Store. 2. Click "Try for free" or "Run". 3. Configure input parameters, such as adding your desired start URLs. 4. Click "Start" to begin extraction. 5. Monitor progress in the log. 6. Export results in your preferred format (JSON, CSV, Excel). ### Output Format The Actor outputs data in JSON format, with each item representing a scraped service listing. Key fields include: - `category`: The service category (e.g., "Plumbing"). - `providerName`: Name of the service provider. - `rating`: Average customer rating (e.g., 4.8). - `reviewCount`: Number of reviews. - `priceRange`: Estimated price range. - `location`: Geographic location of the provider. - `description`: Brief service description. - `contact`: Link to the provider's profile. - `url`: Original scraped URL. - `scrapedAt`: Timestamp of scraping. Data is structured as an array of objects, making it easy to parse and analyze. ### Support For custom/simplified outputs or bug reports, please contact: - Email: support@getdataforme.com - Subject line: "custom support" - Contact form: https://getdataforme.com/contact/ We're here to help you get the most out of this Actor! *** # Actor input Schema ## `startUrls` (type: `array`): Need the Search Full Url to start with. ## Actor input object example ```json { "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://www.thumbtack.com/instant-results/?deprecate_spr=true&keyword_pk=264988177586236325&search_bar_query_pk=569668566740303886&zip_code=10701&user_query_pk=569668607452233730&ir_referrer=HOME_PAGE_SEARCH" } ] } ``` # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://www.thumbtack.com/instant-results/?deprecate_spr=true&keyword_pk=264988177586236325&search_bar_query_pk=569668566740303886&zip_code=10701&user_query_pk=569668607452233730&ir_referrer=HOME_PAGE_SEARCH" } ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("getdataforme/thumbtack-category-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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "startUrls": [{ "url": "https://www.thumbtack.com/instant-results/?deprecate_spr=true&keyword_pk=264988177586236325&search_bar_query_pk=569668566740303886&zip_code=10701&user_query_pk=569668607452233730&ir_referrer=HOME_PAGE_SEARCH" }] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("getdataforme/thumbtack-category-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://www.thumbtack.com/instant-results/?deprecate_spr=true&keyword_pk=264988177586236325&search_bar_query_pk=569668566740303886&zip_code=10701&user_query_pk=569668607452233730&ir_referrer=HOME_PAGE_SEARCH" } ] }' | apify call getdataforme/thumbtack-category-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=getdataforme/thumbtack-category-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Thumbtack Category Scraper", "description": "Automate extraction of detailed Thumbtack service listings, including providers, ratings, pricing, and categories. Ideal for market research, competitive intelligence, and business automation....", "version": "0.0", "x-build-id": "CGd7cddbKJe4t1Uhn" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/getdataforme~thumbtack-category-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-getdataforme-thumbtack-category-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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/getdataforme~thumbtack-category-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-getdataforme-thumbtack-category-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/getdataforme~thumbtack-category-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-getdataforme-thumbtack-category-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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", "properties": { "startUrls": { "title": "Start URLs", "type": "array", "description": "Need the Search Full Url to start with.", "items": { "type": "object", "required": [ "url" ], "properties": { "url": { "type": "string", "title": "URL of a web page", "format": "uri" } } } } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```