# Twitch Followers Scraper (Cheap) (`data_api/twitch-followers-scraper-cheap`) Actor

Twitch Followers Count Scraper that extracts follower counts, creation dates, and profile stats for any Twitch handle, so you can automate influencer research and channel analysis at scale.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/data\_api/twitch-followers-scraper-cheap.md
- **Developed by:** [Data API](https://apify.com/data_api) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Lead generation, Automation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $2.99 / 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/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#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

## Twitch Followers Scraper

![Twitch Followers Scraper](cover.jpg)

Twitch shows a follower count on a channel page, but there is no easy way to pull that number for a list of channels at once, and the account creation date is buried even deeper. If you track creators, vet sponsorship deals, or watch how channels grow over time, copying figures by hand does not scale. This scraper takes a channel name and returns the follower count, the display name, the date the account opened, and a clean link to the channel. Hand it one name or a few hundred.

### What you get

Each channel name becomes one row with the same set of columns every time. When a value is not available it comes back as `null` instead of disappearing, so your spreadsheet or database stays rectangular. Every row carries:

- **Identity** — `channelHandle`, `displayName`, `channelUrl`
- **Audience** — `followerCount` (a number) and `followerCountText` (the same number with commas)
- **History** — `accountCreated`, the date the channel opened
- **Run metadata** — `collectedAt` and `errorMessage`

### Quick start

1. Click **Try for free** and open the input form.
2. Type a single channel into **Channel name**, or paste a list into **Channel names (bulk)**.
3. Set a **Results limit** if you want to cap the run.
4. Press **Start**, then export your rows as JSON, CSV, Excel, or XML when the run finishes.

![How it works](how-it-works.jpg)

### Use cases

- **Influencer research** — pull follower numbers for a shortlist of streamers before you reach out
- **Sponsorship vetting** — check audience size and channel age side by side to gauge how established a creator is
- **Growth tracking** — re-run the same list on a schedule and chart how follower counts move week to week
- **Competitive analysis** — benchmark your channel against rivals in the same game or category
- **Media and reporting** — gather verified follower figures for articles, decks, or market overviews

### Input

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
|-------|------|----------|-------------|
| `channelName` | string | One of `channelName` or `channelNames` | A single Twitch channel name, such as `shroud` or `@shroud`. The `@` is stripped for you. |
| `channelNames` | array of strings | One of `channelName` or `channelNames` | A list of channel names for a bulk run. Merged with `channelName` when both are filled in. |
| `resultsLimit` | integer | No | Cap on how many channels to handle in one run. Default `50`. |
| `timeoutSeconds` | integer | No | Seconds to wait on each request before timing out. Default `45`. |

#### Example input

```json
{
    "channelName": "shroud",
    "channelNames": ["pokimane", "xqc", "kai_cenat"],
    "resultsLimit": 50,
    "timeoutSeconds": 45
}
```

### Output

Every channel name you supply produces one row, and every field is always present — values that could not be read come back as `null` so the dataset keeps a fixed shape.

#### Example output

```json
{
    "channelHandle": "shroud",
    "displayName": "shroud",
    "channelUrl": "https://www.twitch.tv/shroud",
    "followerCount": 10523418,
    "followerCountText": "10,523,418",
    "accountCreated": "August 2, 2012",
    "collectedAt": "2026-06-29T12:00:00.000000+00:00",
    "errorMessage": null
}
```

#### Output fields

| Field | Type | Description |
|-------|------|-------------|
| `channelHandle` | string | The channel name you supplied, lowercased and cleaned of any `@` prefix |
| `displayName` | string | The streamer's public display name as shown on Twitch |
| `channelUrl` | string | Direct link to the channel page on Twitch |
| `followerCount` | integer | Number of followers as a whole number |
| `followerCountText` | string | The same follower number written with thousands separators |
| `accountCreated` | string | Date the channel was first opened on Twitch |
| `collectedAt` | string | ISO 8601 timestamp marking when the row was captured |
| `errorMessage` | string | Why a channel could not be read; `null` when the row succeeded |

### Tips for best results

- **Test with a few names first.** Run three or four channels to confirm the output fits your pipeline before you load a long list.
- **Spell the channel name the way it appears in the URL.** A wrong name returns an error row rather than a match, so copy it straight from the channel link.
- **Use `channelNames` for bulk work.** Drop your whole list into the array field; the `channelName` box is there for one-off lookups.
- **Raise `timeoutSeconds`** toward 60 if you see repeated timeout errors on large runs.
- **Watch the `errorMessage` column.** A failed channel still produces a row, so you can spot misspelled names or removed channels at a glance.

### How can I use Twitch follower data?

**How can I use the Twitch Followers Scraper to compare several streamers at once?**
Paste your shortlist into the `channelNames` field and run it. Each channel comes back as its own row with `followerCount`, `displayName`, and `accountCreated`, so you can sort by audience size or channel age in a single sheet instead of opening each page by hand.

**How can I track Twitch follower growth over time?**
Save a list of the channels you care about and run the scraper on a schedule. Because every row carries a `collectedAt` timestamp next to the `followerCount`, you can stack the exports and chart how each channel's audience changes week to week.

**How can I check a Twitch channel's follower count and account age for a sponsorship deal?**
Enter the creator's channel name and read `followerCount` beside `accountCreated`. Together they tell you how large the audience is and how long the channel has been running — a quick sanity check before any outreach or paid partnership.

**How can I export Twitch follower data to CSV or Excel?**
Run the scraper, then use the export menu to download your rows as JSON, CSV, Excel, or XML. The columns line up with the output fields above, so the file is ready to drop into a report or a BI tool.

### Is it legal to scrape data?

Our actors are ethical and do not extract any private user data, such as email addresses or private contact information. They only extract what the user has chosen to share publicly. We therefore believe that our actors, when used for ethical purposes by Apify users, are safe.

However, you should be aware that your results could contain personal data. Personal data is protected by the GDPR in the European Union and by other regulations around the world. You should not scrape personal data unless you have a legitimate reason to do so. If you're unsure whether your reason is legitimate, consult your lawyers.

You can also read Apify's blog post on the [legality of web scraping](https://blog.apify.com/is-web-scraping-legal/).

### Support

Questions, feature requests, or a field you'd like added? Reach out at <data.apify@proton.me> and we'll get back to you.

# Actor input Schema

## `twitchHandle` (type: `string`):

A single Twitch channel handle (e.g. ninja or @ninja). The @ prefix is stripped automatically.

## `twitchHandles` (type: `array`):

A list of Twitch channel handles for bulk lookup. Combined with Twitch Handle if both are provided.

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

Maximum number of channels to process per run.

## `requestTimeoutSecs` (type: `integer`):

Per-request timeout in seconds.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "twitchHandle": "ninja",
  "twitchHandles": [
    "ninja",
    "shroud",
    "pokimane"
  ],
  "maxItems": 100,
  "requestTimeoutSecs": 30
}
```

# 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 = {
    "twitchHandle": "ninja"
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("data_api/twitch-followers-scraper-cheap").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 = { "twitchHandle": "ninja" }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("data_api/twitch-followers-scraper-cheap").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 '{
  "twitchHandle": "ninja"
}' |
apify call data_api/twitch-followers-scraper-cheap --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=data_api/twitch-followers-scraper-cheap",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/n91dmeRBFCmYUkkbG/builds/HRjMJIfz96noP1Z6F/openapi.json