# Google Places Scraper (`flashdata/google-places`) Actor

Find local businesses on Google and extract names, addresses, categories and available ratings, phone numbers and websites. Export JSON or CSV. Requires a FlashData API key and Credits; Apify usage is billed separately.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/flashdata/google-places.md
- **Developed by:** [FlashData](https://apify.com/flashdata) (community)
- **Categories:** Business, Developer tools
- **Stats:** 1 total users, 0 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

Pay per usage

This Actor is paid per platform usage. The Actor is free to use, and you only pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-usage

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
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.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## 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.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## Google Places Scraper

Find local businesses and places by keyword and location. Collect a structured shortlist of cafes, shops, service providers or other places, with the contact and business details available in Google's search response.

### What you get

- **Local business results:** names, addresses and categories, with available ratings, phone numbers and websites.
- **Location-aware queries:** name a city in the query or use the location and country settings.
- **Structured export:** one place per dataset row; download JSON or CSV or retrieve results through the Apify API.

Use it for local market research, supplier discovery or planning a list of places to review.

### Example output

The **Google Places results** dataset contains one returned place per row. This example is illustrative, not a live result:

```json
{
  "query": "coffee shops in Singapore",
  "position": 1,
  "title": "Example Cafe",
  "address": "Example Street, Singapore",
  "category": "Cafe",
  "rating": 4.5,
  "website": "https://example.com",
  "request_id": "req_example"
}
```

Optional details such as `phoneNumber`, website, ratings or coordinates may be absent. **Complete response and status** retains all returned fields and usage information.

### Quick start

1. Get a [FlashData API key](https://flashdata.dev/app/api-keys) with `google_places` access and available Credits.
2. Enter a **Search query** such as `coffee shops in Singapore` and your key. Adjust the location, country or requested result count if needed.
3. Click **Start**, then open **Google Places results** to review the businesses and export the dataset.

```json
{
  "flashdataApiKey": "YOUR_FLASHDATA_API_KEY",
  "query": "coffee shops in Singapore",
  "num": 10
}
```

### Input parameters

| Parameter | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `query` | Yes | One search query, e.g. coffee shops in Singapore.  |
| `flashdataApiKey` | Yes | Your FlashData API key, stored as encrypted input.  |
| `num` | No | Maximum results to request (1–100). Actual count may be lower. Range: 1–100. Default: `10`. |
| `page` | No | Results page number, starting at 1. Range: 1–100. Default: `1`. |
| `gl` | No | Two-letter country code, e.g. us, gb or sg.  |
| `hl` | No | Google interface language, e.g. en or zh-cn.  |
| `location` | No | Search location, e.g. Singapore or New York.  |
| `tbs` | No | Optional Google search filter. Supported behavior depends on the search type.  |
| `autocorrect` | No | Allow Google to correct spelling.  |

Each run handles one query and one page. Requested result counts are not guaranteed. Use separate runs for additional locations, queries or pages.

### Pricing

Requests use your FlashData Credits at your applicable [account rate](https://flashdata.dev/pricing). This Actor adds no service fee. Apify compute, storage and other platform usage are billed separately under your Apify plan.

### FAQ

**Will this find every business in a city?**

No. It returns the results available for your query and page. It does not scan a grid or build an exhaustive business directory.

**Does it collect emails or customer review text?**

No. Available phone numbers, websites and ratings can be returned, but the Actor does not crawl websites for emails or collect full reviews.

**Why are some phone numbers or websites missing?**

Fields depend on the provider response and the individual listing. A missing field does not mean the business has no phone or website.

**Can I rely on the information being current?**

Treat it as a search snapshot. Check the business website or listing before relying on contact details, opening hours or availability.

**What if a run fails?**

Check key permissions and Credits for authentication errors. After a timeout or interruption, inspect **Complete response and status** and FlashData Jobs/usage before starting again: the request may already have been charged. A new run can create another charge.

### Support

Open an issue on this Actor or email <support@flashdata.dev> with the run URL or request ID. Do not include API keys.

[API documentation](https://flashdata.dev/docs/sources/google_places) · [Terms](https://flashdata.dev/legal/terms) · [Privacy](https://flashdata.dev/legal/privacy)

This is an independent FlashData integration, not an official Google product.

# Actor input Schema

## `query` (type: `string`):

One search query, e.g. coffee shops in Singapore.

## `flashdataApiKey` (type: `string`):

Requires google_places access. Get your key: https://flashdata.dev/app/api-keys

## `num` (type: `integer`):

Maximum results to request (1–100). Actual count may be lower.

## `page` (type: `integer`):

Results page number, starting at 1.

## `gl` (type: `string`):

Two-letter country code, e.g. us, gb or sg.

## `hl` (type: `string`):

Google interface language, e.g. en or zh-cn.

## `location` (type: `string`):

Search location, e.g. Singapore or New York.

## `tbs` (type: `string`):

Google filter, e.g. qdr:d (past day), qdr:w (week), qdr:m (month).

## `autocorrect` (type: `boolean`):

Allow Google to correct spelling.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "num": 10,
  "page": 1
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

No description

## `response` (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 '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("flashdata/google-places").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 = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("flashdata/google-places").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 '{}' |
apify call flashdata/google-places --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,flashdata/google-places"
        }
    }
}
```

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/9uzjpe7GPc9bvjcEY/builds/ReklVTR1OX4h1z2TL/openapi.json