# SoftwareAdvice Review Scraper (`moving_beacon-owner1/softwareadvice-review-scraper`) Actor Scrapes Software Advice product ratings and recent reviews from JSON-LD data, with meta-tag fallbacks. Extracts product details, ratings, review text, reviewer names, dates, and sentiment, with review or product output modes. - **URL**: https://apify.com/moving\_beacon-owner1/softwareadvice-review-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Jamshaid Arif](https://apify.com/moving_beacon-owner1) (community) - **Categories:** Developer tools, Automation, Other - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 66.7% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $9.99 / 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. 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. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.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/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 ## SoftwareAdvice Review Scraper Apify actor that scrapes product ratings and reviews from [softwareadvice.com](https://www.softwareadvice.com) product profiles via their embedded schema.org JSON-LD, with meta-tag fallbacks. ### Input ```json { "products": [ "project-management/notion", "https://www.softwareadvice.com/crm/hubspot-profile/" ], "outputMode": "reviews", "includeSentiment": true, "requestDelaySecs": 2 } ```` `category/slug` shorthand is expanded to the full profile URL (`-profile/` appended automatically). ### Output modes - **`reviews`** (default) — one dataset row per review (`type: "review"`, with product name/category attached) plus one product-summary row per page (`type: "product"`). Best for tabular analysis: filter the dataset by `type`. - **`product`** — one row per product with `reviews` nested. ### Fields **Product:** name, category (from URL), description, aggregate `rating`, `review_count`, `best_rating`, `reviews_scraped`, and `avg_review_sentiment`. **Review:** rating, title, body, reviewer first name, date (month-year granularity — that's all SoftwareAdvice publishes), and a lexicon `sentiment` score in \[-1, 1] (toggleable, no ML dependencies). ### Coverage note (honest limits) The JSON-LD embeds roughly the **15 most recent review bodies** per profile page. Deeper review history is loaded client-side by JavaScript and is not reachable with plain HTTP — so this actor gives you the aggregate stats plus a recent-reviews sample, not the full 2,000+ review archive. For trend tracking, schedule it and accumulate: new reviews enter the JSON-LD window as they're posted. # Actor input Schema ## `products` (type: `array`): Full URLs (`https://www.softwareadvice.com/project-management/notion-profile/`) or shorthand `category/slug` (`project-management/notion` — '-profile' is added automatically). ## `outputMode` (type: `string`): How to shape the dataset. ## `includeSentiment` (type: `boolean`): Score each review body in \[-1, 1] with a small lexicon (no ML deps) and add a per-product average. ## `requestDelaySecs` (type: `integer`): SoftwareAdvice is Cloudflare-protected — keep at 2+ for batches. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Defaults to Apify Proxy datacenter servers in the US. TLS impersonation cleared Cloudflare in testing for light use; switch to the RESIDENTIAL group for volume runs or if blocks appear. ## Actor input object example ```json { "products": [ "project-management/notion" ], "outputMode": "reviews", "includeSentiment": true, "requestDelaySecs": 2, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyCountry": "US" } } ``` # 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 = { "products": [ "project-management/notion" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("moving_beacon-owner1/softwareadvice-review-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 = { "products": ["project-management/notion"] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("moving_beacon-owner1/softwareadvice-review-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 '{ "products": [ "project-management/notion" ] }' | apify call moving_beacon-owner1/softwareadvice-review-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=moving_beacon-owner1/softwareadvice-review-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "SoftwareAdvice Review Scraper", "description": "Scrapes Software Advice product ratings and recent reviews from JSON-LD data, with meta-tag fallbacks. Extracts product details, ratings, review text, reviewer names, dates, and sentiment, with review or product output modes.", "version": "0.0", "x-build-id": "sKa8z0cvb8FSqfdKQ" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/moving_beacon-owner1~softwareadvice-review-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-moving_beacon-owner1-softwareadvice-review-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/moving_beacon-owner1~softwareadvice-review-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-moving_beacon-owner1-softwareadvice-review-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/moving_beacon-owner1~softwareadvice-review-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-moving_beacon-owner1-softwareadvice-review-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": [ "products" ], "properties": { "products": { "title": "Product profile URLs or category/slug pairs", "type": "array", "description": "Full URLs (`https://www.softwareadvice.com/project-management/notion-profile/`) or shorthand `category/slug` (`project-management/notion` — '-profile' is added automatically).", "default": [ "project-management/notion" ], "items": { "type": "string" } }, "outputMode": { "title": "Output mode", "enum": [ "reviews", "product" ], "type": "string", "description": "How to shape the dataset.", "default": "reviews" }, "includeSentiment": { "title": "Include sentiment scores", "type": "boolean", "description": "Score each review body in [-1, 1] with a small lexicon (no ML deps) and add a per-product average.", "default": true }, "requestDelaySecs": { "title": "Delay between requests (seconds)", "minimum": 0, "maximum": 30, "type": "integer", "description": "SoftwareAdvice is Cloudflare-protected — keep at 2+ for batches.", "default": 2 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Defaults to Apify Proxy datacenter servers in the US. TLS impersonation cleared Cloudflare in testing for light use; switch to the RESIDENTIAL group for volume runs or if blocks appear.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyCountry": "US" } } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```