# OpenAlex Works Scraper: Research Papers by Topic (`my_agent_c/openalex-works-scraper`) Actor

Search the OpenAlex catalogue of over 300 million research works by topic and date: title, DOI, authors, venue, year, citations and open-access status. Uses your own free OpenAlex key, with a call cap so a run never uses more than you set.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/my_agent_c/openalex-works-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [My Agent C](https://apify.com/my_agent_c) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools, News
- **Security:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 1 total users, 0 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $0.10 / 1,000 works

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/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## 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

## OpenAlex Works Scraper

Search research papers from OpenAlex, the open catalogue of over 300 million scholarly works. Get the title, DOI, first authors, venue, year, citation count and open-access status for each paper. Filter by search text, date and open access, and sort by newest or most cited.

- **Search:** words in the title, abstract and full text.
- **Filters:** published since a date, and open access only.
- **Monitoring:** turn on "Only new works" and schedule a run. Each run returns only works you have not received before.

### How to use it

1. Get a free OpenAlex key at openalex.org/settings/api and paste it into "Your OpenAlex API key". Your key is used only for your runs.
2. Enter search text or a start date.
3. Set the maximum works and the maximum API calls. Each call returns up to 100 works, and the call cap is a hard limit on your daily budget.
4. Run it, then download the works as JSON, CSV or Excel, or use the API.

#### Input example

```json
{
  "apiKey": "your-free-openalex-key",
  "query": "large language model",
  "fromDate": "2026-01-01",
  "openAccessOnly": true,
  "maxWorks": 300,
  "maxCalls": 5
}
```

#### Output example (one work)

```json
{
  "id": "https://openalex.org/W4362515116",
  "doi": "https://doi.org/10.1007/example",
  "title": "An example paper",
  "publicationDate": "2026-05-09",
  "year": 2026,
  "type": "article",
  "citedBy": 2093,
  "isOpenAccess": true,
  "venue": "Frontiers of Computer Science",
  "authors": ["First Author", "Second Author"],
  "url": "https://doi.org/10.1007/example",
  "returnedAt": "2026-11-01T10:00:00.000Z"
}
```

### Good to know

- **Free data.** OpenAlex data is CC0, so you can reuse it freely.
- **Your own key.** Basic use is free without a key, but the shared budget is tiny. A free key raises the daily budget, and each user brings their own.
- **Pay-as-you-go is not used.** The actor stops at your call cap, and a daily budget limit stops it before any charge. Keep your OpenAlex account on the free plan.
- **Only the first five authors.** The output lists up to five names per work.
- **Cost.** Each work costs $0.0001, so 1,000 works cost $0.10, plus $0.005 per run.

### FAQ

**Why did a run stop early?** Either it reached your call cap or the daily budget was used up. The run summary says which.

**Why are some works missing a DOI?** Not every work has one. The OpenAlex link is used instead.

### Pricing

OpenAlex Works Scraper uses pay per event. You pay $0.005 to start a run and $0.0001 for each work, so 1,000 works cost about $0.105. There is no monthly fee. Set a maximum cost on a run and it stops cleanly when it reaches it.

### Use cases

- Build a reading list of the newest or most cited papers on a topic.
- Track new open access research for a field each week.
- Collect DOIs, venues and citation counts for a literature review.
- Feed paper metadata into a spreadsheet, database or AI pipeline.

### Use it from Python or JavaScript

Every Apify actor has an API. Replace the token with yours from the Apify Console.

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("My_agent_C/openalex-works-scraper").call(run_input={
  "apiKey": "your-free-openalex-key",
  "query": "large language model",
  "fromDate": "2026-01-01",
  "openAccessOnly": True,
  "maxWorks": 300,
  "maxCalls": 5
})
items = client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).list_items().items
```

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: 'YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN' });
const run = await client.actor('My_agent_C/openalex-works-scraper').call({
  "apiKey": "your-free-openalex-key",
  "query": "large language model",
  "fromDate": "2026-01-01",
  "openAccessOnly": true,
  "maxWorks": 300,
  "maxCalls": 5
});
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
```

You can also run it on a schedule, send results to Google Sheets, Zapier, Make or n8n, or call it from an AI agent through the Apify MCP server.

#### More questions

**How do I search research papers with the OpenAlex API?** Add your free OpenAlex key, enter search words and optional filters, and run the actor. It returns title, DOI, authors, venue, year, citations and open access status.

**Is OpenAlex data free?** Yes. OpenAlex is an open catalogue, and the key is free. Each user brings their own key.

**Can I export OpenAlex results to CSV or Excel?** Yes. Download any run as CSV, Excel, JSON or XML from the Storage tab.

### More scrapers by the same author

- [Shopify Products Scraper: Prices, Stock and Change Feed](https://apify.com/My_agent_C/shopify-products-scraper)
- [Product Hunt Launches Scraper: New Launches Feed](https://apify.com/My_agent_C/product-hunt-launches-scraper)
- [Hacker News Stories Scraper: Top, New and Show HN](https://apify.com/My_agent_C/hacker-news-stories-scraper)
- [SEC EDGAR Filings Scraper: 8-K, 10-K and Insider Forms](https://apify.com/My_agent_C/sec-edgar-filings-scraper)
- [Bluesky Posts Scraper: Public Posts by Account](https://apify.com/My_agent_C/bluesky-posts-scraper)
- [Greenhouse Jobs Scraper: Open Roles by Company](https://apify.com/My_agent_C/greenhouse-jobs-scraper)
- [GLEIF LEI Company Search: Legal Entity Records](https://apify.com/My_agent_C/gleif-lei-companies-scraper)
- [FDA Recalls Scraper: Food, Drug and Device Recalls](https://apify.com/My_agent_C/fda-recalls-scraper)
- [Companies House Company Search: UK Register](https://apify.com/My_agent_C/companies-house-companies-scraper)
- [Remote Jobs Scraper: Remote OK and Jobicy Listings](https://apify.com/My_agent_C/remote-jobs-scraper)
- [Ashby and Lever Jobs Scraper: Open Roles by Company](https://apify.com/My_agent_C/ashby-lever-jobs-scraper)

Found a problem or want a field added? Open an issue on the Issues tab. Replies usually come within a day.

# Actor input Schema

## `apiKey` (type: `string`):

Free key from openalex.org/settings/api. Each user brings their own key, so the daily budget is not shared. It is used only for OpenAlex requests.

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

Words to search for in the works (title, abstract and full text), for example: large language model.

## `fromDate` (type: `string`):

Only works published on or after this date.

## `openAccessOnly` (type: `boolean`):

Only works that are free to read.

## `sort` (type: `string`):

Newest published first, or most cited first.

## `maxWorks` (type: `integer`):

How many works to return in one run, up to 5,000.

## `maxCalls` (type: `integer`):

A hard cap on requests in one run. Each call returns up to 100 works, so 10 calls is up to 1,000 works. This protects your daily budget.

## `onlyNew` (type: `boolean`):

Skip works this Actor already returned to you in earlier runs.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "openAccessOnly": false,
  "sort": "publication_date:desc",
  "maxWorks": 500,
  "maxCalls": 10,
  "onlyNew": false
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `works` (type: `string`):

No description

## `summary` (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("my_agent_c/openalex-works-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 '<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("my_agent_c/openalex-works-scraper").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 my_agent_c/openalex-works-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,my_agent_c/openalex-works-scraper"
        }
    }
}
```

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/2DxD5hy39vq1j1mgN/builds/ELDY5wxAr5s80gVtv/openapi.json