# Itunes Podcast Search Scraper (`real-estate-api/itunes-podcast-search-scraper`) Actor

iTunes Podcast Search Scraper is a Python tool to extract podcast titles, publisher names, episode counts, primary genres, and feed URLs from the Apple Podcasts directory. It exports structured audio directory datasets into clean CSV or JSON formats for media monitoring and competitor analysis.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/real-estate-api/itunes-podcast-search-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [real-estate-api](https://apify.com/real-estate-api) (community)
- **Security:** Limited permissions
- **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/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

### iTunes Podcast Search Scraper — Apple Podcasts Shows and Episode Discovery

![iTunes Podcast Search Scraper cover](https://images.bigibyte.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1260,height=540,fit=cover,format=webp/apify-actors-covers/itunes-podcast-search-scraper-cover.png)

Discover podcasts and collect episode information from the Apple Podcasts directory. Search shows by keyword or retrieve episodes for specific podcast IDs, then export structured results as JSON, CSV, Excel, or other supported formats.

### Overview

This actor collects podcast information from Apple's public podcast directory. Search for shows using keywords or retrieve episodes using podcast collection IDs.

Results from multiple searches or podcast IDs are combined into one dataset. Duplicate records are removed using their `trackId`, and the collection is limited by `maxItems`.

### Features

- Search podcasts using one or more keywords.
- Retrieve episodes for known podcast collection IDs.
- Choose a country for localized podcast results.
- Collect show details, creator names, genres, artwork, and podcast links.
- Capture available episode information.
- Deduplicate records using `trackId`.
- Set a maximum number of records per run.
- Export results in JSON, CSV, Excel, and other supported formats.

### Collection Modes

**Podcast Search:** Finds matching podcast shows using the supplied search terms.

**Episodes:** Retrieves available episodes for the supplied podcast collection IDs.

### Input Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `mode` | String | Collection mode. Use `search` or `episodes`. |
| `terms` | Array | Search keywords used in `search` mode. |
| `podcastIds` | Array | Podcast collection IDs used in `episodes` mode. |
| `country` | String | Country code used to localize results, such as `us`. |
| `maxItems` | Integer | Maximum number of unique records to collect. Up to 1,000. |
| `requestDelaySecs` | Number | Delay between requests, in seconds. |

### Example Input

**Podcast Search**

```json
{
  "mode": "search",
  "terms": ["marketing"],
  "country": "us",
  "maxItems": 50,
  "requestDelaySecs": 1
}
```

**Episodes**

```json
{
  "mode": "episodes",
  "podcastIds": ["1200361736"],
  "country": "us",
  "maxItems": 50,
  "requestDelaySecs": 1
}
```

### What Data Does This Actor Extract?

Available fields depend on the selected collection mode and the information provided by the directory.

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `wrapperType` | Type of directory result. |
| `kind` | Content type, such as podcast or podcast episode. |
| `collectionId` | Podcast collection identifier. |
| `trackId` | Unique identifier for a show or episode. |
| `artistName` | Podcast creator or publisher name. |
| `collectionName` | Podcast show name. |
| `trackName` | Show or episode title. |
| `collectionCensoredName` | Collection name provided by the directory. |
| `trackCensoredName` | Track name provided by the directory. |
| `collectionViewUrl` | Link to the podcast listing. |
| `trackViewUrl` | Link to the show or episode listing. |
| `feedUrl` | Podcast RSS feed address, when available. |
| `artworkUrl100` | Podcast artwork image link. |
| `collectionPrice` | Collection price, when available. |
| `trackPrice` | Track price, when available. |
| `collectionHdPrice` | Collection HD price, when available. |
| `releaseDate` | Release date of the show or episode. |
| `collectionExplicitness` | Explicit-content classification for the collection. |
| `trackExplicitness` | Explicit-content classification for the track. |
| `trackCount` | Number of tracks or episodes reported for the collection. |
| `country` | Country associated with the result. |
| `currency` | Currency reported by the directory. |
| `primaryGenreName` | Primary podcast genre. |
| `scraped_at` | Timestamp when the record was collected. |

### Example Output

```json
{
  "wrapperType": "track",
  "kind": "podcast",
  "collectionId": 1588397602,
  "trackId": 1588397602,
  "artistName": "Marketing Happy Hour",
  "collectionName": "Marketing Happy Hour",
  "trackName": "Marketing Happy Hour",
  "collectionCensoredName": "Marketing Happy Hour",
  "trackCensoredName": "Marketing Happy Hour",
  "collectionViewUrl": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-happy-hour/id1588397602?uo=4",
  "feedUrl": "https://anchor.fm/s/50d9d294/podcast/rss",
  "trackViewUrl": "https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/marketing-happy-hour/id1588397602?uo=4",
  "artworkUrl100": "https://is1-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/Podcasts211/v4/ea/a7/5c/eaa75c82-06cf-fe11-3161-68e39f7e487f/mza_7610324141478559814.jpg/100x100bb.jpg",
  "collectionPrice": 0.0,
  "trackPrice": 0.0,
  "collectionHdPrice": 0,
  "releaseDate": "2026-10-01T09:00:00Z",
  "collectionExplicitness": "notExplicit",
  "trackExplicitness": "cleaned",
  "trackCount": 286,
  "country": "USA",
  "currency": "USD",
  "primaryGenreName": "Marketing",
  "scraped_at": "2026-10-26T00:00:00+00:00"
}
```

### Use Cases

- **Podcast Discovery:** Search for shows by topic, keyword, or niche.
- **Episode Collection:** Retrieve available episodes for selected podcasts.
- **Competitive Research:** Compare podcast catalogs and discover shows in a particular industry.
- **Podcast Directory Building:** Create structured lists of podcast titles, creators, genres, and links.
- **Feed Enrichment:** Collect RSS feed addresses and artwork links to enrich existing podcast records.
- **Research and Analysis:** Export podcast information for spreadsheets and data analysis.

### Working with Your Dataset

After the actor finishes running, open the dataset to explore the collected podcast records. You can:

- Export records as JSON, CSV, Excel, and other supported formats.
- Filter shows by title, creator, genre, or country.
- Identify individual shows and episodes using their IDs.
- Open podcast and episode links.
- Use available RSS feed addresses in your podcast workflows.

### FAQ

**Who is this actor for?**

It is useful for podcast researchers, marketers, developers, publishers, and analysts who need structured podcast directory information.

**What export formats are supported?**

You can export the dataset as JSON, CSV, Excel, and other formats supported by Apify.

**Can I search for multiple podcast topics?**

Yes. Provide multiple keywords in the `terms` array when using `search` mode.

**Can I collect episodes for multiple podcasts?**

Yes. Provide multiple collection IDs in the `podcastIds` array when using `episodes` mode.

**Can I run it on a schedule?**

Yes. You can configure an Apify schedule to run the actor automatically at your preferred interval.

**What happens if a search or podcast lookup fails?**

The actor continues processing other searches or podcast IDs when possible. A failed lookup may not produce records.

**How many records can one run return?**

You can set `maxItems` up to 1,000 unique records.

**Does it download podcast audio?**

No. The actor collects directory information and available episode metadata. It does not download or store audio files.

### Disclaimer

This is an independent data collection tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or officially associated with Apple or Apple Podcasts. Apple, Apple Podcasts, and related trademarks belong to their respective owners.

The actor collects information from publicly accessible directory listings. Users are responsible for ensuring that their collection and use of the data comply with applicable laws and the source's terms.

### Is Web Scraping Legal?

Collecting information that is already public is generally legal. There is no single law that bans all forms of web scraping. The limits are the usual ones: do not break into accounts, do not take private or confidential data, and be careful with personal data and copyrighted works. A site's terms can also restrict how you access it. Facts such as a public name, price, or rating are not the same thing as republishing someone's article or photo.

This actor collects information from public pages. It does not log in and it does not bypass access controls.

For a longer explanation, see Apify's article [Is web scraping legal?](https://blog.apify.com/is-web-scraping-legal/).

# Actor input Schema

## `mode` (type: `string`):

What to scrape.

## `terms` (type: `array`):

Search terms for podcast search mode. One term per line.

## `podcastIds` (type: `array`):

collectionIds for episodes mode. One ID per line.

## `country` (type: `string`):

iTunes storefront country code.

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

Stop after this many successful rows. Hard max is 1000.

## `requestDelaySecs` (type: `number`):

Seconds to wait between requests. Keep at least 1 for polite pacing.

## `userAgent` (type: `string`):

User-Agent header sent with each request.

## `timeoutSecs` (type: `integer`):

Overall run budget in seconds.

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

Per-request timeout in seconds.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Optional proxy. Leave off unless you need it.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "mode": "search",
  "terms": [
    "marketing"
  ],
  "podcastIds": [
    "1200361736"
  ],
  "country": "us",
  "maxItems": 100,
  "requestDelaySecs": 1,
  "userAgent": "Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64) AppleWebKit/537.36 (KHTML, like Gecko) Chrome/131.0.0.0 Safari/537.36",
  "timeoutSecs": 300,
  "requestTimeoutSecs": 30,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `overview` (type: `string`):

Dataset rows in the overview table.

## `dataset` (type: `string`):

Full dataset for this run.

## `items` (type: `string`):

Dataset items as JSON.

# 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 = {
    "terms": [
        "marketing"
    ],
    "podcastIds": [
        "1200361736"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("real-estate-api/itunes-podcast-search-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 = {
    "terms": ["marketing"],
    "podcastIds": ["1200361736"],
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("real-estate-api/itunes-podcast-search-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 '{
  "terms": [
    "marketing"
  ],
  "podcastIds": [
    "1200361736"
  ]
}' |
apify call real-estate-api/itunes-podcast-search-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,real-estate-api/itunes-podcast-search-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/pg63eecl6Te901YKZ/builds/kG69LgDtVbUnLwP34/openapi.json