# Kickstarter Projects API Scraper (`rl1987/kickstarter-api-scraper`) Actor

Scrape Kickstarter projects by search term, category, location, state or URL — returns goal, pledged amount, backers, percent funded, currency, state, creator, category, dates, image and reward tiers. Talks to the app private API; fast, no login required.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/rl1987/kickstarter-api-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [R.L.](https://apify.com/rl1987) (community)
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $1.00 / 1,000 project rows

This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage.

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

## Kickstarter Projects API Scraper 🗂️ — Kickstarter crowdfunding campaigns by search query, category, location or project URL via the Kickstarter…

**Kickstarter Projects Scraper** — Scrape Kickstarter crowdfunding campaigns by search query, category, location or project URL via the Kickstarter mobile app private GraphQL API. Returns campaign rows and, with detail enrichment, project description, comments/updates counts and reward tiers. It reads Kickstarter Projects's own API directly, so it's **fast, reliable and complete** — no flaky HTML parsing, no headless browser. Export to **JSON, CSV, Excel, or an API**.

***

### ✨ Why use this Kickstarter Projects Scraper?

- 🟢 **No code required** — set your input, click **Start**, download your data.
- ⚡ **Fast & accurate** — reads Kickstarter Projects's own private API and returns structured JSON, not scraped HTML.
- 🧾 **Rich, structured data** — every field below, clean and ready to use.
- 🔁 **Full pagination** — collects results to your `maxItems` cap.
- 💸 **Transparent pay-per-result pricing** — pay only for the rows you get.
- 📤 **Export anywhere** — JSON, CSV, Excel, XML, or pull it live via the Apify API.

***

### 🎯 What can you do with Kickstarter Projects data?

- **Market & competitor research** — analyse Kickstarter Projects records at scale.
- **Price & availability monitoring** — track changes over time.
- **Data science & trend analysis** — build clean datasets.
- **Lead generation & enrichment** — feed Kickstarter Projects data into your own tools.

***

### 📥 What data does the Kickstarter Projects Scraper extract?

Each row includes: `id`, `name`, `slug`, `url`, `state`, `description`, `creator`, `category`, `location`, `country`, `goalAmount`, `goalCurrency`, `pledgedAmount`, `pledgedCurrency` …and more. See the full **Data table** below.

***

### 🚀 How to scrape kickstarter.com (3 steps)

1. **Set your input** — provide `q` or `location` (see the table below; defaults work out of the box).
2. **Pick options** — filters, a `proxyConfiguration`, and a `maxItems` cap.
3. **Run & export** — click **Start**, then download the dataset as JSON/CSV/Excel or fetch it via the API.

***

### ⚙️ Input

| Field | Type | Default | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `q` | string | – | Keyword search term (e.g. 'board game'). Leave blank to browse by category/location. |
| `location` | string | – | City or place name (e.g. 'New York'). Resolved via the app's own location lookup. |
| `projectUrl` | string | – | A Kickstarter project URL to fetch a single project's full detail (incl. rewards). |
| `includeDetails` | boolean | `false` | Fetch full project detail per row: story/description, comments & updates counts, reward tiers. |
| `maxItems` | integer | `25` | Maximum number of projects to return (0 = unlimited). |
| `state` | enum | – | Filter by campaign state — one of `LIVE`, `SUCCESSFUL`, `FAILED`, `UPCOMING` |
| `sort` | enum | – | Sort the results — one of `POPULARITY`, `NEWEST`, `END_DATE`, `MOST_FUNDED`, `MOST_BACKED`, `MAGIC` |
| `category` | enum | – | Browse a Kickstarter category — pick one from the dropdown of readable names (174 options, grouped `Parent › Subcategory`), e.g. `Games › Tabletop Games`, `Art › Illustration`, `Technology › Software`, `Film & Video`. |
| `proxyConfiguration` | object | Apify Proxy | Route requests through a proxy (Apify Proxy by default). |

#### Example input

```jsonc
{
  "includeDetails": false,
  "maxItems": 25,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true,
    "apifyProxyGroups": [
      "RESIDENTIAL"
    ]
  }
}
```

***

### 📤 Output

Each result is a JSON object like this:

```jsonc
{
  "id": "UHJvamVjdC04OTIyMzQ4MjA=",
  "name": "FIRST DOWN: Tactical Football Board Game",
  "slug": "donbeangames/first-down-tactical-football-board-game",
  "url": "https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/donbeangames/first-down-tactical-football-board-game",
  "state": "LIVE",
  "description": "A tactical football board game. Call the play, outsmart your opponent.",
  "creator": "André Beucler",
  "category": "Tabletop Games",
  "location": "Baden, Switzerland",
  "country": "Switzerland",
  "goalAmount": 33000.0,
  "goalCurrency": "EUR",
  "pledgedAmount": 8690.0,
  "pledgedCurrency": "EUR",
  "currency": "EUR",
  "percentFunded": 26.33,
  "backersCount": 94,
  "launchedAt": "2026-09-15T12:20:31Z",
  "deadlineAt": "2026-10-13T12:20:31Z",
  "imageUrl": "https://i.kickstarter.com/assets/055/087/458/4d4f38f52d5ebeae62f2cf770f45a5c4_original.png?anim=false&fit=cover&gravity=auto&height=576&origin=ugc&q=92&v=178…",
  "isProjectWeLove": false,
  "watchesCount": 196,
  "story": "FIRST DOWN\n\nA tactical football board game.\n\nCall the play. Outsmart your opponent.\n\n═══════════════════════════════════════════════════\n\nYOU KNOW THE FEELIN…",
  "commentsCount": 17,
  "updatesCount": 2,
  "rewards": [
    {
      "name": "Early Bird PLAYER EDITION + SNAP FREE",
      "price": 49.0,
      "currency": "EUR",
      "backersCount": 34,
      "limit": 100,
      "remainingQuantity": 66,
      "estimatedDeliveryOn": "2027-08-01",
      "description": "Be among the FIRST 100 backers and get FIRST DOWN SNAP, our fast 2 to 4 player card game, FREE with your pledge. After the first 100, SNAP is a paid add-on (…"
    },
    {
      "name": "PLAYER EDITION",
      "price": 49.0,
      "currency": "EUR",
      "backersCount": 1,
      "limit": null,
      "remainingQuantity": null,
      "estimatedDeliveryOn": "2027-08-01",
      "description": "The best way into FIRST DOWN: the complete game, everything you need for a full match, at the lowest price.\nShipping and VAT not included, collected later in…"
    },
    "…+4 more"
  ]
}
```

***

### 🧾 Data table

| Field | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `id` | text | ID |
| `name` | text | Title |
| `slug` | text | Slug |
| `url` | link | Project URL |
| `state` | text | State |
| `description` | text | Blurb |
| `creator` | text | Creator |
| `category` | text | Category |
| `location` | text | Location |
| `country` | text | Country |
| `goalAmount` | number | Goal amount |
| `goalCurrency` | text | Goal currency |
| `pledgedAmount` | number | Pledged amount |
| `pledgedCurrency` | text | Pledged currency |
| `currency` | text | Currency |
| `percentFunded` | number | Percent funded |
| `backersCount` | number | Backers |
| `launchedAt` | text | Launched at |
| `deadlineAt` | text | Deadline |
| `imageUrl` | link | Image URL |
| `isProjectWeLove` | boolean | Project We Love |
| `watchesCount` | number | Watches |
| `story` | text | Description (story) |
| `commentsCount` | number | Comments count |
| `updatesCount` | number | Updates count |
| `rewards` | array | Reward tiers |

***

### 💰 Pricing — pay per result

This actor uses **pay-per-event** pricing: you pay only for the rows it delivers.

| You scrape | Price |
| --- | --- |
| **Project row** | **$1.00 per 1,000 rows** |

***

### 🔌 Use the Kickstarter Projects Scraper via API

Run it programmatically with the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2):

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/kickstarter-api-scraper/runs?token=YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  -d '{
  "includeDetails": false,
  "maxItems": 25,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true,
    "apifyProxyGroups": [
      "RESIDENTIAL"
    ]
  }
}'
```

Or with the Apify CLI: `apify call kickstarter-api-scraper -i input.json -o`.

***

### ❓ FAQ

**Do I need an account or API key for Kickstarter Projects?**

No. The actor talks to Kickstarter Projects's public/mobile API for you — you only need an Apify account.

**Do I need a proxy?**

A proxy is recommended for reliable runs; set `proxyConfiguration` (Residential is safest for geo-restricted or bot-protected sites).

**What export formats are supported?**

JSON, CSV, Excel, XML, JSONL, RSS, or live via the Apify API and dataset endpoints.

**Is scraping this legal?**

You are responsible for how you use the data. Scrape only public record data and comply with kickstarter.com's Terms and applicable law (e.g. GDPR/CCPA for personal data).

***

### 🛠️ How it works

The actor impersonates Kickstarter Projects's official app/site and calls its private API the same way the app does, then normalises each response into the flat record above. No browser, no HTML scraping — just clean, structured data.

***

### 📌 Good to know

- Scrape only public record data and respect kickstarter.com's Terms of Service and robots policy.
- For personal data, comply with GDPR/CCPA and applicable law — you are the data controller.
- Fields can be `null` when Kickstarter Projects doesn't expose them for a given record.

***

### ⭐ Found this useful?

Give the **Kickstarter Projects Scraper** a star on Apify and check out my other `apify-*-api-scraper` actors.

# Actor input Schema

## `q` (type: `string`):

Keyword search term (e.g. 'board game'). Leave blank to browse by category/location.

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

City or place name (e.g. 'New York'). Resolved via the app's own location lookup.

## `projectUrl` (type: `string`):

A Kickstarter project URL to fetch a single project's full detail (incl. rewards).

## `includeDetails` (type: `boolean`):

Fetch full project detail per row: story/description, comments & updates counts, reward tiers.

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

Maximum number of projects to return (0 = unlimited).

## `state` (type: `string`):

Filter by campaign state

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

Sort the results

## `category` (type: `string`):

Browse a Kickstarter category — pick one from the dropdown (grouped as Parent › Subcategory), e.g. "Games › Tabletop Games".

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

Route requests through a proxy (Apify Proxy by default).

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "includeDetails": false,
  "maxItems": 25,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true,
    "apifyProxyGroups": [
      "RESIDENTIAL"
    ]
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (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 = {
    "q": "",
    "location": "",
    "projectUrl": "",
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": true,
        "apifyProxyGroups": [
            "RESIDENTIAL"
        ]
    }
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("rl1987/kickstarter-api-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 = {
    "q": "",
    "location": "",
    "projectUrl": "",
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": True,
        "apifyProxyGroups": ["RESIDENTIAL"],
    },
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("rl1987/kickstarter-api-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 '{
  "q": "",
  "location": "",
  "projectUrl": "",
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true,
    "apifyProxyGroups": [
      "RESIDENTIAL"
    ]
  }
}' |
apify call rl1987/kickstarter-api-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,rl1987/kickstarter-api-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/ohbW61XskLR6LgagV/builds/pGwGgwi3LcTyHfEHb/openapi.json