# WeChat Collection Scraper: Article Lists & Metadata (`scrapingmonkey/wechat-scraper`) Actor

Collect article listings from public WeChat collections. Export titles, publication dates, article URLs, cover images and creator details to build an official-account series index or monitor a supplied collection's content catalog.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/scrapingmonkey/wechat-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ScrapingMonkey](https://apify.com/scrapingmonkey) (community)
- **Security:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 5 total users, 4 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $1.00 / 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

**WeChat Scraper** collects article listings from public WeChat collections. Export titles, publication dates, article links, cover images and creator information to document an official account’s article series, build a newsletter-style content index or monitor the subjects covered by selected collections.

Turn a supplied WeChat collection into a source-linked article catalog. Keep collection context and creator attribution with each article so editorial teams can review series coverage and publication activity.

| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| 📥 Input | Search fields or links to the selected items; see the examples below |
| 📤 Output | One row per collection article listing |
| 📄 Pagination | Automatic up to `maxResults` for each input, when more results are available |
| 🔐 Login required | No |
| ⚡ Processing | Multiple inputs per run with automatic retries for temporary errors |
| 💾 Delivery | One complete Apify dataset table; CSV, JSON and Excel export |

### What the WeChat scraper collects 📱

Export article listings from supplied public collections with titles, dates, article links, covers and creators.

| Collection | What you receive |
|---|---|
| WeChat collection articles scraper | Export article listings from a public WeChat collection with titles, dates, source links, covers and creator details. |

Data can include:

- Articles: Titles, message IDs, item positions and original article links.
- Publication dates: Available dates and publication timestamps.
- Covers: Cover, portrait-cover and original-cover image references.
- Collections: Collection IDs, titles, descriptions, links and reported article counts.
- Creators: Creator IDs, usernames, names and avatar links.
- Content context: Available content-type labels and collection associations.

### How to scrape WeChat 🚀

1. Open the Actor input form.
2. Fill in the search fields, or paste links to the items you want to collect.
3. Set the maximum results and any optional filters.
4. Start the Actor and review the collected rows.
5. Export the dataset or connect it to your application.

#### WeChat collection articles scraper — input example

```json
{
  "mode": "collection_articles",
  "collectionUrls": [
    "https://mp.weixin.qq.com/mp/appmsgalbum?__biz=MzYyMTA4OTI2OA==&action=getalbum&album_id=4585526480813834243"
  ],
  "maxResults": 10
}
```

`maxResults: 10` means up to 10 results for **each input**. It does not guarantee that the website has that many matches. You can set the limit as low as 1.

### WeChat data fields and complete output 📦

| Field group | Included data |
|---|---|
| Articles | Titles, message IDs, item positions and original article links. |
| Publication dates | Available dates and publication timestamps. |
| Covers | Cover, portrait-cover and original-cover image references. |
| Collections | Collection IDs, titles, descriptions, links and reported article counts. |
| Creators | Creator IDs, usernames, names and avatar links. |
| Content context | Available content-type labels and collection associations. |

Each collected item is a separate row. `input` identifies the submitted value and `result_type` identifies the selected mode. All returned fields appear in one table; columns that do not apply to a mode can be empty.

A complete JSON result is shown for every collection mode below, in the same order as the input examples. Each example includes every field for its mode; text and lists are not shortened. Values are representative and can change.

#### WeChat collection articles scraper — complete JSON result

```json
{
  "result_type": "collection_articles",
  "input": "https://mp.weixin.qq.com/mp/appmsgalbum?__biz=MzYyMTA4OTI2OA==&action=getalbum&album_id=4585526480813834243",
  "status": "success",
  "id": "3621089268_2247495106_1",
  "message_id": "2247495106",
  "item_index": "1",
  "title": "AgentChat 「程序员」角色全新升级",
  "url": "http://mp.weixin.qq.com/s?__biz=MzYyMTA4OTI2OA==&mid=2247495106&idx=1&sn=da6c203980ead7c2ca4b526d0479f74f&chksm=ffe83559c89fbc4ffcfec3eaefe3a576fd50ee7ed944feb8b2630227b3f169c138905cb93fff#rd",
  "published_at": "2026-06-17T11:26:15Z",
  "published_timestamp": 1781695575,
  "cover_url": "https://mmbiz.qpic.cn/mmbiz_jpg/8XlhQeua6V0cezgSDdwS1CBBa9WIwAyOM49r9YaF4Tibh93icgv7vGraS2JqSB9ABRu7G9ia78K16bSQkPw0VZT75hn5DYicc548VnolJQ1Dcms/300",
  "cover_portrait_url": "http://mmbiz.qpic.cn/sz_mmbiz_jpg/8XlhQeua6V0cLLDGWJibXrBfrEOjpAgcxicgCuYByica4picW6WyfW2EHS46J1D8vhZJicrzPTGUzsx7yoUn0wqzOpyDjZAFia9p6S7BxdRj8wcys/0?wx_fmt=jpeg",
  "cover_original_url": "https://mmbiz.qpic.cn/sz_mmbiz_png/8XlhQeua6V0cBichYxHIxe5FXHWvqNT3VFH3eW9icdWXDdz1GfuFuqKmqpmUWs3CxvuSNVaSKluXX0EUxAkGo6wpOdicNVgE5JlddO6VW2MuqY/0?wx_fmt=png&from=appmsg",
  "content_type": 8,
  "collection.id": "4585526480813834243",
  "collection.url": "https://mp.weixin.qq.com/mp/appmsgalbum?__biz=MzYyMTA4OTI2OA%3D%3D&action=getalbum&album_id=4585526480813834243",
  "collection.title": "云上Agent",
  "collection.description": "",
  "collection.article_count": 26,
  "creator.id": "3621089268",
  "creator.username": "gh_27d9b2a7c883",
  "creator.name": "腾讯云服务器",
  "creator.avatar_url": "http://mmbiz.qpic.cn/mmbiz_png/c8OTDHlby7NRkDyrUJQlc741APXlqcHUexs3b7fkfljhoISMR26alId6YNpxLpiccXGnpt9BLHAMeEGYeyOJPQg/0?wx_fmt=png"
}
```

Images, tags and other lists stay with their parent result instead of creating extra rows. Invalid or unavailable inputs, inputs with no results, and requests that fail after all retries produce a row with `status: failed`. At most one failed row is saved per input; it includes `error_code` and `error_message` explaining the outcome. A normal end of pagination after collected results does not add a failed row.

### Input requirements and collection settings ⚙️

| Setting | What to enter |
|---|---|
| **Maximum results per search or link** (`maxResults`) | Collect up to this many results for each search or link. Minimum: 1. |
| **Collection links** (`collectionUrls`) | Paste one link per line. Example: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/mp/appmsgalbum?\_\_biz=MzYyMTA4OTI2OA==\&action=getalbum\&album_id=4585526480813834243 |

| Collection mode | Fields to use |
|---|---|
| Collection Articles | **Collection links** |

The result limit applies separately to each search or supplied link. Collection ends earlier when no more matching results are available.

### WeChat scraping use cases 🎯

#### Official account content indexes

Catalog the articles listed in selected public WeChat collections.

#### Editorial series research

Review titles and publication dates across an article series.

#### Brand publishing audits

Compare subjects covered by supplied brand collections.

#### Source library creation

Keep article links, covers and creator attribution in one research dataset.

#### Collection monitoring

Repeat exports to compare the article listings exposed by a collection over time.

### Pricing and saved-result behavior 💰

See the Actor's **Pricing** tab for the active pricing model and current rate. Store settings may change, so this README does not claim a fixed cost.

Under dataset-item pricing:

- Each collected item saved in the dataset is one result.
- Images, tags and other values attached to that item do not create additional rows.
- Automatic retry attempts do not create extra dataset rows.
- A saved `failed` row is also one billable dataset item, including invalid inputs, unavailable items, no results, or exhausted retries. At most one failed row is saved per input, including when some results were already collected.
- `maxResults` caps all saved rows for each input, including its failed row. Repeated copies of the same input are processed once. More inputs or a higher limit can produce more saved results.

### WeChat scraper API and integrations 🔌

Replace `$ACTOR_ID` with the ID shown in the Actor API tab and `$APIFY_TOKEN` with your token.

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/$ACTOR_ID/runs?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"mode":"collection_articles","collectionUrls":["https://mp.weixin.qq.com/mp/appmsgalbum?__biz=MzYyMTA4OTI2OA==&action=getalbum&album_id=4585526480813834243"],"maxResults":10}'
```

Use schedules for recurring collection, webhooks for completion notifications, and Apify integrations for Google Sheets, Make, Zapier, cloud storage, a CRM or your own application.

### Reliability, retries, and public-data limits ⚠️

Temporary connection errors, timeouts and access restrictions are retried automatically, up to five attempts. Invalid inputs save a failed row without an HTTP request; confirmed unavailable items save a failed row without unnecessary retries. Exhausted retries also save a failed row. Results already collected remain available if a later request fails, and normal pagination completion adds no error row. Collection also stops after two consecutive fully processed pages add no new results, even if the website provides another cursor. Required detail lookups are completed before checking a page; new results reset the counter, and independent reply branches are checked separately. Failures while initializing the Actor, saving data or scheduling requests stop the run instead of being reported as a failed website result.

This actor collects article listings from supplied public collections, not full article bodies or general WeChat search.

Private messages, contacts and unpublished account content are outside its scope.

WeChat controls which information is publicly available. Removed, private or restricted items may be unavailable, and optional values can be null or empty. A run can still fail if the results cannot be saved.

### Frequently asked questions ❓

#### Does it require an account on WeChat?

No. You do not need to provide an account, password or login cookies. Only publicly available information is collected.

#### How does maxResults work?

It limits the number of saved results separately for every input. The minimum is 1. With maxResults set to 10, each input returns at most 10 available results.

#### Does it collect the full article text?

No. It exports article listing information such as titles, links, dates, covers and creator context.

#### Can I search all WeChat articles?

No. Provide a supported public collection URL to collect its article listings.

#### Why are some fields empty?

The website may not publish that value, or the field may belong to a different collection mode. Missing values remain null or empty instead of being guessed.

#### Can I export the results to a spreadsheet?

Yes. Download CSV, Excel or JSON from the Apify dataset. All returned fields are included in the same results table.

### Support and responsible use 🛟

For a reproducible issue, share the run ID, selected mode, result limit and a safe public example through the support channel. Never disclose access tokens, passwords or proxy credentials.

Use public WeChat information lawfully and responsibly. Follow applicable privacy, copyright, data-protection, contractual and platform requirements when storing, analyzing or redistributing results.

# Actor input Schema

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

Choose the information to collect.

## `maxResults` (type: `integer`):

Collect up to this many results for each search or link. Minimum: 1.

## `collectionUrls` (type: `array`):

Paste one link per line. Example: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/mp/appmsgalbum?\_\_biz=MzYyMTA4OTI2OA==\&action=getalbum\&album_id=4585526480813834243

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "mode": "collection_articles",
  "maxResults": 10,
  "collectionUrls": [
    "https://mp.weixin.qq.com/mp/appmsgalbum?__biz=MzYyMTA4OTI2OA==&action=getalbum&album_id=4585526480813834243"
  ]
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

Collected entities and failed input outcomes, with all available fields and error explanations in one dataset.

# 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 = {
    "mode": "collection_articles",
    "maxResults": 10,
    "collectionUrls": [
        "https://mp.weixin.qq.com/mp/appmsgalbum?__biz=MzYyMTA4OTI2OA==&action=getalbum&album_id=4585526480813834243"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("scrapingmonkey/wechat-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 = {
    "mode": "collection_articles",
    "maxResults": 10,
    "collectionUrls": ["https://mp.weixin.qq.com/mp/appmsgalbum?__biz=MzYyMTA4OTI2OA==&action=getalbum&album_id=4585526480813834243"],
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("scrapingmonkey/wechat-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 '{
  "mode": "collection_articles",
  "maxResults": 10,
  "collectionUrls": [
    "https://mp.weixin.qq.com/mp/appmsgalbum?__biz=MzYyMTA4OTI2OA==&action=getalbum&album_id=4585526480813834243"
  ]
}' |
apify call scrapingmonkey/wechat-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,scrapingmonkey/wechat-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/mZEoRl8ois1ac15ud/builds/vFtJnBIn6FLIhuvTI/openapi.json