# Telegram Channel Scraper (No Login) (`smoldesk/telegram-channel-scraper`) Actor

Scrape public Telegram channels without login or API keys: messages, views, reactions, media, links, forwards and channel subscribers. Filter by keyword and date.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/smoldesk/telegram-channel-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Smoldesk Studios](https://apify.com/smoldesk) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Lead generation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $1.00 / 1,000 messages

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

## Telegram Channel Scraper – Messages, Views, Reactions & Subscribers

Scrape **public Telegram channels** without a Telegram account, phone number or API keys (no `api_id` / `api_hash`, no Telethon session). Get every message with its **views, reactions, photos, videos, links, forwards and hashtags**, plus channel info like **subscriber count** and verified badge.

Filter by **keyword** and **date range**, scrape many channels in parallel, and export the channel to **JSON, CSV, Excel** or via API. Schedule it to monitor channels for new posts.

### What you can use it for

- **Crypto & trading signal tracking**: collect every call from signal channels with timestamps for backtesting.
- **Brand & competitor monitoring**: track what channels in your niche post and which posts get the most views and reactions.
- **News & research**: archive channels for media analysis, OSINT research or academic datasets.
- **Lead generation & influencer research**: compare channels by subscribers and engagement before buying ads.
- **AI / LLM pipelines**: feed clean message text into summarisation, sentiment or RAG workflows.

### How to scrape a Telegram channel

1. **Create a free Apify account** (no credit card needed to start) and open this Actor.
2. **Add channels.** Paste public channel links or @usernames (one per line) in **Channels**. Private channels and groups you must join are not available.
3. **Set the limits.** *Max messages per channel* is how many of the newest messages to read. Use *Messages newer than / older than* to cut a period, or *Keyword search* to read only matching messages.
4. **Choose extras.** Leave *Include channel info* on to also get subscribers, description and photo count.
5. **Click Start.** Results appear in the **Output** tab while it runs.
6. **Download or connect.** Export as JSON, CSV, Excel or HTML, or read the dataset through the API, Make, Zapier, n8n, Google Sheets or a webhook.
7. **Automate it.** Open **Schedules**, add a daily schedule and set *Messages newer than* to yesterday to build a running archive of a channel.

**Tips**

- Channels must be public, with a preview at t.me/s/<name>. If a link returns nothing, open it in a browser first to check.
- Use *Keyword search* to track a brand or ticker inside a channel without reading everything.
- Raise *Delay between pages* if you scrape many channels in one run.

### Why this scraper

- ✅ **No login, no phone number, no ban risk to your account**: it only reads Telegram's public web preview (`t.me/s/<channel>`).
- ✅ **Rich data**: views, per-emoji reactions (including paid ⭐ Stars reactions), media URLs, link previews, polls, forwards, replies, hashtags.
- ✅ **Full history**: paginates back through the whole channel, or stops at your date.
- ✅ **Fast & cheap**: plain HTTP, no browser. Hundreds of messages in seconds.
- ✅ **Pay only for results**: you are charged per message returned, nothing for failed or skipped channels.

### Input

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `channels` | Usernames or links: `durov`, `@durov`, `https://t.me/durov` |
| `maxMessagesPerChannel` | Newest first. `0` = whole history |
| `searchQuery` | Keyword or `#hashtag`, using Telegram's in-channel search |
| `dateFrom` / `dateTo` | Only messages within this range |
| `includeChannelInfo` | Add one item per channel with title, description and subscribers |

```json
{
  "channels": ["durov", "https://t.me/telegram"],
  "maxMessagesPerChannel": 500,
  "dateFrom": "2026-01-01",
  "searchQuery": "update"
}
```

### Output

Each message:

```json
{
  "type": "message",
  "channel": "durov",
  "messageId": 531,
  "url": "https://t.me/durov/531",
  "date": "2026-07-16T20:45:25+00:00",
  "text": "Telegram now has a Rich Text Editor...",
  "views": 5800000,
  "reactions": [{"emoji": null, "customEmojiId": "5265077361648368841", "paidStars": false, "count": 54600}],
  "totalReactions": 95000,
  "photos": [],
  "videos": ["https://cdn4.telesco.pe/file/....mp4"],
  "links": [],
  "hashtags": [],
  "forwardedFrom": null,
  "linkPreview": null,
  "channelTitle": "Pavel Durov",
  "channelSubscribers": 10400000,
  "scrapedAt": "2026-10-14T03:00:00+00:00"
}
```

Each channel (when `includeChannelInfo` is on):

```json
{
  "type": "channel",
  "channel": "durov",
  "title": "Pavel Durov",
  "description": "Founder of Telegram.",
  "verified": true,
  "subscribers": 10400000,
  "photos": 102,
  "videos": 47,
  "links": 200
}
```

### Pricing

Pay per result, no monthly rental:

| Event | Price |
|---|---|
| Message | **$1.00 per 1,000 messages** |
| Channel info (only when `includeChannelInfo` is on) | **$2.00 per 1,000 channels** |

Example: the last 500 posts from 10 channels (5,000 messages) cost **$5**. Set **"Maximum cost per run"** in the run options to stay within budget. The scraper stops cleanly when the limit is reached and never charges for messages it doesn't return.

### Use with AI (LangChain / LlamaIndex / CrewAI)

Each message's `text` field is clean plain text, so channels drop straight into summarisation, sentiment or RAG pipelines. With LangChain (`pip install langchain-apify`):

```python
from langchain_apify import ApifyWrapper
from langchain_core.documents import Document

apify = ApifyWrapper()  # reads APIFY_API_TOKEN
loader = apify.call_actor(
    actor_id="smoldesk/telegram-channel-scraper",
    run_input={"channels": ["durov", "telegram"], "maxMessagesPerChannel": 100},
    dataset_mapping_function=lambda m: Document(
        page_content=m.get("text") or "",
        metadata={k: m.get(k) for k in ("url", "channel", "date", "views", "totalReactions")},
    ),
)
docs = loader.load()
```

Already have a run? Load its dataset with `ApifyDatasetLoader(dataset_id="<run's dataset ID>", dataset_mapping_function=...)`. **LlamaIndex**: `ApifyActor` from `llama-index-readers-apify`. **CrewAI / Claude / MCP clients**: add it as a tool via the Apify MCP server: `https://mcp.apify.com?actors=smoldesk/telegram-channel-scraper`.

### Limitations

- Only **public channels** that have web preview enabled. Private channels, groups and user chats are not accessible (by design).
- Counts are as Telegram displays them (e.g. `10.4M` → `10400000`), so large numbers are rounded.
- Video URLs from Telegram's CDN are temporary; download them soon after scraping.

### FAQ

**Do I need a Telegram API key or phone number?** No. Unlike Telethon or Pyrogram scripts, there is no `api_id`, `api_hash`, phone login or session file. Your Telegram account can't get banned because none is used.

**Can it scrape private channels or groups?** No. Only public channels with web preview (`t.me/s/<channel>`) are supported.

**Do I need proxies?** No. It works without a proxy.

**How do I monitor a channel for new posts?** Schedule the Actor (e.g. hourly) with `dateFrom` set to a recent date or a small `maxMessagesPerChannel`, and send results to Slack, Google Sheets or a webhook with Apify integrations.

**Is it legal?** This Actor only collects data that Telegram publishes openly on the web to anyone, without logging in. You are responsible for how you use the data. Respect privacy laws (e.g. GDPR) and Telegram's terms, and don't use personal data for spam.

### Feedback

Found a bug or missing a field? Open an issue in the **Issues** tab. If the Actor saved you time, a short review on this page helps other people find it.

### More Actors from Smoldesk Studios

- [Weibo Scraper](https://apify.com/smoldesk/weibo-scraper): keyword and hashtag search, posts, comments, profiles and the hot-search board from China's biggest microblog, no login
- [Google Hotels Scraper](https://apify.com/smoldesk/google-hotels-scraper): hotel prices for your dates in any currency, ratings, review aspects and booking-site prices, worldwide
- [Bilibili Scraper](https://apify.com/smoldesk/bilibili-scraper): videos, danmaku, comments and creator stats from China's YouTube (哔哩哔哩)
- [Google Trends Scraper](https://apify.com/smoldesk/google-trends-scraper): interest over time, by region and city, related queries and Trending now — no API key
- [Substack Scraper](https://apify.com/smoldesk/substack-scraper): newsletters, subscriber counts and posts
- [Shopify Store Analyzer](https://apify.com/smoldesk/shopify-store-analyzer): apps, contacts and products of any Shopify store
- [SEEK, JobStreet & JobsDB Scraper](https://apify.com/smoldesk/seek-jobs-scraper): jobs and salaries across Australia and Southeast Asia
- [Career Site Jobs Scraper](https://apify.com/smoldesk/career-site-jobs-scraper): live jobs from 13,000+ company career sites (Greenhouse, Lever, Workday, Ashby) with salary and seniority

# Actor input Schema

## `channels` (type: `array`):

Public channel usernames or links, e.g. durov, @durov, https://t.me/durov. Private channels and groups are not supported.

## `maxMessagesPerChannel` (type: `integer`):

Newest messages first. 0 = no limit (scrape the whole history, respecting the date filter).

## `searchQuery` (type: `string`):

Only return messages matching this keyword or #hashtag. Uses Telegram's own in-channel search.

## `dateFrom` (type: `string`):

Stop when messages are older than this date (YYYY-MM-DD).

## `dateTo` (type: `string`):

Skip messages newer than this date (YYYY-MM-DD).

## `includeChannelInfo` (type: `boolean`):

Add one item per channel with title, description, subscribers, verified badge and photo.

## `maxConcurrency` (type: `integer`):

How many channels to scrape at the same time.

## `delaySeconds` (type: `number`):

Pause between page requests for each channel. Increase if you hit rate limits.

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

Usually not needed. Enable if you scrape thousands of pages.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "channels": [
    "durov",
    "telegram"
  ],
  "maxMessagesPerChannel": 20,
  "includeChannelInfo": true,
  "maxConcurrency": 5,
  "delaySeconds": 0.5,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": false
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `messages` (type: `string`):

All scraped items (messages and channel info) in the default dataset, shown with the Messages table view.

# 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 = {
    "channels": [
        "durov",
        "telegram"
    ],
    "maxMessagesPerChannel": 20
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("smoldesk/telegram-channel-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 = {
    "channels": [
        "durov",
        "telegram",
    ],
    "maxMessagesPerChannel": 20,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("smoldesk/telegram-channel-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 '{
  "channels": [
    "durov",
    "telegram"
  ],
  "maxMessagesPerChannel": 20
}' |
apify call smoldesk/telegram-channel-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,smoldesk/telegram-channel-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/qLEFPtVR2psFcjyhE/builds/rnuIbZT1sm0mW4dTB/openapi.json