# Reddit Lead Finder: Buying-Intent Posts (`tacps126/reddit-lead-finder`) Actor

Find people on Reddit asking for a tool like yours, looking for an alternative to a competitor, comparing options or complaining. Each post tagged with its intent. Schedule it for daily new leads. No login. From $2 per 1,000 leads.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/tacps126/reddit-lead-finder.md
- **Developed by:** [Tapaswai Choudhary](https://apify.com/tacps126) (community)
- **Categories:** Lead generation, Social media
- **Features:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $1.90 / 1,000 leads

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

## Reddit Lead Finder: Buying-Intent Posts

> **Deprecated (November 2026).** Reddit has closed keyword search to visitors who are not logged in and is ending public access to its data: new API access closed in October 2026 and the remaining public access ends in March 2027. This Actor finds leads through keyword search, so it returns nothing now. We don't work around Reddit's access rules, so it will be unpublished. You are only charged for posts actually delivered.

Find people on Reddit who are ready to buy: asking **what tool to use**, looking for an **alternative to a competitor**, **comparing options** or **complaining** about what they have. Tell it what you sell and who you compete with; it runs the right searches, reads the posts (and optionally the comments) and keeps only the ones with buying intent - each tagged with the intent and the phrase that showed it. Schedule it daily and get just the new leads in Slack, e-mail or a spreadsheet. No Reddit account or API keys needed.

**Built for** founders and SaaS marketers, agencies doing social selling, sales teams looking for warm conversations, and anyone who wants to answer "what should I use for...?" before a competitor does.

### Why this lead finder

- **Searches like a growth marketer.** Each product category becomes `X recommendation`, `best X` and `looking for X`; each competitor becomes `X alternative`, `switching from X` and `X vs`. You don't write search queries.
- **Keeps only buying intent.** Posts are kept only when someone asks for a recommendation, looks for an alternative, weighs options or complains - announcements, memes and news are dropped for free.
- **Tells you why.** Every lead carries `intent` (`recommendation_request`, `alternative_seeking`, `comparison`, `pain_point`) and `intentPhrase`, so you can sort and reply to the hottest first.
- **Only new leads on a schedule.** Turn on *Only new* and each run returns just the posts earlier runs haven't delivered - you pay only for those.
- **Fast and cheap to run.** Quick to run. Reddit's rate limits are handled for you; with the (default) Apify proxy runs stay quick.

### How to use it

1. In **Product categories**, describe what you sell the way buyers say it - `CRM`, `email marketing tool`, `invoice software`.
2. In **Competitors**, add the products you want to win customers from - `HubSpot`, `Mailchimp`.
3. Optionally limit to **Subreddits** (e.g. `smallbusiness`, `SaaS`, `startups`), pick the **Time range**, tick **Include comments**, and press **Start**.

#### Example input

```json
{
  "keywords": ["CRM", "sales pipeline tool"],
  "competitors": ["HubSpot", "Pipedrive"],
  "subreddits": ["smallbusiness", "sales", "startups"],
  "time": "month",
  "includeComments": true,
  "onlyNew": true
}
```

### What you get

| Field | Description |
|-------|-------------|
| `intent` | `recommendation_request`, `alternative_seeking`, `comparison` or `pain_point` |
| `intentPhrase` | The phrase that showed it, e.g. `alternative to`, `any recommendations` |
| `type` | `post` or `comment` |
| `title` / `text` | Post title and body, or the comment text |
| `subreddit` / `author` | Where it was posted and by whom |
| `url` | Link to the post or comment - reply there |
| `postTitle` | For comments: the post they belong to |
| `publishedAt` | When it was posted (ISO 8601) |
| `source` | Which search found it |
| `scrapedAt` | When it was collected |

Example (shortened):

```json
{
  "type": "post",
  "intent": "recommendation_request",
  "intentPhrase": "looking for some",
  "subreddit": "HoneyBook_Official",
  "title": "A small business owner here who's new to the CRM world. How do you evaluate integrations and automations for a centralized system?",
  "text": "Been doing a small wedding photography setup for about 7 months now ... I've never used a CRM before ... Looking for something viable that integrates Gmail, Google Calendar and social media ...",
  "url": "https://www.reddit.com/r/HoneyBook_Official/comments/...",
  "publishedAt": "2026-10-21T17:37:14+00:00",
  "source": { "keyword": "CRM recommendation" }
}
```

Vote scores and comment counts aren't included.

### Pricing

Pay per result: **$2 per 1,000 leads**, plus **$0.10 per 1,000 posts read** (kept or not) and a small start fee per run. Reading is charged because every post read is proxy traffic, so a narrow search still costs only what it reads - 1,000 posts read cost 10 cents. Duplicates and (with *Only new*) already-delivered leads are free. See the **Pricing** tab, and set a maximum charge per run to cap spend: the run stops cleanly when it's reached.

On Apify's **free plan** each run returns up to 300 leads. Any paid Apify plan removes the limit.

### Related Actors

- **[Reddit Scraper & Keyword Monitor](https://apify.com/tacps126/reddit-monitor)** - every post and comment for your keywords, subreddits or users, with the same intent tags.
- **[Hiring Signals](https://apify.com/tacps126/hiring-signals)** - which companies are hiring for the roles you sell to.

### FAQ

**Do I need the proxy?** No, but without it Reddit allows only about one request per minute, so each search adds a minute. Keep it on for anything beyond a quick test.

**How is intent detected?** From clear phrases in the title or text ("can anyone recommend", "alternative to", "X vs Y", "too expensive"). It's transparent - the phrase is in every row - and it never guesses from vague wording.

**Can I reply automatically?** No - the Actor only finds the conversations. Reply yourself, and follow each subreddit's rules on self-promotion.

**Is it legal?** The Actor collects publicly posted content. Follow Reddit's terms and the privacy rules that apply to you when you use it.

### Support

Found a problem or a phrase it misses? Open an issue on the **Issues** tab - requests decide what gets built next.

# Actor input Schema

## `keywords` (type: `array`):

What you sell, in the words buyers use - `CRM`, `email marketing tool`, `invoice software`. Each is searched as `X recommendation`, `best X` and `looking for X`.

## `competitors` (type: `array`):

Products whose users you want to win - `HubSpot`, `Mailchimp`. Each is searched as `X alternative`, `switching from X` and `X vs`.

## `subreddits` (type: `array`):

Only search these communities, e.g. `smallbusiness`, `SaaS`, `startups`. Leave empty to search all of Reddit.

## `searchInSubreddits` (type: `boolean`):

Search the keywords only within the listed subreddits (instead of collecting their latest posts).

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

Order of posts.

## `time` (type: `string`):

For searches and "Top": only posts from this period.

## `mustInclude` (type: `array`):

Keep only posts/comments whose title or text mentions any of these - useful to cut noise from broad subreddits.

## `excludeKeywords` (type: `array`):

Drop posts/comments mentioning any of these, e.g. `hiring`, `meme`.

## `excludeAuthors` (type: `array`):

Ignore these users, e.g. `AutoModerator` or your own team's accounts.

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

Only posts and comments from this date on.

## `includeComments` (type: `boolean`):

Also read the comments under each matching post and keep those with buying intent too (one extra request per post).

## `maxCommentsPerPost` (type: `integer`):

Comments to collect per post.

## `maxPostsPerSource` (type: `integer`):

Posts to collect from each source.

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

Maximum posts and comments in total.

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

Return only leads no earlier run with the same input has delivered - schedule it daily and get just the new ones.

## `monitorName` (type: `string`):

Optional name for the "only new" history, so several monitors can run side by side.

## `delivery` (type: `object`):

Webhook: {"webhookUrl": "https://...", "format": "json" | "slack" | "discord", "onlyWhenResults": true, "includeItems": 10}. Google Sheets: {"spreadsheetId": "<id from the sheet URL>", "sheetName": "Sheet1"} plus the service account key below; share the sheet with the service account's e-mail first. Leave empty to only save results in the dataset.

## `googleServiceAccountJson` (type: `string`):

Only for Google Sheets delivery: paste the service account's JSON key. Stored encrypted; the account sees only sheets you share with it.

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

Apify proxy on by default. Proxy use is chosen automatically. Without any proxy Reddit allows about one request per minute.

## `tenantId` (type: `string`):

Optional label used to keep separate histories for different clients or teams.

## `debug` (type: `boolean`):

Save extra diagnostics with the run (for support requests).

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "keywords": [
    "CRM"
  ],
  "competitors": [
    "HubSpot"
  ],
  "searchInSubreddits": true,
  "sort": "new",
  "time": "month",
  "excludeAuthors": [
    "AutoModerator"
  ],
  "includeComments": false,
  "maxCommentsPerPost": 50,
  "maxPostsPerSource": 100,
  "maxItems": 300,
  "onlyNew": false,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  },
  "debug": false
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

Every post and comment found, in one format.

## `summary` (type: `string`):

Counts, warnings, and whether the run stopped early.

# 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 = {
    "keywords": [
        "CRM"
    ],
    "competitors": [
        "HubSpot"
    ],
    "excludeAuthors": [
        "AutoModerator"
    ],
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": true
    }
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("tacps126/reddit-lead-finder").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 = {
    "keywords": ["CRM"],
    "competitors": ["HubSpot"],
    "excludeAuthors": ["AutoModerator"],
    "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": True },
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("tacps126/reddit-lead-finder").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 '{
  "keywords": [
    "CRM"
  ],
  "competitors": [
    "HubSpot"
  ],
  "excludeAuthors": [
    "AutoModerator"
  ],
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}' |
apify call tacps126/reddit-lead-finder --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,tacps126/reddit-lead-finder"
        }
    }
}
```

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/EGDlG3df5FiYMbsnZ/builds/37XIsS3EljdpSy3VU/openapi.json