# Gab OSINT Scraper (`thescrapelab/gab-osint-scraper`) Actor Scrape public Gab profiles, posts, and direct post URLs with a Python Apify Actor built for OSINT, monitoring, research, and bulk dataset workflows. - **URL**: https://apify.com/thescrapelab/gab-osint-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Inus Grobler](https://apify.com/thescrapelab) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, SEO tools, Developer tools - **Stats:** 3 total users, 2 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 1 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $3.49 / 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. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. 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. Actors are written with capital "A". ## 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. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Gab Scraper Actor for Apify Scrape public Gab profiles together with posts from those profiles, direct Gab post URLs, and saved Gab post URL datasets into an Apify dataset. ![Gab Scraper logo](assets/gab-scraper-logo.svg) ### What This Actor Is Best For - Scraping a known Gab post URL - Scraping a known Gab username or profile - Building a larger dataset in two steps: profile discovery first, hydration second ### Before You Run - Residential proxy is the most reliable mode, but it is also the most expensive. - Direct post URLs are the most reliable input. - Keyword, search, tag, hash, and explore discovery inputs were removed because they were too unreliable and costly. ### What To Expect - Direct post URL runs: Usually the most reliable. Best choice when you already know the exact post you want. - Username runs: Return the profile record and posts discovered from that profile. - `discoveryOnly: true` runs: Return lightweight `post_url` items from supported profile discovery. Best for a cheaper first-pass collection. - Two-step runs: Best option when you want more volume at a lower cost. ### Inputs - `usernames` Add Gab usernames like `support` or `@support`. Username runs return the profile plus posts discovered from that profile. - `postUrls` Add direct Gab post URLs when you already know the exact posts you want. - `startUrls` Add only direct Gab post URLs or direct Gab profile URLs. - `sourceDatasetId` Use this when you want to hydrate `post_url` records from an earlier discovery run. - `discoveryOnly` Turn this on if you only want discovered post URLs from username/profile discovery instead of full post records. - `proxyMode` Use `direct` for the cheapest runs, `apify` for a middle ground, or `residential` for the highest reliability. - `maxItems` Sets how many results you want back. ### Output The Actor can return: - `profile` Public profile details - `post` Full post records - `post_url` Lightweight discovered post URLs ### Recommended Test Inputs #### Profile Test ```json { "usernames": ["support"], "postUrls": [], "startUrls": [], "sourceDatasetId": "", "discoveryOnly": false, "maxItems": 10 } ```` #### Direct Post Test ```json { "usernames": [], "postUrls": [ "https://gab.com/TerrenceKWilliams/posts/105647844879148303" ], "startUrls": [], "sourceDatasetId": "", "discoveryOnly": false, "maxItems": 1 } ``` #### Dataset Hydration Test ```json { "usernames": [], "postUrls": [], "startUrls": [], "sourceDatasetId": "YOUR_DATASET_ID", "discoveryOnly": false, "maxItems": 25 } ``` ### Best Low-Cost Workflow Step 1: profile discovery ```json { "proxyMode": "apify", "usernames": ["support"], "postUrls": [], "startUrls": [], "sourceDatasetId": "", "discoveryOnly": true, "maxItems": 50 } ``` Step 2: hydrate the discovery dataset ```json { "proxyMode": "apify", "usernames": [], "postUrls": [], "startUrls": [], "sourceDatasetId": "YOUR_DATASET_ID", "discoveryOnly": false, "maxItems": 50 } ``` ### Cheapest Reliable Inputs - Direct `postUrls` Cheapest way to get full posts because the actor can skip discovery entirely. - `usernames` Good when you need profile data and a manageable amount of profile-linked post discovery. - `sourceDatasetId` Good when you already have a list of post URLs from a previous run. ### Common Reasons For Low Or Zero Results - The username or post URL does not resolve publicly on Gab - The profile exposes fewer posts than your `maxItems` target - Gab blocks or rate-limits the current connection mode - The source dataset does not contain usable `post_url` items ### Limitations - Public data only - Keyword, search, tag, hash, and explore inputs are no longer supported - Direct post URLs are the most reliable path - Username-based discovery can still vary if Gab blocks or changes page structure - The actor will fail fast if residential Apify Proxy is unavailable # Actor input Schema ## `usernames` (type: `array`): Gab usernames to scrape as profile targets, such as support or @support. Username runs return the profile record and posts discovered from that profile unless discoveryOnly is enabled. ## `postUrls` (type: `array`): Optional direct Gab post URLs to hydrate immediately. This is usually the cheapest full-post input because it skips broad discovery. ## `startUrls` (type: `array`): Optional Gab profile URLs or direct Gab post URLs to scrape directly. Search, tag, hash, explore, and other broad discovery pages are no longer supported here. ## `sourceDatasetId` (type: `string`): Optional Apify dataset ID from an earlier discovery run. The actor will load post URLs from that dataset and hydrate them automatically. ## `discoveryOnly` (type: `boolean`): When enabled, username/profile runs return lightweight post\_url records for discovered profile posts instead of full post records. Use this for a cheaper first-pass run before hydrating a saved dataset. ## `proxyMode` (type: `string`): Residential is the most reliable and the most expensive. Standard Apify proxy is cheaper but can block more often. Direct is cheapest and least reliable. ## `maxConcurrency` (type: `integer`): How many post pages or API targets to hydrate in parallel. Lower values are gentler and can be cheaper. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Main run limit. This caps the number of posts or post URLs returned. Profile records do not count against this limit. ## Actor input object example ```json { "usernames": [ "support" ], "postUrls": [], "startUrls": [], "sourceDatasetId": "", "discoveryOnly": false, "proxyMode": "residential", "maxConcurrency": 2, "maxItems": 1 } ``` # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "startUrls": [] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("thescrapelab/gab-osint-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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "startUrls": [] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("thescrapelab/gab-osint-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "startUrls": [] }' | apify call thescrapelab/gab-osint-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=thescrapelab/gab-osint-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Gab OSINT Scraper", "description": "Scrape public Gab profiles, posts, and direct post URLs with a Python Apify Actor built for OSINT, monitoring, research, and bulk dataset workflows.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "sZThv6AiFPJSsSkxp" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/thescrapelab~gab-osint-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-thescrapelab-gab-osint-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/thescrapelab~gab-osint-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-thescrapelab-gab-osint-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/thescrapelab~gab-osint-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-thescrapelab-gab-osint-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "usernames": { "title": "Usernames", "type": "array", "description": "Gab usernames to scrape as profile targets, such as support or @support. Username runs return the profile record and posts discovered from that profile unless discoveryOnly is enabled.", "default": [ "support" ], "items": { "type": "string" } }, "postUrls": { "title": "Direct post URLs", "type": "array", "description": "Optional direct Gab post URLs to hydrate immediately. This is usually the cheapest full-post input because it skips broad discovery.", "default": [], "items": { "type": "string" } }, "startUrls": { "title": "Gab URLs", "type": "array", "description": "Optional Gab profile URLs or direct Gab post URLs to scrape directly. Search, tag, hash, explore, and other broad discovery pages are no longer supported here.", "default": [], "items": { "type": "object", "required": [ "url" ], "properties": { "url": { "type": "string", "title": "URL of a web page", "format": "uri" } } } }, "sourceDatasetId": { "title": "Source dataset", "type": "string", "description": "Optional Apify dataset ID from an earlier discovery run. The actor will load post URLs from that dataset and hydrate them automatically.", "default": "" }, "discoveryOnly": { "title": "Discovery only", "type": "boolean", "description": "When enabled, username/profile runs return lightweight post_url records for discovered profile posts instead of full post records. Use this for a cheaper first-pass run before hydrating a saved dataset.", "default": false }, "proxyMode": { "title": "Proxy mode", "enum": [ "residential", "apify", "direct" ], "type": "string", "description": "Residential is the most reliable and the most expensive. Standard Apify proxy is cheaper but can block more often. Direct is cheapest and least reliable.", "default": "residential" }, "maxConcurrency": { "title": "Hydration concurrency", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 16, "type": "integer", "description": "How many post pages or API targets to hydrate in parallel. Lower values are gentler and can be cheaper.", "default": 2 }, "maxItems": { "title": "Result limit", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 10000, "type": "integer", "description": "Main run limit. This caps the number of posts or post URLs returned. Profile records do not count against this limit.", "default": 1 } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```