# AI Search Answers Scraper: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini (`webcraftlab/ai-search-answers`) Actor

Get ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini answers with live web search and cited sources for any query. One run, three engines, clean JSON. About 5x cheaper than single-engine AI answer scrapers.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/webcraftlab/ai-search-answers.md
- **Developed by:** [WEBCRAFT LAB](https://apify.com/webcraftlab) (community)
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $10.00 / 1,000 ai answers

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

## AI Search Answers Scraper: ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini

Get the answers **ChatGPT**, **Perplexity** and **Gemini** give to any question, with **live web search** turned on and the **sources they cite**. One run, three engines, clean JSON, CSV or Excel. A **ChatGPT search scraper**, **Perplexity scraper** and **Gemini answer scraper** in one Actor, at a fraction of the usual price.

### What you get for each answer

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `query`, `engine`, `model` | The question, the assistant (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Gemini) and the exact model used |
| `answer` | Full answer in markdown, as the AI wrote it |
| `answerText` | The same answer as plain text, ready for spreadsheets, search or embeddings |
| `citations` | Every cited source in order: position, URL, title, domain |
| `citedDomains` | Unique domains the AI relied on |
| `wordCount`, `checkedAt`, `run` | Answer length, timestamp, repeat number |

Gemini cites through Google redirect links; the Actor resolves them to the real source URLs.

### Why use it

- **GEO / AEO research**: see what AI assistants say about your topic and which websites they trust.
- **Content research**: compare how three assistants answer the same question and find the gaps.
- **Monitoring**: schedule daily runs and track how answers change over time.
- **AI agents and RAG**: feed fresh, cited answers into your own pipeline through the Apify API or MCP server.

If you want brand-level metrics (mentions, position, share of voice against competitors), use our **AI Brand Visibility Tracker** instead.

### Input example

```json
{
  "queries": ["best project management tool for small agencies"],
  "engines": ["chatgpt", "perplexity", "gemini"],
  "repeatsPerQuery": 1
}
```

### Output example

```json
{
  "query": "best project management tool for small agencies",
  "engine": "Perplexity",
  "model": "perplexity/sonar",
  "answerText": "For small agencies, the most recommended tools are ...",
  "citations": [{ "position": 1, "url": "https://...", "title": "...", "domain": "g2.com" }],
  "citedDomains": ["g2.com", "reddit.com", "zapier.com"],
  "wordCount": 412,
  "checkedAt": "2026-10-10T07:00:00.000Z"
}
```

### Pricing

Two parts, both pay-as-you-go:

1. **Answer fee**: a small flat fee per delivered answer. Failed requests are never charged.
2. **AI usage at cost**: the providers' own price, billed to your Apify account through Apify's official OpenRouter proxy, with no markup. Typical cost per answer: Perplexity about $0.005, ChatGPT about $0.03, Gemini about $0.03. Apify charges Free plan users more for AI usage, so a paid plan is much cheaper for regular use.

You can also add your own OpenRouter API key to pay the AI providers directly.

### FAQ

**Is this the same as what I see in the ChatGPT app?** The Actor uses the official APIs with web search, not the logged-in consumer apps. Answers are close to what a new, logged-out user gets, but can differ from your personal account (memory, location, personalization).

**Why do answers change between runs?** AI assistants are not deterministic. Use Repeats per query of 3 or more if you need stable conclusions.

**Can I get Google AI Overviews?** Not in this Actor. Gemini here answers with Google Search grounding, which is a different product from the AI Overview box on the results page.

# Actor input Schema

## `queries` (type: `array`):

Questions or search queries, one per line.

## `engines` (type: `array`):

Which assistants to ask. Each answer is billed separately.

## `repeatsPerQuery` (type: `integer`):

AI answers vary between requests. Ask each query several times to see how stable the answer is.

## `language` (type: `string`):

Optional. For example "German". Leave empty to let the AI answer in the language of the query.

## `openRouterApiKey` (type: `string`):

Optional. By default AI usage is billed to your Apify account at cost through Apify's OpenRouter proxy. Add your own OpenRouter key to pay the AI providers directly instead.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "queries": [
    "best project management tool for small agencies",
    "how to rank in ChatGPT search"
  ],
  "engines": [
    "chatgpt",
    "perplexity",
    "gemini"
  ],
  "repeatsPerQuery": 1
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `answers` (type: `string`):

One item per answer: engine, full answer (markdown and plain text), cited sources and domains.

# 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 = {
    "queries": [
        "best project management tool for small agencies",
        "how to rank in ChatGPT search"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("webcraftlab/ai-search-answers").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 = { "queries": [
        "best project management tool for small agencies",
        "how to rank in ChatGPT search",
    ] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("webcraftlab/ai-search-answers").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 '{
  "queries": [
    "best project management tool for small agencies",
    "how to rank in ChatGPT search"
  ]
}' |
apify call webcraftlab/ai-search-answers --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,webcraftlab/ai-search-answers"
        }
    }
}
```

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/gjXjyV7CKgUs8uelz/builds/BcbZ5BYA3XXrfkWez/openapi.json