# Google Sheets to JSON & CSV - Public Sheet & Excel URL Reader (`wood-between-studio/google-sheets-reader`) Actor

Turn any public Google Sheet, Excel, ODS or CSV URL into clean JSON rows, CSV and an API. All tabs, typed values, header detection. No Google login, OAuth or API key. $0.10 per 1,000 rows.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/wood-between-studio/google-sheets-reader.md
- **Developed by:** [Wood Between Studio](https://apify.com/wood-between-studio) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools, Integrations, Automation
- **Features:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$0.10 / 1,000 row exporteds

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

## Google Sheets to JSON & CSV: Public Sheet & Excel URL Reader

Turn any **public Google Sheet, Excel (.xlsx/.xls), OpenDocument (.ods) or CSV link** into clean JSON rows, CSV files and an API endpoint. **No Google login, no OAuth, no service account and no API key.** Paste the link and run.

### Why use it?

- **Zero setup.** Most Google Sheets tools need you to authorize a Google account first, and that is where they fail. This one reads any sheet shared as *Anyone with the link* or *Published to the web*, so there is nothing to connect.
- **Every tab or just one.** Read all worksheets, pick tabs by name, or paste a link with `#gid=` to read only that tab.
- **Typed values.** Numbers stay numbers, checkboxes become booleans and dates become ISO strings. Or choose *formatted* to get exactly what you see in the sheet.
- **Smart headers.** Pick the header row, rename duplicates automatically, and optionally convert names to `snake_case`.
- **Files and API.** Each tab is also saved as a CSV and a JSON file with direct download links. Schedule the Actor to keep a JSON API in sync with a spreadsheet your team edits.
- **Works with more than Google.** Direct `.xlsx`, `.xls`, `.ods` and `.csv` URLs, Google Drive file links, Dropbox and OneDrive share links.
- **Clear errors.** A private sheet gets a plain-English fix ("share it as Anyone with the link"), not a stack trace. Failed files are never charged.

### Use cases

- Use a Google Sheet as a lightweight CMS or database for a website, app or no-code tool
- Feed spreadsheet data into Make, Zapier, n8n or your own code through the Apify API
- Merge many public spreadsheets (price lists, directories, open data) into one dataset
- Convert Excel files on the web to JSON or CSV in bulk

### Input

| Field | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| `spreadsheetUrls` | (required) | Google Sheets links or IDs, or direct spreadsheet file URLs |
| `tabs` | all | Tab names to read |
| `allTabs` | `false` | Read every tab even if the link has `#gid=` |
| `headerRow` | `1` | `0` = no header (columns become A, B, C...) |
| `valueMode` | `typed` | `typed` or `formatted` |
| `skipEmptyRows` | `true` | |
| `normalizeHeaders` | `false` | `Student Name` becomes `student_name` |
| `outputMode` | `rows` | `rows` = one item per row, `tabs` = one item per tab |
| `saveFiles` | `true` | CSV + JSON per tab in the key-value store |

```json
{ "spreadsheetUrls": ["https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms/edit"], "normalizeHeaders": true }
```

### Output

One item per row (default):

```json
{ "student_name": "Alexandra", "gender": "Female", "class_level": "4. Senior", "home_state": "CA", "major": "English",
  "extracurricular_activity": "Drama Club", "_tab": "Class Data", "_row": 2, "_spreadsheet": "https://docs.google.com/..." }
```

The `SUMMARY` record lists every spreadsheet and tab with column names, row counts and CSV/JSON download links.

### How do I make my sheet readable?

In Google Sheets click **Share > General access > Anyone with the link (Viewer)**, or **File > Share > Publish to web**. Nothing else is needed.

### Pricing

**$0.10 per 1,000 rows** ($0.0001 per row). Platform usage is included. Failed or private files are free. Set a maximum charge per run for a hard cap.

### Limits

- Read-only: it does not write back to Google Sheets.
- Formulas are returned as their calculated values.
- Private sheets can't be read. That is by design: no Google account access is ever requested.
- Files up to 200 MB.

### Responsible use

Only read spreadsheets you have the right to use. The Actor never bypasses sharing settings or logins.

### Support

Need write-back, filters or a different format? Open an issue on the **Issues** tab. We read every one.

### Call it from curl, JavaScript or Python

You can run this Actor in the [Apify Console](https://apify.com/wood-between-studio/google-sheets-reader) with no code, or call it as an API from curl, JavaScript or Python. Replace `YOUR_TOKEN` with an [Apify API token](https://console.apify.com/account/integrations).

#### curl

```bash
curl "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/wood-between-studio~google-sheets-reader/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=YOUR_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"spreadsheetUrls": ["https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms/edit"], "normalizeHeaders": true}'
```

#### JavaScript

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: process.env.APIFY_TOKEN });
const run = await client.actor('wood-between-studio/google-sheets-reader').call({
  "spreadsheetUrls": [
    "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms/edit"
  ],
  "normalizeHeaders": true
});
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
console.log(items);
```

#### Python

```python
import os
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient(os.environ["APIFY_TOKEN"])
run = client.actor("wood-between-studio/google-sheets-reader").call(run_input={
  "spreadsheetUrls": [
    "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms/edit"
  ],
  "normalizeHeaders": true
})
items = client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).list_items().items
print(items)
```

You can also schedule the Actor, cap the spend per run, and send the dataset to Google Sheets, Slack or a webhook from the Console. Store page: [apify.com/wood-between-studio/google-sheets-reader](https://apify.com/wood-between-studio/google-sheets-reader).

# Actor input Schema

## `spreadsheetUrls` (type: `array`):

Google Sheets links (share link, edit link, 'Publish to web' link or bare sheet ID), or direct links to .xlsx, .xls, .ods or .csv files. Google Sheets must be shared as 'Anyone with the link: Viewer' or published to the web.

## `tabs` (type: `array`):

Tab (worksheet) names to read. Empty = all tabs. For Google Sheets links that include #gid=..., only that tab is read unless you list tabs here or turn on 'All tabs'.

## `allTabs` (type: `boolean`):

Read every tab even if the link points at one tab (#gid=...).

## `headerRow` (type: `integer`):

Row number that holds the column names (1 = first row). 0 = no header: columns are named A, B, C...

## `valueMode` (type: `string`):

How cell values are returned.

## `skipEmptyRows` (type: `boolean`):

Drop rows where every cell is empty.

## `normalizeHeaders` (type: `boolean`):

Convert column names to snake_case (e.g. 'Student Name' -> 'student_name').

## `outputMode` (type: `string`):

Dataset layout.

## `saveFiles` (type: `boolean`):

Saves one CSV and one JSON file per tab to the run's key-value store, with download links in the SUMMARY record.

## `maxRowsPerTab` (type: `integer`):

Safety cap.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "spreadsheetUrls": [
    "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms/edit"
  ],
  "tabs": [],
  "allTabs": false,
  "headerRow": 1,
  "valueMode": "typed",
  "skipEmptyRows": true,
  "normalizeHeaders": false,
  "outputMode": "rows",
  "saveFiles": true,
  "maxRowsPerTab": 100000
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

No description

## `summary` (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 '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "spreadsheetUrls": [
        "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms/edit"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("wood-between-studio/google-sheets-reader").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 = { "spreadsheetUrls": ["https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms/edit"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("wood-between-studio/google-sheets-reader").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 '{
  "spreadsheetUrls": [
    "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BxiMVs0XRA5nFMdKvBdBZjgmUUqptlbs74OgvE2upms/edit"
  ]
}' |
apify call wood-between-studio/google-sheets-reader --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,wood-between-studio/google-sheets-reader"
        }
    }
}
```

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/3GkbtwbrdpXt71RtY/builds/ePHMIjmgjA5auM3PY/openapi.json