eBay: scrapers and the official API, compared

Route map

Each line is one way to get eBay data; each stop is a field you probably need. Green lines are catalogue Actors, ranked by the published formula.

Which route for which job

The catalogue Actors for eBay return different records. "Only this route" lists the published fields no other Actor in this table returns, which is usually what decides the choice. Cost is the published per-result rate; start events and platform usage are extra.

Field matrix: who returns what

Every tool with a published output schema, against the 7 fields most eBay jobs need. A dot means the field name appears in the schema; rows can still leave it empty.

Field dictionary: the exact keys

The same core field has a different key in each Actor's output. Map these before you merge datasets; a dash means the published schema has no matching key. Need a field that is not listed here, such as email? Search every eBay Actor by field.

Download this comparison: CSV · JSON (every tool with a published schema, matching keys per core field, price and score).

All 14 tools, scored

Catalogue Actors link to their detail pages; the score (0 to 100) is the published formula, identical for every tool. Other Store tools follow in their own table, for reference. Price is the published primary-result rate per 1,000 (the Free-plan rate where the price is tiered; higher Apify plans pay less); start events and platform usage are excluded.

Other Store tools, for reference

Scored with the same published formula and listed for comparison only; this site does not link or recommend them.

What to check before you choose

eBay listing data supports assortment research, asking-price monitoring and seller comparisons. Item detail collection suits teams building product records, while seller feedback collection serves reputation research.

Choose the Browse API for item search and details when its access requirements fit your application. Store tools offer routes for store inventory, seller feedback and Motors listings; sold-price research needs a route that explicitly covers completed sales.

Checklist

• Match the published schema to the record you need: item details, seller profiles and individual feedback comments serve different purposes.
• Check price currency and shipping coverage together. The multi-marketplace tool lists priceCurrency and shippingCost, while the item detail tool lists comparison-price fields such as wasPrice.
• Confirm whether the route collects current asking prices or sold prices. Browse supports search and item details; sold-price access belongs to other restricted buying APIs.

Where the data is incomplete

The multi-marketplace tool lists seller and shippingCost, so matching records across tools requires checking identifiers as well as column names.

Seller feedback and Motors attributes have separate coverage. Feedback comments cannot be assumed to appear in listing records.

Official API route

Terms and personal data

Keep collection to public listings and respect eBay's terms and API licence. Check those conditions against your intended reuse before collecting or republishing content. This is general information, not legal advice.

Read eBay's terms. Keep to public data, do not bypass logins or access controls, and check whether personal data is involved before you collect it. The can-I-scrape checklist walks through it.

How to start

1. Configure a narrowly scoped listing collection using the inputs documented there, keeping the marketplace and product scope consistent.
2. Run the collection and inspect the resulting dataset for usable identifiers, prices, currency and listing links before expanding its scope.

Call eBay Item, Store & Store Category Detail Extractor from code

The example input uses the Actor's published defaults; set your own eBay query before you run it. You need an Apify API token.

from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN>")
run_input = {
    "mode": "search",
    "itemIds": [],
    "storeNames": [],
    "storeCategoryUrls": [],
    "searchQueries": [
        "laptop"
    ],
    "startUrls": [],
    "marketplace": "https://www.ebay.com",
    "sortBy": "bestMatch",
    "freeShipping": False,
    "returnsAccepted": False,
    "maxItems": 2,
    "maxPages": 1,
    "includeItemDetails": True,
    "includeItemSpecifics": True
}

run = client.actor("vexaloom-labs/ebay-item-store-and-store-category-detail").call(run_input=run_input)
if run is None:
    raise RuntimeError("The Actor run was not found.")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

import { ApifyClient } from "apify-client";

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: "<YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN>" });
const input = {
    "mode": "search",
    "itemIds": [],
    "storeNames": [],
    "storeCategoryUrls": [],
    "searchQueries": [
        "laptop"
    ],
    "startUrls": [],
    "marketplace": "https://www.ebay.com",
    "sortBy": "bestMatch",
    "freeShipping": false,
    "returnsAccepted": false,
    "maxItems": 2,
    "maxPages": 1,
    "includeItemDetails": true,
    "includeItemSpecifics": true
};

const run = await client.actor("vexaloom-labs/ebay-item-store-and-store-category-detail").call(input);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
console.log(items);

curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/vexaloom-labs~ebay-item-store-and-store-category-detail/run-sync-get-dataset-items"   -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN"   -H "Content-Type: application/json"   -d '{"mode":"search","itemIds":[],"storeNames":[],"storeCategoryUrls":[],"searchQueries":["laptop"],"startUrls":[],"marketplace":"https://www.ebay.com","sortBy":"bestMatch","freeShipping":false,"returnsAccepted":false,"maxItems":2,"maxPages":1,"includeItemDetails":true,"includeItemSpecifics":true}'

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apify": {
      "url": "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=vexaloom-labs/ebay-item-store-and-store-category-detail",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer <YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Questions people ask

More on eBay

• Topic groupEcommerce data: every website compared
• ToolWhich eBay route fits your job?
• TooleBay cost by Apify plan, rows and runs

Related websites

• Amazon12 Actors
• Etsy1 Actor
• MercadoLibre2 Actors

Sources

• eBay Item, Store & Store Category Detail Extractor on Apify Store
• eBay Motors Search & Listing Detail Extractor on Apify Store
• eBay Multi-Marketplace Listing & Seller Data Scraper on Apify Store
• eBay Seller Reputation & DSR Feedback Lookup on Apify Store
• eBay Browse API documentation
• eBay terms