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Paid data tools on the Apify store
Publish small tools that collect public data, and get paid each time someone uses them.
01The idea
What you'd build
Apify is a store where people rent ready-made tools that collect public data from websites. You publish tools for public data that people clearly want, and you're paid per use.
Why now: Apify already pays outside makers every month, and many public websites still have no working tool in its store.
02Demand
Is anyone asking for this?
An idea is only worth your time if real people want it. Here's what we found.
- Apify says its top creators make over $10,000 a month and "many" make over $1,000.
- Apify reported paying $563,000 to outside developers in September 2025.
- One maker's real numbers: $6 → $19 → $43 → $93 → $97 a month.
03The gap
Why isn't this solved already?
Many public websites have no ready-made tool in the store, or only a broken one. Shoppers in the store are already looking.
04The pain point
What hurts, and when
Analysts and marketers need tidy data from public websites but don't want to build and fix their own tools.
😣 When it hurts: When they need tidy data from a public website and the store has no tool for it, or only a broken one.
05Who needs this
The person you'd build for
- 👤Who they are
- Marketers, analysts, researchers and developers who buy data by the job.
- 🧰What they use today
- Ready-made tools in the Apify store, or tools they build and fix themselves.
- 📍Where to find them
- Inside the Apify store's own search, and on Google, where clear tool descriptions show up.
- 💳Why they'd pay
- They already pay per use in the store. Paying per use is easier than building and fixing their own tool.
06AI score
How much AI can do
🤖 AI does
- Builds the tool, the pages and the listing
- Runs checks and fixes problems
- Writes posts, emails and replies for you to check
- Turns your numbers into a weekly note
🙋 You do
- Make the accounts and pass ID checks
- Approve what AI makes
- Post, send and talk to buyers
- Handle the money, tax and decisions
AI can also prepare the selling and marketing work: posts, emails and replies. But a person has to do it: post, send and talk to buyers.
How hard is it? Easy.
07Your AI
What to have your AI do
Use any AI assistant you like. One paid plan (~$20 a month) is usually enough. Here's what to have it do:
Search the web for people asking for this, and list who already sells it and their weak spots.
Write the tool step by step, test it, and explain anything you need to do by hand.
Write your website, store listing and help pages in plain words, with no income claims.
Draft posts, emails and replies. You edit them, then post and send them yourself.
Keep your FAQ and refund rules in one saved chat or project, so every reply follows them.
Re-run the tests, check for changes, and turn your weekly numbers into a short note.
08Tools
The other tools you'll need
Your AI plus a few everyday tools. Costs are estimates.
The main AI engine to run your business
~$0–20 a month (estimate)The store where you list and sell your data tools; includes test usage
~$1 a month (estimate)How the store pays you (bank or online wallet)
FreeThe playbook
How to do it, step by step: proof, where to find buyers, the money math, and a prompt for each step.
09Proof
Has anyone made money from this?
🔒 Sections 09–17 are locked
Read the full playbook
10Marketing
Where to find buyers, and a 7-day launch
11Risks
What could go wrong, and what to do
12Your time
How much of your week it takes
13Setup
Step by step, with your AI
14Budget
What it costs
15Money math
Low, middle and high (estimates)
16Stop rule
When to stop
17Prompt pack
Copy the prompt. Paste it into your AI.
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This report is based on outside sources and our own research. All numbers are estimates. It is not financial advice. Results depend on you, and no income is promised.