About Google Images (via Apify)
Google Images (via Apify) is an Apify Actor that retrieves Google Images results for image research and discovery workflows. It returns full-size image details and supports filters, including usage rights.
Key features
- 01Full-size URLs and image dimensions
- 02Titles, thumbnails and source pages
- 03Filters for size, color, type and time
- 04Creative Commons usage-rights filter
- 05Monitoring for newly appearing results
Use cases
- 01Find images matching visual criteria
- 02Track new image results for a product or logo
- 03Locate source pages and usage-rights information
MCP support
A hosted Apify MCP server exposes this Actor's image-search tool to MCP clients. A local setup using @apify/actors-mcp-server is also documented.
Configuration
Remote servers need no local install. Pick your client, then copy the config or install in one click.
https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=automationnation/google-images-scraperclaude mcp add --transport http retracn-google-images https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=automationnation/google-images-scraper{"mcpServers":{"retracn-google-images":{"type":"http","url":"https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=automationnation/google-images-scraper"}}}Open in Cursor{"servers":{"retracn-google-images":{"type":"http","url":"https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=automationnation/google-images-scraper"}}}Open in VS Code{"mcpServers":{"retracn-google-images":{"type":"http","url":"https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=automationnation/google-images-scraper"}}}{"mcpServers":{"retracn-google-images":{"serverUrl":"https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=automationnation/google-images-scraper"}}}Run commands in a terminal; paste JSON into the client’s MCP config and restart. Servers that need sign-in will prompt on first connect.
https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=automationnation/google-images-scraperAuth requiredTools
Details
From the project READMEGoogle Images Scraper & API: full-size image URLs
Google Images Scraper is an Apify Actor that returns Google Images results for any search: the full-size image URL, width, height and file size, thumbnail, title, source page and site, with filters for size, color, type, time and Creative Commons license, 100 images per search in seconds, at $0.25 per 1,000 images.
Price: $0.25 per 1,000 images ($0.20 on Gold and above) · Run it: https://apify.com/automationnation/google-images-scraper · Guide: https://retracn.github.io/automationnation-actors/google-images-scraper/
Quick facts
- One row per image: full-size URL, width, height, file size, thumbnail, title, page URL and site.
- Filters: size, color, type (photo, clip art, line drawing, face, animated), time and usage rights.
- 100 images per search in seconds, plain HTTP.
- Monitoring: with Only new results on, a scheduled run returns only images earlier runs didn't, e.g. to spot your products or logo on new sites.
- Price: $0.25 per 1,000 images; the free $5 monthly credit covers 20,000 images.
Example input
{
"queries": [
"modern kitchen"
],
"maxResultsPerQuery": 100
}
Run it from code
REST API
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/automationnation~google-images-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{"queries": ["modern kitchen"], "maxResultsPerQuery": 100}'
Python — see examples/python_example.py
# pip install apify-client
from apify_client import ApifyClient
client = ApifyClient("YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("automationnation/google-images-scraper").call(run_input={
"queries": [
"modern kitchen"
],
"maxResultsPerQuery": 100
})
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
print(item.get("title"), item.get("imageUrl"), item.get("imageWidth"), item.get("pageUrl"))
JavaScript — see examples/node_example.mjs
// npm install apify-client
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';
const client = new ApifyClient({ token: 'YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN' });
const run = await client.actor('automationnation/google-images-scraper').call({
"queries": [
"modern kitchen"
],
"maxResultsPerQuery": 100
});
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
for (const item of items) console.log(item.title, item.imageUrl, item.imageWidth, item.pageUrl);
Use it with AI agents (MCP)
Hosted MCP server URL (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and other clients with remote MCP support):
https://mcp.apify.com?tools=automationnation/google-images-scraper
Local config for Claude Desktop / Cursor — mcp/claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"google-images-scraper": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@apify/actors-mcp-server",
"--tools",
"automationnation/google-images-scraper"
],
"env": {
"APIFY_TOKEN": "YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN"
}
}
}
}
FAQ
Is there a Google Images API? Google's Custom Search JSON API is closed to new customers and retires on 1 January 2027, and it returned only 10 images per request. Google Images Scraper on Apify returns up to 100 images per search as data, pay per image.
Can I filter for Creative Commons images? Yes: set Usage rights to Creative Commons. Always check the license on the source page.
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- All Actors and guides · AI visibility trackers compared · Google Jobs scrapers compared · Google Trends scrapers compared · App Store review scrapers compared · Google Play review scrapers compared · YouTube transcript scrapers compared · Google Flights scrapers compared · Google Hotels scrapers compared · Google Ads Transparency scrapers compared · Google Shopping scrapers compared · Google News scrapers compared
This repository holds usage examples. The scraper itself runs on the Apify platform; you need a free Apify account and API token. Examples are MIT licensed.
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