git:20261102.565694d to git:20261104.94103e0
50 added, 43 removed. Audit A to A.
---
name: google-maps-grid-based-market-saturation-scanner
- description: "Use the Google Maps Grid-Based Market Saturation Scanner actor to pull local business listings from Google Maps and return Grid Point, rank, business, rating, reviews, Distance. Use when the user needs a listing export, a farm list, or a market snapshot without maintaining a scraper."
+ description: "Cover a bounding box, circle, or custom polygon with a search grid to collect every business Google Maps exposes for a query, well beyond the usual 120-result cap on a single search. Output fields: name, categoryName, totalScore, reviewsCount, phone and more, as JSON rows. Use when the user asks for Google Maps search beyond 120 results, Google Maps grid search, local market saturation, or a CSV/JSON export of public Google Maps data."
---
# Google Maps Grid-Based Market Saturation Scanner
- Pull **local business listings** from **Google Maps** with the public Scraper Finder actor.
+ Cover a bounding box, circle, or custom polygon with a search grid to collect every business Google Maps exposes for a query, well beyond the usual 120-result cap on a single search.
- - Actor: https://apify.com/dataspryva/google-maps-grid-based-market-saturation-scanner
- - Actor ID: `dataspryva~google-maps-grid-based-market-saturation-scanner`
- - n8n workflow: https://github.com/bolvein-firex/scraping-n8n-workflows/blob/main/workflows/google-maps-grid-based-market-saturation-scanner.json
+ - Actor: https://apify.com/dataspryva/google-maps-grid-based-market-saturation-scanner (ID `dataspryva~google-maps-grid-based-market-saturation-scanner`)
+ - n8n workflow for the same Actor: https://github.com/bolvein-firex/scraping-n8n-workflows/blob/main/docs/google-maps-grid-based-market-saturation-scanner.md
- Example input: `references/example-input.json`
- Input schema: `references/input-schema.json`
+ - Output fields: `references/output-fields.json`
+ Short video breakdown:
+ - [Map HVAC competitors block by block](https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uom3-Fy_xFk)
+
## When to use
Use this skill when the user wants:
- - a structured export of local business listings from Google Maps
- - a repeatable dataset instead of manual copy-paste
- - a CSV/JSON output for a CRM, sheet, dashboard, or agent
- - a scheduled refresh of public data
+ - Google Maps search beyond 120 results
+ - Google Maps grid search
+ - local market saturation
+ - a repeatable export of public Google Maps data as CSV or JSON
- Do not use it for private, login-protected, or paywalled data.
+ Do not use it for private, login-protected or paywalled data.
## What it returns
- - Grid Point
- - rank
- - business
- - rating
- - reviews
- - Distance
+ One JSON row per result. Columns from the Actor's dataset schema:
+ - `name`: Name
+ - `categoryName`: Category
+ - `totalScore`: Rating
+ - `reviewsCount`: Reviews
+ - `address`: Address
+ - `phone`: Phone
+ - `website`: Website
+ - `placeId`: Place Id
+ - `featureId`: Feature Id
+ - `kgmid`: Kgmid
+ - `googleMapsUrl`: Google Maps Url
+ - `location`: Location
+ - `rankInCell`: Rank In Cell
+
+ All 29 declared fields: `references/output-fields.json`.
+
## Inputs
| Field | Type | Required | Default | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `searchQuery` | string | yes | | Type of business to search for (e.g., 'pharmacy', 'restaurant', 'dentist'). |
- | `locationName` | string | no | | Name of a public Google Maps location (e.g., 'Brooklyn, NY'). Google resolves its real center anonymously, then the actor scans the user-controlled radiusKm around it. Use bounding |
+ | `locationName` | string | no | | Name of a public Google Maps location (e.g., 'Brooklyn, NY'). Google resolves its real center anonymously, then the actor scans the user-controlled radiusKm around it. |
| `boundingBox` | object | no | | Geographic bounding box defining the scan area. Provide north/south/east/west coordinates. |
| `circleCenter` | object | no | | Center point for a circular scan area. Use with radiusKm. |
| `radiusKm` | number | no | 5 | Radius in kilometers for circular scan area (used with circleCenter or locationName). |
| `customGeolocation` | object | no | | Custom GeoJSON Polygon defining the scan boundary. |
| `zoomLevel` | integer | no | 15 | Controls grid cell granularity. Higher = smaller cells, more thorough coverage. |
| `maxPlacesPerCell` | integer | no | 120 | Maximum businesses to collect from each grid cell (1–260; Google's ranked window for one cell reaches roughly 136–213 places). |
| `maxPagesPerCell` | integer | no | 13 | How many 20-result pages to read per cell. Deeper pages surface more businesses — page 1 finds about 20% of a cell's places, page 9 finds all of them. |
| `maxTotalResults` | integer | no | 10000 | Maximum total businesses to extract across all cells. Stops scanning when reached. |
| `deduplicateResults` | boolean | no | true | Remove duplicate businesses that appear in multiple adjacent grid cells. |
- | `enrichDetails` | boolean | no | false | Open each place's page for extra fields (price level, Plus Code, photo sample, rating histogram, open/closed status). Slower; leave off for large exports since listing fields are a |
+ | `enrichDetails` | boolean | no | false | Open each place's page for extra fields (price level, Plus Code, photo sample, rating histogram, open/closed status). |
| `minRating` | number | no | | Only include businesses with a rating at or above this value (1.0–5.0). Leave empty to include all. |
| `language` | string | no | en | Language for Google Maps interface and results. |
Example:
```json
{
"keyword": "coffee shop",
"location": "Denver, CO",
"gridSize": 7,
"radius": 5,
"maxResultsPerPoint": 20
}
```
## Run it
- Set `APIFY_TOKEN` in your environment, then call the synchronous endpoint for small and medium runs:
+ Set `APIFY_TOKEN`, then call the synchronous endpoint for small and medium runs (it waits up to 300 seconds):
```bash
- curl -s -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/dataspryva~google-maps-grid-based-market-saturation-scanner/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \
+ curl -s -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/dataspryva~google-maps-grid-based-market-saturation-scanner/run-sync-get-dataset-items" \
+ -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
- -d @references/example-input.json
+ -d @references/example-input.json > output.json
```
- For large runs, start an async run and read the dataset:
+ Or with Node 18+: `node scripts/run.mjs [input.json]`.
- ```bash
- RUN=$(curl -s -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/dataspryva~google-maps-grid-based-market-saturation-scanner/runs?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \
- -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
- -d @references/example-input.json | jq -r '.data.id')
+ For large runs, start an async run and read its dataset when it finishes:
- curl -s "https://api.apify.com/v2/actor-runs/$RUN?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" | jq '.data.status'
- curl -s "https://api.apify.com/v2/datasets/$(curl -s "https://api.apify.com/v2/actor-runs/$RUN?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" | jq -r '.data.defaultDatasetId')/items?token=$APIFY_TOKEN&format=json" > output.json
+ ```bash
+ RUN=$(curl -s -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/dataspryva~google-maps-grid-based-market-saturation-scanner/runs" \
+ -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+ -d @references/example-input.json)
+ RUN_ID=$(echo "$RUN" | jq -r '.data.id'); DATASET=$(echo "$RUN" | jq -r '.data.defaultDatasetId')
+ curl -s "https://api.apify.com/v2/actor-runs/$RUN_ID?waitForFinish=60" -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" | jq -r '.data.status'
+ curl -s "https://api.apify.com/v2/datasets/$DATASET/items?format=json" -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" > output.json
```
- Or import the n8n workflow: https://github.com/bolvein-firex/scraping-n8n-workflows/blob/main/workflows/google-maps-grid-based-market-saturation-scanner.json
-
## Cost and limits
- - Billing is per Apify actor run and per dataset item. Check the actor page for current pricing.
- - `run-sync-get-dataset-items` has a request timeout. Use the async pattern for large jobs.
- - Respect rate limits and the target site's terms.
+ - Apify bills the Actor's usage on your account; the Actor's Pricing tab shows the current price.
+ - Keep the limit in the input small for a first run.
## Guardrails
- - Public data only. Do not use cookies, sessions, or private account data.
- - Do not use the output for spam, harassment, or unlawful discrimination.
- - Verify local law and the target site's terms before running at scale.
- - Demo rows in the Scraper Finder video are illustrative.
-
- ## Files
-
- - `scripts/run.mjs` - minimal Node runner using `APIFY_TOKEN`
- - `references/input-schema.json` - full actor input schema
- - `references/example-input.json` - starter input
+ - Public data only. Do not pass cookies, sessions or private account data.
+ - Do not use the output for spam, harassment or unlawful discrimination.
+ - Check the target site's terms and local law before running at scale.