How to Scrape Google Trends with Apify (2026 Guide)

Quick answer: can I scrape Google Trends with Apify?

Yes. Search for "Google Trends" in the Apify Store, configure the input (search terms, time range, region), run the Actor, and download structured data: interest over time, interest by region, related topics, and related queries. No coding required.

What data can you extract from Google Trends?

The Google Trends Scraper extracts 4 main data types:

• Interest over time: Search interest (0-100) for a keyword over a specified time period. Use to identify seasonal patterns, trending topics, and declining interest.
• Interest by region: Search interest broken down by country, state, or city. Use to target geographic markets with highest interest.
• Related topics: Topics that people searching for your keyword also search for. Use for content ideation and keyword expansion.
• Related queries: Specific search queries related to your keyword, ranked by rising or top. Use for long-tail keyword research.
• Trending searches: Real-time trending searches on Google. Use to catch viral topics early.
• Trending YouTube searches: Trending searches specifically on YouTube. Use for video content strategy.

Setting up the Google Trends Scraper

Here is the step-by-step setup:

1. Go to Apify Store and search for "Google Trends Scraper" — Go to Apify Store and search for "Google Trends Scraper"
2. Choose a scraper (look for 1,000+ users and recent updates) — Choose a scraper (look for 1,000+ users and recent updates)
3. Click "Try for free" to open the Actor configuration — Click "Try for free" to open the Actor configuration
4. Input type Choose "Search terms" for specific keywords or "Trending searches" for real-time trends
5. Search terms Enter 1-5 keywords (e.g., "AI marketing tools", "CapCut", "web scraping")
6. Time range Select "Past 7 days", "Past 30 days", "Past 12 months", or custom range
7. Region Select "Worldwide" or a specific country
8. Category Optional — filter by category (e.g., "Technology", "Business")
9. Click "Start" and wait for the run to complete (usually 1-3 minutes) — Click "Start" and wait for the run to complete (usually 1-3 minutes)
10. Download results as JSON, CSV, or Excel from the Dataset tab — Download results as JSON, CSV, or Excel from the Dataset tab

Using Trends data for content strategy

Here are 5 ways to use Google Trends data for content marketing:

• Topic validation: Before writing an article, check if the topic is trending up or down. Rising interest = invest in content. Declining interest = deprioritize.
• Seasonal planning: Identify seasonal peaks for your industry. Publish content 4-6 weeks before the peak to capture search traffic during the high-interest period.
• Geographic targeting: Find which regions have highest interest. Target ads and content to those regions first. Example: "AI marketing tools" peaks in India and US.
• Related queries for SEO: Extract related queries and use them as long-tail keywords in your content. These are queries people actually search for.
• Trend timing: Watch for sudden spikes in interest. Publish content within 24-48 hours of a spike to catch the trend wave.

Automating trend monitoring with schedules

Set up automated trend monitoring with Apify schedules:

• Daily trend check: Schedule Google Trends Scraper to run daily for your top 5 keywords. Track interest changes day-over-day.
• Weekly related queries: Run weekly to extract new related queries. Discover emerging long-tail keywords.
• Monthly comparison: Run monthly with a 12-month time range to see seasonal patterns.
• Webhook integration: Set up a webhook to send results to Slack or email. Get notified when interest spikes by 20%+.
• Google Sheets logging: Use Zapier to append daily results to a Google Sheet. Build a historical trend database.

Comparing keywords for SEO strategy

Google Trends is perfect for comparing keyword popularity. Here is a workflow:

• Enter 3-5 related keywords in one scraper run (e.g., "AI video editor", "AI video generator", "AI video maker")
• Compare interest over time: Which keyword is growing? Which is declining?
• Check related queries: What long-tail variations are rising?
• Check regional interest: Which keyword is more popular in your target market?
• Choose your primary keyword: The one with highest and growing interest in your target region.
• Choose secondary keywords: Rising related queries for supporting content.

Common use cases for marketers

Here are real-world use cases for Google Trends data:

• Content calendar: Plan articles around trending topics and seasonal peaks.
• Ad timing: Launch ads when interest is rising, not when it is peaking. Catch the wave early.
• Product launches: Check if interest in your product category is growing before investing in development.
• Competitor monitoring: Compare your brand vs competitors in Google Trends. Track relative interest over time.
• Market research: Identify geographic markets with highest interest for expansion decisions.
• Influencer topics: Find trending topics in your niche and pitch influencers with relevant content ideas.