# Username Search — Find Social Accounts on 4000+ Sites (OSINT) (`intelscrape/watson`) Actor

Username search across 4000+ sites: find which social networks, forums and platforms use a handle. Sherlock-style OSINT username finder with category filters, availability status and a footprint summary. Pay per found account.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/intelscrape/watson.md
- **Developed by:** [IntelScrape](https://apify.com/intelscrape) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Developer tools, Lead generation
- **Features:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 19 total users, 6 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 1 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $10.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## Username Search — Find Social Accounts Across 4000+ Sites (Watson)

![Actor Banner](https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/PyvJzfQg02FD3RYhd/records/watson-banner.png)

> 🇨🇳 **中文简介 (Chinese — China & Singapore):**
> 需要可靠的 Social Username Finder 数据做增长、研究或运营？本 Actor 在 Apify 上按结果交付结构化输出，无需自备复杂基础设施或第三方 API Key（以商店说明为准）。适合中国与新加坡的增长、代理与研究团队批量导出到表格或 AI 工作流。现在就试跑，把结果送进 CRM / Claude / Cursor。

> 🇸🇬 **Ringkasan Melayu (Singapore):**
> Perlu data Social Username Finder untuk growth, penyelidikan atau operasi? Actor ini hantar output berstruktur di Apify, bayar mengikut hasil (ikut PPE kedai), tanpa infrastruktur rumit. Sesuai untuk pasukan di Singapura dan China. Cuba sekarang dan eksport ke spreadsheet atau AI workflow.

#### 🔗 Soft CTA — turn a handle into a person

Found a username footprint? Enrich it with **[Skip Trace PRO](https://apify.com/intelscrape/skip-trace-pro)** (name → phone/email/address) or **[TruePeopleSearch Scraper](https://apify.com/intelscrape/truepeoplesearch-scraper)**. For website emails from a profile bio link, use **[Contact Info Scraper](https://apify.com/intelscrape/contact-info-scraper)**. Hunt local inboxes with **[Google Maps Email Extractor](https://apify.com/intelscrape/google-maps-email-extractor)** or grab **[Google Maps No-Website Leads](https://apify.com/intelscrape/website-Leads)**. Every **CLAIMED** profile row now carries a thickened SoftCTA mesh (contact/email/phone/Maps/Shopify/B2B/BBB/TPS/Skip Trace/Trustpilot/Yelp), and each run also emits a `footprint-summary` with the same mesh (no self-link). 

**New inputs (upsell):** `topSites` (default 500) · `sites[]` filter · optional paid **`footprint-summary`** ($0.01/username) with foundCount + sample URLs.

#### 🤖 NEW: Connect This To Your AI!

Want to use this scraper directly inside Claude, Cursor, or ChatGPT? Check out **[Skip Trace MCP Server](https://apify.com/intelscrape/skip--trace)**. Combined IntelScrape agents over Model Context Protocol — autonomous leads, enrichment, outreach prep.

#### 🏆 Featured Bots by IntelScrape

1. **[Social Username Finder](https://apify.com/intelscrape/watson)** — Structured results on Apify
2. **[Skip Trace PRO](https://apify.com/intelscrape/skip-trace-pro)** — Name, Address, Phone & Email People Lookup
3. **[TruePeopleSearch Scraper](https://apify.com/intelscrape/truepeoplesearch-scraper)** — Phone & Email Matches
4. **[TikTok Scraper](https://apify.com/intelscrape/tiktok-scraper)** — Emails & Influencer Leads
5. **[Amazon Product Review Scraper](https://apify.com/intelscrape/amazon-product-review-scraper)** — Deep E-commerce & Review Extraction
6. **[Building Permit Scraper](https://apify.com/intelscrape/building-permit-scraper)** — US Cities Open Data
7. **[Google Maps No-Website Leads](https://apify.com/intelscrape/website-Leads)** — Local Businesses Without a Website
8. **[UCC Lien Scraper](https://apify.com/intelscrape/ucc-lien-scraper)** — Florida & New Jersey Filings

***

⚡ **Use this Actor in n8n — no code**

1. Add the official **Apify** node in n8n.
2. Connect your Apify API token.
3. Run Actor ID: `IntelScrape/watson`.

***

![Cyber Security Banner](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1526374965328-7f61d4dc18c5?ixlib=rb-4.0.3\&auto=format\&fit=crop\&w=1200\&q=80)

Find usernames across **4,000+ platforms** instantly. The ultimate cloud OSINT tool and Sherlock alternative. Features a hybrid Crawlee engine: blazing-fast HTTP requests paired with headless Playwright browsers to bypass anti-bot protections on JS-heavy sites like Instagram and TikTok.

ابحث عن أسماء المستخدمين عبر أكثر من 4000 منصة على الفور. أداة الاستخبارات السحابية المثالية. يتميز بمحرك هجين: طلبات HTTP سريعة مع متصفحات مخفية لتجاوز حماية المواقع المعقدة مثل Instagram و TikTok.

***

> **Billing (honest):** Each **found profile** is a dataset item (`apify-default-dataset-item`). Optional **`footprint-summary`** is **$0.01 per username** when enabled. Actor start is billed by Apify memory tier. Not-found sites are **not** pushed (not charged).

### 🌟 Why Use Watson PRO? (And How to Make Money!) | لماذا تستخدم البرنامج؟ وكيف تربح منه؟

Standard open-source OSINT scripts run locally, which means your home IP gets banned quickly and you get blocked by Cloudflare. **Watson PRO** runs on the Apify cloud using a massive pool of rotating proxies and browser fingerprinting. It just *works*.

**How to monetize this tool:**

1. **Freelance OSINT Services:** Sell premium "Digital Footprint Analysis" or background checks on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or Contra.
2. **Brand Protection Agency:** Charge corporations a monthly retainer to monitor their brand names. If a squatter takes their username on a new platform, you alert them immediately!
3. **Cybersecurity Bounties:** Use it during the reconnaissance phase of bug bounty hunting to find forgotten sub-accounts owned by target employees.

النصوص البرمجية العادية يتم حظرها بسرعة. هذا البرنامج يعمل على السحابة ويتجاوز الحماية بنجاح. يمكنك استخدامه لتقديم خدمات التحليل الرقمي للشركات أو حماية العلامات التجارية وربح المال من خلال العمل الحر.

***

#### 🎯 Key Features | الميزات الرئيسية

#### 🆕 Category packs + availability (2026-09)

- **categories\[]** — `social` / `dev` / `gaming` / `forum` / `media` / `business` / `other`

- **includeAvailable** — also return AVAILABLE / WAF rows (default off)

- **includeNSFW** — opt-in adult sites

- Keeps **topSites** / **sites** / **footprint-summary** paid layer

- Output: `status` (`CLAIMED|AVAILABLE|WAF`), `category`, `detection`

- ⚡ **Blazing Fast (سريع جداً):** Scans thousands of sites concurrently in seconds.

- 🛡️ **Anti-Bot Bypass (تجاوز الحماية):** Intelligently routes tough targets (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook) to a real headless Chromium browser to defeat CAPTCHAs and JS-challenges.

- 🗄️ **Massive Database (قاعدة بيانات ضخمة):** Powered by the open-source Sherlock database, ensuring coverage for over 4,000 global websites.

- 💰 **Pay-Per-Usage (الدفع حسب الاستخدام):** You only pay Apify compute units for exactly what you search.

***

### 🛠️ Use Cases | حالات الاستخدام

1. **Cyber Investigators (المحققون السيبرانيون):** Track digital footprints across the internet with a single username.
2. **Brand Managers (مديرو العلامات التجارية):** Secure your username real estate before squatters take it.
3. **HR & Recruiters (الموارد البشرية):** Verify candidate profiles across developer platforms (GitHub, LeetCode) and social media.

***

### 📊 Output Data Format | صيغة البيانات المخرجة

The scraper provides clean, beautifully structured JSON/CSV data for every successfully found profile.
يوفر البرنامج بيانات منظمة بشكل جميل بتنسيق JSON / CSV.

```json
{
  "username": "elonmusk",
  "siteName": "GitHub",
  "url": "https://github.com/elonmusk",
  "found": "true"
}
```

***

### ⚙️ Input Parameters | معلمات الإدخال

| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| **Usernames** | Array | Target usernames to hunt (e.g. `["johndoe"]`). |
| **Top N sites** | Number | Speed cap (default **500**, priority platforms first). `0` = full Sherlock DB. |
| **Sites** | Array | Optional exact site-name filter (GitHub, Instagram, …). |
| **Footprint summary** | Boolean | Paid summary row per username (`footprint-summary` $0.01). Default on. |
| **Demo mode** | Boolean | Fixture results for try-runs (no live crawl). |
| **Max Concurrency** | Number | Concurrent HTTP requests (default 100). |
| **Timeout Secs** | Number | Per-site timeout. |

***

### 💡 Pro Tips for Efficiency | نصائح احترافية للكفاءة

- Keep **Max Concurrency** around `100-200`. Going too high might exhaust memory if you are scanning all 4,000 sites at once.
- Feed the Actor multiple usernames in a single run to maximize the efficiency of the Apify server boot time.

حافظ على التزامن الأقصى بين 100-200 لتجنب استهلاك الذاكرة. قم بالبحث عن أسماء متعددة في جلسة واحدة لزيادة الكفاءة.

***

### ❓ FAQ

**How do I search a username across social networks?**
Enter one or more usernames and run. Watson checks each handle on the site list (the top 500 sites by default, or more with **Top N sites to check**) and returns a row for every site where the account exists, with the profile URL.

**Is this like Sherlock or Maigret?**
Yes, it is a Sherlock-style username search that runs in the cloud, with category filters, a specific-sites list and an optional footprint summary per username.

**Can I check if a username is available?**
Yes. Turn on **Include AVAILABLE / WAF rows** to also see sites where the handle looks free (or where the site blocked the check).

**Can I limit the search to certain kinds of sites?**
Yes. Pick **Site categories** or list **Specific sites**. Adult sites are excluded unless you turn on **Include adult/NSFW sites**.

**How is it billed?**
Pay per event per found account, plus an optional footprint summary per username. See the **Pricing** tab on this page for the current per-event prices. You are only charged for the events listed there, and you can cap spend with the run's maximum charge setting.

**Is username OSINT legal?**
Watson only checks public profile pages. Use the results for lawful research, brand protection, security and investigations, and follow each site's terms.

### ⭐ Support & Feedback | الدعم والتقييم

If you found this tool helpful and it generated high-quality intelligence for you, please consider leaving a **5-Star Review**! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Your feedback helps us maintain the proxy infrastructure and keep the database updated.

إذا وجدت هذه الأداة مفيدة، يرجى التفكير في ترك **تقييم 5 نجوم**! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
تساعدنا ملاحظاتك في الحفاظ على البرنامج وتحديثه ليبقى الأفضل على منصة Apify.

# Actor input Schema

## `usernames` (type: `array`):

List of usernames to hunt across social, developer, gaming, and forum platforms.

## `topSites` (type: `integer`):

Limit to top N sites (priority platforms first). Default 500 for speed (Maigret-style). Set 0 to scan the full Sherlock database.

## `sites` (type: `array`):

Only check these Sherlock site names (e.g. GitHub, Instagram, Reddit). Leave empty to use topSites.

## `categories` (type: `array`):

Rival-parity packs: social / dev / gaming / forum / media / business / other. Empty = all (minus NSFW unless includeNSFW).

## `includeAvailable` (type: `boolean`):

If true, also push platforms where the username looks free (AVAILABLE) or blocked (WAF). Default false = CLAIMED only.

## `includeNSFW` (type: `boolean`):

Default false. Enable only for brand-protection / compliance workflows.

## `includeFootprintSummary` (type: `boolean`):

Append one footprint-summary row per username (foundCount, siteNames, sampleUrls) and charge the footprint-summary event ($0.01).

## `demoMode` (type: `boolean`):

Return fixture found profiles + footprint-summary without live crawling. For Console try-runs and billing verification.

## `maxConcurrency` (type: `integer`):

Maximum concurrent HTTP requests. Browser crawler caps at 10.

## `timeoutSecs` (type: `integer`):

Timeout for each HTTP request/browser page.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "usernames": [
    "ninja"
  ],
  "topSites": 500,
  "categories": [
    "dev"
  ],
  "includeAvailable": false,
  "includeNSFW": false,
  "includeFootprintSummary": true,
  "demoMode": false,
  "maxConcurrency": 100,
  "timeoutSecs": 30
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `username` (type: `string`):

Target username

## `siteName` (type: `string`):

Name of platform

## `url` (type: `string`):

Profile URL

## `found` (type: `string`):

Found boolean as string

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "usernames": [
        "ninja"
    ],
    "topSites": 500,
    "categories": [
        "dev"
    ],
    "includeAvailable": false,
    "includeNSFW": false,
    "includeFootprintSummary": true
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("intelscrape/watson").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "usernames": ["ninja"],
    "topSites": 500,
    "categories": ["dev"],
    "includeAvailable": False,
    "includeNSFW": False,
    "includeFootprintSummary": True,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("intelscrape/watson").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "usernames": [
    "ninja"
  ],
  "topSites": 500,
  "categories": [
    "dev"
  ],
  "includeAvailable": false,
  "includeNSFW": false,
  "includeFootprintSummary": true
}' |
apify call intelscrape/watson --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,intelscrape/watson"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/TJaofDTBG6u2rNAK3/builds/3Z8zdLDK9ibr7UYVR/openapi.json