Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper: 41 Data Fields per Record (2026)

Each record carries 41 output fields, including model titles, authors, license types, pricing in USD, and polygon counts. You can browse by category, keyword, or specific creator to build datasets for market research or asset discovery. It supports filtering by mesh complexity and license status, making it suitable for developers tracking marketplace trends or seeking CC-licensed prototypes. This scraper is for metadata and technical specs; it does not return raw 3D mesh files or texture downloads.

Try it: open Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper on Apify, sign in on the free plan and run the prefilled example.

Can you try Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper before paying?

Yes. Apify's free plan includes $5.00 of prepaid usage every month and asks for no credit card. At $0.005 per result, that covers up to 1,000 results of Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper a month, before run-start charges and platform usage.

Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper was last updated on 2026-07-21. It is one of 1,725 Actors CrawlerBros publishes on Apify, which together have 674,790 lifetime public runs and an average rating of 4.63 out of 5 across 416 reviews.

What does it cost to run Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper?

Each result costs $0.005 on Apify's free plan, which is $5.00 per 1,000 results. Starting a run is charged separately at $0.005 per GB of Actor memory. Apify also bills the platform usage each run consumes, at the rates of your Apify plan, on top of these charges.

The fetchPricing control is the primary driver of the bill because it triggers an additional request for every model found to retrieve detail-page data. To keep costs low, leave fetchPricing set to false during initial testing while you refine your searchQuery or category filters. Once you are satisfied with the result set, enable the price and download count enrichment for your final production run. The free-plan price is $0.005 per result.

How do you run Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper from the API?

The schema marks 1 of its 15 controls as required: mode. Nothing in the payload below is illustrative. Those are the schema's prefilled defaults for Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper, so the request works once your token is in place.

Call the synchronous endpoint to start a run and receive dataset items in one request:

curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/crawlerbros~sketchfab-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"mode":"search","searchQuery":"dragon","modelIds":[]}'

The same run from Python, using the official client:

from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN>")

run_input = {
  "mode": "search",
  "searchQuery": "dragon",
  "modelIds": []
}

run = client.actor("crawlerbros~sketchfab-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item)

And from Node.js:

import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '<YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN>' })

const input = {
  "mode": "search",
  "searchQuery": "dragon",
  "modelIds": []
}

const run = await client.actor('crawlerbros~sketchfab-scraper').call(input)
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems()
console.log(items)

Because the call is synchronous, your client waits for the whole run. Keep it for exploration. For scheduled work, start the run without waiting and collect the dataset afterwards, so network trouble costs you a retry rather than the results.

Which Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper inputs matter, and which can you skip?

The mode control is the single required input and determines the scraping strategy, such as keyword search or looking up exact model IDs. Most practitioners should start by setting maxItems to a low value like 30 to verify that their filters, such as riggedOnly or licenseType, are returning the expected records.

• mode (string): search = keyword text search (default). byCategory = browse a taxonomy category. byUser = list all models by an author's username. staffPicks = Sketchfab editorial staff picks. byIds = look up exact models by their Sketchfab model ID (the 32-char hex code in the model URL). Default: "search".
• searchQuery (string): Keyword(s) to search for, e.g. 'dragon', 'low poly car', 'medieval castle'. Required when mode=search.
• modelIds (array): Exact Sketchfab model IDs to look up (the code at the end of a model's URL -- either the modern 32-character hex ID, e.g. 14ec4c0460c64065af1c6fd31f104344, or the legacy 27-character case-sensitive ID used by older models, e.g. hliAt7xc6YU2XjXh5G4lzmQwFmR). Required when mode=byIds.
• category (string): Restrict results to a Sketchfab taxonomy category. Combine with searchQuery in mode=search, or use alone in mode=byCategory. Default: "".
• username (string): Exact Sketchfab username to list models for (from a profile URL like sketchfab.com/). Required when mode=byUser.
• licenseType (string): Only return models under this license. Only CC-licensed models are downloadable on Sketchfab. Default: "".
• sortBy (string): Result order. Not applicable to mode=byIds. Default: "relevance".
• downloadableOnly (boolean): Only return models that can be downloaded (always free, CC-licensed). Default: false.
• animatedOnly (boolean): Only return models that contain at least one animation. Default: false.
• staffPickedOnly (boolean): Only return models that were featured as a Sketchfab staff pick. Always on for mode=staffPicks. Default: false.
• riggedOnly (boolean): Only return models with a rig (skeleton), ready for animation/posing. Not applicable to mode=byIds. Default: false.
• minFaceCount (integer): Only return models with at least this many polygon faces (see the output faceCount field). Useful for finding higher-detail models.

The other 3 controls, with their defaults, are listed in the input schema on Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper on Apify.

Fixed-choice controls: mode accepts search (Keyword search), byCategory (Browse by category), byUser (Browse by author (username)), staffPicks (Staff picks), byIds (Look up by exact model ID(s)); category accepts 19 values (default ""), including "" (Any category), animals-pets (Animals & Pets), architecture, art-abstract (Art & Abstract); licenseType accepts 11 values (default ""), including "" (Any license), by (CC Attribution), by-sa (CC Attribution-ShareAlike), by-nd (CC Attribution-NoDerivs); sortBy accepts relevance, likes (Most liked), views (Most viewed), recent (Most recent).

What does Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper return?

The returned records are ideal for performing marketplace analysis or tracking the portfolios of specific creators over time. The data does not include the actual binary geometry files or texture maps, so look elsewhere if you need a tool for mass-downloading model assets.

• modelId: Sketchfab's 32-character model ID
• title, description: Model name and description
• authorName, authorUsername, authorUrl: Model creator
• licenseType, licenseSlug, licenseUrl: License (only set for downloadable models)
• isFree: true for downloadable/CC models, false for paid Sketchfab Store models
• priceUsd: Exact USD price (only present for paid Store models)
• isDownloadable: Whether the model can be downloaded
• downloadCount: Total downloads (when price/detail enrichment is on)
• viewCount, likeCount, commentCount: Engagement metrics
• isAnimated, animationCount: Whether the model has animations
• isStaffPicked, staffPickedAt: Sketchfab editorial staff pick status
• faceCount, vertexCount: Polygon/mesh complexity
• isAgeRestricted: Age-restriction flag
• isProtected: Whether the model has extra copy protection (detail enrichment)
• hasSound, soundCount: Whether the model has embedded sound, and how many sound clips (detail enrichment)
• textureCount, materialCount: Number of textures / materials used by the model (detail enrichment)
• pbrType: PBR material workflow, e.g. metalness (detail enrichment, when set)
• updatedAt: Last-modified timestamp (detail enrichment)
• category, categories[]: Sketchfab taxonomy category
• tags[]: Free-text tags
• thumbnailUrl: Largest available thumbnail image
• modelUrl, embedUrl: Model viewer page / embeddable iframe URL
• publishedAt, createdAt: Timestamps
• sourceUrl: Canonical model page URL
• recordType, scrapedAt: Always "model" and the scrape timestamp

These are the documented fields. Optional ones can be empty on a given record, so measure how often each field your deliverable depends on is populated across a real sample before automating the handoff.

How do you build the workflow end to end?

Open Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper and work through these in order. Each step ends with something to check, so a bad configuration surfaces on a small run rather than a scheduled one.

1. Set the mode control to search, byCategory, byUser, staffPicks, or byIds depending on your target list.
2. Define your scope by entering a searchQuery for keyword runs or a specific username for profile scrapes.
3. Use the category dropdown to select one of the 18 Sketchfab taxonomy categories to narrow the results.
4. Toggle the fetchPricing boolean to true if your deliverable requires priceUsd, downloadCount, or pbrType.
5. Adjust the minFaceCount or maxFaceCount integers to filter the results by specific polygon density requirements.
6. Configure the licenseType if you need to restrict output to specific Creative Commons tiers like cc0 or by.
7. Set maxItems to a value up to 500 to manage the total result count for the run.
8. Review the final dataset for the authorUrl and faceCount fields to ensure the records meet your quality standards.

How do you apply it? Three worked playbooks

These are Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper's own documented use cases, each worked through as an operating pattern rather than a description.

Use case 1: Game & VR/AR development

Outcome: Discover free CC-licensed assets for prototyping

Configure: mode = "search", searchQuery = "low poly character", downloadableOnly = true, licenseType = "cc0", maxItems = 50, fetchPricing = false

Working method: Run a search for low-poly keywords with the downloadableOnly filter enabled to identify prototyping assets. Review the faceCount of the results to find meshes that fit your engine performance targets without needing manual optimization. Use the results to build a library of direct links for your art team to evaluate.

Deliverable: A spreadsheet containing 50 CC-licensed models with polygon counts and direct modelUrl links.

Stop condition: The resulting records return models that are not marked as isDownloadable.

Use case 2: 3D asset marketplaces

Outcome: Track pricing and popularity of Sketchfab Store items

Configure: mode = "byCategory", category = "architecture", fetchPricing = true, sortBy = "likes", maxItems = 100

Working method: Execute a category-based scrape with fetchPricing enabled to pull the exact priceUsd and downloadCount for commercial items. Sort the results by likes to see if higher engagement correlates with higher price points in the architecture category. Compare these benchmarks to determine a competitive entry price for new store listings.

Deliverable: A competitive analysis dataset of 100 commercial assets including price, likes, and download totals.

Stop condition: The priceUsd field is null while fetchPricing is set to true.

Use case 3: Content research

Outcome: Analyze category trends, tag usage, or staff-pick criteria

Configure: mode = "staffPicks", maxItems = 100, fetchPricing = true

Working method: Initiate the scraper in staffPicks mode to retrieve items manually selected by Sketchfab editors. Analyze the tags array and materialCount for these records to identify technical commonalities in featured work. Look for patterns in pbrType usage among the top-rated curated models.

Deliverable: A technical report on 100 staff-picked items detailing common tags and material specifications.

Stop condition: A run completes without any records for staff picks, even with maxItems set appropriately.

What breaks, and how do you design around it?

If you need to map an entire category containing thousands of items, split the work across multiple runs by targeting specific sub-categories or creators. You can combine these individual runs into a single dataset for your final report.

When should you not use Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper?

Do not use this tool if you need to extract 3D printing files for manufacturing; Thingiverse 3D Model Scraper is better suited for that specific repository. If your project requires broader creative assets like fonts, graphic templates, or web themes rather than 3D models, use Envato Elements Asset Scraper. For teams working strictly within the Unity ecosystem, the Unity Asset Store Scraper provides better coverage of engine-specific packages and tools.

What should you check before trusting the output?

• Verify that the priceUsd field is populated with a number for any item where isFree is false.
• Ensure the faceCount and vertexCount fields contain valid integers for the mesh data.
• Confirm the thumbnailUrl is a valid URL and not an empty string for each record.
• Check that the licenseType is present for all models where isDownloadable is set to true.
• Monitor for runs that return zero items when a valid category slug like animals-pets is used.

None of this proves a record is correct. It gives a scheduled Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper run defined points where it should stop instead of quietly passing bad data downstream.

Frequently asked questions

What is the cost for a large-scale project of 10,000 results?

Note that this does not include the run-start fee or the platform usage costs consumed during execution. For larger projects, consider how platform usage costs on your Apify plan will affect the total bill.

Is a Sketchfab account or API key required to run this?

No. This Actor utilizes Sketchfab's public search API, which provides access to model metadata without any authentication. You do not need to provide login credentials or an API key, as the scraper only accesses publicly available data.

How does enabling fetchPricing change the run?

Enabling fetchPricing causes the Actor to visit each model's individual detail page to collect data points like priceUsd, downloadCount, and materialCount. While this provides more depth, it doubles the number of requests made, which will increase the platform usage cost and the time required for the run to finish.

Can I filter for models that are ready for 3D animation?

Yes, you can use the riggedOnly input control. When set to true, the Actor only returns models that include a skeleton or rig, ensuring they are ready for posing or animation workflows. This is particularly useful for game developers sourcing characters or creatures.

Why are some price fields missing from my output?

If a model is a free Creative Commons download or is not listed for sale in the Store, it may not have a priceUsd field. Also, if fetchPricing was set to false, the Actor will not attempt to retrieve price data from the model's detail page, leaving that field empty for all results.

Where to go next

When you are ready to run it, open Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper on Apify; the free plan covers up to 1,000 results a month.

Start with the Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper Actor page for the current input schema, pricing tier, and run history.

Other Actors we maintain for related data:

• Thingiverse 3D Model Scraper: Scrape Thingiverse.com - the world's largest 3D-printing design repository.
• Envato Elements Asset Scraper: Scrape Envato Elements, search or browse fonts, graphic templates, presentations, web templates, video, music, photos, add-ons, and 3D assets.
• Unity Asset Store Scraper: Scrape the Unity Asset Store - 120,000+ 3D/2D models, VFX, audio, tools, templates and add-ons.
• itch.io Game Assets Scraper: Scrape game asset listings from itch.io, the open marketplace for indie games and game assets.

Related guides:

• Thingiverse 3D Model Scraper: $5.00 per 1,000 results (2026)
• YouTube Video Downloader: 24 Data Fields, Up to 500 Free Results/Month

Resources

• Actor documentation, input schema, and pricing: verified against the published Actor on 2026-09-25.

• Actor last updated by its maintainers on 2026-07-21.

• Run outcome figures cover the 30 day public window ending 2026-09-25.

• Sketchfab 3D Model Scraper on Apify