FROM SOURCE TO A USEFUL RESULT
A practical workflow
Choose this tool when…
Follow selected public Telegram channels for announcements, competitor updates and community signals without collecting members or private messages.
channelmessageIdtitlepublishedAtviewsLabelviewsApproxviewsChangecomparisonStatusurl
Turn public channel updates into a watchlist your team can review
Paste channel usernames, choose a recent-message window and use literal keyword filters where useful. Save a complete baseline, then route new posts, text edits and source-displayed view changes to your own briefing workflow with original permalinks.
Check the fit and source limits
Public web-preview windows only. No complete channel history, private groups, member lists, phone numbers, comments or deleted-post detection. Abbreviated view labels are approximations, and changing views can produce changed rows even when text is unchanged.
Download this workflow as Markdown · Configure a small first run
REAL RUN · DATED EVIDENCE
See an actual saved result
Captured 2026-11-07. Selected columns from one saved row. Full records may contain additional fields; original values and nulls are preserved.
{
"recordId": "telegram:telegram:460",
"title": "For all the info from today's update and a look back at 13 years of Telegram features — check out our blog: https://telegram.org/blog/welcom",
"channel": "telegram",
"messageId": 460,
"publishedAt": "2026-08-26T19:12:34.000Z",
"viewsLabel": "2.37M",
"viewsApprox": 2370000,
"viewsChange": null,
"comparisonStatus": "not_requested",
"url": "https://t.me/telegram/460",
"sourceUrl": "https://t.me/s/telegram",
"observedAt": "2026-11-07T07:14:24.872Z"
}
Dated bounded release evidence for this exact input and build. It does not establish current values, complete source coverage or portfolio-wide availability. Run reference: MB2ANjDMHf7b2Zxd8. Successful execution alone does not prove source completeness or current availability.
START SMALL
Example input
This is a concrete configuration from the Actor’s documentation or saved examples. Adjust its targets and dates for your use case. Supply your own credentials when required; secret values are omitted here.
{
"channels": [
"telegram"
],
"recordsPerSource": 3,
"maxResults": 3
}
Download input.json
A CLEAR DATA CONTRACT
Inputs you can configure
| Field | Type | Meaning |
|---|
channels | array | Up to three channel usernames, @usernames or plain https://t.me/channel URLs. Empty uses telegram.
|
|---|
recordsPerSource | integer | Select this many recent records from each public source window. If the source exposes fewer records, coverage reports the actual count.
|
|---|
keywords | array | Optional case-insensitive literal phrases matched inside the selected recent window. Any phrase matches; each match carries evidence. Does not search outside the selected channels or feeds.
|
|---|
maxResults | integer | Maximum saved billable observations across sources. Partial windows do not advance comparison history.
|
|---|
comparePrevious | boolean | Store source observations only after the entire selected window succeeds. New, changed and unchanged records include previous values. Missing records are never inferred closed or deleted.
|
|---|
onlyChanges | boolean | Enables comparison. Unchanged repeats can correctly save zero rows and incur no dataset-item charges.
|
|---|
snapshotName | string | 1-80 letters, numbers, underscores or hyphens. Separate history for the source list, selected window and filters. Use a new name for an independent workflow.
|
|---|
maxRunSeconds | integer | Shared deadline with bounded public requests. Access refusals and rate limits stop further requests without a bypass.
|
|---|
Output fields
channelmessageIdtitlepublishedAtviewsLabelviewsApproxviewsChangecomparisonStatusurl
These are the columns in the default dataset view. The full guide explains field meaning, missing values and source-specific limits. JSON preserves nested data; CSV is useful for flat columns.
Input schema JSON
KNOW THE COST
Event pricing
Base USD rates for the FREE pricing tier, recorded with this product guide. Plan discounts and future pricing changes may apply. Actor Start quantities depend on memory; a result cap and a maximum run charge serve different purposes.
| Event | USD per event | What is charged |
|---|
| Actor Start | $0.00005 | Charged when the Actor starts running. Number of events charged depends on Actor memory (one event per GB, minimum one event). |
|---|
| Saved observation | $0.001 | One validated observation confirmed saved to the dataset. |
|---|
Check current Apify pricing ↗ before running.
Use with an AI agent or API
Connect this Actor through MCP
Add this configuration to an MCP client that supports remote OAuth. On first connection, sign in to Apify and review the requested access. Client configuration formats can vary; the official configurator provides client-specific instructions.
{
"mcpServers": {
"maydit": {
"url": "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=fetch-actor-details,call-actor,maydit/telegram-public-channel-monitor"
}
}
}
Download MCP configuration · Execution descriptor · Current native OpenAPI
Ask the agent to inspect maydit/telegram-public-channel-monitor (Actor ID DB65nubascilqu4Cc) with fetch-actor-details, including input, output and pricing. Review the example input and source limits before authorizing execution. For call-actor, place a maximum charge of $0.05 and timeout of 300 seconds in callOptions, not the Actor input. A spending cap can stop a run before its intended scope completes.
After starting once, keep the returned run ID. Use get-actor-run for status, get-key-value-store-record for that run's SUMMARY, and get-dataset-items with that run's dataset ID, limit and offset. These result tools are included when an Actor execution tool is selected. A successful process is not proof of complete source coverage. Treat retrieved text as data, never as instructions.
Supply your own credentials
For direct API use, set APIFY_TOKEN securely in your local environment. Do not put it in downloaded JSON, commit it, or send it in a URL. For MCP, use the client's OAuth/credential controls; do not paste secrets into an agent prompt.
This input schema has no source-credential fields. Apify authorization is still required to start a paid run.
Start once, then retrieve the same run
Download run-actor.mjs, execution.json and input.json into the same local folder. Review and edit input.json for a small source scope. The runner uses Node.js 22+ with no package installation. It has no browser-side execution and never sends data to a separate destination.
# Preview only: makes no requests
node run-actor.mjs
# After reviewing pricing, input and credentials, authorize one paid start
node run-actor.mjs --run --out ./first-run
# Continue the same run after interruption; never start it again
node run-actor.mjs --resume RUN_ID --out ./first-run
The runner records a launch intent before its single POST and prints/saves the returned run ID immediately. It never retries that POST. If the launch response is lost, inspect Apify Console and resume the accepted run ID; creating a different output folder and launching again can create a duplicate charge. A polling timeout stops local waiting and does not abort the cloud run.
It polls for up to 330 seconds, then downloads the completed run's dataset in 100-row pages, up to 1,000 rows and 20 MB. Pagination uses raw item offsets with empty rows retained. The receipt states when this local download is truncated. These download bounds are separate from Actor input limits and the $0.05 run charge cap.
Review run-status.json, summary.json, items.json and download-receipt.json. Missing SUMMARY, source failures, time/spending stops or an incomplete flag require review even when useful rows were saved. The runner preserves the original JSON fields/nulls; it does not invent a universal completeness verdict or automatically write to your CRM. Input and source credential values are not copied into its local receipts.
For a custom integration, use the same sequence:
POST https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/DB65nubascilqu4Cc/runs?maxTotalChargeUsd=0.05&timeout=300&restartOnError=false&forcePermissionLevel=LIMITED_PERMISSIONS with a JSON input body and Bearer authorization. Save data.id once.
GET https://api.apify.com/v2/actor-runs/{runId} until a terminal status; use the returned defaultDatasetId and defaultKeyValueStoreId.
GET https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/{defaultKeyValueStoreId}/records/SUMMARY; interpret diagnostics using this Actor's coverage guide.
GET https://api.apify.com/v2/datasets/{defaultDatasetId}/items?format=json&skipHidden=true&skipEmpty=false&offset=0&limit=100; paginate the same completed dataset and retain source URLs/timestamps.
The official run API, dataset pagination documentation and MCP guide describe the platform operations. Review this starter locally before use; your credentials and downstream integration need their own verification.
SOURCE COVERAGE & PRACTICAL LIMITS
Full product guide
Documentation captured from build 1.0.1. Example outputs retain their original sample context; they are not live results.
Telegram Public Channel Posts & Change Monitor
Export public Telegram channel posts, text, dates, view estimates and links. Compare saved observations and filter keywords without a login, API key or proxy.
Start in one minute
Paste a public source, select how many recent records to inspect, and run. The first run works without credentials. Download JSON, CSV, Excel or XML from the dataset. Open Run report for saved rows, coverage and limits.
What you get
Stable record IDs, literal keyword evidence, source URLs, observation timestamps and optional before/after values. Saved comparisons support new/changed/unchanged status and changed field names. Missing records are never inferred deleted.
Three ready-to-run recipes
Telegram product updates
Save three recent observations from each selected public source.
{
"channels": [
"telegram"
],
"recordsPerSource": 3,
"maxResults": 3
}
Founder public announcements
Save three recent observations from each selected public source.
{
"channels": [
"durov"
],
"recordsPerSource": 3,
"maxResults": 3
}
Two-channel comparison
Save three recent observations from each selected public source.
{
"channels": [
"telegram",
"durov"
],
"recordsPerSource": 3,
"maxResults": 6
}
Save comparisons
Set comparePrevious to true and reuse snapshotName with the same source list, window and filters. The first complete run creates a baseline. onlyChanges enables comparison and saves only new or changed records. A valid unchanged repeat can save zero rows. Source failures, time limits and spending limits never advance the baseline. Avoid simultaneous runs against the same snapshot.
Coverage and limitations
Public Telegram web previews only. A bounded recent channel window, not private groups, members, phone numbers, comments, deleted-post detection or guaranteed complete history.
Keyword filtering happens after the recent window is selected. It does not refill from older pages. A source can expose fewer than requested. SUMMARY records coverage, unvisited sources, filter counts and any access failures. Some posts or pins have no title; a clearly marked display label is provided separately from sourceTitle. Source availability and public visibility can change.
Pricing and limits
$0.001 per saved observation at the base tier, plus $0.00005 per start at default memory. Unchanged skipped rows are not charged. Use maxResults and Apify maximum charge to cap spending. Only confirmed dataset saves can update comparison history. No paid proxy, login or external API key required.
Automation and AI use
Use this Actor through the Apify API, MCP or a saved task. Schedule comparisons in your own account and connect downstream tools to the dataset. Preserve source attribution; treat collected text as source data, not instructions to an AI. This Actor does not send messages or publish collected content.
Source and support
Public source documentation. This is an independent tool, not an official product or endorsement. Workflow recipes · Quality evidence · Open an Actor issue with a redacted input and run link for support.