Do I need an Apify account?

Yes, you need an Apify account with an API token to use ApifyForge. ApifyForge is purpose-built for Apify developers who build, publish, and manage actors on the Apify platform, so a connected Apify account is required for every feature to function. If you do not already have an Apify account, signing up is quick and free. Visit apify.com and create an account — the free tier includes $5 of monthly platform credits, 10 GB of data transfer, and full access to the Apify Store, API, and CLI. That is more than enough to start developing actors, running tests, and exploring the platform. Once your account is created, generate an API token from console.apify.com/account/integrations. We recommend creating a dedicated token specifically for ApifyForge rather than reusing your primary token, so you can revoke it independently if needed without affecting other integrations. Here is how to connect step by step: First, sign up or log in at apify.com. Second, go to console.apify.com/account/integrations and click Create Token. Third, copy the token. Fourth, open apifyforge.com, go to Settings, paste the token, and click Save. Your dashboard will begin populating within a few minutes as ApifyForge pulls in your actor data, run history, and analytics. Once you start publishing actors and users begin running them, you earn revenue through Apify's Pay Per Event (PPE) pricing system. For many active developers, this PPE revenue covers or exceeds their Apify subscription costs, making the platform effectively self-funding. ApifyForge helps you maximize that revenue by tracking earnings across your entire fleet, identifying your top performers, and flagging actors with quality issues that reduce Store visibility. If you are new to Apify and want to understand the cost structure before committing, see the related questions about how much Apify costs and whether Apify has a free tier.