TL;DR
Use an Instagram Scraper on Apify to extract public profile data and posts. Works without logging in. Takes 5 minutes. 161,000+ users trust these tools.
What You Will Get
Instagram scrapers can extract different types of data:
From Profiles
- Username and display name
- Bio and external link
- Follower and following counts
- Post count
- Profile picture URL
- Verified status
From Posts
- Caption text and hashtags
- Like and comment counts
- Image and video URLs
- Post date and location
- Tagged accounts
- Carousel media
Before You Start
Important things to know:
- Public profiles only. Private accounts cannot be scraped. The scraper can only see what anyone can see without logging in.
- No login required. You do not need to connect your Instagram account. The scraper uses rotating proxies.
- Rate limits apply. Instagram blocks aggressive scraping. Start with small batches.
Step 1: Choose Your Input Type
Decide what you want to scrape:
| Input Type | Example | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Username | nike, nasa, nytimes | Profile + recent posts |
| Hashtag | #fitness, #travel | Posts using that tag |
| Post URL | instagram.com/p/ABC123 | That specific post |
| Location | Location ID | Posts from that place |
Step 2: Configure the Scraper
Open an Instagram scraper on Apify. Enter your inputs:
- Add usernames or URLs. Enter one per line or paste a list.
- Set results limit. Start with 10-50 posts per profile. You can get more later.
- Choose data depth. Basic (fast) or detailed (slower but more data).
PRICING EXAMPLE
Scraping 10 profiles with 50 posts each:
500 posts total = ~$2.50
Step 3: Run and Download
Click "Start" and wait for completion. Instagram scraping takes longer than other platforms because of rate limits.
Typical run times:
- 10 profiles: 5-10 minutes
- 50 profiles: 15-30 minutes
- 100+ profiles: 30-60 minutes
Export your data as CSV, JSON, or Excel when done.
Common Questions
Q: Can I scrape private profiles?
A: No. The scraper only accesses public data. If you cannot see the content without logging in, the scraper cannot see it either.
Q: Will Instagram ban my account?
A: You do not use your account. The scraper runs on Apify's servers with rotating IP addresses. Your personal account is not involved.
Q: Can I get email addresses?
A: Only if the profile has an email in their bio. Most profiles do not. Use an email finder tool with the scraped names for better results.
Q: How often does Instagram change?
A: Instagram updates frequently. Scrapers need regular maintenance. Use actors with recent updates and active maintainers.
Use Cases
What people do with Instagram data:
- Influencer research. Find accounts in your niche, analyze their engagement.
- Competitor analysis. Track what competitors post, when they post, and how it performs.
- Content inspiration. See what types of posts get the most engagement.
- Lead generation. Find business accounts in your target market.