Best Instagram Scrapers for Businesses in 2026

Written by:

Vira Larionova

15

min read

Date:

Apr 17, 2025

Updated on:

Feb 5, 2026

Instagram keeps changing, so we have to respond. Some updates shake the landscape, some barely ripple the surface. The truth is, scraping Instagram has always been a mix of art and strategy. In this guide, we walk through the top tools that actually work for teams, marketers, and developers. By the way, here’s a tiny spoiler.

Overview:

  1. Data365 Social Media API – A real-time API that streams public Instagram data straight into products, dashboards, and data pipelines.
  2. PhantomBuster – A cloud automation tool that pulls Instagram data fast and feeds it into everyday marketing workflows.
  3. Apify – A flexible scraping platform built around reusable Instagram scrapers you can adapt as projects change.
  4. Octoparse – A visual scraper that lets you grab Instagram data by clicking around instead of writing code.
  5. ScrapeUp – A small, no-nonsense API for pulling public Instagram data when you just want it to work.
  6. Bright Data – A heavy-duty scraping setup built for teams that need Instagram data at scale, every day.
  7. WebAutomation.io – A point-and-click tool for scraping Instagram and other sites using workflows you can reuse.
  8. Oxylabs – A platform built for large research jobs where missing data isn’t an option.

If you’ve ever wondered which scraper belongs in your toolkit (or does the one that is already there truly deserve its place), this article will help you find the ones that won’t slow you down and can keep up with the pace of change. Let’s explore the best Instagram scrapers of 2026. The tools to make your data collection feel smooth rather than stressful.

Instagram Scraper API: Scalable Solutions for Product and Data Teams

No team needs tools that push back when demand spikes or keep charging when nothing’s moving. They need something ready to scale up without rewrites, scale down without penalties, and stay out of the way while the team focuses on something else.

Here’s what this category can offer you:

Data365 Social Media API: Real-Time Public Instagram Data for Products and Analytics

Data365 Social Media API

Data365 API for Instagram delivers real-time, structured Instagram data without wrestling with OAuth flows or multi-week app reviews. It focuses on public data only and isn’t tied to Meta’s Graph API, so you can move fast while staying within the bounds of what’s publicly visible.

Best for: Product teams, analysts, and developers who need reliable, fast access to public Instagram data without maintenance overhead or fragile scripts. Anyone who can’t afford gaps or messy exports.

Key features:

  • Fresh, on-request results (not stale, pre-cached dumps) for profiles, posts, comments, hashtags, and more. And all that is delivered as it is, without any changes. 
  • Public-scope access only, i.e., what a logged-out user can see, delivered via API.
  • Clean JSON schema across endpoints. Easy to parse, easy to plug into dashboards and pipelines.
  • Cross-platform coverage under one roof.
  • Python-friendly (and language-agnostic). Works out of the box with Python, JavaScript, Go, or low-code platforms. The tutorial shows a simple flow to pull Instagram data in real time.
  • Scales with you. Traffic spike? Still smooth. Thanks to dynamic horizontal autoscaling, the system scales out within your plan to keep requests fast and stable, even for large analytics pulls. 
  • Getting started with no hassle. Quick onboarding with a free trial/test access after a short consultation.

Limitations: May not be suitable for smaller projects.

Pricing: Plan-based, with options that adapt to specific needs.

Bright Data: Enterprise Instagram Scraping at Global Scale

Bright Data Instagram scraper

Bright Data is an enterprise-grade Instagram scraping tool that fetches profiles, posts, comments, and reels with infrastructure handled. 

Best for: Analysts, research teams, and enterprises that need robust, scalable Instagram data pipelines and don’t want to babysit the scraping infrastructure.

Key features: 

  • Granular, Instagram-specific APIs with endpoints for profiles, posts, reels, comments, and even images, each returning structured data like follower counts, hashtags, engagement metrics, media links, and more.
  • No-code or API options. Choose between running scrapers through Bright Data’s control panel or calling their APIs, whichever fits your workflow.
  • Built-in scale, automation, and geo-targeting so you don’t have to manage infrastructure.

Limitations: 

  • Not exactly budget-friendly, for serious volume, this is a premium solution.
  • Sometimes overkill for smaller scraping needs, simple or ad-hoc jobs may suit lighter tools better.

Pricing: Two options are available – pay-as-you-go from $1.50 per 1K records and monthly plans starting at $499.

Instagram Data Scraper: Tools for Marketers and Growth Teams

Trends don’t wait for quarterly reports, and audiences don’t move in straight lines. There is Brownian motion that marketers and researchers witness every day. When there’s a match between your approach to tracking and interpreting data and the scraper you use, everything works well, because data shows up exactly when it’s needed.

Let’s take a look at the Instagram scrapers that make sense when marketers are at the helm:

PhantomBuster: Campaign-Driven Instagram Data Extraction

PhantomBuster Instagram scraper

PhantomBuster is best known as an automation toolkit with a set of ready-made small scripts (“Phantoms”) you can run in the cloud to scrape or automate Instagram tasks. 

Best for: Small teams, marketers, or non-coders who need lightweight Instagram scraping and simple exports, but not necessarily large, scalable data pipelines.

Key features:

  • Prebuilt Phantoms. Ready templates for scraping profiles, posts, or followers.
  • Cloud execution. Runs in PhantomBuster’s environment, so no local setup is needed.
  • Cross-platform access. Supports automation on over 15 platforms, including LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Google Maps.
  • Data export. Results can be sent to Google Sheets, downloaded as CSV, or piped into CRMs.
  • Scheduling options. Automate runs on a recurring basis.

Limitations: The scraper runs are capped by execution time, so large-scale scraping is tricky. Also, setup often requires capturing cookies through a browser extension, which can be less straightforward than using an API.

Pricing: Based on how long you use the product. The most modest option is 20 hours a month, which will cost you 56€. A free trial is available.

Octoparse: No-Code Instagram Data Collection for Marketing Tasks

Octoparse Instagram scraper

Octoparse is the no-code option for scraping Instagram without breaking out the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) with AI tools, ready-made templates, and a solid cloud backend to keep your hands clean.

Best for: Marketers, researchers, and non-coders who prefer a point-and-click approach to pull Instagram data quickly, especially for one-off tasks or visual dashboards.

Key features:

  • Visual workflow builder. Drag, click, and auto-detect elements. Yep, building scrapers feels more like drawing than coding.
  • Cloud-powered automation. Schedule runs, export data automatically, and many other features.
  • Template gallery. Instant starter kits for popular sites (yes, Instagram too), so you don’t have to start from scratch.
  • Cross-platform availability. Desktop app for Windows (full features), a macOS version with slightly fewer functions, plus cloud-based runners that work from any OS.
  • Flexible exports: CSV, Excel, JSON, HTML, even SQL or API, depending on how you want to use your data.

Limitations: It leans more toward a “visual tool” than an “API-driven pipeline.” If your workflow demands deep integration or high-volume scraping, Octoparse can feel a bit manual or limited on scale.

Pricing: A free starter tier for small jobs, paid plans from $69/month for cloud scraping and automation, with higher levels unlocking more tasks, concurrency, APIs, and enterprise support.

Instagram Scraper Tool: Solutions for Analysts and Researchers

For analysts and researchers, an Instagram scraper tool is about continuity. A good solution lets you collect the same signals week after week, pause when the study pauses, and pick up right where you left off. When the tooling stays stable, the research stays honest.

Below you will find the selection of the exact tools:

Apify: Modular Instagram Scraping for Research Projects

Instagram Scraper: Apify solution

Apify is more like an app store for web scraping, powered by a marketplace of reusable, deployable scripts – “Actors.” Their Instagram Scraper Actor is one of the most popular picks: you plug in a profile, hashtag, or location, and it spits out structured data you can actually use.

Best for: Developers or agencies who like the idea of building on top of a scraping “marketplace” instead of starting from zero.

Key features:

  • Profiles, posts, hashtags, comments. All the basics covered.
  • Cross-platform access is on the feature list as well.
  • Flexible outputs: JSON if you’re coding, CSV or Excel if you just want spreadsheets.
  • Integrations baked in. Send data to Google Sheets, Zapier, Slack, or straight into your app.
  • The trade-offs. It’s powerful, but not totally plug-and-play. Larger projects can get pricey, and if you want more than the defaults, you’ll need to roll up your sleeves with some Node.js.

Limitations:

  • Apify enforces usage-based limits per actor run.
  • Relies on shared infrastructure with limited proxy control and JS rendering customization.

Pricing: Pay-per-result pricing. You pay for what you scrape, not a flat monthly fee. Starts free with usage-based billing, then monthly plans from $29 that bundle store credits and lower compute rates

WebAutomation.io: Visual Instagram Scraping Across Multiple Sources

WebAutomation Instagram scraper

WebAutomation.io is a point‑and‑click scraper for any site, not only Instagram. Pick an extractor, customize it visually, and grab the data. 

Best for: Businesses and marketers who need to scrape Instagram and beyond, especially when the target site isn't covered by a ready scraper. Great for pulling data from multiple sources using the same interface.

Key features:

  • Ready-made extractors via their marketplace. Turn almost any website into a spreadsheet or API in minutes.
  • Visual selector tool. Point, click, and tell the system what to pull (HTML selectors auto-generated).
  • Scheduling & automation. Set scrapers to run at specific intervals.
  • Built-in anti-blocking tools.
  • Multiple output options. Download data as CSV, JSON, or XML, or access it directly via API.
  • Integrations & automatic workflow hooks. Send extracted data to SFTP, Dropbox, Google Sheets, webhooks, and more.

Limitations: It’s powerful, but unlike an Instagram-specific API, it’s not tailored, so building a custom extractor takes some initial tweaking. Not always ideal if you want one-button Instagram data access.

Pricing: A 14-day free trial, then annual plans from $74/month for small projects, scaling to $336/month for large datasets with higher capacity and extra extractor builds.

Scraper for Instagram: Flexible Tools for Agencies and Multi-Client Work

For agencies running multiple brands, regions, and timelines, an Instagram scraper has to bend without breaking, no matter how hard the wind blows or in what direction. The right setup lets teams spin up new queries fast, isolate data by client, and scale collection up or down without rewriting workflows or blowing the budget.

Let’s find you a ring to rule them all.

ScrapeUp: Fast Instagram API for Developers

ScrapeUp: an Instagram scraper tool

ScrapeUp is a simple, lightweight API built for getting social data fast. No fancy dashboards or endless toggles. Just endpoints you call, and data comes back neatly packaged.

Best for: Developers and startups who want something simple, reliable, and code-friendly. No frills, just data.

Key features:

  • Straightforward API. Fetch Instagram profiles, posts, and hashtags without hassle.
  • Clean documentation. Minimal setup, easy to follow.
  • Multi-platform option. Not just Instagram, you can scrape data from other social platforms too.

Limitations: ScrapeUp is API-first, so if you’re looking for point-and-click scraping or automation recipes, this isn’t it.

Pricing: Starts with a 30-day free trial, then plans from $14/month for very small workloads. Bigger projects will need to invest from $499/month. Also, users can scale up within their chosen plan, getting more credits.

Oxylabs: Reliable Instagram Data for Multi-Client Teams

Oxylab Instagram solution

Oxylabs is a web scraping platform that collects public Instagram data at scale with one hand while maneuvering anti-bot restrictions and dynamic content automatically with the other.

Best for: Agencies managing multiple client accounts. Researchers running heavy social media analysis. Teams that need data delivered clean and fast.

Key features:

  • OxyCopilot AI handles scrolling, clicking, and page interactions for you.
  • Proxy rotation and CAPTCHA bypass keep requests moving smoothly.
  • Structured output in JSON or CSV with scheduled runs across 150+ locations.
  • Custom parsers for posts, hashtags, and comments give clean, usable data without extra cleanup.

Limitations: 

  • No dedicated Instagram endpoint: some setup is needed to get the best results.
  • Enterprise plans are powerful but complex; overkill for small tasks.

Pricing: Try it for free with a 7-day trial (2K results). Paid plans start at $49/month.

Best Instagram Scrapers Comparison Table

Tool Key Features Free Trial Pricing Trade-offs Best For
Data365 Social Media API Real-time public data (profiles, posts, comments, hashtags), public-scope only, clean JSON, cross-platform (IG, FB, TikTok, X, Reddit), Python-friendly, language agnostic Yes (test access after quick consult) Plan-based, flexible, customized to project API-first, not point-and-click Product teams, analysts, developers, enterprises, and everyone needing reliable, scalable data
PhantomBuster Prebuilt “Phantoms,” cloud execution, supports 15+ platforms, exports to Sheets/CSV/CRM, schedulers 14-day free trial From 56€/mo Limited by execution time, cookie setup can be clunky Small teams & marketers needing lightweight scraping
Apify Marketplace of “Actors,” supports profiles, posts, hashtags, comments, JSON/CSV/Excel outputs, integrations (Sheets, Zapier, Slack) Free $5 credit From $29/mo Requires Node.js for custom use, can get pricey at scale Agencies & devs who like marketplace scrapers
ScrapeUp Simple API for IG profiles, posts, hashtags, multi-platform, clean docs Free tier available From $14/mo for small projects, from $499 for enterprise use No UI/visual options, API-only Startups & devs wanting simple, code-first scraping
Octoparse Visual no-code scraper, drag-and-drop builder, templates, cloud automation, exports CSV/Excel/JSON/API Free plan From $69/mo Feels manual at scale, less integration-friendly than APIs Marketers & researchers wanting no-code scraping
Bright Data Enterprise-grade APIs, endpoints for profiles, posts, reels, comments, images, built-in proxies & geo-targeting Limited free trial Pay-as-you-go or fixed plans starting at $499/mo Expensive, overkill for small projects Enterprises & research teams needing global-scale scraping
WebAutomation.io Marketplace of extractors, visual selector, scheduling, anti-blocking, multiple output formats (CSV/JSON/XML/API), integrations Free plan From $74/mo Generic, not IG-specific, may need custom setup Businesses needing multi-site scraping with minimal coding
Oxylabs OxyCopilot AI, proxy rotation, CAPTCHA bypass, structured output in JSON or CSV, scheduled runs 7-day free trial From $49/mo Enterprise plans are powerful but complex to navigate. No dedicated Instagram endpoint Organizations that oversee numerous customer accounts

Best Instagram Scrapers: Which Type Is Right for Your Business?

When people say Instagram scraper, they rarely mean the same thing. For some, it’s a quick way to pull a list and move on. For others, it’s something that runs quietly in the background, day after day. That gap is where most confusion starts.

Some teams treat Instagram data like raw material. Product and data teams usually fall into this camp. They don’t want to watch over tools during their 9-to-5 or patch things together more often when it’s needed. They look for setups that can keep up, stay predictable, and slot neatly into what they already run.

They usually look for tools that:

  • Send back tidy, structured data.
  • Handle repeat jobs without breaking a sweat.
  • Plug straight into dashboards or internal systems.

Their perfect partner will be API solutions built for real-time, structured data delivery.

Marketing and growth teams play a different game. Speed matters more than plumbing. They want answers now, not infrastructure later. A list today can be more valuable than a perfect pipeline next month.

What they tend to care about:

  • Pulling posts, hashtags, or accounts fast.
  • Getting files they can open right away.
  • Running jobs on a schedule without calling a developer.

Their perfect partner will be no-code or cloud automation tools with prebuilt workflows.

Analysts and researchers sit off to the side, watching patterns form. For them, scraping Instagram isn’t about quick wins. It’s about consistency. Today’s data has to line up with next month’s, or the whole picture falls apart.

That usually means choosing tools that:

  • Behave the same way every time they run.
  • Don’t leave holes in the dataset.
  • Make comparisons over time feel solid, not shaky.

Their perfect partner will be enterprise-grade scrapers with scheduled, repeatable jobs and reliable outputs.

Agencies and teams juggling multiple clients have their own troubles. Their problem isn’t scraping once. It’s scraping again, and again, and again, without starting from zero each time. They need workflows they can pick up, tweak, and roll out without friction.

They tend to look for tools that:

  • Can be reused across different projects.
  • Stay manageable when jobs run in parallel.
  • Don’t turn messy as client lists grow.

Their perfect partner will be flexible platforms that support multi-project automation and reusable scripts.

At the end of the day, there’s no universal “best” Instagram scraper. There’s only what fits the way you work. Once you’re clear on that, the rest stops feeling like guesswork and starts to fall into place.

Instagram Scraping Trends in 2026

Instagram scraping territory keeps changing, but that is not breaking news. The platform has always shifted over time. Every tweak, block, or API update is just part of the rhythm. For teams with the right scraper, like Data365, these changes barely disturb the workflow.

Here’s what most likely will shape the scene this year:

  • Stronger anti-bot measures make generic scripts stumble. TLS fingerprints, IP checks, and behavioral analysis are common. Experienced tools handle them quietly.
  • Hidden APIs still provide access. GraphQL and REST endpoints remain the main channels. Doc_id parameters change often, but this is a routine part of maintaining scrapers.
  • Managed services take on the hard part. Proxy rotation and fingerprinting reduce the need for constant tinkering.
  • AI integration grows steadily. Integrating your usual data work with AI is what has the potential to keep you moving two steps at a time. However, what matters here is that it is about integration, not replacement. At least yet.

Instagram scraping in 2026 is about steady navigation. The platform may and will shift, but with the right tools and approach, teams can keep collecting insights, tracking trends, and making decisions as they have been doing for years. And with a pinch of creativity and openness to new, do so even more efficiently.

Scraper For Instagram: Which One Deserves a Spot in Your Stack?

Scraping Instagram in 2026 doesn’t have to be about chasing a target that moves faster than data on the internet multiplies. Instagram updates every now and then, APIs change, and anti-bot measures tighten, but the right tool has the power to keep you going in this storm.

From visual, no-code solutions for marketers to mighty APIs for enterprises, there’s a tool for every workflow. Tools like Data365 let you ride these waves without missing a beat, delivering clean, reliable data straight into dashboards, pipelines, or your own applications.

Keeping up with every change is a way too time-consuming task. So, it's better to focus on the right partner for the job. Start with one that can truly scale with your needs, handle the tricky stuff without complaining, and free you to concentrate on insights instead of maintenance. 

If you’re ready to keep your Instagram data collection gliding smoothly, try Data365 and see how effortless collecting public social data can be. Just contact us.

Extract data from five social media networks with Data365 API

Request a free 14-day trial and get 20+ data types

Contact us
Table of Content

Need an API to extract data from this social media?

Contact us and get a free trial of Data365 API

Request a free trial

Need to extract data from social media?

Request a free trial of Data365 API for extracting data

5 social network in 1 place

Fair pricing

Email support

Detailed API documentation

Comprehensive data of any volume

No downtimes, uptime of at least 99%

Instagram Scraper Tool: FAQ

What is the Instagram scraper tool?

An Instagram scraper tool collects Instagram data (profiles, posts, hashtags, comments, and so on if publicly available and delivers it in a structured format like CSV, JSON, or other. 

How to install the Instagram scraper?

It really depends on the type of scraper. Browser extensions usually install with a single click, desktop tools are downloaded like any other app, while APIs don’t require installation at all (you just set up access credentials and connect through code or a platform you already use).

How to use the Instagram scraper?

Most Instagram scrapers work similarly: you point them at a profile, hashtag, or set of posts, and let the tool do its job. The results come out in a structured format such as CSV, Excel, or JSON. APIs streamline this even further, delivering the data directly into your systems without extra steps.

What are the best practices for scraping Instagram data?

The golden rule is to focus on data that’s already public and accessible to anyone, and to use scrapers responsibly. Start small to test your setup, then scale gradually once you’re confident in the results.

Need an API to extract real-time data from Social Media?

Submit a form to get a free trial of the Data365 Social Media API.
0/255

By submitting this form, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to our Terms and Conditions, which outline how your data will be collected, used, and protected. You can review our full Privacy Policy here.

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Trusted by