Facebook Page Post Scraper - Public Page Content, Engagement & Audience Insights

Scrape Facebook Page posts with full engagement metrics. Extract post content, images, videos, reaction breakdowns (like, love, haha, wow, sad, angry), comments, shares, and posting patterns. Requires session cookies -- Facebook gates all Page feeds behind login. Includes login wall detection for clear error reporting. Essential for competitive social media analysis, content research, and brand monitoring.

Table of Contents

1. Features
2. Authentication (Session Cookies)
3. Who Should Use This Actor
4. Quick Start
5. Input Parameters
6. Output Format
7. Pricing
8. Common Scenarios
9. Webhook & Automation Integration
10. Official API Alternatives
11. FAQ
12. Troubleshooting

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Features

• Post Content - Full text, images, image galleries, videos, shared links
• Engagement Metrics - Likes, comments, shares, and total reactions
• Reaction Breakdown - Like, Love, Haha, Wow, Sad, Angry counts
• Comment Extraction - Top comments with author data and engagement
• Video Data - Video thumbnails, duration, and view counts
• Link Posts - Shared URL, title, and description extraction
• Date Filtering - Scrape posts within specific date ranges
• Content Type Filter - Text only, images, videos, links, or all
• Posting Pattern Analysis - Frequency and timing insights
• Session Cookie Auth - Authenticate with your Facebook session for full access
• Login Wall Detection - Detects Facebook login forms and reports them clearly instead of silently returning 0 posts
• Anti-Detection - Residential proxies for reliable access
• Demo Mode - Test with sample data before going live

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Authentication (Session Cookies)

Session cookies are REQUIRED for Facebook Page scraping. Facebook gates all Page feeds behind login -- without cookies, the actor will return 0 posts.

Why Cookies Are Required

Facebook does not serve Page feed content to unauthenticated visitors. When you visit a Facebook Page without being logged in, you see a login prompt instead of posts. This means:

Scenario	Without Cookies	With Cookies
Page feed posts	0 posts (login wall)	Full post content
Engagement metrics	Not available	Likes, comments, shares, reactions
Reaction breakdown	Not available	Like, Love, Haha, Wow, Sad, Angry
Comments	Not available	Top comments with engagement
Video data	Not available	Thumbnails, duration, views
Image galleries	Not available	All images extracted

Login Wall Detection

The actor detects Facebook's login form and reports it clearly in the run log. Instead of silently returning an empty dataset, you will see a message explaining that Facebook requires authentication. This helps you diagnose issues immediately.

How to Get Your Session Cookies

Step 1: Install Cookie-Editor

Cookie-Editor is a free browser extension that exports cookies in JSON format.

• Cookie-Editor for Chrome
• Cookie-Editor for Firefox

Step 2: Log Into Facebook

1. Open your browser and go to facebook.com
2. Log in with your Facebook account
3. Make sure you can browse Facebook Pages and see their posts normally

Step 3: Export Cookies

1. While on facebook.com, click the Cookie-Editor extension icon in your browser toolbar
2. Click the Export button (the download/arrow icon)
3. Select Export as JSON (copies to clipboard)

Step 4: Paste Into Actor Input

Paste the entire JSON array into the sessionCookies input field:

{
  "pageUrls": ["https://www.facebook.com/Nike"],
  "maxPostsPerPage": 25,
  "sessionCookies": [
    {
      "name": "c_user",
      "value": "your-user-id-here",
      "domain": ".facebook.com",
      "path": "/"
    },
    {
      "name": "xs",
      "value": "your-xs-token-here",
      "domain": ".facebook.com",
      "path": "/"
    }
  ]
}

You do not need to manually pick individual cookies. Paste the entire JSON array exported by Cookie-Editor -- the actor will use the relevant cookies automatically.

Cookie Lifespan

• Facebook session cookies typically last 1-2 weeks before expiring
• If the actor starts returning 0 posts after previously working, export fresh cookies
• Avoid changing your Facebook password while using cookies (this invalidates all sessions)
• Using a dedicated Facebook account for scraping is recommended to avoid disrupting your personal browsing

Cookie Security

• Your cookies are passed as an input parameter and are not stored beyond the actor run
• Cookies are used only to authenticate requests to Facebook during the scraping session
• Never share your cookies publicly or commit them to version control
• Use Apify's encrypted input fields when available

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Who Should Use This Actor?

Social Media Managers

Analyze competitor posting strategies. Track what content types, topics, and posting times drive the most engagement on competitor pages.

Marketing Agencies

Build competitive social media reports for clients. Compare engagement metrics across competitor pages and identify content gaps.

Brand Managers

Monitor competitor Facebook activity. Track campaign launches, promotional posts, and messaging changes.

Content Creators

Research top-performing content in your niche. Identify viral post formats, trending topics, and engagement patterns to inform your own strategy.

PR & Communications Teams

Monitor brand mentions, crisis responses, and public sentiment on competitor or industry pages.

Market Research Analysts

Analyze audience engagement patterns across industries. Identify which content resonates with different demographics.

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Quick Start

Demo Mode (Free Test)

{
  "demoMode": true
}

Scrape a Facebook Page (Requires Cookies)

{
  "pageUrls": ["https://www.facebook.com/Nike"],
  "maxPostsPerPage": 25,
  "includeComments": false,
  "sessionCookies": [{"name": "c_user", "value": "...", "domain": ".facebook.com", "path": "/"}],
  "demoMode": false
}

Multiple Pages with Comments

{
  "pageUrls": [
    "https://www.facebook.com/Nike",
    "https://www.facebook.com/Adidas",
    "https://www.facebook.com/Puma"
  ],
  "maxPostsPerPage": 50,
  "includeComments": true,
  "maxCommentsPerPost": 20,
  "sessionCookies": [{"name": "c_user", "value": "...", "domain": ".facebook.com", "path": "/"}],
  "demoMode": false
}

Date-Filtered Posts

{
  "pageUrls": ["https://www.facebook.com/Nike"],
  "dateFrom": "2025-12-01",
  "dateTo": "2025-12-31",
  "maxPostsPerPage": 100,
  "contentType": "all",
  "sessionCookies": [{"name": "c_user", "value": "...", "domain": ".facebook.com", "path": "/"}],
  "demoMode": false
}

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Input Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
pageUrls	array	-	Facebook Page URLs to scrape
pageUsernames	array	-	Facebook Page usernames/handles
sessionCookies	array	-	REQUIRED. JSON array of cookies from Cookie-Editor. Facebook requires authentication for all Page feeds.
maxPostsPerPage	number	25	Max posts per page (1-100)
includeComments	boolean	false	Scrape top comments for each post
maxCommentsPerPost	number	10	Max comments per post (1-50)
dateFrom	string	-	Only posts after this date (YYYY-MM-DD)
dateTo	string	-	Only posts before this date
contentType	string	all	Filter: all, text_only, with_images, with_videos, with_links
skipSponsored	boolean	true	Skip sponsored/boosted post indicators
proxyConfiguration	object	Residential	Proxy settings
demoMode	boolean	true	Return sample data for testing
webhookUrl	string	-	Webhook URL for results delivery

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Output Format

{
  "postId": "fb-post-123456789",
  "pageUrl": "https://www.facebook.com/Nike",
  "pageName": "Nike",
  "postUrl": "https://www.facebook.com/Nike/posts/123456789",
  "content": "Just Do It. The new Air Max 2026 is here. Available now at Nike.com #AirMax #Nike",
  "contentType": "image",
  "imageUrls": ["https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/..."],
  "videoUrl": null,
  "videoDuration": null,
  "videoViews": null,
  "sharedLink": null,
  "sharedLinkTitle": null,
  "publishedAt": "2025-12-15T14:30:00.000Z",
  "reactions": {
    "total": 45230,
    "like": 28500,
    "love": 12400,
    "haha": 890,
    "wow": 2100,
    "sad": 140,
    "angry": 200
  },
  "commentsCount": 3456,
  "sharesCount": 8901,
  "comments": [
    {
      "author": "Jane Smith",
      "text": "These look amazing! When do they drop in Europe?",
      "likes": 245,
      "date": "2025-12-15T15:00:00.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "isSponsored": false,
  "scrapedAt": "2026-01-28T10:30:00.000Z"
}

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Pricing (Pay-Per-Event)

Event	Description	Price
post_scraped	Per post extracted	$0.04

Example costs:

• 25 posts: 25 x $0.04 = $1.00
• 100 posts: 100 x $0.04 = $4.00
• 500 posts: 500 x $0.04 = $20.00
• Demo mode: $0.00

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Common Scenarios

Scenario 1: Weekly Competitor Report

{
  "pageUrls": [
    "https://www.facebook.com/YourBrand",
    "https://www.facebook.com/Competitor1",
    "https://www.facebook.com/Competitor2"
  ],
  "maxPostsPerPage": 50,
  "includeComments": true,
  "maxCommentsPerPost": 5,
  "sessionCookies": [{"name": "c_user", "value": "...", "domain": ".facebook.com", "path": "/"}],
  "demoMode": false
}

Schedule weekly for ongoing competitive monitoring.

Scenario 2: Viral Content Research

{
  "pageUrls": ["https://www.facebook.com/IndustryLeader"],
  "maxPostsPerPage": 100,
  "contentType": "with_videos",
  "sessionCookies": [{"name": "c_user", "value": "...", "domain": ".facebook.com", "path": "/"}],
  "demoMode": false
}

Identify top-performing video content from industry leaders.

Scenario 3: Campaign Launch Tracking

{
  "pageUrls": ["https://www.facebook.com/Competitor"],
  "dateFrom": "2025-11-15",
  "dateTo": "2025-12-15",
  "maxPostsPerPage": 100,
  "includeComments": true,
  "maxCommentsPerPost": 20,
  "sessionCookies": [{"name": "c_user", "value": "...", "domain": ".facebook.com", "path": "/"}],
  "demoMode": false
}

Track competitor campaign launches and audience reaction.

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Webhook & Automation Integration

Webhook Configuration

{
  "pageUrls": ["https://www.facebook.com/YourCompetitor"],
  "maxPostsPerPage": 10,
  "sessionCookies": [{"name": "c_user", "value": "...", "domain": ".facebook.com", "path": "/"}],
  "webhookUrl": "https://your-endpoint.com/webhook"
}

Zapier / Make.com / n8n

1. Create a webhook trigger in your automation platform
2. Copy the webhook URL to webhookUrl
3. Route results to Google Sheets, Slack, Airtable, etc.

Popular automations:

• New competitor posts -> Slack channel (real-time monitoring)
• Engagement data -> Google Sheets (competitive dashboard)
• Top comments -> Airtable (sentiment tracking)
• Weekly digest -> Email to marketing team

Apify Scheduled Runs

Schedule daily or weekly runs for continuous competitor monitoring.

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Official API Alternatives

Facebook Graph API

Facebook offers the Graph API for Page data:

• Pros: Official, real-time, structured data
• Cons: Requires Facebook developer app, Page tokens, limited to pages you manage or have permissions for
• Best for: Managing your own page data programmatically

Alternative Social Media Tools

• Sprout Social - Social management ($249+/month)
• Hootsuite - Social analytics ($99+/month)
• Brandwatch - Social listening (enterprise pricing)
• CrowdTangle - Facebook insights (Meta-owned, restricted access)

This Scraper's Advantages

1. Any public page - Not limited to pages you manage
2. Session cookie auth - Full access to login-gated Page feeds
3. Login wall detection - Clear reporting when auth fails
4. Reaction breakdown - Full like/love/haha/wow/sad/angry counts
5. Comment extraction - Top comments with engagement data
6. Date filtering - Focus on specific campaign periods
7. Content type filtering - Analyze specific post formats
8. Pay-per-result pricing (vs monthly subscriptions)

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FAQ

Q: Do I need a Facebook account?

A: Yes. Facebook requires login to view Page feeds. You must provide session cookies from a logged-in Facebook account. See the Authentication section for setup instructions.

Q: Can I scrape without cookies?

A: No. Facebook gates all Page feed content behind login. Without cookies, the actor will detect the login wall and return 0 posts. This is a Facebook platform requirement, not a limitation of this actor.

Q: Can I scrape private profiles or groups?

A: No. Only public Facebook Pages are supported. Private profiles and closed groups are not accessible.

Q: What reaction types are tracked?

A: All six Facebook reactions: Like, Love, Haha, Wow, Sad, and Angry, plus total reaction count.

Q: Can I filter by engagement level?

A: The scraper returns all posts with engagement data. Filter high-engagement posts in post-processing by sorting on reaction counts.

Q: How far back can I scrape posts?

A: Public Facebook Pages typically show posts going back several years. Use dateFrom and dateTo to target specific periods.

Q: How long do cookies last?

A: Facebook session cookies typically last 1-2 weeks. When the actor starts returning 0 posts after previously working, export fresh cookies from Cookie-Editor.

Q: What happens when a login wall is detected?

A: The actor logs a clear message explaining that Facebook requires authentication. It does not silently return an empty dataset.

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Troubleshooting

"Login wall detected" / "0 posts returned"

Cause: Facebook requires authentication to view Page feeds. This is the most common issue.

Solutions:

1. Provide session cookies via the sessionCookies input (see Authentication)
2. If cookies were previously working, export fresh cookies from Cookie-Editor
3. Make sure you are logged into Facebook in your browser before exporting cookies
4. Verify your Facebook account can view the target Page normally

"Page not found"

• Verify the Facebook Page URL is correct
• The page may be private, deactivated, or region-restricted
• Try using the page username instead of full URL

"Rate limited"

• Wait 10-15 minutes between runs
• Reduce maxPostsPerPage
• Facebook is protective of automated access

"Comments not loading"

• Set includeComments: true (defaults to false)
• Some posts may have comments disabled
• Reduce maxCommentsPerPost if getting rate limited

"Cookies expired"

• Export fresh cookies from Cookie-Editor
• Facebook session cookies last approximately 1-2 weeks
• Avoid changing your Facebook password (invalidates sessions)

"Demo data showing"

• Set demoMode: false -- cookies are still required for real data

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Facebook is a trademark of Meta Platforms, Inc. This scraper is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Meta.

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Built by John Rippy | Actor Arsenal