# Instagram Followers Count Scraper (`automly/instagram-followers-count-scraper`) Actor

Instagram Followers Count Scraper: get the follower and following counts of any public Instagram account, plus verified, private, business category, website and profile picture. One light row per account, bulk lists of thousands, daily tracking ready. No login.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/automly/instagram-followers-count-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Automly](https://apify.com/automly) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Lead generation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $0.38 / 1,000 accounts

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## Instagram Followers Count Scraper

### What is Instagram Followers Count Scraper?

**Instagram Followers Count Scraper** gets the **number of followers and following** of any public Instagram account. Paste usernames or profile links, click **Start**, and get one short row per account: followers, following, verified badge, private flag, account type and category, website, bio link, profile picture and the time the numbers were read. Download it as Excel, CSV or JSON, or schedule it to track follower growth every day.

- ⚡ **Fast:** about 2,000 accounts per minute (1,014 accounts in 28 seconds in our test)
- 📋 **Bulk:** thousands of usernames in one run
- 📈 **Made for tracking:** one flat row per account per run, the same columns every time, so daily runs line up in a spreadsheet
- 🔓 **No login:** no Instagram account, cookies or API key needed
- 💸 **Pay per account:** you pay only for the accounts you get

### What can Instagram Followers Count Scraper do?

- Get the **follower and following counts** for a list of Instagram accounts
- **Track follower growth** for your own accounts, clients or competitors on a schedule
- Check whether an account is **verified, private, business or creator**
- Get the **business category** (for example Restaurant or Clothing (Brand)), the **website** and the **bio link**
- Optionally get the **number of posts** on each profile
- Export to Excel, CSV, JSON, HTML or XML, or send the results to Google Sheets, Make, Zapier and more

### What data can you get?

| | | |
|---|---|---|
| 👤 Username | 🏷️ Full name | 🆔 Instagram user ID |
| 👥 Followers | ➕ Following | 🔢 Number of posts (optional) |
| ✅ Verified badge | 🔒 Private account | 💼 Business, creator or personal |
| 🏪 Business category | 🔗 Website | 🔗 Bio link |
| 🖼️ Profile picture | 🌐 Profile URL | 🕒 Time the numbers were read |

### How to scrape Instagram followers count

1. [Create a free Apify account](https://console.apify.com/sign-up) (no credit card needed).
2. Open **Instagram Followers Count Scraper**.
3. Paste one or more **Instagram usernames** or profile links, one per line.
4. Click **Start**.
5. When the run finishes, download the results as Excel, CSV, JSON, HTML or XML.

### How much does it cost to scrape Instagram followers count?

You pay per account, and only for the accounts you get. Usernames that do not exist cost nothing.

| Apify plan | Accounts per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Free | $2.40 |
| Starter (Bronze) | $2.10 |
| Scale (Silver) | $1.60 |
| Business (Gold) and higher | $0.38 |

A run also has a start fee of **$0.0009 per run** at the default settings. Platform usage is included in these prices, so you pay nothing else for the run.

Example: checking 1,000 accounts costs $2.40 on the Free plan and $0.38 on Business. Every Apify account gets **$5 of free usage each month**, enough for about 2,000 accounts on the Free plan.

### ⬇️ Input

An account can be a username (`natgeo`), `@natgeo` or a profile link (`https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/`). The same account written two ways is read once.

| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Instagram usernames | The accounts to check, one per line |
| Include posts count | Also get the number of posts on each profile (slower: about 300 accounts per minute) |

Example:

```json
{
  "usernames": ["nasa", "@natgeo", "https://www.instagram.com/starbucks/"],
  "includePostsCount": false
}
```

### ⬆️ Output

You get one row per account. View them as a table in Apify Console (the **Daily tracking** view shows just the date, username and counts) or download them as Excel, CSV, JSON, HTML or XML.

```json
{
  "profilePic": "https://scontent-lga3-3.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/29090066_159271188110124_1152068159029641216_n.jpg",
  "userName": "nasa",
  "followersCount": 104370699,
  "followsCount": 90,
  "timestamp": "2026-10-24T10:07:55Z",
  "userUrl": "https://www.instagram.com/nasa/",
  "userFullName": "NASA",
  "userId": "528817151",
  "postsCount": 4974,
  "isVerified": true,
  "isPrivate": false,
  "isBusinessAccount": true,
  "accountType": "business",
  "businessCategoryName": null,
  "externalUrl": "https://www.nasa.gov",
  "bioLink": "https://www.nasa.gov",
  "inputUrl": "nasa"
}
```

`postsCount` is filled when **Include posts count** is on. Each run also saves a short report listing how many accounts it covered and any username that does not exist.

### How to track Instagram follower growth

1. Add the accounts you want to follow.
2. [Schedule the actor](https://docs.apify.com/platform/schedules) to run every day or every week.
3. Send each run's results to Google Sheets or your database with an [integration](https://apify.com/integrations), then chart `followersCount` by `timestamp`.

Every run gives one row per account with the same columns, so the rows from different days stack into one table.

### How can I use Instagram followers count data?

- **Influencer marketing:** compare the audience size of creators before you contact them
- **Competitor tracking:** watch how fast competing brands gain or lose followers
- **Client reporting:** send agencies' clients their weekly follower numbers
- **List cleaning:** find which usernames still exist, which are private and which are verified
- **Market research:** build datasets of brands, creators and public figures with their audience size

### Use it from your code

Run the actor from your own code with the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) or the Python and JavaScript clients:

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN>")
run = client.actor("automly/instagram-followers-count-scraper").call(run_input={
    "usernames": ["nasa", "natgeo", "starbucks"],
})
for account in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(account["userName"], account["followersCount"], account["followsCount"])
```

### 🤖 Use with AI agents (MCP)

This actor works as a tool for AI agents. Connect any MCP-compatible AI assistant or agent to the Apify MCP server at https://mcp.apify.com (sign in with your Apify account), and it can find this actor, fill in the input and read the results by itself. Ask in plain words, for example *"How many Instagram followers do nasa and natgeo have?"*, and the agent runs `automly/instagram-followers-count-scraper` with an input like `{"usernames": ["nasa", "natgeo"]}`. Agent runs cost the same as runs you start yourself.

### ❓FAQ

#### How many accounts can I check at once?

As many as you like. Thousands of usernames in one run is normal.

#### Are the follower counts exact?

Yes. Instagram shows large counts rounded ("104M followers"); this scraper returns the exact number, for example 104370699.

#### Can I get the list of followers of an account?

No. Instagram only shows who follows an account to logged-in users, so this scraper returns the follower count, not the list of followers.

#### Does it work for private accounts?

Yes. A private account's follower and following counts are public, so you get them with `isPrivate` set to true.

#### Can I get the email address or phone number of an account?

No. This scraper collects only what Instagram shows publicly to visitors who are not logged in, and it does not collect private contact data.

#### What happens with a username that does not exist?

It is skipped and listed in the run's report as not found. The run still finishes successfully and you are not charged for it.

#### Do I need an Instagram account?

No. You don't need an Instagram account, cookies or an API key.

#### Can I connect Instagram Followers Count Scraper to other tools?

Yes. Start runs and download results with the Apify API or the Python and JavaScript clients, send results to Make, Zapier, n8n, Google Sheets or Slack with Apify integrations and webhooks, or let AI agents run it through the Apify MCP server at [mcp.apify.com](https://mcp.apify.com).

#### Is it legal to scrape Instagram followers count?

This scraper only collects information that people chose to show publicly on their profile. It does not collect private data such as email addresses or phone numbers. Profiles can still contain personal data, which may be protected by laws such as GDPR, so only scrape it for a legitimate reason and ask a lawyer if you are unsure. You can read more in [Is web scraping legal?](https://blog.apify.com/is-web-scraping-legal/)

Instagram Followers Count Scraper is an independent tool. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Instagram or Meta.

#### Something isn't working. What should I do?

Open the **Issues** tab and tell us the username and what you expected. We usually reply within a day.

### Scrape more Instagram data

| Actor | What you get |
|---|---|
| [Instagram Profile Scraper](https://apify.com/automly/instagram-profile-data-scraper) | Full profiles: bio, every bio link, exact post count, highlights |
| [Instagram Posts & Reels Scraper](https://apify.com/automly/instagram-profile-posts-scraper) | A profile's posts and reels with likes, comments and media links |
| [Instagram Comments Scraper](https://apify.com/automly/instagram-comments-scraper) | Every comment on a post or reel, newest first |

### ⭐ Your feedback

Ideas, missing fields or problems: open the **Issues** tab and we'll take a look. If Instagram Followers Count Scraper saved you time, a short review on the **Reviews** tab helps other people find it.

# Actor input Schema

## `usernames` (type: `array`):

Instagram usernames or profile links, one per line, e.g. natgeo, @natgeo or https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/. Thousands at once are fine.

## `includePostsCount` (type: `boolean`):

Also get the number of posts on each profile. Runs are slower with it on.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Proxy settings. The default works for most runs.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "usernames": [
    "natgeo",
    "nasa"
  ],
  "includePostsCount": false,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `overview` (type: `string`):

No description

## `tracking` (type: `string`):

No description

## `results` (type: `string`):

No description

## `report` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "usernames": [
        "natgeo",
        "nasa"
    ],
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": true
    }
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("automly/instagram-followers-count-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "usernames": [
        "natgeo",
        "nasa",
    ],
    "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": True },
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("automly/instagram-followers-count-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "usernames": [
    "natgeo",
    "nasa"
  ],
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}' |
apify call automly/instagram-followers-count-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,automly/instagram-followers-count-scraper"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/EDwpzqv7EE1bPqCcl/builds/twvTK3BWOOwNoGg5L/openapi.json