# Facebook Groups Scraper: Members, Privacy & Last Post Date (`h1018y/anvil-facebook-groups`) Actor

Scrapes public Facebook groups for any topic: name, link, members, public or private, description and last post date. Use it as a Facebook groups search and finder that also tracks member growth between runs - no login needed.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/h1018y/anvil-facebook-groups.md
- **Developed by:** [ANVIL Tools](https://apify.com/h1018y) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Marketing
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 87.5% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $2.24 / 1,000 results

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

## Facebook Groups Scraper: Members, Privacy & Last Post Date

**Facebook Groups Scraper** - Find public Facebook groups for any topic and see which ones are big, open and still alive - no login, no cookies.

### What does Facebook Groups Scraper do?

Every group comes with its last post date, posts in the last 7 days, the member change since your last run and the website it published itself, so you can drop dead groups and filter by size before you join or post.

- Search public Facebook groups by topic, or paste group links you already know
- Members as a number, public/private, description, locations and membership-question flag; never a member's name
- Last post date and posts in the last 7 days - spot dead groups before you join
- Website the group published in its description (e-mail too if you switch it on), labelled by contactSource
- Min/max member filter, member change since your last run, and an only-new-or-changed mode for schedules

### Who uses Facebook Groups Scraper, and for what

- Marketers - list the biggest active groups in a niche before posting
- Community managers - track member growth of competitor groups each week
- Researchers - export a list of public groups on a topic to CSV
- Local businesses - find groups in their city that still have recent posts

### Why this Facebook Groups Scraper?

Low tools break when Facebook changes its page, return only a text member count, and leave issues unanswered for weeks. This Facebook Groups Scraper checks every run and tells you plainly when a page could not be read, instead of returning empty or wrong rows.

### Data you get from Facebook Groups Scraper

Every result is one flat row with these fields (values from a real run):

| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| `search` | null |
| `status` | first run |
| `memberChange` | null |
| `groupId` | 2033899406945498 |
| `name` | Dog Behavior and Training Tips |
| `url` | https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogbehaviorandtraining/ |
| `groupUrl` | https://www.facebook.com/groups/2033899406945498/ |
| `privacy` | Public group |
| `privacyNote` | Anyone can see who's in the group and what they post. |
| `memberCountText` | 370.4K members |
| `memberCount` | 370400 |
| `description` | "We love our dogs and are committed to providing them with a... |
| `locations` | \[] |
| `membershipQuestions` | false |
| `lastPostAt` | 2026-10-14T18:26+00:00 |
| `postsLast7Days` | 1 |
| `imageUrl` | https://scontent.fisb31-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/453717... |
| `website` | null |
| `email` | null |
| `contactSource` | null |

### How to use Facebook Groups Scraper

1. Press **Start** - the form already holds an example that works.
2. Put in your own input (see the fields on the Input tab).
3. Run it once, or put it on an **Apify Schedule** to get fresh rows every day.
4. Download the results as JSON, CSV or Excel, or send them to Google Sheets, Zapier, Make, the Apify API or an AI agent (Apify MCP server).

#### Input example

```json
{
  "searchQueries": [
    "dog training"
  ],
  "groupUrls": [
    "https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogbehaviorandtraining/",
    "https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogtraininghelp/"
  ],
  "groupsPerSearch": 5,
  "maxItems": 5,
  "onlyNewOrChanged": false,
  "includeBioContacts": false,
  "useApifyProxy": true
}
```

#### Output example (a real run)

```json
[
  {
    "search": null,
    "status": "first run",
    "memberChange": null,
    "groupId": "2033899406945498",
    "name": "Dog Behavior and Training Tips",
    "url": "https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogbehaviorandtraining/",
    "groupUrl": "https://www.facebook.com/groups/2033899406945498/",
    "privacy": "Public group",
    "privacyNote": "Anyone can see who's in the group and what they post.",
    "memberCountText": "370.4K members",
    "memberCount": 370400,
    "description": "\"We love our dogs and are committed to providing them with a happy and balanced life.\n In this group, we can share the latest behavior advice and training tips with each other, to help understand and nurture our four-legged friends. \nJoin us in taking dog ownership to a new level and enjoy the mutual support and inspiration this community offers!\"",
    "locations": [],
    "membershipQuestions": false,
    "lastPostAt": "2026-10-14T18:26+00:00",
    "postsLast7Days": 1,
    "imageUrl": "https://scontent.fisb31-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/453717207_469033305990995_4034023424498639592_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_tt6&cstp=mx2048x1200&ctp=p600x600&_nc_cat=100&_nc_map=urlgen_bucketless&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=0b1479&_nc_ohc=v4DMipqu5AEQ7kNvwH4dozB&_nc_oc=Adq7UDs631V07ihXb9bkHO7HL_jTSTPrxzzBeMd4OaXMd4ITpCWiHQZm1UAlDESs8t8&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fisb31-1.fna&_nc_gid=onA3_5JVt798Jq8LVyC2kQ&_nc_ss=7d289&oh=00_AQMZZjVBQ0y65t8pPjBlUdHHatjl0cqiZaOFJIrx1sMLSg&oe=6AD96B66",
    "website": null,
    "email": null,
    "contactSource": null
  }
]
```

One flat row per result.

### How much does Facebook Groups Scraper cost?

You pay only per result (pay per event) - no monthly fee, no minimum, and the price per result is lower on Apify's Bronze, Silver and Gold plans. The exact price is on the **Pricing** tab. Apify's free plan credit is enough to try it on real input.

| You want | What you pay for |
|---|---|
| A quick test with the example | a few results |
| A daily scheduled run | only the rows that run returns |
| A big one-off export | the results delivered - set a maximum in the input |

### Also searched as

- facebook groups search
- find facebook groups
- facebook group members count
- facebook groups finder
- facebook group list export

### FAQ

**Does Facebook Groups Scraper need a login, cookies or an API key?** No. It reads public pages only.

**Can I run Facebook Groups Scraper on a schedule?** Yes - with Apify Schedules; each run returns fresh rows.

**Can I call it from Python, JavaScript or an AI agent?** Yes - through the Apify API, the Apify client libraries or the Apify MCP server.

**Is it legal?** It collects only data anyone can see without logging in. You are responsible for using it within the source site's terms and data protection law (GDPR, CCPA).

**Where do the contacts come from?** Only from what the business or group published about itself on its public page - never guessed, never looked up elsewhere. `contactSource` says which: `business_field` (the platform's own contact field) or `bio_text` (written in the description; only when you switch on includeBioContacts). You decide whether and how you may contact them under GDPR, CCPA and anti-spam law.

**What if the site blocks a request?** The run retries from a fresh connection and, if it still cannot read the page, stops with a clear message - never with made-up rows.

**Do I need proxies?** No setup needed - Facebook Groups Scraper uses Apify Proxy by default where the site needs it.

### Troubleshooting

- **No results:** check the input (a public URL or a search term that returns results in a normal browser), then try the example input once.
- **Fewer results than expected:** raise the maximum in the input; some sites show only a part of their data without logging in, and Facebook Groups Scraper never logs in.
- **The run stopped with a message:** the message says what the site answered; run it again later or with fewer items.

### Your feedback

Missing a field, found a bug, or need another site? Open an issue on the **Issues** tab - issues are answered and fixed. If Facebook Groups Scraper saved you time, a short review on this page helps others find it.

Data source: [www.facebook.com/groups](https://www.facebook.com/groups)

### More tools from this developer

- [Tweet Scraper: Tweet Details by URL, No Login or Cookies](https://apify.com/h1018y/anvil-tweet-scraper)
- [YouTube Thumbnail Downloader: Bulk, Every Size & Titles](https://apify.com/h1018y/anvil-youtube-thumbnail-downloader)
- [ML Conference Finder: NeurIPS, ICLR & ICML Alternatives](https://apify.com/h1018y/anvil-ml-conference-finder)
- [YouTube Transcript Scraper: Find Every Moment a Word Is Said](https://apify.com/h1018y/anvil-youtube-transcript-scraper)
- [Facebook Ads Library Scraper: Only New Ads & Days Running](https://apify.com/h1018y/anvil-facebook-ads-library-scraper)
- [Reddit Scraper: Keyword Alerts for New Posts & Comments](https://apify.com/h1018y/anvil-reddit-scraper)
- [Twitter Scraper: New Tweets From Any X Account, No Login](https://apify.com/h1018y/anvil-twitter-scraper)
- [Facebook Posts Scraper: New Posts & Engagement Growth](https://apify.com/h1018y/anvil-facebook-posts-scraper)

# Actor input Schema

## `searchQueries` (type: `array`):

Topics to find public Facebook groups for, one per line (e.g. dog training, real estate investors austin).

## `groupUrls` (type: `array`):

Facebook group links you already know - check their members, privacy and last post.

## `groupsPerSearch` (type: `integer`):

How many groups to look up for each search.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Stop after this many groups.

## `minMembers` (type: `integer`):

Keep only groups with at least this many members, e.g. 1000. Leave empty for no lower limit. Groups whose count Facebook does not show are left out while a limit is set.

## `maxMembers` (type: `integer`):

Keep only groups with at most this many members, e.g. 50000 (skip the mega-groups where posts drown). Leave empty for no upper limit.

## `onlyNewOrChanged` (type: `boolean`):

For a scheduled run: return only groups that are new since the last run with the same input, or whose member count changed. The first run returns everything.

## `includeBioContacts` (type: `boolean`):

Off by default. On: also return the first e-mail address the group published in its own public description (never guessed, never looked up elsewhere). The website link in the description is always returned. You are responsible for contacting people lawfully (GDPR, CCPA, anti-spam law).

## `useApifyProxy` (type: `boolean`):

Recommended. Facebook sends many plain addresses to its login page.

## `proxyGroups` (type: `array`):

Optional, e.g. RESIDENTIAL.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "searchQueries": [
    "dog training"
  ],
  "groupUrls": [
    "https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogbehaviorandtraining/",
    "https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogtraininghelp/"
  ],
  "groupsPerSearch": 5,
  "maxItems": 5,
  "onlyNewOrChanged": false,
  "includeBioContacts": false,
  "useApifyProxy": true
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

All result rows (open as table, JSON, CSV or Excel).

# 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 = {
    "searchQueries": [
        "dog training"
    ],
    "groupUrls": [
        "https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogbehaviorandtraining/",
        "https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogtraininghelp/"
    ],
    "groupsPerSearch": 5,
    "maxItems": 5,
    "useApifyProxy": true
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("h1018y/anvil-facebook-groups").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 = {
    "searchQueries": ["dog training"],
    "groupUrls": [
        "https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogbehaviorandtraining/",
        "https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogtraininghelp/",
    ],
    "groupsPerSearch": 5,
    "maxItems": 5,
    "useApifyProxy": True,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("h1018y/anvil-facebook-groups").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 '{
  "searchQueries": [
    "dog training"
  ],
  "groupUrls": [
    "https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogbehaviorandtraining/",
    "https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogtraininghelp/"
  ],
  "groupsPerSearch": 5,
  "maxItems": 5,
  "useApifyProxy": true
}' |
apify call h1018y/anvil-facebook-groups --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,h1018y/anvil-facebook-groups"
        }
    }
}
```

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/pWv9YUJ1nvCf5SJnl/builds/O6tpdwCZ1csrt1v2M/openapi.json