# Instagram Email Scraper (`shanks0x0/instagram-email-scraper`) Actor Discovers Instagram profiles by keyword and extracts email addresses from public bios. - **URL**: https://apify.com/shanks0x0/instagram-email-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Meherab Hossain](https://apify.com/shanks0x0) (community) - **Categories:** Lead generation, Social media - **Stats:** 3 total users, 0 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $2.00 / 1,000 email results This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. 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. Actors are written with capital "A". ## 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. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## 📸 Instagram Email Scraper An [Apify Actor](https://apify.com/actors) that discovers Instagram profiles and extracts email addresses from public profile bios. ### Two Discovery Modes #### Mode 1: Direct Usernames (✅ Works out of the box) Provide Instagram usernames directly — no Google search needed: ```json { "usernames": ["natgeo", "nasa", "bbcnews"], "maxEmails": 100 } ```` Scrapes each profile via Instagram's public API and extracts emails from bios + business\_email field. #### Mode 2: Keyword Discovery via Google (🔄 Requires paid Apify proxy) Provide keywords to Google-search for Instagram profiles: ```json { "keywords": ["photographer", "founder"], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": ["GOOGLE_SERP"] } } ``` **Requires** an Apify plan with access to the `GOOGLE_SERP` proxy group (paid). Free-tier Apify proxies are blocked by Google. ### How It Works 1. **Discovery** — Either from direct `usernames` or via Google SERP (`site:instagram.com {keyword}`) 2. **Scraping** — Instagram's internal web API (`i.instagram.com/api/v1/users/web_profile_info/`) 3. **Extraction** — `business_email` field first, regex fallback on biography text ### Input | Field | Type | Default | Description | |---|---|---|---| | `usernames` | string\[] | \[] | Direct Instagram usernames to scrape | | `keywords` | string\[] | \[] | Keywords to Google-search for profiles | | `location` | string | "" | Optional location filter (keyword mode) | | `maxEmails` | integer | 100 | Stop after collecting this many unique emails | | `customDomains` | string\[] | \["@gmail.com"] | Only collect emails matching these domains | | `engine` | string | "cost-effective" | `"cost-effective"` (httpx) or `"legacy"` (not implemented) | | `proxyConfiguration` | object | {} | Apify proxy config — **see below** | #### Proxy Configuration | Setting | Value | Effect | |---|---|---| | `useApifyProxy: false` | — | Direct connection (Instagram 429s, Google blocks) | | `useApifyProxy: true`, `"apifyProxyGroups": ["RESIDENTIAL"]` | Free tier | Instagram 403s, Google 403s | | `useApifyProxy: true`, `"apifyProxyGroups": ["GOOGLE_SERP"]` | **Paid** | ✅ Google works, Instagram varies | | Custom proxy via env | `APIFY_PROXY_PASSWORD` | Bypasses Apify proxy entirely | **Bottom line**: For Instagram scraping, use **no proxy** or a **personal residential proxy**. For Google keyword discovery, you need the **`GOOGLE_SERP`** proxy group (paid Apify plan) or bring your own. ### Output ```json [ { "email": "contact@company.com", "username": "company", "full_name": "Company Inc", "bio": "Building the future | contact@company.com", "bio_link": "https://company.com", "followers": 15000, "is_verified": true, "category": "Business", "profile_url": "https://www.instagram.com/company/", "keyword": "startup", "source": "business_email" } ] ``` Each profile yields one result object. `source` is `"business_email"` (from Instagram's API field) or `"bio_regex"` (extracted from bio text). ### Running ```bash ## Local pip install -r requirements.txt python -m src ## Apify apify run apify push ``` ### Testing ``` pytest tests/ -v # 74 tests, no network required ``` ### Rate Limiting Instagram rate-limits aggressively from datacenter IPs (429). The Actor retries with exponential backoff: 5s → 15s → 30s → 60s → 120s. For production use, configure a residential proxy or use direct usernames with spacing. ### Technical Notes - Uses Instagram's `web_profile_info` API with `x-ig-app-id: 936619743392459` - Mobile Android User-Agent for lower rate-limit footprint - No login or session required - Ignores post URLs, reel URLs, and non-profile Instagram paths - Deduplicates by email address across keywords # Actor input Schema ## `keywords` (type: `array`): Keywords to search Google for Instagram profiles (optional — use usernames or keywords) ## `usernames` (type: `array`): Direct Instagram usernames to scrape (alternative to keyword discovery). E.g. "natgeo" or "nasa" ## `location` (type: `string`): Optional location keyword to narrow Google search ## `maxEmails` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of emails to collect before stopping ## `customDomains` (type: `array`): Only collect emails matching these domains ## `engine` (type: `string`): Scraping engine: 'cost-effective' (httpx) or 'legacy' (Playwright + full browser) ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Apify proxy configuration (leave empty for auto) ## Actor input object example ```json { "keywords": [ "founder", "startup" ], "usernames": [], "maxEmails": 100, "customDomains": [ "@gmail.com" ], "engine": "cost-effective", "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): Scraped profile data with email addresses, stored in the default dataset # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "keywords": [ "founder", "startup" ], "usernames": [], "customDomains": [ "@gmail.com" ], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("shanks0x0/instagram-email-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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "keywords": [ "founder", "startup", ], "usernames": [], "customDomains": ["@gmail.com"], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": True, "apifyProxyGroups": ["RESIDENTIAL"], }, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("shanks0x0/instagram-email-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "keywords": [ "founder", "startup" ], "usernames": [], "customDomains": [ "@gmail.com" ], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } }' | apify call shanks0x0/instagram-email-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=shanks0x0/instagram-email-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Instagram Email Scraper", "description": "Discovers Instagram profiles by keyword and extracts email addresses from public bios.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "P6LUTDI55dVPRndOB" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/shanks0x0~instagram-email-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-shanks0x0-instagram-email-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/shanks0x0~instagram-email-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-shanks0x0-instagram-email-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/shanks0x0~instagram-email-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-shanks0x0-instagram-email-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "keywords": { "title": "Keywords", "type": "array", "description": "Keywords to search Google for Instagram profiles (optional — use usernames or keywords)", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "usernames": { "title": "Usernames", "type": "array", "description": "Direct Instagram usernames to scrape (alternative to keyword discovery). E.g. \"natgeo\" or \"nasa\"", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "location": { "title": "Location (optional)", "type": "string", "description": "Optional location keyword to narrow Google search" }, "maxEmails": { "title": "Max Emails", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 10000, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of emails to collect before stopping", "default": 100 }, "customDomains": { "title": "Custom Domains", "type": "array", "description": "Only collect emails matching these domains", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "engine": { "title": "Engine", "enum": [ "cost-effective", "legacy" ], "type": "string", "description": "Scraping engine: 'cost-effective' (httpx) or 'legacy' (Playwright + full browser)", "default": "cost-effective" }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy Configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Apify proxy configuration (leave empty for auto)" } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```