Instagram Profile Data Scraper using Apify to Google Sheets - n8n Workflow

Influencer marketers needing automated data collection.
Social media analysts tracking competitor metrics.
Users looking for specialized web scraping n8n templates.
Teams needing a reliable, low-code solution for data ingestion into Google Sheets.

Manually gathering detailed Instagram profile information—such as follower counts, biographies, and profile picture URLs—is highly inefficient. This n8n workflow solves this problem by creating a streamlined automation loop. It leverages the reliability of the Apify platform for web scraping and instantly transfers the extracted data to a designated Google Sheet. This powerful n8n template is ideal for building influencer outreach lists or performing rapid competitor analysis. By using this n8n workflow, you transform a tedious manual process into a single-click operation, ensuring data is always fresh and organized.

The entire process is initiated by a user input, serving as the primary n8n trigger.

1. Input Trigger: The n8n workflow starts with the Provide Usernames form trigger. The user inputs the target Instagram Username into this prompt, which sets the data flow in motion.


2. Apify Scrape: The data moves to the Scrape Instagram Profile via Apify n8n node (an HTTP Request node). This node sends a POST request to the Apify API, executing a specified Apify task (Instagram Scraper) using the username provided by the n8n trigger. Crucially, it waits for the scraping job to finish and returns the dataset items.


3. Data Formatting: Next, the Format Instagram Profile Data set n8n node processes the often complex JSON output from Apify. It extracts and standardizes key fields like username, fullName, followersCount, and biography, ensuring the data conforms to the required spreadsheet structure. This normalization step is key for clean storage.


4. Google Sheets Storage: Finally, the Append Profile to Google Sheet n8n node takes the cleaned, structured data and appends it as a new row in the target Google Sheet, permanently logging the extracted Instagram profile information. This completes the automated n8n workflow execution.

To use this n8n template, follow these steps:

1. Import the Workflow: Copy the provided n8n workflow JSON and paste it into your n8n instance using the 'Import from JSON' function.


2. Google Sheets Credentials: Configure the Append Profile to Google Sheet n8n node by creating or selecting a Google Sheets OAuth2 credential. Ensure this credential has access to the spreadsheet where you plan to store the data.


3. Apify Configuration: Locate the Scrape Instagram Profile via Apify n8n node.

1. Sheet Setup: Ensure the target Google Sheet exists and has column headers matching the data being set (e.g., Username, Full Name, Followers Count, etc.).


2. Activate: Set the n8n workflow to 'Active' and run the initial n8n trigger to test the data flow.

This n8n workflow relies on four essential n8n node components:

Provide Usernames (Form Trigger n8n trigger):
Function: Serves as the manual execution trigger, prompting the user to input the single required field: Username.
Key Configuration: Configured to require the Username field to start the scrape.

Scrape Instagram Profile via Apify (HTTP Request n8n node):
Function: Executes the Apify scraping actor via its API endpoint, providing the username from the previous step in the JSON body.
Key Configuration: Uses the POST method; the JSON body dynamically inserts {{ $json.Username }} into the usernames array for scraping. Requires external Apify API token and Task ID.

Format Instagram Profile Data (Set n8n node):
Function: Maps and standardizes the data returned by Apify, filtering for necessary metrics before storage.
Key Configuration: Sets assignments for username, fullName, followersCount, followsCount, biography, and profilePicUrl, pulling their values directly from the Apify JSON output.

Append Profile to Google Sheet (Google Sheets n8n node):
Function: Takes the formatted data and appends it to a specific sheet in a designated Google Sheets document.
Key Configuration: Operation set to Append. Columns are explicitly mapped to the data fields generated by the Set n8n node (e.g., Google Sheet column 'Followers Count' maps to n8n variable {{ $json.followersCount }}).