Extension #1: Instant Data Scraper - The Beginner-Friendly Google Maps Extractor
To get started with Instant Data Scraper, one of the best free Google Maps scrapers, the process is straightforward. I simply typed "instant data scraper" in my search bar, clicked on the first link, and added it to Chrome. The installation is that simple.
How to Scrape Google Maps Data with Instant Data Scraper
Once you've made your Google Maps search, you turn on the Chrome extension and you should end up with something that automatically detects the data elements on the page. If the elements selected aren't the ones you're interested in, you can click and try another table until you've got something that suits your data scraping needs.
One thing you'll notice is that there's a "locate next button" option, which doesn't make sense in our Google Maps case because there is no next page button. Instead, we need to implement an infinite scroll technique. So I check the infinite scroll box, which means that in order to load more content, the extension has to scroll to the bottom of the page.
I can set up a delay, and what we have here is a lot of data fields. Most of them aren't really interesting, so I can remove the unnecessary ones. Once I've got everything I need, I can click "start crawling."
The Automatic Scraping Process
Here's what's impressive: I didn't have to touch anything. Instant Data Scraper automatically scrolls down to the bottom of the page, and each time it scripts from five to seven data rows. It's very likely it will stop once it reaches the end of the list, which typically means around 120 data rows.
Indeed, on Google Maps you cannot get more than 120 companies per search - this is a platform limitation. As promised, with 117 data rows scraped, I can export my Excel file.
Advantages of Instant Data Scraper
Overall, Instant Data Scraper is the easiest Chrome extension you can use and it has some interesting features. For example, it will automatically identify the scrolling area, which is actually super good because the scrolling process of Google Maps is quite different from other websites.
It's not a default scroll process - it's a partial scroll. This means the scrolling area is located within a part of the web page only and isn't applied to the entire web page. The fact that Instant Data Scraper handles this automatically is a significant advantage.
Limitations and Drawbacks
However, we can also find some drawbacks. First of all, the data fields have no custom names, which makes organization difficult. Moreover, we don't have access to a lot of detailed information.
What we can access includes:
- The URL to the company
- Company name
- Rating
- Number of reviews
- Category
- Address
In other words, we don't have access to contact details. We don't have access to data we can usually find by clicking on a specific element. For instance, you might see a website listed, but we don't have access to it through this extension. The same goes for phone numbers.
So how can we retrieve these more detailed elements? Well, we can do that by using another Chrome extension.
Extension #2: Data Miner - The Professional Google Maps Data Scraper
Data Miner follows the same initial setup as Instant Data Scraper - I click on the first link in search results. However, this time it might be a longer process because you have to create an account. But once it's done, you have access to the Data Scraper Chrome extension (Data Scraper and Data Miner are the same thing).
If you're looking for a professional Data Miner alternative for local lead generation, you might want to consider specialized tools that offer more advanced features for Google Maps scraping.
Setting Up Data Miner for Advanced Google Maps Scraping
To make the best use of Data Miner, I have to use the detailed page as a starting URL. This is actually very fortunate because we can use the detail page URLs we scraped with Instant Data Scraper.
I made sure that I had captured pages with websites and phone numbers because we're going to scrape Google Maps for three data fields as an example: the title and these two additional pieces of contact information.
Creating Your First Recipe
I turn on my Chrome extension and we're going to create a "recipe," which is the same thing as creating a script. I select "make a new recipe for this page," and as you can notice, there are seven steps we need to go through to get our recipe completed.
Step 2: Choose the type of recipe - we have option one and option two. We want to scrape a detailed page, so we select option two. This makes things shorter - now we only have four tabs left.
Step 3: Do we have to do something before or after the scraping process? Not at all in our case.
Step 4: What kind of data do we want to extract? I'll add a new column. The first column will be for the title.
Two Methods for Data Selection
There are two different ways for scraping data. The first one is the one I recommend you NOT to do - it's the point-and-click method. This means I click on "easy selector finder," select my element, confirm it, and everything sounds right at first glance.
The problem is, if I wish to scrape tens or hundreds of detailed pages, at some point I might get an error. If I take a look at the advanced settings, the way Data Miner scrapes elements is based on a CSS selector. In order to make the CSS selector as accurate as possible, it's always better if you write your own selector.
This video isn't a course about how to write your own CSS selectors, but if you know how to do it, it's better to go this route.
Using Pre-Written CSS Selectors
Anyway, I've done my homework and written down every CSS selector we're going to use. For the title, it's simply H1. I add another column for the phone number using advanced settings, label it "phone," and input the appropriate selector.
Please note that these specific selectors will only work if you have set up English as your language. If you want to change the language, you click on the settings and adjust the language preference.
The third column will be for the website, and here we go - I've got my website selector configured.
Step 5: We don't need anything here.
Step 6: I save my recipe as "save as new" and name it appropriately.
Running the Scraping Process
Now to scrape our different URLs, I click on "scrape," then "load new CSV." I create a new CSV file and copy and paste my different URLs. Let's take the first five URLs as an example.
I check them, select my recipe from "my recipes," choose the one we just created, give it a name, set up a waiting time, and click "start scraping." I'll get my results in the download tab, so it might take one or two minutes.
Results and Assessment
Once it's finished, everything looks correct. Maybe I could have written a better selector to remove some unwanted characters, but I can still clean that up afterwards. I can download an Excel file with all the extracted data.
Data Miner Summary
To sum up, Data Miner allows us to get a more comprehensive data set. However, it's still not the perfect tool because we cannot do everything in one try. We first have to collect all the URLs with one tool, then we have to insert those URLs into Data Miner to get the detailed data we need. It's a long, multi-step process.
Moreover, it's not a free tool, which adds to the limitations.
Extension #3: Web Scraper - The Most Powerful Free Google Maps Scraping Tool
So I wondered: is there another Chrome extension that could allow us to get the same kind of Google Maps data but in a faster way - meaning in one try? I found another option: Web Scraper.
Despite the fact that Web Scraper is probably the best free Google Maps scraper among the free Chrome extensions, it's also the most difficult tool from our list.
Setting Up Web Scraper for Advanced Data Extraction
To use it, I do a right-click and click on "inspect," which gives me access to my Web Scraper tab. I create a new site map, which is the same thing as creating a recipe for Data Miner.
I give my site map a name and input the starting URL. The thing that needs to be understood is that Web Scraper works with the use of selectors, which is not the same thing as CSS selectors, and the hardest thing to do is to determine beforehand what kind of selector I need.
Creating Selectors for Data Extraction
I add a new selector, and I need a selector to select as many companies as possible. I give it a name (the name doesn't really matter) and as a type, I select "link" because I have to click on each element in order to reach the detailed page.
I write my CSS selector here - the same approach as before. I've done my homework, and if I click on "element preview," I can see it finds five elements initially. That's all right, but if I scroll down to the bottom of the page, I get 11 elements. If I do it one more time, I get 14 elements.
So you get the idea - we have to scroll to the bottom of the page to get as many companies as possible. I check the "multiple" box, set the link type to "link," set it to read from the href attribute, and click "save selector."
Adding Data Extraction Fields
Now let's extract our data. I add new selectors:
- First one for the title (using H1 selector)
- Second one for phone number
- Third one for website
We don't check the "multiple" box for these individual data fields since each company should have only one of each.
The Manual Scrolling Limitation
Here's one last important thing before we start scraping: Web Scraper is a powerful tool, but it cannot automate the scrolling process. We can find an "element scroll down" selector, but the scrolling process will only work if we face a default scroll area.
As we've established, there's a difference between the default scroll area and the partial scroll area that Google Maps uses. That's the reason why Web Scraper cannot handle this automatically.
Running Web Scraper
Anyway, we can scrape the data now. I set up a higher request interval and a page load delay of 10 seconds each time, then click "start scraping."
To begin with, I have to scroll to the bottom of the page manually because it cannot be done automatically. Then I have to wait for my data to be collected. Once I have a sufficient sample, I can stop the task and export the data.
Comparison Summary
So each one of these tools has their own advantages and disadvantages, but there's something all three free tools have in common: they are tools which are not directly related to Google Maps. They're too broad-based, and that's part of the problem.
The Ultimate Solution: Scrap.io Google Maps Scraper Chrome Extension
So is there another tool which is 100% Google Maps related? And most importantly, is this tool easier to use? The answer is yes - it's a Chrome extension from Scrap.io.
What Makes This Google Maps Data Extractor Different
With just two clicks, everything changes. Let me reload the page and show you what's different. It seems I can now have access to email addresses and social media links directly on the Google Maps interface. So if I want to contact businesses, I can do it with just a click - as simple as that.
Another thing is that if there are multiple email addresses or multiple social media links, all of them are displayed. That's the key point with this Chrome extension - contact details are displayed, but they're not directly scraped in bulk.
If you're interested in learning more about how to find email addresses from Google Maps, this comprehensive guide provides detailed strategies for extracting contact information effectively.
Transitioning to the Full Scrap.io Platform for Professional Google Maps Scraping
If you want to get a way to scrape this data systematically - to scrape contact data, segmentation data, and much more - you can do it thanks to the full Scrap.io platform.
Scrap.io is the ultimate solution for scraping Google Maps. With Scrap.io, we can get our CSV or Excel file of leads within a couple of clicks. I know people say that every time, but literally speaking, we can get our results within a couple of clicks.
For those wondering about the legal aspects of data extraction, you can read our detailed guide on whether it's allowed to scrape Google Maps to ensure compliance with regulations.
How Scrap.io Works for Professional Google Maps Data Extraction
Let me show you how to do it. To start with, we have to create our account in order to have access to our first 100 leads free of charge. Once that's done, I can access my search tab, and it's here that I can do my Google Maps search.
I can type a specific category - there are around 4,000 different categories listed on Google Maps. For instance, if I type "restaurant," I get different kinds of restaurants to choose from.
Geographic Targeting Options
I can choose a specific state, a specific county, and a specific city. Maybe you're wondering why states are linked with "level one division" and counties with "level two division." Well, it's because we can scrape leads from different countries, not only in the United States.
So if I pick another country - for example, France - in that case, states and counties don't make sense. This is why we call them level one and level two divisions to accommodate different geographic structures worldwide. Scrap.io covers 195 countries with comprehensive geographic targeting.
Advanced Filtering and Data Quality
Depending on the plan you choose, you have access to more or less filters. But with even the first plan, I can scrape leads based on a specific city. I click on "search" and I get an overview of available results.
The good news is that I can set up more filters if I want to. For example, I can choose to only access companies with at least one email address. This filtering before extraction ensures I'm only paying for contacts that have the information I actually need - a unique feature that sets Scrap.io apart from database-driven competitors.
Real-Time Data Advantage
Unlike tools that rely on outdated databases, Scrap.io extracts data in real-time directly from Google Maps and associated business websites. This means zero duplicate contacts in your exports and always up-to-date information. The platform processes 5,000 queries per minute and has indexed 200 million establishments worldwide.
This real-time approach makes Scrap.io a superior OutScraper alternative and a better choice than traditional data providers for businesses requiring fresh, accurate contact information.
Exporting and Results
Then I can export my data, and all the exports I've done so far can be found within the "my exports" tab. All that remains to be done is to download a CSV or Excel file.
The Data You Can Extract with Professional Google Maps Scraping
Here are the data fields you can get with Scrap.io. The platform has been created to be as simple as possible. You don't need to implement CSS selectors, you don't have to worry about the technical aspects. You simply enter a location and a category, and you get your results.
From the data fields, you can get columns such as email addresses, but also SEO-related data such as website names, metadata, or advertising pixels. The platform offers comprehensive data extraction including:
- Contact information (emails, phone numbers)
- Social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn)
- Website technologies detected automatically
- Google Maps data (ratings, reviews, hours, photos)
- Enriched data (meta-descriptions, keywords, contact pages)
Getting Started with Professional Google Maps Data Extraction
You can try Scrap.io for free to get your first 100 leads free of charge. The platform also offers the Maps Connect Chrome extension that displays contact information directly on Google Maps for individual lookups.
For businesses requiring comprehensive data extraction and API integration, Scrap.io provides enterprise-grade solutions with full API access, Make.com integrations, and custom filtering options. If you have any questions, you can contact their customer support team directly.
Looking for alternatives to other popular scraping tools? Check out our comprehensive comparisons including Scrap.io vs PhantomBuster and why Scrap.io beats Hunter.io for geographic targeting.
FAQ: Google Maps Scraping
Can Google Maps be scraped legally?
Yes, scraping Google Maps is legal when you're extracting publicly available information. The data shown on Google Maps listings (business names, addresses, phone numbers) is public information. However, you should always respect the website's terms of service and avoid overloading their servers with excessive requests.
What is the best free Google Maps scraper?
Instant Data Scraper is considered the best free Google Maps scraper for beginners due to its AI-powered automatic detection and user-friendly interface. However, for more comprehensive data including email addresses and social media profiles, Scrap.io's Chrome extension offers superior capabilities.
How do I scrape data from Google Maps without coding?
You can scrape Google Maps data without any coding knowledge using Chrome extensions like:
- Instant Data Scraper - Automatic AI detection
- Data Miner - Pre-built templates and recipes
- Web Scraper - Visual point-and-click interface
- Scrap.io extension - One-click contact extraction
What data can I extract from Google Maps?
Most Google Maps scrapers can extract basic information like business names, addresses, ratings, and categories. Advanced tools like Scrap.io can also extract:
- Email addresses
- Social media profiles (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn)
- Website URLs
- Phone numbers
- Business hours
- Reviews and ratings
Is Data Miner better than Instant Data Scraper?
Data Miner offers more advanced features with 60,000+ pre-built recipes and Google Sheets integration, making it better for professional use. Instant Data Scraper is more beginner-friendly with automatic AI detection. However, both have limitations in extracting contact details compared to specialized tools like Scrap.io.
How to install Google Maps scraper extensions?
To install Google Maps scraper Chrome extensions:
- Visit the Chrome Web Store
- Search for your preferred extension (Instant Data Scraper, Data Miner, etc.)
- Click "Add to Chrome"
- Confirm installation
- Pin the extension to your toolbar for easy access
What are the limitations of free Google Maps scrapers?
Free Google Maps scraping tools typically have these limitations:
- Limited data extraction (usually only basic information)
- No email addresses or social media links
- Manual scrolling required for more than 120 results
- No bulk processing capabilities
- Rate limiting and usage restrictions
Can I scrape Google Maps without getting blocked?
Yes, you can avoid getting blocked by:
- Using reasonable delays between requests
- Not exceeding 120 results per search (Google's natural limit)
- Using professional tools like Scrap.io that handle rate limiting automatically
- Rotating IP addresses if doing large-scale extraction
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Google Maps Scraper for Your Needs
This comprehensive comparison shows the evolution from basic free tools to professional-grade Google Maps scraping solutions. While free Chrome extensions like Instant Data Scraper, Data Miner, and Web Scraper each have their place, they all require technical knowledge, multiple steps, and have significant limitations when it comes to extracting contact information.
Key Takeaways from Our Google Maps Scraper Comparison:
Instant Data Scraper works best for beginners who need basic business information but don't require email addresses or social media profiles. Its automatic detection makes it the easiest Google Maps scraper to use.
Data Miner offers more comprehensive data extraction with its 60,000+ pre-built recipes, but requires account creation and has usage limitations on the free plan.
Web Scraper represents the most powerful free Google Maps scraping option but demands significant technical expertise and manual configuration.
Scrap.io represents the next generation of Google Maps data extraction - purpose-built, user-friendly, and capable of extracting comprehensive data including hard-to-find contact information, email addresses, and social media profiles.
Whether you're doing basic market research, lead generation, or building comprehensive business databases, understanding these options will help you choose the right Google Maps scraper tool for your specific needs and technical comfort level. For professional Google Maps data extraction at scale, the Scrap.io platform offers the perfect balance of power and simplicity.