How to export Instagram comments and run a fair giveaway
Picking a giveaway winner from hundreds of comments by scrolling is slow and impossible to verify. Exporting the comments to a spreadsheet makes the draw fast, fair and easy to show.
Step 1: write the rules before you post
Say how to enter, such as one comment per person and a friend tagged, when entries close, how many winners there are and how they will be contacted. If you set rules after entries come in, people will question the result.
Step 2: export the comments
Paste the post link into the comment exporter and start the export. It collects public top-level comments in the background, up to 500 per export, and you can leave it running. When it finishes, download the CSV. It has each commenter's username, the comment text, likes, replies and the time posted.
Step 3: clean the list
Open the file in Excel or Google Sheets. Remove entries made after the deadline. Keep only the first valid comment from each username, so nobody gets extra chances. Remove comments that break your rules, such as missing tags. Keep a copy of the untouched export for the record.
Step 4: draw and record
Number the remaining rows, then use a random function, for example RANDBETWEEN in a spreadsheet, to pick a row. Record a screen capture or screenshot of the draw. Publish the winner and mention how you chose, and draw a backup winner in case the first does not reply.
Respect entrants
Comments are public, but the people who wrote them did not agree to be added to a mailing list. Use the export only for the giveaway, then delete it when it is over. Follow Instagram's promotion rules, which require you to make clear that the giveaway is not sponsored or run by Instagram.
Try the tools
- Instagram Comment Exporter: Export public comments to CSV or JSON.
- Instagram Profile Viewer: Browse a public profile, posts and Reels.