Instant Data Scraper vs CommentGrab
I
vs
CommentGrab

Instant Data Scraper alternative
built for comment threads

Instant Data Scraper is a free, popular tool that turns any table or list on a page into a spreadsheet. Comments are threads, though, and its privacy policy describes sending your browsing data to its servers. Here is how the two compare, from the developer's own pages.

Add to Chrome, it's free Jump to the table
Last checked 13 Oct 2026Sourced from their public pagesNo account needed
At a glanceInstant Data ScraperCommentGrab
PriceFreeFree
Made forAny table or list on any siteComments and reviews on 13 sites
Replies and thread depthReads lists, without reply nestingThe full tree on Reddit, Hacker News and Bluesky
Browsing dataPolicy says it's sent to their serversNothing leaves your browser
Source codeClosed sourcePublic on GitHub
VerdictGreat for one-off tables on sites with no dedicated tool.Pick CommentGrab for comment research you can audit.
Where CommentGrab wins

Scrape nested comments
with every reply in its place

Instant Data Scraper guesses which table on a page matters and exports it to XLS, XLSX or CSV. On a comment section that means flat rows: a reply loses the comment it answered.

Its Chrome Web Store listing says scraped data does not leave your browser. Its privacy policy, last updated 30 July 2026, says browsing data (the URLs you visit, times and clickstream) is sent to its servers, and that it may sell or share some categories of personal information with business clients for marketing analytics. That is what the policy allows; we haven't measured what happens on any one install.

CommentGrab knows each supported site, so rows carry the fields that site exposes: on Reddit and Hacker News that means author, time, score, permalink and thread depth. Its code is public, and the only outside request it ever makes is to OpenAI, when you start an analysis with your own key.

A Reddit thread in CommentGrab with nested replies, scores and export buttons
What users report

Common complaints
about Instant Data Scraper

Instant Data Scraper is well rated (4.9 from 7.8K ratings), and complaints are rare. These come from its 10 most recent Chrome Web Store reviews and its own privacy policy, checked 13 Oct 2026.

Overall, Instant Data Scraper is very well liked: 4.9 from 7.8K ratings, with 105 of them at 1 or 2 stars. Complaints are rare, so this section is short.

1 of 10 recent reviews, backed by the privacy policy

A data-sharing consent to use it

One reviewer says the tool won't run until you accept every data-sharing option.

“You can't use it if you don't click CHOOSE ALL”Chrome Web Store review, source, 8 Oct 2026

CommentGrab: There's no consent screen because nothing is collected. You can read the code to check.

1 of 10 recent reviews

Fields missing from the export

A Google Maps scrape came back without phone numbers or websites.

“there is no phone numbers no website”Chrome Web Store review, source, 10 Oct 2026

CommentGrab: Each supported site has its own reader, so the fields are the same on every export.

Instant Data Scraper
vs CommentGrab, side by side

Checked on 13 Oct 2026 against Instant Data Scraper's own pages. Something changed? Tell us.

Instant Data ScraperCommentGrab
Works onAny site with a table or list13 comment and review sites
Comment repliesFlat rowsNested where the site has threads
Author, time, score, permalinkWhatever columns it detectsNamed columns, matched to each site
Infinite scroll and paginationSupportedLoads the full thread
Export formatsXLS, XLSX, CSVCSV, JSON, Markdown, clipboard
AI analysisAI only picks the tableNine kinds of insight on your own OpenAI key
Browsing data sent to the developerYes, per its privacy policyNo
AccountNoneNone
Source codeClosedPublic (PolyForm Shield)

Instant Data Scraper pricing
vs CommentGrab pricing

Both are free. The difference is what each one collects while you use it.

Instant Data Scraper

  • Extension$0
  • Browsing dataSent to its servers
  • Sale or sharing for marketing analyticsDisclosed in policy

Source: Instant Data Scraper pricing page, 13 Oct 2026.

CommentGrab

  • Every platform, every export$0
  • Account or sign-upNone
  • AI analysisYour OpenAI key

With AI analysis you pay OpenAI directly for the tokens you use.

What Instant Data Scraper
is built for

Instant Data Scraper is the better pick when the data you want isn't comments.

Any table on any site

Product grids, directories, search results: it detects the list and exports it, on sites CommentGrab doesn't read.

A huge, happy user base

1,000,000 users and a 4.9 rating on the Chrome Web Store. For quick one-off tables it's hard to beat.

How to switch
from Instant Data Scraper

It takes a couple of minutes, and you don't need an account.

01

Install CommentGrab.

Add it from the Chrome Web Store. There's no account and no consent screen.

02

Open the comment section.

Go to the YouTube video, Reddit post, Amazon product or any of the 13 supported sites.

03

Click the widget and export.

Pick CSV, JSON or Markdown. Replies keep their place in the thread.

Instant Data Scraper
alternative FAQ

Is Instant Data Scraper safe to use?

Its privacy policy (updated 30 July 2026) says browsing data such as the URLs you visit is sent to its servers and may be sold or shared with business clients for marketing analytics. Its store listing says the scraped data itself stays in your browser. Read the policy and decide for your use.

Can I use Instant Data Scraper for YouTube comments?

It can pick up the visible comments as a flat list. Replies lose the comment they answered, and you only get what has loaded. CommentGrab loads the full thread and keeps the reply depth.

Can Instant Data Scraper export YouTube or Reddit comments?

It can export the comments it sees as a list, but as flat rows, so replies lose the comment they answered. CommentGrab exports the thread with reply depth.

Is there a free Instant Data Scraper alternative for reviews?

For Amazon, Trustpilot, Google Maps, Steam and Etsy reviews, CommentGrab is free and exports author and date, plus the rating where the site shows one.

Does CommentGrab collect browsing data?

No. It has no server. Saved threads and stats live in your browser, and the code is public on GitHub.

Is there a Reddit comment scraper extension that keeps replies?

Yes. CommentGrab exports Reddit threads with nested replies and their depth, so you can export Reddit replies to CSV, JSON or Markdown for free.

Other comparisons

ExportComments alternative100 free results, then a paid plan Thunderbit alternativeCredits per row, no refunds Apify alternativePay per 1,000 comments

Export comments free,
with no account

Install CommentGrab, open a supported thread and export every reply in seconds.

Add to Chrome