Home / Blog /LinkedIn Scraping Secrets: What works and what doesn’t

LinkedIn Scraping Secrets: What works and what doesn’t

Jane Truong|3 min read

If you have ever tried to grow your business, find leads, or hire talent on LinkedIn, you probably know how time-consuming it can be. Sending connection requests one by one, copying profile details, or manually building prospect lists quickly turns into hours of repetitive work. This is exactly where LinkedIn Scraping comes in. By automating the process of collecting public LinkedIn data, it helps you save time, scale your outreach, and focus on building real relationships instead of drowning in manual tasks. In this guide, we’ll explore what LinkedIn Scraping really is, how it works, the best tools to use, and how to do it safely without risking your account.

LinkedIn Scraping is the process of collecting public data from LinkedIn using automated tools. In simple words, it means using technology to gather information from profiles, company pages, or job listings instead of doing it manually. This process matters because LinkedIn is one of the largest professional networks in the world, with over a billion members, and the information available there can be very valuable for business, recruiting, and marketing.

When people or companies use LinkedIn Scraping correctly, they can save time, find new leads, study competitors, or understand hiring trends. Imagine having to copy thousands of profiles by hand. It would take weeks, maybe months. With scraping, the same task could be done in a few hours. That is why LinkedIn Scraping has become such an important topic.

LinkedIn Scraping
LinkedIn Scraping

LinkedIn Scraping works by using automated methods to collect information from LinkedIn pages. There are three common ways to do this.

The first way is through web crawlers, which are automated programs that move through LinkedIn pages and extract the visible data. These programs follow links, load pages, and copy the information that appears on the screen, just like a person would, but at a much faster speed.

The second way is by using APIs, or Application Programming Interfaces. LinkedIn provides an official API that allows developers to access some types of data, such as profile information or job postings. However, this method has many limits, since LinkedIn only allows specific data to be accessed and controls how much can be collected.

The third way is through browser extensions. These are tools installed in your browser that automate the process of visiting LinkedIn, clicking, scrolling, and copying information. They are popular because they are easy to use and require no coding skills. Tools like Waalaxy and PhantomBuster often work in this way.

Each of these methods has its advantages. Web crawlers are powerful but require technical knowledge. APIs are safe but limited. Browser extensions are simple but need to be used carefully to avoid account restrictions.

The main benefit of LinkedIn Scraping is that it saves time and effort. Instead of collecting data manually, scraping tools can do the work in the background while you focus on other tasks. But the benefits go much further than just saving time.

For businesses, LinkedIn Scraping is a way to generate leads. A marketing team can collect a list of potential customers, including their job titles and companies, to use for outreach campaigns. For recruiters, scraping makes it possible to build a list of candidates who have the right skills or experience. For researchers, scraping can provide large sets of data about companies, industries, or job markets, helping them understand trends and opportunities.

Another important benefit is accuracy. Manual data collection often leads to mistakes, but automated tools can collect information consistently and cleanly. With the right settings, you can also filter and organize the data so that it is ready to use without extra work.

The biggest challenge of LinkedIn Scraping is that LinkedIn does not allow unauthorized scraping. The platform has strong security systems that detect unusual behavior, such as too many requests in a short time. When LinkedIn notices these activities, it may show CAPTCHAs, temporarily block accounts, or even ban them.

Another risk comes from the legal side. While scraping public data is often possible, the use of that data must respect privacy laws and LinkedIn’s terms of service. Collecting personal information without consent or using scraped data in ways that harm others can cause legal trouble.

Technical challenges also exist. LinkedIn frequently updates its website structure, which can break scraping scripts. Anti-bot technologies like device fingerprinting, IP tracking, and session monitoring make scraping harder than it used to be. This is why many users now combine scraping tools with antidetect browsers, which help simulate real human behavior.

There are many tools available, but three stand out: PhantomBuster, Waalaxy, and Evaboot. Each of them has its own strengths and is designed for slightly different needs.

LinkedIn Scraping Tools
LinkedIn Scraping Tools

PhantomBuster is one of the most popular tools because it offers automation beyond just LinkedIn. It can collect profiles, send connection requests, and even send personalized messages. The main advantage is that it requires no coding skills, and it integrates with CRM systems like HubSpot or Salesforce. This makes it a great option for sales teams that want to combine lead generation with outreach.

Waalaxy is another tool designed mainly for LinkedIn prospecting. It focuses on building connections and running follow-up sequences. For example, you can set up a scenario where the tool automatically sends a connection request, waits a few days, then sends a follow-up message. Waalaxy also has a simple built-in CRM, which helps smaller teams keep track of their leads without needing expensive software.

Evaboot is different because it specializes in LinkedIn Sales Navigator. While PhantomBuster and Waalaxy work with standard LinkedIn, Evaboot focuses on extracting and cleaning data from Sales Navigator searches. The tool removes duplicates and exports clean data into a CSV file, ready for use. It is especially useful for agencies or outbound marketing teams that rely on Sales Navigator to find targeted leads.

Yes, you can, and in many cases, it is the smartest approach. Antidetect browser Hidemyacc is special that hide or change your digital fingerprint. They can mask your IP address, change your time zone, and make each browsing session look like it comes from a unique device.

When combined with LinkedIn Scraping tools, Hidemyacc helps reduce the risk of account suspension. If you manage multiple LinkedIn accounts for scraping or outreach, using an antidetect browser keeps those accounts separated. Each account appears as if it is running from a different computer, which is much safer.

For example, you can run PhantomBuster inside an Hidemyacc profile to scrape data while keeping the account safe. You can also connect Waalaxy or Evaboot to different LinkedIn accounts through separate antidetect sessions. Adding rotating proxies makes the process even more secure by ensuring that each account uses a unique IP address.

You can watch the video tutorial on integrating Hidemyacc and Phantombuster in this video:

This combination is powerful because scraping tools bring speed and automation, while antidetect browsers bring safety and privacy. Together, they create a balance between productivity and account protection.

The future of LinkedIn Scraping will likely involve smarter automation and stricter platform defenses. LinkedIn is constantly improving its security, so scraping will never be completely risk-free. However, tools are also becoming more advanced. They now include features like data cleaning, integration with CRM systems, and even AI-based personalization for outreach messages.

Another future trend is the combination of LinkedIn Scraping with other data sources. Businesses will not only rely on LinkedIn profiles but also enrich that data with emails, phone numbers, or social media profiles from other platforms. This creates a complete picture of the lead or candidate, making marketing and recruiting more effective.

>>> Trouble verifying LinkedIn account: How to solve it?

Finally, legal and ethical considerations will shape the future. Companies will need to respect privacy laws like GDPR and make sure that scraped data is used responsibly.

LinkedIn Scraping is a powerful way to collect valuable professional data from the world’s largest business network. It works through web crawlers, APIs, or browser extensions, and it provides major benefits for lead generation, recruiting, and research. At the same time, it comes with risks, such as account suspension and legal concerns.

The most popular tools in 2025 are PhantomBuster, Waalaxy, and Evaboot, each with its own strengths. When combined with antidetect browsers, these tools become safer and more effective, making it possible to scale operations without losing accounts.

In the end, LinkedIn Scraping is about balance. It can save time, improve accuracy, and open new opportunities, but it must be done carefully and responsibly. With the right tool and the right setup, it becomes one of the most useful strategies for modern businesses, recruiters, and marketers.

>>> Articles on the same topic Linkedin:

Is scraping LinkedIn allowed?

No. LinkedIn’s Terms of Service prohibit scraping, but collecting publicly available data can still be done carefully with the right tools.

Why is LinkedIn so hard to scrape?

Because LinkedIn uses strong anti-bot measures like CAPTCHAs, rate limits, and fingerprinting to block automated data collection.

Will LinkedIn ban you for scraping?

Yes, if you scrape aggressively or without protection, your account may face restrictions, checkpoints, or permanent bans.

What's a LinkedIn scraping tool?

It is a software or browser-based solution that automates the process of collecting data such as profiles, jobs, or company information from LinkedIn.

How can I scrape user data?

You can use methods like web crawlers, LinkedIn’s official APIs, or browser extensions combined with safe practices like proxies and antidetect browsers.

What are the scraping tools available on the market?

Some popular tools in 2025 are PhantomBuster, Waalaxy, and Evaboot, each designed for different needs like automation, prospecting, or data cleaning.

Read more