An unfollowers tracker is a tool (web or app) that shows who has stopped following your Instagram account and highlights follower growth/loss over time. Basic trackers give lists of recent unfollows; advanced tools add trends, “ghost” followers, and engagement stats.
There are two technical ways trackers gather data:
Authenticated access (login/OAuth): the app requests permission to read your account details (sometimes via entering credentials or OAuth). This can enable accurate, account-level follower history.
Public scraping / indirect analysis: the tool periodically snapshots a public profile (or uses public Graph API endpoints for Business/Creator accounts) and compares snapshots to detect unfollows.
Important: since 2018 Instagram changed its platform access rules and the Graph API, significantly restricting what third-party apps can fetch — which broke many trackers that relied on the old API. This means many “unfollower” apps must either ask for credentials or use brittle scraping methods.
Recent unfollowers (who unfollowed since your last sync)
New followers and net follower change over time
“Not following back” lists and mutuals
Ghost or inactive follower detection
Export reports / CSV and push/email alerts
(Feature examples from common apps.)
Many unfollower apps ask for login permissions or even your Instagram password. That creates real risks: stolen credentials, account takeovers, and—historically—malicious apps that exfiltrated passwords to third-party servers. Cases of such apps have been reported and removed from stores in the past. Never under-estimate that risk.
Two real consequences to keep in mind:
Account compromise: apps that store credentials or use insecure storage can expose your account.
Policy risk & bans: automated scraping or actions can breach Instagram/Meta rules and may result in rate limits or temporary account blocks.
If you want the insight without the risk, prefer one of these approaches:
Instagram Insights / Creator Studio — built-in metrics for Business & Creator accounts (follower growth, demographics, reach). No third-party login required.
Reputable analytics platforms (that use official APIs and OAuth): Sprout Social, Iconosquare, Hootsuite, Vista Social — these give follower trends and professional reports while keeping you inside supported API flows.
Why these are safer: they either operate through Instagram’s official Graph API for Business/Creator profiles (with explicit OAuth) or provide analytics without asking for raw credentials.
Checklist before you install or authorize any tracker:
Does it require your Instagram password (not OAuth)? — red flag.
Is the app brand known, with an official website and clear privacy policy? — good.
Are reviews consistent and independent (not all 5★ with generic comments)? — check carefully.
Does the app use OAuth and ask only for needed permissions? — prefer this.
Can you revoke access easily in Instagram settings? If yes, that reduces long-term risk.
Pick one strong angle and own it — examples:
Safety-first: “Unfollowers tracking without handing over your password” (trust signals).
Pro tools for creators: “Pro analytics for creators & small agencies” (B2B focus).
DIY guide: “How to track unfollows manually & with official tools” (helpful, earns links).
Combine data charts (follower trends), screenshots of Instagram Insights, and a clear CTA (e.g., “Switch to Instagram Insights” or “Try Iconosquare free trial”).
Yes — you can see recent unfollows using third-party tools, but the safest route is Instagram Insights for business/creator accounts or trusted analytics platforms that use official OAuth flows.
Some are, many aren’t. Avoid apps that ask for your password or have sketchy privacy policies; prefer tools that use OAuth and official APIs. Historical examples show credential-stealing apps have existed
Immediately revoke app access from Instagram settings, change your Instagram password (and any reused passwords), enable two-factor authentication, and monitor for suspicious activity.
Use Instagram Insights (native) or reputable analytics suites (Sprout Social, Iconosquare, Hootsuite, Vista Social) for in-depth, safe metrics.