Profile
1 credit/v1/instagram/profileGet Instagram user profile.
handle, trim
Instagram APIFetch public Instagram data with one API
Fetch public Instagram data as structured JSON with one SocialCrawl API key. Same Post, Comment, and Author schema as every other platform. Reads are priced in credits.
/v1/instagram
33 active endpoints
- GET /v1/instagram/profile
- GET /v1/instagram/profile/full
- GET /v1/instagram/profile/posts
- GET /v1/instagram/profile/reels
- GET /v1/instagram/post
- GET /v1/instagram/post/comments
- GET /v1/instagram/media/transcript
- GET /v1/instagram/search/hashtag
- GET /v1/instagram/search/reels
- GET /v1/instagram/stories
What Instagram endpoints does SocialCrawl ship?
33 live read endpoints for public Instagram data. Profiles, posts, reels, stories, comments, transcripts, hashtag and location search. Data API only. No posting or private DMs.
Full profile
5 credits/v1/instagram/profile/fullInstagram profile, recent posts, and computed analytics in one call.
handle, posts, cursor, include
Profile posts
1 credit/v1/instagram/profile/postsList Instagram user posts.
handle, next_max_id, trim
Profile reels
1 credit/v1/instagram/profile/reelsList Instagram user reels.
user_id, handle, max_id, trim
Post
1 credit/v1/instagram/postGet Instagram post details.
url, region, trim, download_media
Post comments
5 credits/v1/instagram/post/commentsList Instagram post comments.
url, sort, cursor, safe_url
Media transcript
10 credits/v1/instagram/media/transcriptGet Instagram media transcript.
url
Hashtag search
5 credits/v1/instagram/search/hashtagSearch Instagram posts by hashtag.
hashtag, type, cursor, safe_url
Reels search
1 credit/v1/instagram/search/reelsSearch Instagram reels.
query, date_posted, page
Stories
5 credits/v1/instagram/storiesList an Instagram user's active stories.
handle, user_id, safe_url
Instagram API36 endpoints supported
View docsReturns an Instagram account's public profile: bio, the exact integer follower count on author.followers, following count, post count, profile picture URL, and verification status.
Use it when you have a handle and want the account snapshot only; profile/full returns the same profile plus recent posts and computed metrics.
1 credit
GET/v1/instagram/profile?handle=instagram
handle · Instagram username without the @ symbol
$ curl https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/instagram/profile?handle=instagram \
-H "x-api-key: sc_YOUR_API_KEY"idle
// Edit the params above and hit "Try it" to run a live request against the APIHow the Instagram API works
Instagram is a normal SocialCrawl social surface. You call GET /v1/instagram/… with an API key, spend credits on live misses, and get a single JSON envelope back. No second SDK.
Authenticate every call
Send your key in the x-api-key header. The same key works across the SocialCrawl catalog.
GET with query params
Routes are GET. Pass handles, urls, queries, and cursors as query strings. We validate formats before charging.
Pay in credits, not seats
Live misses debit the route tier. Cache hits cost 0. Empty or hard failures refund.
Read one JSON envelope
Every response is the same shape: success, data, credits_used, credits_remaining, request_id, cached.
The usual integration chain
Most products resolve an account, page content, then deepen only the posts that matter.
01Account
GET /v1/instagram/profileAuthor-shaped profile
Resolve the handle or id once.
02Feed
GET /v1/instagram/profile/fullPostList of recent public items
Page with cursor or after when the route supports it.
03Item
GET /v1/instagram/profile/postsFull Post for one URL or id
List rows are not enough when you need the full record.
04Comments
GET /v1/instagram/profile/reelsCommentList when the platform exposes it
Expand only when a thread matters.
request
GET /v1/instagram/profile
?handle=instagram
Host: www.socialcrawl.dev
x-api-key: sc_your_api_key_hereresponse envelope
{
"success": true,
"data": { "/* Author | Post | PostList | CommentList | … */": true },
"credits_used": 1,
"credits_remaining": 9999,
"request_id": "req_…",
"cached": false
}What lands in data
Field names match the rest of SocialCrawl where archetypes align.
Authorprofile
id, username, display_name, avatar_url, bio, followers, url, ext
PostList / Postprofile/full
items[].post with id, url, content, engagement, author, published_at, ext
CommentListprofile/posts
items[] with author, content.text, engagement, published_at when comments ship
Search / Mediaprofile/reels
search hits, media metadata, or transcripts depending on route
Inside the gateway
Same request lifecycle as every other /v1 platform endpoint.
- 01
Edge receives the call
Next.js catch-all routes into the Hono social API. We mint a request_id, authenticate the key, then enforce rate limit and concurrency.
- 02
Validate, then debit
Registry lookup finds the route. Required params run first. Invalid input returns 400 with no charge. Valid calls debit before upstream work.
- 03
Cache or fetch
A deterministic cache key is built from platform + resource + params. Hit: credits_used = 0. Miss: upstream fetch with retries and circuit breaker.
- 04
Normalize and return
Upstream JSON is mapped to Author / Post / PostList / CommentList (or route archetype), validated, wrapped in the success envelope, and logged for billing audit.
Billing rules that matter in production
- Standard live miss: tier cost (often 1 credit)
- Advanced reads: typically 5 credits
- Premium reads: typically 10 credits
- Metered routes: min floor when documented
- Cache hit: 0 credits
- Empty / hard fail: auto-refund
- Bad params: 400, never charged
- No credits: 402, never charged
- Disabled routes: 503, never charged
How we get the data
Instagram is public-read data on SocialCrawl. We normalize it into the shared schema so your code does not learn a second OAuth flow.
What Instagram is for this API
Public Instagram surfaces exposed by the registry. Read-only for research, monitoring, and product jobs.
How SocialCrawl reaches it
Social-read upstreams behind one gateway. Prism composites combine legs when a fat route is registered.
What leaves our edge
Unified JSON envelope: success, data, credits_used, request_id, cached. Shared Author / Post / Comment leaves where archetypes align.
What we do not ship live
No write endpoints and no private inbox. Disabled routes stay out of the active count. Prefer registry docs for the live inventory.
field map sketch
public profile / channel→ author.*profile identity and counters
public post / media→ post.* / items[].postpost content and engagement
comment page / tree→ CommentList items[]comments or search hits when present
What this API is used for
The jobs this API is most often used for.
33active Instagram endpoints in the registry
1 / 5 / 10credit ladder across standard, advanced, premium
Creator and brand Instagram monitoring
Callers concentrate on profile, content lists, search, and deepen paths on Instagram. Public Instagram JSON without an Instagram Graph App for these read surfaces, on the shared SocialCrawl schema.
Detail reads are typically a few seconds on live miss. Search and fat composites are slower paths.
What people build with the Instagram API
The jobs Instagram data is most often used for. Each one is a full recipe with the endpoint chain and pricing.
Use case examples
Common ways teams put this data to work, and the stack each one tends to run.
Monitoring jobs
Python, cron, Slack botsPoll profiles and feeds on Instagram. Alert when engagement velocity jumps.
Research and VoC
Node, notebooks, BI loadsSearch and expand posts for brand, product, and competitor language on Instagram.
Backend product jobs
Go, workers, ExplorerWire resolve to list to detail into pipelines. Cache hits keep recurring runs cheap.
Call it in two lines
Live misses spend credits by tier. Cache hits are free. Empty or hard failures refund.
curl "https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/instagram/profile?handle=instagram" \
-H "x-api-key: sc_your_api_key_here"curl "https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/instagram/profile/full?handle=example" \
-H "x-api-key: sc_your_api_key_here"Same key as the rest of the catalog
Endpoints
What data does the Instagram API return?
Every endpoint returns structured JSON in a unified envelope. Computed fields such as engagement rate and content category are included only where the endpoint supports them and the required source inputs are present.
ProfileGet Instagram user profileProfile PostsList Instagram user postsPostGet Instagram post detailsPost CommentsList Instagram post commentsCommentLook up one Instagram comment by URL or idBasic ProfileGet Instagram basic profileProfile ReelsList Instagram user reelsHighlightsList Instagram story highlightsHighlight DetailGet Instagram highlight detailSearch ReelsSearch Instagram reelsMedia TranscriptGet Instagram media transcriptUser EmbedGet Instagram user embed HTMLAudio ReelsList Instagram reels using an audio trackSearch HashtagSearch Instagram posts by hashtagSearch ProfilesSearch Instagram profiles by keywordReels TrendingGet trending Instagram reelsFollowersList Instagram followersFollowingList Instagram followingSimilarList similar Instagram accountsPost LikersList Instagram post likersPost StatsGet Instagram post stats including the share countTaggedList posts an Instagram user is tagged inLocation PostsList recent posts at an Instagram locationEngagementGet Instagram engagement statisticsSearch LocationSearch Instagram locationsSearchSearch Instagram accounts, hashtags, and placesSearch PopularSearch popular Instagram postsPost Comment RepliesList replies under an Instagram commentUsername SuggestionsGet Instagram username suggestionsSearch MusicSearch Instagram musicStoriesList an Instagram user's active storiesStory DownloadDownload a single Instagram storyMusic TrendingList trending Instagram musicProfile FullInstagram profile, recent posts, and computed analytics in one call.Profile Reels FullInstagram reels with views, likes, comments, and per-reel share counts where available, in one call.Profile Posts FullInstagram posts with views, likes, comments, and per-post share counts where available, in one call.
Comparison
How does SocialCrawl compare to Instagram Graph API for Instagram data?
Same Instagram data, two very different paths. Auth, rate limits, schema, and cost, side by side.
| Feature | SocialCrawl | Instagram Graph API |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | One x-api-key header | Facebook Login OAuth with page-linked access tokens |
| Setup / approval | Sign up and call in under a minute | Meta developer app, app review, and Business verification for most permissions |
| Rate limits | Pay per request in credits, with no per-app quota | Per-app and per-user rate limits |
| Data coverage | Any public profile, post, reel, comment, highlight, and search result | Primarily your own Business or Creator accounts; competitor data limited to Business Discovery |
| Response schema | Unified JSON envelope shared across 51 platforms | Graph node-and-edge payloads |
| Pricing | From 1 credit per request, 100 free credits to start | Free within rate limits |
| Maintenance | Schema stays stable when Instagram changes its frontend | Official support, plus publishing and insights for accounts you own |
Authentication
SocialCrawl
One x-api-key header
Instagram Graph API
Facebook Login OAuth with page-linked access tokens
Setup / approval
SocialCrawl
Sign up and call in under a minute
Instagram Graph API
Meta developer app, app review, and Business verification for most permissions
Rate limits
SocialCrawl
Pay per request in credits, with no per-app quota
Instagram Graph API
Per-app and per-user rate limits
Data coverage
SocialCrawl
Any public profile, post, reel, comment, highlight, and search result
Instagram Graph API
Primarily your own Business or Creator accounts; competitor data limited to Business Discovery
Response schema
SocialCrawl
Unified JSON envelope shared across 51 platforms
Instagram Graph API
Graph node-and-edge payloads
Pricing
SocialCrawl
From 1 credit per request, 100 free credits to start
Instagram Graph API
Free within rate limits
Maintenance
SocialCrawl
Schema stays stable when Instagram changes its frontend
Instagram Graph API
Official support, plus publishing and insights for accounts you own
FAQ
Have a question? We got answers
Find answers to frequently asked questions about SocialCrawl's API, pricing, and capabilities.
Contact usIs there an Instagram search API?
Yes. The Instagram search API returns hashtag, user and Reels results as JSON without a Meta app review or a Business account. Instagram's own Graph API restricts search to accounts you own, which is why most teams reach for a public-data endpoint instead.
How do I scrape Instagram data with an API?
Use the SocialCrawl Instagram API: pick an endpoint (profile, posts, reels, comments, transcript), send a GET request with an API key, and get structured JSON back. No browser automation, no proxies, no login flow.
What Instagram data can SocialCrawl return?
36 endpoints under a unified schema: Profile, Profile Posts, Post, Post Comments, Comment, Basic Profile, Profile Reels, Highlights, Highlight Detail, Search Reels, Media Transcript, User Embed, Audio Reels, Search Hashtag, Search Profiles, Reels Trending, Followers, Following, Similar, Post Likers, Post Stats, Tagged, Location Posts, Engagement, Search Location, Search, Search Popular, Post Comment Replies, Username Suggestions, Search Music, Stories, Story Download, Music Trending, Profile Full, Profile Reels Full, and Profile Posts Full.
How much does the Instagram API cost?
Most endpoints cost 1 credit (standard tier). Reel transcripts and search endpoints cost more because they run heavier work. New accounts get 100 free credits, so you can test every endpoint before paying anything.
Is scraping Instagram data legal?
SocialCrawl reads only public Instagram content, the same posts, profiles, and reels anyone can view in a browser without logging in. Your own use case must still comply with Instagram's terms and applicable privacy regulations in your jurisdiction. SocialCrawl operates under a documented GDPR legitimate-interest framework: public, logged-out data only, no credential use, short-lived caches (2 to 30 minutes) with no persistent store, and a public opt-out channel for anyone whose public info appears in responses. Full details: socialcrawl.dev/legal/public-data-notice.
Do I need an Instagram developer account or Graph API?
No. You only need a SocialCrawl API key. You do not have to register a Meta developer app, request permissions, or go through app review. Send a request with your key and SocialCrawl returns normalized JSON.
What is the best Instagram scraper API?
SocialCrawl offers 36 Instagram endpoints, including profiles, posts, reels, comments, highlights, followers, post likers, similar accounts, stories, tagged posts, engagement analytics, post stats with reshare (regram) counts, hashtag and profile search, trending reels, media transcripts, and more, through one x-api-key, from 1 credit per request with 100 free credits on signup. The Instagram Graph API is the better fit for managing accounts you own; SocialCrawl is built for reading public data.
Is there an Instagram data API?
Yes, SocialCrawl is a read-only Instagram data API that returns public profiles, posts, reels, comments, story highlights, followers, and media transcripts as unified JSON from a single x-api-key. Instagram's official Graph API is the right tool for managing accounts you own and reading their insights, but it gates most public-data access behind Meta app review and a Business account. SocialCrawl focuses on reading public Instagram data without that approval, from 1 credit per request with 100 free credits on signup.
Instagram scraping API vs the official Instagram API: what's the difference?
With SocialCrawl there is no app review or approval queue. Sign up and call Instagram endpoints immediately with a single x-api-key. Responses share one unified schema with every other SocialCrawl platform, and credit-based pricing replaces per-platform quotas. Official APIs are still the right choice for posting and other write actions: SocialCrawl is read-only data.
Ask AI about SocialCrawl