# Instagram Data API (https://www.socialcrawl.dev/platforms/instagram)

> Instagram data API: 33 endpoints for profiles, posts, reels, comments, story highlights, followers, post likers, similar accounts, tagged posts, engagement analytics, post stats with reshare (regram) counts, hashtag and profile search, and media transcripts. From 1 credit per request, 100 free credits on signup, no card. One x-api-key header instead of a Meta developer app or Graph API tokens.

TL;DR: SocialCrawl's Instagram API exposes 33 endpoints, 1 to 10 credits per call, all returning one unified JSON schema with AI-enriched fields. Single x-api-key auth, 100 free credits on signup.

## Endpoints

| Endpoint | Method | Path | Credits | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Profile | GET | `/v1/instagram/profile` | 1 | Get Instagram user profile |
| Profile Posts | GET | `/v1/instagram/profile/posts` | 1 | List Instagram user posts |
| Post | GET | `/v1/instagram/post` | 1 | Get Instagram post details |
| Post Comments | GET | `/v1/instagram/post/comments` | 5 | List Instagram post comments |
| Comment | GET | `/v1/instagram/comment` | 5 | Look up one Instagram comment by URL or id |
| Basic Profile | GET | `/v1/instagram/basic-profile` | 1 | Get Instagram basic profile |
| Profile Reels | GET | `/v1/instagram/profile/reels` | 1 | List Instagram user reels |
| Highlights | GET | `/v1/instagram/highlights` | 1 | List Instagram story highlights |
| Highlight Detail | GET | `/v1/instagram/highlight/detail` | 1 | Get Instagram highlight detail |
| Search Reels | GET | `/v1/instagram/search/reels` | 1 | Search Instagram reels |
| Media Transcript | GET | `/v1/instagram/media/transcript` | 10 | Get Instagram media transcript |
| User Embed | GET | `/v1/instagram/user/embed` | 1 | Get Instagram user embed HTML |
| Audio Reels | GET | `/v1/instagram/audio/reels` | 1 | List Instagram reels using an audio track |
| Search Hashtag | GET | `/v1/instagram/search/hashtag` | 5 | Search Instagram posts by hashtag |
| Search Profiles | GET | `/v1/instagram/search/profiles` | 1 | Search Instagram profiles by keyword |
| Reels Trending | GET | `/v1/instagram/reels/trending` | 5 | Get trending Instagram reels |
| Followers | GET | `/v1/instagram/followers` | 5 | List Instagram followers |
| Following | GET | `/v1/instagram/following` | 5 | List Instagram following |
| Similar | GET | `/v1/instagram/similar` | 5 | List similar Instagram accounts |
| Post Likers | GET | `/v1/instagram/post/likers` | 5 | List Instagram post likers |
| Post Stats | GET | `/v1/instagram/post/stats` | 5 | Get Instagram post stats including the share count |
| Tagged | GET | `/v1/instagram/tagged` | 5 | List posts an Instagram user is tagged in |
| Location Posts | GET | `/v1/instagram/location/posts` | 5 | List recent posts at an Instagram location |
| Engagement | GET | `/v1/instagram/engagement` | 5 | Get Instagram engagement statistics |
| Search Location | GET | `/v1/instagram/search/location` | 5 | Search Instagram locations |
| Username Suggestions | GET | `/v1/instagram/username-suggestions` | 5 | Get Instagram username suggestions |
| Search Music | GET | `/v1/instagram/search/music` | 5 | Search Instagram music |
| Stories | GET | `/v1/instagram/stories` | 5 | List an Instagram user's active stories |
| Story Download | GET | `/v1/instagram/story/download` | 5 | Download a single Instagram story |
| Music Trending | GET | `/v1/instagram/music/trending` | 5 | List trending Instagram music |
| Profile Full | GET | `/v1/instagram/profile/full` | 5 | Instagram profile, recent posts, and computed analytics in one call. |
| Profile Reels Full | GET | `/v1/instagram/profile/reels/full` | 5 | Instagram reels with views, likes, comments, and per-reel share counts where available, in one call. |
| Profile Posts Full | GET | `/v1/instagram/profile/posts/full` | 5 | Instagram posts with views, likes, comments, and per-post share counts where available, in one call. |

## Code example

```bash
curl "https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/instagram/profile?handle=instagram" \
  -H "x-api-key: sc_YOUR_API_KEY"
```

Every response shares one JSON envelope: `{ success, platform, endpoint, data, credits_used, credits_remaining }`.

## SocialCrawl vs Instagram Graph API

| 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 44 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 |

## FAQ

### Is 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?

33 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, 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 33 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.

## Pricing

- Standard endpoints: 1 credit per call
- Advanced endpoints: 5 credits per call
- Premium endpoints: 10 credits per call
- 100 free credits on signup, no credit card required. Cached responses cost 0 credits. Credit packs never expire.
- Full pricing: https://www.socialcrawl.dev/pricing

## Explore with AI

Questions this API answers, phrased for an AI assistant:

- What is the SocialCrawl Instagram API?
- How to scrape Instagram profiles, posts, and reels with one API
- Compare SocialCrawl vs Apify vs Bright Data for Instagram data