Instagram Search Popular API
Scrape Instagram Search Popular data with one API call. Returns popular Instagram posts matching a keyword. Each post includes caption, play count, permalink, thumbnail, and the owner's username. The popular surface itself does not publish like or comment counts, the post date or the duration, so on a plain call `post.engagement.likes`, `.comments`, `.shares`, `post.published_at` and `post.content.duration_seconds` are null. Send `include=engagement` and every row is joined, in the same call, to the per-post lookup that carries them: likes, comments, shares (the paper-plane send count), views, the exact publish time and the duration land on each row. Cost: 1 credit for the page plus 1 credit per row that was filled from a fresh lookup (12 rows max, so 13 credits at most); rows already in cache are filled for free, rows that could not be filled are refunded, and a repeat of the same call within the cache window is 0 credits. Time: a plain call is 2 to 3 seconds; `include=engagement` adds 2 to 9 seconds on a fresh page (the twelve lookups run in parallel and the call waits for the slowest, never more than 12 seconds) and nothing when the rows are already cached. `limit=N` caps the rows and the credits together. The response carries a `hydration` block itemising rows, lookups, cache hits, credits and milliseconds. Accounts that hide their like count keep `likes` null. `post.engagement.saves` is not available on this surface and stays null either way. Page with cursor.
Last updated October 2026Maintained by the SocialCrawl team
Returns popular Instagram posts matching a keyword, each with caption, play count, permalink, thumbnail, and the owner's username.
Use it to sample what is popular for a topic; search/reels is the choice when you want a keyword reel feed instead.
Searching 68 platforms in parallel
TikTok·Instagram·
YouTube·
Facebook·
X·
LinkedIn·
Reddit·
Threads·
Pinterest·
Twitch·
Truth Social·
Snapchat·
Kick·
Bluesky·
Kwai·
Rumble·
Spotify·
Apple Music·TikTok Shop·
Amazon Shop·
Google Shopping·
Trustpilot·
TripAdvisor·
Yelp·
Linktree·
Komi·
Pillar·
lnk.bio·Facebook Ads·Google Ads·LinkedIn Ads·Google Search·Google News·
Finance·
Polymarket·
Tavily·
Hacker News·
GitHub·
Perplexity·
Naver·
Utility·
Universal SearchTikTok·Instagram·YouTube·Facebook·X·LinkedIn·Reddit·Threads·Pinterest·Twitch·Truth Social·Snapchat·Kick·Bluesky·Kwai·Rumble·Spotify·Apple Music·TikTok Shop·Amazon Shop·Google Shopping·Trustpilot·TripAdvisor·Yelp·Linktree·Komi·Pillar·lnk.bio·Facebook Ads·Google Ads·LinkedIn Ads·Google Search·Google News·Finance·Polymarket·Tavily·Hacker News·GitHub·Perplexity·Naver·Utility·Universal SearchTikTok·Instagram·YouTube·Facebook·X·LinkedIn·Reddit·Threads·Pinterest·Twitch·Truth Social·Snapchat·Kick·Bluesky·Kwai·Rumble·Spotify·Apple Music·TikTok Shop·Amazon Shop·Google Shopping·Trustpilot·TripAdvisor·Yelp·Linktree·Komi·Pillar·lnk.bio·Facebook Ads·Google Ads·LinkedIn Ads·Google Search·Google News·Finance·Polymarket·Tavily·Hacker News·GitHub·Perplexity·Naver·Utility·Universal SearchTikTok·Instagram·YouTube·Facebook·X·LinkedIn·Reddit·Threads·Pinterest·Twitch·Truth Social·Snapchat·Kick·Bluesky·Kwai·Rumble·Spotify·Apple Music·TikTok Shop·Amazon Shop·Google Shopping·Trustpilot·TripAdvisor·Yelp·Linktree·Komi·Pillar·lnk.bio·Facebook Ads·Google Ads·LinkedIn Ads·Google Search·Google News·Finance·Polymarket·Tavily·Hacker News·GitHub·Perplexity·Naver·Utility·Universal SearchWhat can you do with the Search Popular API?
The Search Popular endpoint gives you structured Instagram data with computed fields in a single request. No scraping infrastructure to build or maintain.
Example Request
curl -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
"https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/instagram/search/popular?query=basketball"import requests
response = requests.get(
"https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/instagram/search/popular",
params={
'query': 'basketball',
},
headers={"x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY"},
)
data = response.json()const response = await fetch(
"https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/instagram/search/popular?query=basketball",
{
headers: { "x-api-key": "YOUR_API_KEY" },
},
);
const data = await response.json();Parameters
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| query | Yes | Keyword or topic to find popular Instagram posts. |
| cursor | No | Cursor from the previous response to fetch the next page. |
| include | No | Set to `engagement` (one token only) to fill `post.engagement.likes`, `.comments`, `.shares`, `.views`, `post.published_at` and `post.content.duration_seconds` on every row in this one call. Holds 1 credit per row (at most 12, or `limit`) and keeps only the rows filled from a fresh lookup; rows already in cache and rows that could not be filled are refunded, so the most a call can cost is 1 + rows and the usual bill is lower. Adds 2 to 9 seconds on a fresh page (never more than 12) and nothing when the rows are already cached; read `data.hydration` for the rows, the credits held and kept, and the time. (engagement) |
| limit | No | Take the top N rows of the page (1 to 12) after the search has run. With `include=engagement` it also caps the extra credits at N: `limit=5&include=engagement` costs at most 6. It is not a page size: `next_cursor` still advances past the full page, so rows beyond N on this page are not returned by the next page. |
What does the Instagram Search Popular API return?
Every response follows one unified schema. Here is a real, unmodified response body, so you can see the exact fields you get back before spending a credit.
Example response
{
"success": true,
"platform": "instagram",
"endpoint": "/v1/instagram/search/popular",
"data": {
"items": [
{
"post": {
"id": "3950673596807175488",
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DbTnLRpNN1A/",
"content": {
"text": "Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted).",
"media_urls": "https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/user_2352da/v/t2/f2/m86/AQPjapwgpHIbntj7xCnWHwz2onav5nntg60vFtkT3XEg3vLplqV1m54WXDWboklrnPnTb5LRnuie3--Xhp85yLGPMVZNiL22EVhayiE.mp4?_nc_cat=101&_nc_sid=5e9851&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=Ku8eCGUzKEAQ7kNvwGawbVS&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6Inhwdl9wcm9ncmVzc2l2ZS5JTlNUQUdSQU0uQ0xJUFMuQzMuNzIwLmRhc2hfYmFzZWxpbmVfMV92MSIsInhwdl9hc3NldF9pZCI6MTUxMjcwMzU5MzQ3NDYxMCwiYXNzZXRfYWdlX2RheXMiOjY2LCJ2aV91c2VjYXNlX2lkIjoxMDA5OSwiZHVyYXRpb25fcyI6NiwidXJsZ2VuX3NvdXJjZSI6Ind3dyJ9&ccb=17-1&vs=d9ad7592b11e0b4b&_nc_vs=HBksFQIYUmlnX3hwdl9yZWVsc19wZXJtYW5lbnRfc3JfcHJvZC8wRjRCQzlEOTk1RjYyNTU1NDZGMzBBRTZDNDVFODI5Q192aWRlb19kYXNoaW5pdC5tcDQVAALIARIAFQIYUWlnX3hwdl9wbGFjZW1lbnRfcGVybWFuZW50X3YyLzZFNDYyNDkxRjAxQjRCMEQ4NEE5Rjk5OUEyMzU5NzkxX2F1ZGlvX2Rhc2hpbml0Lm1wNBUCAsgBEgAoABgAGwKIB3VzZV9vaWwBMRJwcm9ncmVzc2l2ZV9yZWNpcGUBMRUAACbkqLeF-PKvBRUCKAJDMywXQBuZmZmZmZoYEmRhc2hfYmFzZWxpbmVfMV92MREAdf4HZeadAQA&_nc_gid=BIu8ZnzDHfpvMUjQ9L9nuw&_nc_zt=28&_nc_ss=70689&oh=00_AQNjB-k28kccDbaP7uBLZx1B4pffpJy9wpDTmiZRKqSopA&oe=6AC12EDE",
"thumbnail_url": "https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/user_4c9448/t51.82787-15/758401726_17888212497667117_4059043247986072264_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e15_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ig_cache_key=Mzk1MDY3MzU5NjgwNzE3NTQ4ODE3ODg4MjEyNDk0NjY3MTE3.3-ccb7-5&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=58cdad&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6IkNMSVBTLnhwaWRzLjEzMjAuc2RyLnZpZGVvX2RlZmF1bHRfY292ZXJfZnJhbWUuQzMifQ%3D%3D&_nc_ohc=x5H9DJ4XcvUQ7kNvwF2PS4r&_nc_oc=Adp9cIaTK7bzDrpPR8zCZaBX0C1iuKAM6Kbpr8z87t6aajvbjx8ExInO0-gL9BzgZAgOmzFsQFYNORSCQs531Adk&_nc_ad=z-m&_nc_cid=0&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_gid=BIu8ZnzDHfpvMUjQ9L9nuw&_nc_ss=7a22e&oh=00_AQNdcm9xObHQY5UpL-6NRD0SwNkPTcqGrtciEpO8X5No9g&oe=6AC51A89",
"duration_seconds": 6.9
},
"author": {
"username": "user_7690fa",
"display_name": "user_e155be",
"avatar_url": null,
"verified": null
},
"engagement": {
"views": 22493648,
"likes": 217344,
"comments": 1015,
"shares": null,
"saves": null
},
"flags": {
"nsfw": null,
"spoiler": null,
"pinned": null,
"deleted": false
},
"published_at": "2026-07-27T18:30:48.000Z",
"ext": {
"author_id": "user_5eb746"
}
},
"computed": {
"engagement_rate": 0.009708,
"language": "en",
"content_category": "sports",
"estimated_reach": 26992378
}
},
{
"post": {
"id": "3936030195327313495",
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DaflpvRsiZX/",
"content": {
"text": "Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted). Sample comment text (redacted).",
"media_urls": "https://scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com/user_2352da/v/t2/f2/m86/AQO6Ryht2XWYR4pWhleM2XYutOpq1v-FAiDNbdtyeh3t8nSN_agBcrKgWm-ds8R9SpJt2rKRu3qQvT0hL8r3anMqPerxtnB6R2IPXjQ.mp4?_nc_cat=107&_nc_sid=5e9851&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=_7YKdYie2MYQ7kNvwGc2W77&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6Inhwdl9wcm9ncmVzc2l2ZS5JTlNUQUdSQU0uQ0xJUFMuQzMuNzIwLmRhc2hfYmFzZWxpbmVfMV92MSIsInhwdl9hc3NldF9pZCI6MTczNjk3NTE3Mzk5MDkwMCwiYXNzZXRfYWdlX2RheXMiOjg2LCJ2aV91c2VjYXNlX2lkIjoxMDA5OSwiZHVyYXRpb25fcyI6NjMsInVybGdlbl9zb3VyY2UiOiJ3d3cifQ%3D%3D&ccb=17-1&vs=3410cb87e2d78d0&_nc_vs=HBksFQIYUmlnX3hwdl9yZWVsc19wZXJtYW5lbnRfc3JfcHJvZC8wRjRBODI4OEM1ODkzQUI2N0YwRTY3RkMwNzM3NTNBQV92aWRlb19kYXNoaW5pdC5tcDQVAALIARIAFQIYUWlnX3hwdl9wbGFjZW1lbnRfcGVybWFuZW50X3YyLzY2NDEzMTgxMkU2MUMzRjRBOTJEMDQ1MzY4Nzg3MjhFX2F1ZGlvX2Rhc2hpbml0Lm1wNBUCAsgBEgAoABgAGwKIB3VzZV9vaWwBMRJwcm9ncmVzc2l2ZV9yZWNpcGUBMRUAACbo59XDofGVBhUCKAJDMywXQE-IcrAgxJwYEmRhc2hfYmFzZWxpbmVfMV92MREAdf4HZeadAQA&_nc_gid=lwBbpEv5e9FwHBF5N7XThg&_nc_zt=28&_nc_ss=70689&oh=00_AQOxCEHYciuzoRVAO2UR1jLAVtDLqDSmZrD7daXJSnF9ZQ&oe=6AC12578",
"thumbnail_url": "https://scontent-ord5-1.cdninstagram.com/user_4c9448/t51.71878-15/735110142_1458102316081576_7528806419597014383_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e15_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ig_cache_key=MzkzNjAzMDE5NTMyNzMxMzQ5NQ%3D%3D.3-ccb7-5&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=58cdad&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6IkNMSVBTLnhwaWRzLjY0MC5zZHIudmlkZW9fZGVmYXVsdF9jb3Zlcl9mcmFtZS5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=hrgb-s8TAUQQ7kNvwFSCGEI&_nc_oc=Adpu9BAy1COYG2YfcxGJ3AyVyQEvkb2DoJscIljwhSilKWGgCf4Hu7qAY_IqvTdnkeA&_nc_ad=z-m&_nc_cid=0&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-ord5-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_gid=lwBbpEv5e9FwHBF5N7XThg&_nc_ss=7a22e&oh=00_AQN9VCSKPKIbs6HUuvanVNeAmj-jLWzHOZuMPOT0ICbToA&oe=6AC532E3",
"duration_seconds": 63.067
},
"author": {
"username": "user_738ab0",
"display_name": "user_d1a2cb",
"avatar_url": null,
"verified": null
},
"engagement": {
"views": 8452481,
"likes": 727970,
"comments": 3116,
"shares": null,
"saves": null
},
"flags": {
"nsfw": null,
"spoiler": null,
"pinned": null,
"deleted": false
},
"published_at": "2026-07-07T13:37:19.000Z",
"ext": {
"author_id": "user_3ea8ef"
}
},
"computed": {
"engagement_rate": 0.086494,
"language": "en",
"content_category": "sports",
"estimated_reach": 10142977
}
}
],
"total": 12,
"dropped": 0
},
"credits_used": 1,
"request_id": "req_example000000",
"cached": false,
"pagination": {
"next_cursor": null,
"has_more": false,
"page_size": 2
},
"credits_remaining": 9999,
"source": "captured",
"captured_at": "2026-10-02T07:29:41.509Z",
"redacted": true
}Live sample illustrating the unified response shape. Field values reflect the record you query.
How does the Instagram Search Popular API work?
Send a GET request with your API key and get back clean, structured JSON in our unified schema. Supported computed fields are populated when the source provides the required inputs.
Method
GET
Response
JSON
How do you scrape social media data in seconds?
The fastest social media scraping API for developers. Scrape profiles, posts, comments, and analytics from 68 platforms covering 10B+ monthly active users.
One schema, every platform
Query 68 platforms with identical response structures. Write your integration once.
Computed fields, not just scraped
When an endpoint supports these metrics and the source provides the required inputs, the normalized record includes engagement_rate, estimated_reach, content_category, and language. Ready to use.
See your data before you code
Visual Data Explorer. Paste any URL, get rich result cards, sortable tables, CSV export.
import requests
response = requests.get(
'https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/tiktok/profile',
params={'handle': 'charlidamelio'},
headers={'x-api-key': 'sc_YOUR_API_KEY'}
)
data = response.json(){
"success": true,
"platform": "tiktok",
"data": {
"author": {
"username": "charlidamelio",
"followers": 152400000
},
"engagement": {
"likes": 12400000000,
"engagement_rate": 0.087
},
"metadata": {
"language": "en",
"content_category": "lifestyle"
}
}
}Ready to scrape Instagram Search Popular data?
Get your API key and start pulling Instagram data in under 60 seconds.