--- title: "Instagram API: real-time structured data | Scrape.ly" description: "Scrape public Instagram profiles, posts, reels, comments, hashtags, and places: captions, likes, comments, media URLs, and owner details, without logging in." url: https://scrape.ly/api/instagram-api markdown: https://scrape.ly/api/instagram-api.md --- G2 4.7/5 [Excellent](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/scrape.ly) [Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/scrape.ly) # Turn Instagram into structured data Scrape public Instagram profiles, posts, reels, comments, hashtags, and places: captions, likes, comments, media URLs, and owner details, without logging in. [Try Instagram API](https://scrape.ly/store/echofield/instagram-scraper.md) 01 Integration ## Integrate Instagram API your way Connect to Scrape.ly using Python, JavaScript, HTTP, cURL, OpenAPI, or MCP and start extracting Instagram data in minutes. from scrapely_client import ScrapelyClient client = ScrapelyClient ( 'YOUR_TOKEN' , api_url = 'https\://api.scrape.ly' ) run = client. actor ( 'echofield/instagram-scraper' ) . call ( run_input = { 'directUrls' : \[ 'https\://www\.instagram.com/natgeo/' ] , 'resultsType' : 'posts' , 'resultsLimit' : 20 , } ) for item in client. dataset ( run.default_dataset_id ) . iterate_items () : print ( item ) 02 Input & Output ## Send a profile or hashtag, get structured posts and profiles Pass profile URLs, post URLs, hashtags, and result types into Scrape.ly. Get structured outputs with captions, hashtags, and mentions, likes, comments, and views, image and video URLs, post timestamps, and profile details and follower counts, and more. Input 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ``` { "directUrls":[ "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/" ], "resultsType":"posts", "resultsLimit":20 } ``` Output 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ``` { "type":"Image", "shortCode":"C9xYz12AbcD", "caption":"A snow leopard pauses on a ridge in Ladakh. #wildlife", "hashtags":[ "wildlife" ], "likesCount":412893, "commentsCount":1874, "timestamp":"2026-10-17T14:02:11.000Z", "ownerUsername":"natgeo", "url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/C9xYz12AbcD/" } ``` 03 How it works ## Start extracting Instagram data in four simple steps Scrape.ly keeps the setup simple so you can move from signup to live Instagram data without wasting time on scraping infrastructure. [Get started for free](https://my.scrape.ly/register) Step 1 ### Create your Scrape.ly account Create your account and get access to ready-made APIs, scrapers, and automation tools. Step 2 ### Get your Scrape.ly API token Copy your API token from the Scrape.ly dashboard and use it to authenticate your requests. Step 3 ### Connect Instagram API Choose Python, JavaScript, HTTP, or MCP and connect Scrape.ly to your app or workflow. Step 4 ### Fetch Instagram data Send your profile URLs, post URLs, hashtags, and result types, then receive clean structured data ready for analysis. 04 Why Scrape.ly ## Everything you need to extract data reliably Scrape.ly gives you ready-made APIs, proxy support, monitoring, exports, integrations, and scalable infrastructure in one platform. ### Never Get Blocked Use built-in proxy support to reduce blocks, rate limits, and failed requests. ### Export Any Format Get results in JSON, CSV, Excel, XML, HTML table, RSS, or other workflow-friendly formats. ### Monitor Every Run Track scraper status, performance, failures, retries, and outputs from one dashboard. ### Built-In Integrations Connect with webhooks, APIs, automation tools, cloud apps, and internal systems. ### Scalable Infrastructure Run small tests or high-volume extraction jobs without rebuilding your scraping stack. ### Developer-Friendly Use clean APIs, SDKs, docs, examples, and structured outputs built for real workflows. 05 AI-Ready Data ## Feed Instagram data into your tools instantly Connect Scrape.ly with your apps, dashboards, sheets, agents, and automation workflows to turn Instagram data into action. [Browse integrations](https://scrape.ly/integrations.md) [API Reference](https://scrape.ly/docs/api-overview.md) ![AI-ready data workflow illustration](https://scrape.ly/assets/pages/api/ai-ready-data/ai-ready.svg) [5 ready-made scrapers All Instagram scrapers on one page Real output, live prices per 1,000 results, and how to run each one. See them](https://scrape.ly/scrapers/instagram.md) 06 Explore APIs ## More Instagram APIs on Scrape.ly Browse ready-made Instagram scrapers and APIs available inside Scrape.ly and choose the one that fits your workflow. ![Instagram Scraper logo](https://scrape.ly/cdn-cgi/image/width=132,fit=scale-down,format=auto/https://api.scrape.ly/v2/actors/ad7c1ae7652b4d699/picture.webp?v=4f80863d9c348d428939516fd59bb1df) ### [Instagram Scraper](https://scrape.ly/store/echofield/instagram-scraper.md) scrape.ly/store/echofield/instagram-scraper --- [Echofield](https://scrape.ly/users/echofield.md "Developed by Echofield") Social media Lead generation --- 1.6K monthly users [Try for free](https://my.scrape.ly/store/echofield~instagram-scraper?intent=signup) ![Instagram Profile Scraper logo](https://scrape.ly/cdn-cgi/image/width=132,fit=scale-down,format=auto/https://api.scrape.ly/v2/actors/1c55ec2ecbe64a35a/picture.webp?v=4f80863d9c348d428939516fd59bb1df) ### [Instagram Profile Scraper](https://scrape.ly/store/echofield/instagram-profile-scraper.md) scrape.ly/store/echofield/instagram-profile-scraper --- [Echofield](https://scrape.ly/users/echofield.md "Developed by Echofield") Social media Lead generation --- 1.4K monthly users [Try for free](https://my.scrape.ly/store/echofield~instagram-profile-scraper?intent=signup) ![Instagram Post Scraper logo](https://scrape.ly/cdn-cgi/image/width=132,fit=scale-down,format=auto/https://api.scrape.ly/v2/actors/8fa345ba09d3483a8/picture.webp?v=4f80863d9c348d428939516fd59bb1df) ### [Instagram Post Scraper](https://scrape.ly/store/echofield/instagram-post-scraper.md) scrape.ly/store/echofield/instagram-post-scraper --- [Echofield](https://scrape.ly/users/echofield.md "Developed by Echofield") Social media --- 1.1K monthly users [Try for free](https://my.scrape.ly/store/echofield~instagram-post-scraper?intent=signup) ### Check other related APIs [View all](https://scrape.ly/api.md) [TikTok API](https://scrape.ly/api/tiktok-api.md) [Facebook API](https://scrape.ly/api/facebook-api.md) [Facebook Marketplace API](https://scrape.ly/api/facebook-marketplace-api.md) [Facebook Ads Library API](https://scrape.ly/api/facebook-ads-library-api.md) [Twitter (X) API](https://scrape.ly/api/twitter-x-api.md) [Threads API](https://scrape.ly/api/threads-api.md) 07 FAQ ## Common questions about Instagram API Quick answers about using Scrape.ly's Instagram API, available data, setup, and legal usage. Got more questions? [Reach out to us](mailto:hello@scrape.ly?subject=Instagram%20API%20question\&body=I%20have%20a%20question%20about%20the%20Instagram%20API.) ### How is this different from an official Instagram API? --- Official APIs, where they exist, usually need approval, keys, or paid tiers and limit which public data you can pull. Scrape.ly's Instagram API collects the public data shown on Instagram and returns it as structured JSON, with no approval process. ### Can I try the Instagram API for free? ### What data can I get from the Instagram API? ### Is it legal to scrape Instagram data? ### How do I get started with the Instagram API? G2 4.7/5 [Excellent](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/scrape.ly) [Trustpilot](https://www.trustpilot.com/review/scrape.ly) ## The internet is full of data. Start owning yours. Scrape.ly gives you the infrastructure, the tooling, and the team to extract, process, and operationalize web data at any scale. Setup takes minutes. [Get Started Free](https://my.scrape.ly/register) [Chat with Support](mailto:hello@scrape.ly?subject=Question%20about%20Scrape.ly\&body=Hi%2C%20I%20have%20a%20question%20about%20Scrape.ly.) No credit card. No setup calls.