Instagram Posts Scraper API: Extract Post Data at Scale

Need to analyze Instagram content? This guide shows you how to extract posts, captions, engagement metrics, and media from any public Instagram profile.

What Post Data Can You Extract?

Field	Description
Post ID	Unique identifier
Shortcode	URL-friendly ID
Caption	Full post text
Hashtags	Used hashtags
Likes	Like count
Comments	Comment count
Type	Photo, Video, Carousel
Media URL	Image/video URLs
Timestamp	When posted
Location	Tagged location
Tagged Users	Mentioned accounts

Using the Posts Scraper API

const response = await fetch('https://api.sociavault.com/instagram/posts', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
    'Content-Type': 'application/json'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    handle: 'natgeo'
  })
});

const posts = await response.json();

Sample Response

{
  "posts": [
    {
      "id": "3123456789012345678",
      "shortcode": "ABC123xyz",
      "caption": "Stunning sunset over the African savanna 🌅 #nature #photography",
      "hashtags": ["nature", "photography"],
      "likes": 1250000,
      "comments": 8500,
      "type": "photo",
      "mediaUrl": "https://...",
      "timestamp": "2026-01-08T18:30:00Z",
      "location": {
        "name": "Serengeti National Park",
        "id": "123456789"
      },
      "taggedUsers": ["photographer_name"]
    }
  ],
  "hasMore": true,
  "cursor": "next_page_cursor"
}

Use Cases

Content Performance Analysis

Identify what content performs best:

const posts = await getInstagramPosts('competitor');

// Calculate average engagement
const avgLikes = posts.reduce((sum, p) => sum + p.likes, 0) / posts.length;
const avgComments = posts.reduce((sum, p) => sum + p.comments, 0) / posts.length;

// Find top performers
const topPosts = posts
  .sort((a, b) => b.likes - a.likes)
  .slice(0, 10);

console.log('Top performing content:', topPosts.map(p => p.shortcode));

Hashtag Analysis

Extract most-used hashtags from a profile:

const hashtagCounts = {};
posts.forEach(post => {
  post.hashtags.forEach(tag => {
    hashtagCounts[tag] = (hashtagCounts[tag] || 0) + 1;
  });
});

const topHashtags = Object.entries(hashtagCounts)
  .sort((a, b) => b[1] - a[1])
  .slice(0, 20);

Posting Schedule Analysis

Discover optimal posting times:

const postsByHour = {};
posts.forEach(post => {
  const hour = new Date(post.timestamp).getHours();
  postsByHour[hour] = (postsByHour[hour] || 0) + 1;
});

// Find most common posting hour
const peakHour = Object.entries(postsByHour)
  .sort((a, b) => b[1] - a[1])[0][0];

console.log(`Most common posting hour: ${peakHour}:00`);

Content Type Distribution

Analyze the mix of content types:

const typeCount = posts.reduce((acc, post) => {
  acc[post.type] = (acc[post.type] || 0) + 1;
  return acc;
}, {});

console.log('Content mix:', typeCount);
// { photo: 45, video: 30, carousel: 25 }

Pagination for All Posts

Get a profile's complete post history:

async function getAllPosts(handle) {
  let allPosts = [];
  let cursor = null;
  
  do {
    const response = await fetch('https://api.sociavault.com/instagram/posts', {
      method: 'POST',
      headers: {
        'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY',
        'Content-Type': 'application/json'
      },
      body: JSON.stringify({ handle, cursor })
    });
    
    const data = await response.json();
    allPosts = [...allPosts, ...data.posts];
    cursor = data.hasMore ? data.cursor : null;
    
  } while (cursor);
  
  return allPosts;
}

Related Endpoints

• Instagram Profile Scraper - Profile data
• Instagram Reels API - Reels-specific content
• Instagram Post Info - Single post details
• Instagram Comments - Post comments

Frequently Asked Questions

How many posts can I retrieve per request?

Each request returns up to 12 posts by default. Use pagination to get more posts.

Can I get posts from private accounts?

No, only public profiles are accessible. Private accounts restrict content to approved followers.

Do I get the actual image/video files?

The API returns URLs to media files. You can download these URLs if needed for your use case.

How far back can I get posts?

You can access a profile's entire public post history, going back to their first post.

Are Instagram Stories included?

No, Stories are ephemeral and not included in posts. Use the Highlights endpoint for saved story content.

Get Started

Create your account and start extracting Instagram posts.

API documentation: /docs/api-reference/instagram/posts