Instagram Reels API: Extract Reels Data & Analytics

Instagram Reels are the fastest-growing content format on the platform. But Instagram's official API doesn't give you much Reels data.

Need views, engagement, trending audio, or performance analytics? You need an Instagram Reels API.

What is an Instagram Reels API?

An API that extracts data from Instagram Reels—the short-form videos that dominate Instagram feeds. You get structured data about any public Reel without building your own scraper.

What Reels Data Can You Get?

Data Point	Description
View count	Total plays
Like count	Hearts on the Reel
Comment count	Number of comments
Video URL	Direct link to video file
Thumbnail	Cover image
Caption	Text description
Duration	Length in seconds
Audio	Song/sound used
Hashtags	Tags in the caption
Author	Creator username and profile
Timestamp	When it was posted

Why You Need Reels Data

Track Performance

See how Reels perform compared to regular posts. Reels typically get 2-3x more reach—but you need data to prove it.

Find Trending Audio

Discover which songs and sounds are going viral. Using trending audio can boost your Reels reach significantly.

Competitor Analysis

See what Reels your competitors are posting and how they're performing. Learn what works in your niche.

Influencer Vetting

Check if an influencer's Reels actually get views. Follower count means nothing if their content doesn't perform.

Content Research

Find top-performing Reels in any niche. Study what hooks, formats, and topics work best.

How to Get Instagram Reels Data

Get Reels from a Profile

const response = await fetch(
  'https://api.sociavault.com/v1/scrape/instagram/reels?handle=garyvee',
  { headers: { 'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);

const result = await response.json();
const reels = Object.values(result.data.items);

You can also use user_id instead of handle for faster response times. Pass trim=true for a smaller response.

Response:

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "success": true,
    "items": {
      "0": {
        "media": {
          "pk": "3827510363643067000",
          "id": "3827510363643067000_270598518",
          "code": "DUkABCxyz",
          "play_count": 1433610,
          "ig_play_count": 1433610,
          "video_duration": 11.539,
          "has_audio": true,
          "like_count": 28500,
          "comment_count": 312,
          "video_versions": {
            "0": { "url": "https://instagram...", "width": 480, "height": 852 }
          },
          "image_versions2": {
            "candidates": {
              "0": { "url": "https://instagram...", "width": 640, "height": 1136 }
            }
          },
          "user": {
            "pk": "270598518",
            "username": "opi",
            "full_name": "OPI",
            "is_verified": true
          }
        }
      }
    },
    "paging_info": {
      "max_id": "QVFCVzNnS2lI...==",
      "more_available": true
    }
  },
  "credits_used": 1,
  "endpoint": "instagram/reels"
}

Key fields per reel (under items[n].media):

• Views: play_count
• Likes: like_count
• Comments: comment_count
• Video URL: video_versions[0].url
• Thumbnail: image_versions2.candidates[0].url
• Duration: video_duration (seconds)
• Shortcode: code

Note: This endpoint doesn't return reel captions. Use the Post Info endpoint with the reel URL to get captions.

Get a Single Reel's Details

Use the Post Info endpoint with the reel URL:

const response = await fetch(
  'https://api.sociavault.com/v1/scrape/instagram/post-info?url=https://instagram.com/reel/DMA4eb1RC0D/',
  { headers: { 'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);

const result = await response.json();
const reel = result.data.data.xdt_shortcode_media;

Get Reel Comments

const response = await fetch(
  'https://api.sociavault.com/v1/scrape/instagram/comments?url=https://instagram.com/reel/DMA4eb1RC0D/',
  { headers: { 'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);

const result = await response.json();

Use Cases

1. Calculate True Engagement Rate

Follower count is vanity. Engagement is what matters:

async function getReels(handle) {
  const res = await fetch(
    `https://api.sociavault.com/v1/scrape/instagram/reels?handle=${handle}`,
    { headers: { 'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY' } }
  );
  return res.json();
}

async function getProfile(handle) {
  const res = await fetch(
    `https://api.sociavault.com/v1/scrape/instagram/profile?handle=${handle}`,
    { headers: { 'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY' } }
  );
  return res.json();
}

async function getReelsEngagement(handle) {
  const profileResult = await getProfile(handle);
  const reelsResult = await getReels(handle);
  
  const reels = Object.values(reelsResult.data.items).map(i => i.media);
  const followers = profileResult.data.data.user.edge_followed_by.count;
  
  const avgViews = reels.reduce((sum, r) => sum + r.play_count, 0) / reels.length;
  const avgLikes = reels.reduce((sum, r) => sum + (r.like_count || 0), 0) / reels.length;
  
  return {
    followers,
    avgViews,
    avgLikes,
    viewRate: ((avgViews / followers) * 100).toFixed(2) + '%',
    engagementRate: ((avgLikes / avgViews) * 100).toFixed(2) + '%'
  };
}

2. Benchmark Against Competitors

async function benchmarkReels(yourAccount, competitors) {
  const results = [];
  
  for (const account of [yourAccount, ...competitors]) {
    const stats = await getReelsEngagement(account);
    results.push({ account, ...stats });
  }
  
  // Sort by engagement rate
  return results.sort((a, b) => 
    parseFloat(b.engagementRate) - parseFloat(a.engagementRate)
  );
}

Python Example

import requests

API_KEY = 'your_api_key'

def get_reels(handle):
    response = requests.get(
        'https://api.sociavault.com/v1/scrape/instagram/reels',
        params={'handle': handle},
        headers={'x-api-key': API_KEY}
    )
    return response.json()

# Get reels and analyze
result = get_reels('therock')

for item in result['data']['items'].values():
    reel = item['media']
    print(f"Views: {reel['play_count']:,} | Likes: {reel.get('like_count', 0):,}")

Official API vs Scraping API

Instagram's Graph API has limited Reels support:

Feature	Official API	Scraping API
View count	❌ Not available	✅ Yes
Other users' Reels	❌ No	✅ Yes
Audio/sound info	❌ No	✅ Yes
Historical data	❌ No	✅ Yes
Requires approval	✅ Yes	❌ No

For Reels analytics, a scraping API is currently the only practical option.

Getting Started

1. Sign up at sociavault.com
2. Get 50 free credits to test
3. Copy your API key
4. Start extracting Reels data

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get view counts for any Reel?

Yes, you can get view counts for any public Instagram Reel. Private accounts cannot be accessed.

Does Instagram's official API provide Reels data?

Very limited. The Graph API doesn't expose view counts or let you access other users' Reels data.

Can I download the actual video file?

Yes, the API returns a direct URL to the video file that you can download.

How accurate is the view count?

The API returns the current view count as displayed on Instagram. It updates in real-time.

Can I get Reels by hashtag?

Yes, you can search for Reels using specific hashtags to find content in your niche.

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Related guides:

• Instagram Reels Analytics Guide
• Instagram Scraper API
• How to Scrape Instagram Data
• TikTok vs Instagram Reels
• Build an Influencer Database