Instagram Scraper API: Extract Profiles, Posts & Reels Data
Building your own Instagram scraper is a nightmare. Rate limits, login walls, CAPTCHAs, constantly changing HTML—it's a full-time job just to keep it running.
An Instagram scraper API handles all that for you. You make a request, you get data. Simple.
What is an Instagram Scraper API?
It's a service that extracts Instagram data on your behalf. Instead of writing and maintaining scraper code, you call API endpoints and receive structured JSON data.
What the API handles:
- Proxy rotation (so you don't get blocked)
- CAPTCHA solving
- Rate limit management
- Data parsing and formatting
- Maintenance when Instagram changes
What you do:
- Make HTTP requests
- Use the data in your app
What Data Can You Extract?
| Data Type | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Profiles | Username, bio, followers, following, post count, verified status, profile picture |
| Posts | Images, videos, captions, likes, comments, hashtags, location, timestamp |
| Reels | Video URL, views, likes, comments, duration, audio info |
| Stories | Images/videos from public accounts |
| Comments | Comment text, author, likes, replies |
| Followers | List of accounts following a user |
| Hashtags | Posts using a specific hashtag |
All publicly available data—nothing that requires login to view.
Quick Examples
Get an Instagram Profile
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.sociavault.com/v1/scrape/instagram/profile?username=natgeo',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const profile = await response.json();
// { username: "natgeo", followers: 283000000, ... }
Get Recent Posts
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.sociavault.com/v1/scrape/instagram/posts?username=nike&limit=10',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const posts = await response.json();
// Array of posts with likes, comments, captions, etc.
Get Post Comments
const response = await fetch(
'https://api.sociavault.com/v1/scrape/instagram/comments?url=https://instagram.com/p/ABC123&limit=50',
{ headers: { 'Authorization': 'Bearer YOUR_API_KEY' } }
);
const comments = await response.json();
// Array of comments with text, author, timestamp
Common Use Cases
Influencer Research
Find and vet influencers for marketing campaigns:
- Check follower counts and growth
- Analyze engagement rates
- Review content quality and consistency
- Detect fake followers
Competitor Analysis
Monitor what competitors are doing:
- Track posting frequency
- See which content performs best
- Identify hashtag strategies
- Monitor follower growth
Content Inspiration
See what's working in your niche:
- Find top-performing posts
- Analyze successful captions
- Discover trending hashtags
- Study posting patterns
Lead Generation
Build prospect lists from Instagram:
- Extract business profiles
- Get contact information from bios
- Find potential customers by hashtag
Social Listening
Track brand mentions and sentiment:
- Monitor comments on your posts
- Find posts mentioning your brand
- Analyze customer feedback
Python Example
import requests
API_KEY = 'your_api_key'
BASE_URL = 'https://api.sociavault.com/v1/scrape/instagram'
def get_profile(username):
response = requests.get(
f'{BASE_URL}/profile',
params={'username': username},
headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {API_KEY}'}
)
return response.json()
def get_posts(username, limit=12):
response = requests.get(
f'{BASE_URL}/posts',
params={'username': username, 'limit': limit},
headers={'Authorization': f'Bearer {API_KEY}'}
)
return response.json()
# Usage
profile = get_profile('nike')
print(f"Nike has {profile['data']['follower_count']:,} followers")
Why Use an API Instead of Building a Scraper?
| DIY Scraper | Scraper API |
|---|---|
| Hours/days to build | Minutes to integrate |
| Constant maintenance | Always works |
| Proxy costs ($200-500/mo) | Pay per request |
| Get blocked frequently | 99%+ success rate |
| Handle CAPTCHAs yourself | CAPTCHAs handled |
For most projects, an API saves significant time and money.
Getting Started
- Sign up at sociavault.com
- Get 50 free credits to test
- Copy your API key from dashboard
- Make your first request
Frequently Asked Questions
Is using an Instagram scraper API legal?
Yes, scraping publicly available Instagram data is legal. The hiQ Labs v. LinkedIn case established that public data isn't protected by the CFAA. See our legal guide.
Will my account get banned?
No—you don't use your Instagram account. The API handles all scraping on its own infrastructure.
Can I scrape private accounts?
No. Only public profiles and posts can be scraped. Private accounts require login and cannot be accessed.
How much does it cost?
SociaVault charges per request (around $0.001 each). Much cheaper than maintaining your own scraping infrastructure.
How fast is the API?
Most requests complete in 1-3 seconds. Larger requests (like follower lists) may take longer.
Is there a rate limit?
The API handles rate limiting internally. From your perspective, you can make requests as needed without worrying about getting blocked.
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