# Instagram Giveaway Picker – Fair Contest Winner Draw (`automation_studio/instagram-giveaway-picker`) Actor

Pick random giveaway winners fairly from Instagram comments on posts & reels. Filter by @tagged friends, hashtags, deduplicate users, and get a Story-ready Certificate of Fairness. No login required.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/automation_studio/instagram-giveaway-picker.md
- **Developed by:** [Automation Studio](https://apify.com/automation_studio) (community)
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$250.00 / 1,000 certified contest winner draws

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## 🎁 Instagram Giveaway Picker & Contest Winner Generator (No Login, Fair Draw)

Pick random, certified giveaway winners from Instagram comments on posts, reels, and carousels in seconds. Enforce strict contest rules like **minimum tagged friends (@mentions)**, **mandatory hashtags**, and **user deduplication**, then export an official **Instagram Story–ready Certificate of Fairness** with cryptographic draw seeds to prove 100% unbiased contest integrity to your followers.

***

#### ⚡ Why Creators & Brands Choose This Winner Picker

| Feature | 🎁 This Actor | 💸 SaaS Web Apps (AppSorteos, Gleam) | 👴 Outdated Apify Actors (`jan.jiran`) |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| **Account Password Required?** | ❌ **Never (100% Secure)** | ⚠️ Often requires Facebook / IG login | ❌ No |
| **Pricing Model** | 💎 **$0.25 flat per draw** | 💸 $9.99–$29.99/month subscription | ⚠️ $0.20 start fee even on error |
| **No Winner, No Pay Guarantee** | ✅ **Yes ($0.00 if post is empty)** | ❌ No refunds | ❌ No |
| **Story-Ready Proof Certificate** | ✅ **Interactive HTML & Story view** | 🔒 Paid add-on ($15+) | ❌ Raw unformatted data only |
| **Backup / Alternate Winners** | ✅ **Automatic (1st, 2nd, 3rd)** | ⚠️ Extra fee | ❌ Manual re-draw |
| **Container Memory & Speed** | ⚡ **1,024 MB (<15s Runs)** | 🐢 Cloud queue delays | 🐢 4,096 MB (4GB bloat!) |
| **Tagged Friends (@) Filter** | ✅ **Yes (e.g. tag 2+ friends)** | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Basic only |
| **Hashtag & Keyword Filters** | ✅ **Yes (exact match)** | ✅ Yes | ❌ Limited |

***

#### 🏆 The Built-In Story Certificate of Fairness

Never get accused of picking favorites or rigging a contest again. Every draw automatically compiles a standalone **Certificate of Authenticity (`CERTIFICATE.html`)** saved in your run's Key-Value store:

- 🏆 **Primary Winner Spotlight**: Winner handle (`@username`), profile link, and winning comment quote.
- 📋 **Alternate Winners List**: Pre-drawn backup runners-up if your primary winner doesn't respond to DMs in 24 hours.
- 🛡️ **Cryptographic Verification Seed**: Transparent SHA-256 draw seed proving the draw was mathematically random and unmanipulated.
- 📱 **Instagram Story Ready**: Beautiful 9:16 layout optimized for quick screenshots or screen recordings directly on your mobile device.

***

#### 🎯 Supported Giveaway Rules & Mechanics

1. **Tag Friends to Enter**: Require commenters to tag at least $N$ friends (e.g. `min_tagged_friends: 2`). Self-tags are automatically detected and excluded.
2. **Mandatory Keyword / Hashtag**: Enforce rules like *"comment with #SummerVibes"* or answer a trivia question.
3. **Strict Deduplication (One Entry per Person)**: Prevent spam by giving each user exactly 1 entry ticket regardless of how many comments they posted.
4. **Host / Creator Exclusion**: Automatically excludes your own profile from accidentally winning your own prize.
5. **Multiple Winners & Alternates**: Draw up to 50 primary winners and 20 certified alternates in a single click.

***

#### 🚀 Quick Start Guide

1. **Paste your Instagram Post URL** (e.g. `https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd1j5EoJT8N/` or reel link).
2. **Configure your contest rules** (number of winners, minimum tagged friends, required hashtags).
3. **Click "Start"**: Within 10–25 seconds, your winners are selected.
4. **Download or screenshot your Certificate**: Open `CERTIFICATE.html` in the **Storage / Key-Value Store** tab and share it on Instagram Stories & Reels!

***

#### ❓ Frequently Asked Questions

##### Does this work on Instagram Reels and Carousels?

Yes! The picker supports standard feed photo posts, multi-slide carousels, and Instagram Reels. Simply paste the direct URL.

##### Do I need to connect my Instagram account or enter my password?

**Never.** This tool scrapes public comments natively without needing your login, password, or Facebook Business permissions. Your account remains 100% private and secure.

##### What happens if a post has no comments or an invalid link?

Under our **"No Winner, No Charge Guarantee"**, you are charged **$0.00**. The draw fee is only applied when eligible entries are verified and official winners are selected.

##### Can I export entries to Excel or CSV?

Yes! You can download the full list of entries, winners, tagged friends, and timestamps in CSV, Excel, or JSON format directly from the Apify Console.

# Actor input Schema

## `post_url` (type: `string`):

The direct URL to the public Instagram post, reel, or carousel holding your giveaway comments.

## `winner_count` (type: `integer`):

How many primary winners should be chosen randomly from eligible entries.

## `backup_winner_count` (type: `integer`):

Select backup winners in case a primary winner doesn't respond or claim their prize within your deadline.

## `min_tagged_friends` (type: `integer`):

Require comments to tag at least this many friends (e.g. set to 2 if your rule is 'Tag 2 friends to enter'). Set to 0 to disable.

## `required_hashtag_or_text` (type: `string`):

Only comments containing this specific text, phrase, or hashtag (e.g. '#giveaway' or 'paris') will be counted as eligible.

## `deduplicate_users` (type: `boolean`):

When enabled, each unique Instagram username gets exactly 1 entry ticket regardless of how many comments they posted.

## `exclude_post_owner` (type: `boolean`):

Automatically prevents the host account / post creator from being selected as a winner.

## `max_comments` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of comments to fetch and inspect. Keep at 50 for ultra-fast trial runs, or raise to 1,000–5,000 for massive giveaways.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Apify Proxy ensures reliable access to Instagram public posts and prevents regional rate limits.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "post_url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd1j5EoJT8N/",
  "winner_count": 1,
  "backup_winner_count": 2,
  "min_tagged_friends": 0,
  "required_hashtag_or_text": "",
  "deduplicate_users": true,
  "exclude_post_owner": true,
  "max_comments": 50,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `dataset` (type: `string`):

Dataset containing verified giveaway winners, alternates, and audited comment entries.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "post_url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd1j5EoJT8N/"
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("automation_studio/instagram-giveaway-picker").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "post_url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd1j5EoJT8N/" }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("automation_studio/instagram-giveaway-picker").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "post_url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/Dd1j5EoJT8N/"
}' |
apify call automation_studio/instagram-giveaway-picker --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,automation_studio/instagram-giveaway-picker"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/5uuybMAnihqYUwQ62/builds/ZYuNJJw34PXQVHOMH/openapi.json