Instagram Handle Checker

Instantly check Instagram username availability for one or hundreds of handles at once. Get real-time availability status and smart suggestions for taken usernames using Instagram's official API.

What is Instagram Handle Checker?

Instagram Handle Checker is a powerful tool that allows you to check Instagram username availability in bulk without manually testing each handle on Instagram's signup page. Simply provide a list of Instagram handles (without @) and the Actor will check each one via Instagram's API, returning availability status and smart alternative suggestions for taken usernames. This tool is perfect for brand research, username validation, and bulk availability checking.

What can Instagram Handle Checker do?

This Actor provides several powerful features that make Instagram username research effortless:

• Bulk username checking - Check hundreds of Instagram handles in a single run, saving hours of manual work
• Ultra-fast processing - Process 40 handles simultaneously with optimized parallel requests, completing 100 handles in just 2-4 seconds
• Real-time availability status - Get instant results showing whether each handle is available, taken, or encountered an error
• Smart suggestions - When a username is taken, receive alternative handle suggestions automatically generated by Instagram
• Cost-optimized - Advanced proxy reuse and optimization reduce proxy costs by up to 80% compared to standard implementations
• CSV export - Download results in CSV format for easy analysis in Excel, Google Sheets, or any data tool
• No login required - Works without Instagram account credentials, using Instagram's public API
• Error handling - Robust error handling with retry logic to ensure reliable results even under rate limiting

Platform Advantages

When you use Instagram Handle Checker on the Apify platform, you get access to powerful features that make username research scalable and reliable:

• Scheduling - Automate username checks on a schedule to monitor handle availability over time
• API access - Integrate handle checking into your workflows using Apify's REST API
• Monitoring - Track run history, success rates, and performance metrics in real-time
• Proxy rotation - Built-in proxy support to avoid rate limiting and ensure reliable checks
• Scalability - Process thousands of handles without worrying about infrastructure
• Data storage - Results are automatically stored in Apify datasets with easy export options
• Integrations - Connect with Make.com, Zapier, or other automation tools via webhooks

What data can Instagram Handle Checker extract?

The Actor returns comprehensive availability information for each checked handle:

Field	Description
handle	The Instagram username that was checked (without @)
available	Availability status: yes if available, no if taken, error if check failed
suggestions	Comma-separated list of alternative username suggestions (provided by Instagram when username is taken)
error	Error message if the check failed, N/A otherwise

How to check Instagram username availability

Using Instagram Handle Checker is simple and requires no coding knowledge:

1. Prepare your handles - Create a list of Instagram usernames you want to check (without the @ symbol)
2. Configure input - In the Input tab, use the bulk interface to add handles one by one, use "Bulk edit" for bulk entry, or paste them as a JSON array: ["logement", "myhandle", "brandname"]
3. Run the Actor - Click "Start" and the Actor will automatically check each handle using 40 parallel requests for maximum speed
4. Download results - Once complete, download your results from the Dataset tab in CSV, JSON, or Excel format

The Actor processes handles in parallel (40 concurrent requests) for maximum speed, checking availability via Instagram's official API. With optimized proxy reuse and minimal delays, 100 handles typically complete in just 2-4 seconds. Results include availability status and alternative suggestions for taken usernames.

How much does it cost to check Instagram handles?

Instagram Handle Checker uses Apify's consumption-based pricing model, meaning you only pay for the Compute Units (CUs) and proxy data transfer consumed during each run. The Actor is highly optimized for cost efficiency:

• Compute Units - Minimal CU consumption thanks to optimized parallel processing (typically ~0.08 CU per run)
• Proxy costs - Advanced proxy reuse reduces proxy data transfer by up to 80% compared to standard implementations
• Processing speed - Ultra-fast processing (2-4 seconds for 100 handles) minimizes run duration and costs

Typical costs per run:

• 100 handles: ~$0.15-0.20 total (Compute Units + proxy data transfer)
• 500 handles: ~$0.50-0.70 total
• 1,000 handles: ~$0.90-1.20 total

Free tier: With Apify's free plan, you can check hundreds of handles per month at no cost. This is perfect for small-scale brand research or testing username availability for a few projects.

Paid plans: For larger-scale operations checking thousands of handles, paid plans offer more Compute Units and higher limits. The Actor's cost optimizations ensure you get maximum value - checking 1,000 handles costs approximately $1, making it one of the most cost-effective Instagram handle checking solutions available.

The Actor is optimized for both speed and efficiency, using advanced proxy reuse (15 handles per proxy), optimized parallel processing (40 concurrent requests), and smart retry logic to minimize costs while maximizing throughput.

Input

Instagram Handle Checker accepts handles in array format. Click on the Input tab for more information and to see the input schema.

Using the bulk interface (recommended):

• Use the "Add" button to add handles one by one
• Use "Bulk edit" to paste multiple handles at once (one per line or comma-separated)
• Use "Text file" to import handles from a file

JSON format (also supported):

{
  "handles": [
    "logement",
    "myhandle",
    "brandname"
  ]
}

You can check a single handle or hundreds at once. The Actor processes all handles in parallel for maximum speed.

Output

You can download the dataset extracted by Instagram Handle Checker in various formats such as JSON, HTML, CSV, or Excel.

Example output:

[
  {
    "handle": "logement",
    "available": "no",
    "suggestions": "logement2025, logement89, logement181",
    "error": "N/A"
  },
  {
    "handle": "myhandle",
    "available": "yes",
    "suggestions": "N/A",
    "error": "N/A"
  },
  {
    "handle": "brandname",
    "available": "yes",
    "suggestions": "N/A",
    "error": "N/A"
  }
]

CSV format:

handle;available;suggestions;error
logement;no;logement2025, logement89, logement181;N/A
myhandle;yes;N/A;N/A
brandname;yes;N/A;N/A

Tips for best results

• Batch processing - Check multiple handles in a single run to maximize efficiency and minimize costs (100+ handles recommended for best cost efficiency)
• Handle format - Enter handles without the @ symbol (e.g., logement not @logement)
• Bulk entry - Use the "Bulk edit" feature to paste multiple handles at once for faster input
• Processing speed - The Actor processes 40 handles simultaneously, so larger batches complete in similar time as smaller ones
• Rate limiting - The Actor automatically handles rate limiting with retry logic and optimized proxy reuse
• Export format - Use CSV format for easy analysis in spreadsheet applications
• Scheduling - Use Apify's scheduling feature to monitor handle availability over time
• Cost optimization - The Actor uses advanced proxy reuse (15 handles per proxy), reducing costs by up to 80% compared to standard implementations

Is it legal to check Instagram username availability?

Our Actor is ethical and uses Instagram's public API to check username availability. It does not extract any private user data, such as email addresses, profile information, or private content. The Actor only checks whether a username is available or taken, which is public information.

We believe that checking username availability for legitimate purposes such as brand research, account planning, or business purposes is safe and ethical. However, you should be aware that:

• The Actor uses Instagram's official API endpoints
• No private data is accessed or stored
• Results only indicate availability status and public suggestions
• You should use this tool responsibly and in compliance with Instagram's Terms of Service

If you're unsure whether your use case is legitimate, consult with legal counsel. You can also read our blog post on the legality of web scraping.

FAQ

How accurate are the availability results?

The Actor uses Instagram's official API to check username availability, ensuring 100% accuracy. Results reflect the real-time availability status on Instagram.

Can I check handles for Instagram business accounts?

Yes, the Actor checks availability for all types of Instagram accounts (personal, business, creator). The availability status applies to all account types.

What happens if Instagram rate limits my requests?

The Actor includes automatic retry logic with exponential backoff to handle rate limiting. If rate limits occur, the Actor will automatically retry after a delay. Very large batches may take longer to complete.

Can I schedule regular checks?

Yes! Use Apify's scheduling feature to automatically check handle availability on a recurring schedule. This is useful for monitoring when a desired username becomes available.

How many handles can I check in one run?

There's no hard limit, but very large batches (thousands of handles) may take longer and consume more Compute Units. For best results, we recommend batches of 100-500 handles per run. The Actor processes 40 handles simultaneously, so 100 handles typically complete in 2-4 seconds, and 500 handles in 10-15 seconds.

How fast is the Actor?

The Actor is optimized for speed with 40 parallel requests and minimal delays. Typical processing times:

• 100 handles: 2-4 seconds
• 500 handles: 10-15 seconds
• 1,000 handles: 20-30 seconds

Processing speed depends on Instagram's response times and any rate limiting that may occur.

Can I integrate this with other tools?

Yes! Instagram Handle Checker can be integrated with Make.com, Zapier, or any tool that supports webhooks. Use Apify's webhook feature to trigger actions based on availability results.

What if I need a custom solution?

If you need a customized version of this Actor or additional features, feel free to reach out. We're open to creating custom solutions based on your specific requirements.

Support

If you encounter any issues or have questions:

• Check the Issues tab for known problems and solutions
• Review the Input and Output tabs for detailed schema information
• Contact support through Apify Console if you need additional help

We're always open to feedback and suggestions for improving the Actor. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have ideas or encounter any problems!