# Instagram Posts Scraper (`easy_scraper/instagram-posts-scraper`) Actor Scrapes public Instagram profile posts into structured datasets with rich metadata including captions, engagement, media. Supports multiple profiles, pagination, post-type filtering, date-based extraction. clean, analysis-ready output for automation, analytics, and lead generation. - **URL**: https://apify.com/easy\_scraper/instagram-posts-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [easy scraper](https://apify.com/easy_scraper) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, Automation, Lead generation - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $1.50 / 1,000 post addeds 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/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. 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. Actors are written with capital "A". ## 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. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Instagram Posts Scraper Apify Actor that collects **public profile timeline posts** from Instagram . Each accepted post becomes one **dataset** row with URLs, caption, owner, engagement metrics, and carousel-friendly fields. --- ### 1. Features - **Multiple profiles** per run (username, `@handle`, or full profile URL). - **`maxPosts`** cap per profile (paginates until the limit or the feed ends). - **`dateFilter`** — optional “newer than” using **absolute** date (`YYYY-MM-DD`) or **relative** text (`7 days`, `2 weeks`, …) via the Apify datepicker. - **`skipPinnedPosts`** — omit pinned items from results (default: `true`). - **`postTypeFilter`** — restrict to Instagram `product_type`: `all`, `feed`, `clips`, `carousel_container`. - **Structured output** — Instagram URL, ISO timestamp, caption fields, owner block, image URLs, optional video URL, hashtags and mentions from caption, tagged users, coauthors, carousel child summary. - **Pagination** stops early when the feed reaches posts **older than** the date filter (non-pinned, chronological path). --- ### 6. Output fields (dataset) | Field | Type | Description | | ------------------------------- | ----------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `scraped_from` | string | Username queued for this profile | | `instagram_url` | string | Post URL `https://www.instagram.com/p/{shortcode}/` | | `shortcode` | string | Media `code` from Instagram | | `timestamp` | string (ISO 8601) | From `taken_at` / `taken_at_timestamp` | | `product_type` | string | e.g. `feed`, `clips`, `carousel_container` | | `is_video` | boolean | From `media_type` / `video_versions` | | `caption_text` | string \| null | Caption body | | `like_count` | number \| null | Likes | | `comment_count` | number \| null | Comments | | `view_count` | number \| null | Views when present | | `play_count` | number \| null | Plays; may use `ig_play_count` when present | | `owner_username` | string \| null | `user.username` | | `display_url` | string \| null | Primary image URL | | `video_url` | string \| null | First `video_versions` URL | | `video_duration` | number \| null | Seconds; may be parsed from DASH manifest | | `id` | string \| null | Compound media id | | `pk` | string \| null | Media pk | | `caption_created_at` | string \| null | Caption `created_at` as ISO | | `is_caption_edited` | boolean | Caption edited flag | | `accessibility_caption` | string \| null | Alt text | | `is_comments_disabled` | boolean | `comments_disabled === true` | | `like_and_view_counts_disabled` | boolean | Likes/views hidden | | `owner_id` | string \| null | `owner.id` or `user.id` / `user.pk` | | `owner_full_name` | string \| null | Full name | | `owner_is_verified` | boolean | Verified | | `owner_profile_pic_url` | string \| null | Avatar URL | | `media_name` | string \| null | Title or Reels audio title when present | | `image_width` | number \| null | `original_width` | | `image_height` | number \| null | `original_height` | | `image_urls` | string[] | `image_versions2` candidate URLs | | `is_pinned_post` | boolean | Pinned (only appears when not skipped upstream) | | `is_sponsored` | boolean | `ad_id` present | | `is_paid_partnership` | boolean | Paid partnership | | `tagged_users` | string[] | From `usertags` | | `hashtags` | string[] | Parsed from caption | | `caption_mentions` | string[] | `@mentions` in caption | | `coauthors` | array | `{ pk, username, full_name }` objects | | `child_post_count` | number \| null | Carousel length | | `child_posts` | array | Per-slide `{ pk, media_type, shortcode, image_url }` | | `first_comment_text` | string \| null | Not filled by current query | | `latest_comment_text` | string \| null | Not filled by current query | --- ### 3. How to run (Apify Console) Use this Actor in the **[Apify Console](https://console.apify.com/actors/OblG239Cju8aWtvFs)** 1. Open the **Input** tab. 2. Under **Target Profiles**, add every Instagram account you want (username, `@name`, or full profile URL). This field is required. 3. Set **Maximum Posts** if you want a limit other than 50 (count is **per profile**). 4. Set **Post Type Filter** if you only want one kind of post: all, normal photos/posts, Reels, or carousels. 5. Leave **Skip pinned posts** on to drop pinned items, or turn it off to include them. 6. Under **Extract posts that are newer than**, either leave it blank (no date limit) or pick **Absolute** (calendar date) / **Relative** (e.g. last 7 days). 7. Click **Start** (or **Save & Start**). Watch **Log** for progress. 8. When the run finishes, open **Output** or **Storage → Dataset** to view, filter, or download your post rows. **Advanced:** switch the Input view to **JSON** if you want to paste an object by hand; use the same field names as in [§4. Input](#4-input). --- ### 4. Input ```json { "profiles": ["therock", "https://www.instagram.com/nasa/"], "maxPosts": 50, "postTypeFilter": "all", "skipPinnedPosts": true, "dateFilter": "2026-01-15" } ```` Relative date example: ```json { "profiles": ["nasa"], "maxPosts": 100, "postTypeFilter": "clips", "skipPinnedPosts": true, "dateFilter": "30 days" } ``` | `postTypeFilter` | Meaning | | ---------------------- | -------------------------------- | | `all` | All types that pass other filters | | `feed` | Standard feed / image posts | | `clips` | Reels | | `carousel_container` | Carousels | *** ### 5. Output (example record) One dataset object per stored post (shape matches `.actor/dataset_schema.json`): ```json { "scraped_from": "therock", "id": "3844133065635875205_232192182", "pk": "3844133065635875205", "shortcode": "DVZGqf2j0mF", "instagram_url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DVZGqf2j0mF/", "product_type": "clips", "timestamp": "2026-02-19T12:37:02.000Z", "is_video": true, "video_duration": 261.942871, "view_count": null, "play_count": null, "caption_text": "Example caption…", "caption_created_at": "2026-02-19T12:37:04.000Z", "is_caption_edited": false, "display_url": "https://instagram.fcai19-11.fna.fbcdn.net/…", "accessibility_caption": null, "like_count": 322961, "comment_count": 6675, "is_comments_disabled": false, "like_and_view_counts_disabled": false, "owner_id": "232192182", "owner_username": "therock", "owner_full_name": "Dwayne Johnson", "owner_is_verified": true, "owner_profile_pic_url": "https://instagram.fcai19-11.fna.fbcdn.net/…", "media_name": "Original audio", "image_width": 720, "image_height": 1280, "image_urls": ["https://…"], "video_url": "https://instagram.fcai19-11.fna.fbcdn.net/…", "is_pinned_post": false, "is_sponsored": false, "is_paid_partnership": false, "coauthors": [], "tagged_users": ["americanblackfilmfestival"], "hashtags": ["RememberYourWhyCollection"], "caption_mentions": ["projectrock"], "child_post_count": null, "child_posts": [], "first_comment_text": null, "latest_comment_text": null } ``` *** # Actor input Schema ## `profiles` (type: `array`): List of Instagram profiles to scrape. You can provide usernames (with or without @) or full profile URLs. ## `maxPosts` (type: `integer`): Total number of posts to scrape per profile. ## `postTypeFilter` (type: `string`): Limit results to a single Instagram product\_type. "All Posts" keeps every timeline item that passes other filters. ## `skipPinnedPosts` (type: `boolean`): When enabled, pinned profile posts are omitted from results. ## `dateFilter` (type: `string`): Optional. Use the Absolute tab for a calendar date (YYYY-MM-DD), or Relative for a number of days, weeks, months, or years. Leave empty to disable date filtering. ## Actor input object example ```json { "profiles": [ "therock", "@nasa", "https://www.instagram.com/leomessi/" ], "maxPosts": 50, "postTypeFilter": "all", "skipPinnedPosts": true } ``` # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "profiles": [ "therock", "@nasa", "https://www.instagram.com/leomessi/" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("easy_scraper/instagram-posts-scraper").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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "profiles": [ "therock", "@nasa", "https://www.instagram.com/leomessi/", ] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("easy_scraper/instagram-posts-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "profiles": [ "therock", "@nasa", "https://www.instagram.com/leomessi/" ] }' | apify call easy_scraper/instagram-posts-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=easy_scraper/instagram-posts-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Instagram Posts Scraper", "description": "Scrapes public Instagram profile posts into structured datasets with rich metadata including captions, engagement, media.\nSupports multiple profiles, pagination, post-type filtering, date-based extraction.\nclean, analysis-ready output for automation, analytics, and lead generation.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "NZvihZsUWqTiWnb5W" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/easy_scraper~instagram-posts-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-easy_scraper-instagram-posts-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/easy_scraper~instagram-posts-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-easy_scraper-instagram-posts-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/easy_scraper~instagram-posts-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-easy_scraper-instagram-posts-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "profiles" ], "properties": { "profiles": { "title": "Target Profiles", "type": "array", "description": "List of Instagram profiles to scrape. You can provide usernames (with or without @) or full profile URLs.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxPosts": { "title": "Maximum Posts", "minimum": 1, "type": "integer", "description": "Total number of posts to scrape per profile.", "default": 50 }, "postTypeFilter": { "title": "Post Type Filter", "enum": [ "all", "feed", "clips", "carousel_container" ], "type": "string", "description": "Limit results to a single Instagram product_type. \"All Posts\" keeps every timeline item that passes other filters.", "default": "all" }, "skipPinnedPosts": { "title": "Skip pinned posts", "type": "boolean", "description": "When enabled, pinned profile posts are omitted from results.", "default": true }, "dateFilter": { "title": "Extract posts that are newer than", "pattern": "^(\\d{4})-(0[1-9]|1[0-2])-(0[1-9]|[12]\\d|3[01])$|^(\\d+)\\s*(day|week|month|year)s?$", "type": "string", "description": "Optional. Use the Absolute tab for a calendar date (YYYY-MM-DD), or Relative for a number of days, weeks, months, or years. Leave empty to disable date filtering." } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```