# Instagram Posts Scraper – Cheap & No Login (`feedpull/instagram-posts-scraper`) Actor

Scrape posts & reels from public Instagram profiles: captions, likes, comments, video plays, hashtags, mentions, media URLs. Same output fields as the official Instagram Post Scraper for a fraction of the price. No login or cookies.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/feedpull/instagram-posts-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [FeedPull](https://apify.com/feedpull) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Lead generation, Developer tools
- **Stats:** 7 total users, 3 monthly users, 95.2% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $0.30 / 1,000 post scrapeds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

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 Posts Scraper – Cheap & No Login

Scrape posts and reels from any **public Instagram profile** — captions, likes, comments, video plays and views, hashtags, mentions, tagged users, collaborators, music and media URLs. No Instagram account, cookies or proxies needed.

**Why this scraper**

- 💸 **From $0.30 per 1,000 posts** — a fraction of what most Instagram scrapers charge.
- 🔁 **Drop-in output**: uses the same field names as the official Instagram Post Scraper (`shortCode`, `likesCount`, `commentsCount`, `videoPlayCount`, `childPosts`, `taggedUsers`, `musicInfo`…), so switching does not break your pipeline.
- 🎯 **Pay only for what you get**: private or missing profiles cost a flat small fee; you set a max cost per run and the scraper stops right there.
- ⚡ **No browser**: lightweight requests, starts in seconds, runs on 256 MB.

### What data you get

| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| `url`, `shortCode`, `id` | `https://www.instagram.com/p/DeCPVhERA8e/` |
| `type`, `productType` | `Video`, `clips` (reel) · `Sidecar` (carousel) · `Image` |
| `caption`, `hashtags`, `mentions` | full text + parsed `#tags` and `@mentions` |
| `likesCount`, `commentsCount` | `112497`, `1124` |
| `videoPlayCount`, `videoDuration`, `videoViewCount` | `2933219`, `27.56`, `690412`, see FAQ for when play counts are included |
| `timestamp` | `2026-10-03T14:10:18.000Z` |
| `displayUrl`, `images`, `videoUrl`, `childPosts` | media URLs, every carousel slide |
| `ownerUsername`, `ownerFullName`, `ownerId` | post author (collab posts show the real owner) |
| `coauthorProducers`, `taggedUsers` | collaborators and tagged accounts |
| `musicInfo` | song / original audio, artist, audio id |
| `isPinned`, `isSponsored`, `locationName` | pinned, paid partnership, location |

### Sample output

![Sample output: posts from @natgeo](https://api.apify.com/v2/key-value-stores/X9wmEw233kFEGdWS2/records/sample-posts.png)

The Overview table above is what you see in Apify Console after a run; switch to **All fields** or export JSON for every field.

### How to use

1. Add usernames or profile URLs (`nasa`, `@nasa`, `https://www.instagram.com/nasa/`).
2. Set **Max posts per profile** (default 12, minimum 5).
3. Need video play counts and durations for 12 posts or fewer? Turn on **Include video play counts and durations**.
4. Optional: **Only posts newer than** (`2026-09-01` or `7 days`) and **Skip pinned posts**.
5. Run and export as JSON, CSV, Excel, or pull via API.

#### Input example

```json
{
    "username": ["nasa", "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/"],
    "resultsLimit": 30,
    "includeVideoPlayCounts": true,
    "onlyPostsNewerThan": "14 days",
    "skipPinnedPosts": false
}
```

#### Output example

```json
{
    "inputUrl": "https://www.instagram.com/nasa/",
    "id": "3999826868370149150",
    "type": "Video",
    "shortCode": "DeCPVhERA8e",
    "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DeCPVhERA8e/",
    "caption": "Room with a view. Check out my new digs …",
    "hashtags": [],
    "mentions": ["iss"],
    "commentsCount": 1124,
    "likesCount": 112497,
    "timestamp": "2026-10-03T14:10:18.000Z",
    "videoPlayCount": 2933219,
    "videoDuration": 27.56,
    "ownerUsername": "astro_jessica",
    "coauthorProducers": [{ "username": "nasa", "is_verified": true }, { "username": "iss", "is_verified": true }],
    "musicInfo": { "artist_name": "astro_jessica", "song_name": "Original audio", "uses_original_audio": true },
    "productType": "clips",
    "isPinned": false
}
```

A run summary (per-profile status, counts) is saved to the `OUTPUT` record of the run's key-value store.

### Pricing

Pay per event — you are charged only for results delivered:

| Event | Free plan | Starter | Scale | Business+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Post scraped | $1.00 / 1,000 | $0.45 / 1,000 | $0.40 / 1,000 | **$0.30 / 1,000** |
| Post loaded but filtered out by date | $0.79 / 1,000 | $0.30 / 1,000 | $0.30 / 1,000 | $0.30 / 1,000 |
| Private / missing / empty profile | $0.0015 each | | | |
| Actor start | $0.0005 per run | | | |

Set **Maximum cost per run** in the run options to cap spend — the scraper stops before exceeding it.

### FAQ

**Do I need an Instagram account?** No. Only publicly visible data is collected, without logging in.

**Can it scrape private profiles?** No. Private, deleted or non-existent profiles are reported in `OUTPUT` and billed with the small flat profile fee.

**Why do I see posts from other accounts?** Collab posts appear on every co-author's grid; `ownerUsername` shows the real author and `inputUrl` shows which profile it was found on.

**Do I get video play counts?** Yes when you request more than 12 posts per profile, or when **Include video play counts and durations** is on. Otherwise, for speed, the latest posts are read straight from the profile page: they carry view counts (`videoViewCount`) but `videoPlayCount` and `videoDuration` are `null`. Price per post is the same either way.

**What is the minimum?** 5 posts per profile. A profile with fewer posts is billed only for the posts it returns.

**Are comments included?** Comment counts are. For comment text, use a dedicated comments scraper.

**Only Reels, or profile details?** Use [Instagram Reels Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/instagram-reels-scraper) for the Reels tab with play counts, and [Instagram Profile Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/instagram-profile-scraper) for follower counts and bios.

**Is scraping Instagram legal?** This Actor only collects publicly available data. Personal data is protected by regulations such as GDPR; make sure you have a legitimate reason and consult a lawyer if unsure.

### Data & privacy

Only publicly visible data is collected. To bill correctly and keep the scraper healthy, each run reports its input (the profiles and options you entered), result counts, charges and upstream request counts to FeedPull's own monitoring, tied to a pseudonymous id of your Apify account. Scraped results go only to your dataset. Inputs and per-target details are deleted after 90 days; only aggregate counts are kept.

### More scrapers by FeedPull

| Actor | What you get | Price |
|---|---|---|
| [Instagram Posts Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/instagram-posts-scraper) | One Instagram post or reel saved to the dataset | from $0.30 / 1,000 posts |
| [Instagram Reels Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/instagram-reels-scraper) | One Instagram Reel saved to the dataset | from $0.45 / 1,000 reels |
| [Instagram Profile Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/instagram-profile-scraper) | One Instagram profile saved to the dataset | from $1.50 / 1,000 profiles |
| [Douyin Profile Videos Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/douyin-profile-videos-scraper) | One Douyin video or image post saved to the dataset | from $1.50 / 1,000 videos |
| [Douyin Comments Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/douyin-comments-scraper) | One Douyin comment saved to the dataset | from $0.60 / 1,000 comments |
| [Xiaohongshu (RedNote) Search Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/xiaohongshu-search-scraper) | One Xiaohongshu note from the search results saved to the dataset | from $2.50 / 1,000 notes |
| [Xiaohongshu (RedNote) Profile Notes Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/xiaohongshu-user-notes-scraper) | One Xiaohongshu note saved to the dataset | from $2.50 / 1,000 notes |
| [Xiaohongshu (RedNote) Comments Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/xiaohongshu-comments-scraper) | One Xiaohongshu comment saved to the dataset | from $2.50 / 1,000 comments |
| [TikTok Comments Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/tiktok-comments-scraper) | One TikTok comment saved to the dataset | from $0.40 / 1,000 comments |
| [TikTok Search Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/tiktok-search-scraper) | One TikTok video from the search results saved to the dataset | from $0.80 / 1,000 videos |
| [YouTube Search Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/youtube-search-scraper) | One YouTube video from the search results saved to the dataset | from $1.20 / 1,000 videos |
| [Reddit Search Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/reddit-search-scraper) | One Reddit post from the search results saved to the dataset | from $0.80 / 1,000 posts |
| [Reddit Comments Scraper](https://apify.com/feedpull/reddit-comments-scraper) | One Reddit comment (or reply) saved to the dataset | from $0.60 / 1,000 comments |

### Support

Open an issue on the Actor's **Issues** tab — feature requests (comments, hashtags, reels-only feeds) are welcome.

# Actor input Schema

## `username` (type: `array`):

Public Instagram profiles to scrape posts from. Accepts usernames (<code>nasa</code>, <code>@nasa</code>) or profile URLs (<code>https://www.instagram.com/nasa/</code>).

## `resultsLimit` (type: `integer`):

How many of the most recent posts to return for each profile (minimum 5). Profiles with fewer posts are billed only for the posts returned.

## `includeVideoPlayCounts` (type: `boolean`):

Off: for 12 posts or fewer per profile, posts are read straight from the profile page – faster, with video view counts (<code>videoViewCount</code>) but without <code>videoPlayCount</code> and <code>videoDuration</code>. On: always loads the full feed with play counts and durations. Requests above 12 posts always include them.

## `onlyPostsNewerThan` (type: `string`):

Stop at posts older than this date. Use an absolute date (<code>2026-09-01</code>) or a relative one (<code>7 days</code>, <code>2 weeks</code>). Older posts that had to be loaded to find the cut-off are billed as filtered items.

## `skipPinnedPosts` (type: `boolean`):

Pinned posts can be months old and appear first on a profile. Enable to leave them out.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "username": [
    "nasa",
    "natgeo"
  ],
  "resultsLimit": 12,
  "includeVideoPlayCounts": false,
  "skipPinnedPosts": false
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `posts` (type: `string`):

One item per scraped post or reel.

## `summary` (type: `string`):

Per-profile status (ok, private, not found, no posts) and counts.

# 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 = {
    "username": [
        "nasa",
        "natgeo"
    ],
    "resultsLimit": 12
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("feedpull/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 '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "username": [
        "nasa",
        "natgeo",
    ],
    "resultsLimit": 12,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("feedpull/instagram-posts-scraper").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 '{
  "username": [
    "nasa",
    "natgeo"
  ],
  "resultsLimit": 12
}' |
apify call feedpull/instagram-posts-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

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

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/oxkAg2LCgPOwcMpQQ/builds/GJ9PmZwgiEYWqZkPv/openapi.json