# Instagram Reel Scraper (`fetch_cat/instagram-reel-scraper`) Actor Extract public Instagram Reel rows from direct Reel URLs, including visible metadata and warning fields when Instagram hides logged-out data. - **URL**: https://apify.com/fetch\_cat/instagram-reel-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Hanna Nosova](https://apify.com/fetch_cat) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, Videos, Marketing - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $0.60 / 1,000 item processeds 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/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/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.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/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 Reel Scraper Extract structured rows from public Instagram Reel URLs. This Actor is built for social listening, creator research, UGC campaign checks, and workflow automation where you need a repeatable dataset with one row per Reel. ### At a glance - **Primary job**: Turn public Instagram Reel links into CSV, JSON, Excel, or API-ready dataset rows. - **Input**: Direct public Reel URLs such as `https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da-2R72yymt/`. - **Output**: Reel shortcode, canonical URL, caption/hashtags/mentions when visible, public metrics when visible, media URLs when visible, warnings, and per-input errors. - **Best for**: Brand monitoring, creator/content research, short-video trend tracking, UGC QA, and enrichment pipelines. ### Input recipes - **Single Reel smoke test**: Paste one public Reel URL and set `maxItems` to `1`. - **Batch Reel export**: Paste multiple public Reel URLs and keep `maxItems` equal to the number of URLs you want processed. - **Diagnostic monitoring**: Keep the `warnings`, `error`, and `errorDescription` columns in exports so hidden or unavailable Reels are easy to review. ### What data can you extract? | Field | Description | | --- | --- | | `inputUrl` | Original URL from your input. | | `id`, `shortCode` | Stable Reel shortcode used for deduplication. | | `url` | Canonical Instagram Reel URL. | | `caption` | Caption text when visible in the public payload. | | `hashtags`, `mentions` | Tags and mentions parsed from visible public text. | | `ownerUsername`, `ownerId` | Owner metadata when visible. | | `timestamp` | Published timestamp when visible. | | `likesCount`, `commentsCount`, `shareCount` | Public engagement metrics when visible. | | `videoPlayCount` | Public play count when Instagram labels a value as plays. | | `viewCount` | Compatibility field populated only when Instagram exposes a distinct view count; it is never copied from `videoPlayCount`. | | `thumbnailUrl`, `videoUrl` | Public media URLs when exposed by Instagram. | | `warnings` | Missing optional fields or degraded public payload notes. | | `error`, `errorDescription` | Per-input error details for invalid, blocked, or unavailable URLs. | | `fetchedAt` | ISO timestamp for the scrape. | ### Input configuration | Setting | JSON key | Use it for | Example | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Instagram Reel URLs | `startUrls` | Direct public Reel URLs to process. | `https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da-2R72yymt/` | | Maximum reels | `maxItems` | Cap the number of unique Reel URLs processed. | `3` | | Maximum runtime | `maxRuntimeSecs` | Stop early, save a checkpoint, and leave cleanup time before the platform timeout. | `270` | | Proxy configuration | `proxyConfiguration` | Optionally use Apify Proxy when direct public access is limited. | Apify Proxy | ### Example input ```json { "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da-2R72yymt/" } ], "maxItems": 1 } ```` ### Example output ```json { "inputUrl": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da-2R72yymt/", "id": "Da-2R72yymt", "shortCode": "Da-2R72yymt", "type": "reel", "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da-2R72yymt/", "caption": null, "hashtags": [], "mentions": [], "ownerUsername": null, "likesCount": null, "commentsCount": null, "videoPlayCount": null, "viewCount": null, "thumbnailUrl": null, "warnings": [ "Caption was not visible in the public response.", "Direct-URL availability does not prove that this Reel is visible in the owner profile grid." ], "error": null, "errorDescription": null, "fetchedAt": "2026-07-14T10:22:26.244Z" } ``` ### Pricing | Event | Free | Bronze | Silver | Gold | Platinum | Diamond | Charged when | | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | ---: | --- | | Run start | `$0.005` | `$0.005` | `$0.005` | `$0.005` | `$0.005` | `$0.005` | Once when the Actor starts. | | Item processed | `$0.00115` | `$0.00100` | `$0.00078` | `$0.00060` | `$0.00040` | `$0.00028` | Each successful Reel row saved to the dataset. | Status rows for blocked, unavailable, or failed URLs are diagnostic output and do not trigger the item charge. The run-start event is charged only after input validation succeeds. ### Who is this for? - **Social media teams** checking public Reel links from campaigns or creators. - **Creator researchers** building a repeatable list of Reels for review. - **Automation builders** who need one structured dataset row per Reel URL. - **Analysts** who prefer explicit warnings over silent skips when public fields are hidden. ### Tips for best results - **Use direct public Reel URLs**: Canonical `/reel/SHORTCODE/` and profile-prefixed `/USERNAME/reel/SHORTCODE/` links are accepted. Profile listing, hashtag, audio, location, and private routes are outside V1 scope. - **Start small**: Test 1-3 URLs before larger batches. - **Expect nullable fields**: Instagram frequently hides captions, metrics, owner details, or media URLs from logged-out public payloads. - **Use warnings**: The `warnings` array explains degraded payloads without dropping the row. - **Resume safely**: If the Actor reaches its runtime cutoff, resurrect the same run with the same input and storage. `RUN_CHECKPOINT` prevents already completed shortcodes from being processed twice. ### API usage **Node.js** ```js import { ApifyClient } from "apify-client"; const client = new ApifyClient({ token: process.env.APIFY_TOKEN }); const run = await client.actor("fetch_cat/instagram-reel-scraper").call({ startUrls: [{ url: "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da-2R72yymt/" }], maxItems: 1 }); console.log(run.defaultDatasetId); ``` **Python** ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient client = ApifyClient("") run = client.actor("fetch_cat/instagram-reel-scraper").call(run_input={ "startUrls": [{"url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da-2R72yymt/"}], "maxItems": 1, }) print(run["defaultDatasetId"]) ``` **cURL** ```bash curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/fetch_cat~instagram-reel-scraper/runs?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{"startUrls":[{"url":"https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da-2R72yymt/"}],"maxItems":1}' ``` ### MCP and AI agents Use this Actor from MCP-compatible tools through the official Apify MCP Server. ```bash claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=fetch_cat/instagram-reel-scraper" ``` ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "url": "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=fetch_cat/instagram-reel-scraper" } } } ``` Example prompt: "Run Instagram Reel Scraper on this Reel URL and summarize warnings and visible metrics." ### Limits and caveats - **Public data only**: No login cookies, private accounts, private APIs, DMs, or paid source credentials are used. - **Instagram can hide fields**: Missing optional fields are returned as `null` with warnings instead of guessed values. - **Plays and views differ**: `videoPlayCount` and `viewCount` preserve Instagram's visible labels. The Actor does not alias plays into views. - **Direct and profile visibility differ**: A Reel can be available by direct URL without appearing in the owner's profile grid. - **Bounded retries**: Transient blocks and server failures are retried up to three times within the shared run deadline. Per-URL failures are isolated so other Reel URLs can still complete. - **No video downloads in V1**: The Actor returns URLs when visible, not binary media files. Every run writes `RUN_SUMMARY` to the default key-value store. A deadline-limited run also retains `RUN_CHECKPOINT`; resurrecting that run with the same storage resumes pending URLs. An unexpected all-error workload fails the run after saving uncharged diagnostic rows. ### FAQ **Does this Actor log in to Instagram?**\ No. It only processes public Reel URLs and returns warning fields when Instagram hides optional data. **Why are some fields null?**\ Instagram can hide captions, metrics, media URLs, or owner details from public logged-out pages. The Actor keeps the row and explains the missing data in `warnings`. **Can I scrape profile reels?**\ Not in V1. Use direct public Reel URLs for the most predictable output. ### Related Actors - [Instagram Profile Posts Scraper](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/instagram-profile-posts-scraper) — collect public profile post rows when profile pages are the source. - [Instagram Stories Highlights Scraper](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/instagram-stories-highlights-scraper) — extract public story highlight rows. - [TikTok Video Scraper](https://apify.com/fetch_cat/tiktok-video-scraper) — short-form video data from TikTok URLs. ### Legality and responsible use Process only data you are allowed to access. Follow Instagram's terms, Apify's terms, and applicable laws. ### Support Open an issue from the Actor page if a run fails or output looks wrong. Include the run ID or URL, input JSON, expected output, actual output, and a reproducible public URL such as `https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da-2R72yymt/`. # Actor input Schema ## `startUrls` (type: `array`): Direct public Instagram Reel URLs to scrape, including canonical /reel/ links and profile-prefixed /USERNAME/reel/ links. Private, deleted, or login-only Reels return error rows. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of unique Reel URLs to process in this run. ## `maxRuntimeSecs` (type: `integer`): Stop new requests early enough to save a checkpoint and run summary before the platform timeout. Resume with the same input to continue pending URLs. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Optional proxy configuration. Leave empty for a direct request, or configure Apify Proxy when Instagram limits access from your runtime location. ## Actor input object example ```json { "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da-2R72yymt/" } ], "maxItems": 3, "maxRuntimeSecs": 270 } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `overview` (type: `string`): No description ## `runSummary` (type: `string`): No description ## `checkpoint` (type: `string`): No description # 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 = { "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da-2R72yymt/" } ], "maxItems": 3 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("fetch_cat/instagram-reel-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 = { "startUrls": [{ "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da-2R72yymt/" }], "maxItems": 3, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("fetch_cat/instagram-reel-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 '{ "startUrls": [ { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Da-2R72yymt/" } ], "maxItems": 3 }' | apify call fetch_cat/instagram-reel-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch_cat/instagram-reel-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Instagram Reel Scraper", "description": "Extract public Instagram Reel rows from direct Reel URLs, including visible metadata and warning fields when Instagram hides logged-out data.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "NmnJgnTkjmJsAVCsI" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/fetch_cat~instagram-reel-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-fetch_cat-instagram-reel-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/fetch_cat~instagram-reel-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-fetch_cat-instagram-reel-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/fetch_cat~instagram-reel-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-fetch_cat-instagram-reel-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": [ "startUrls" ], "properties": { "startUrls": { "title": "Instagram Reel URLs", "minItems": 1, "maxItems": 500, "type": "array", "description": "Direct public Instagram Reel URLs to scrape, including canonical /reel/ links and profile-prefixed /USERNAME/reel/ links. Private, deleted, or login-only Reels return error rows.", "items": { "type": "object", "required": [ "url" ], "properties": { "url": { "type": "string", "title": "URL of a web page", "format": "uri" } } } }, "maxItems": { "title": "Maximum reels", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 500, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of unique Reel URLs to process in this run.", "default": 10 }, "maxRuntimeSecs": { "title": "Maximum runtime", "minimum": 31, "maximum": 270, "type": "integer", "description": "Stop new requests early enough to save a checkpoint and run summary before the platform timeout. Resume with the same input to continue pending URLs.", "default": 270 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Optional proxy configuration. Leave empty for a direct request, or configure Apify Proxy when Instagram limits access from your runtime location." } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```