# Instagram Username Checker · Taken or Available (`instagram-data-api/instagram-username-checker`) Actor

Check if Instagram usernames are taken or available, in bulk. Taken ones come with the account: name, followers, posts, private and verified flags. Available ones are free. Paste thousands of name ideas at once. No login.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-username-checker.md
- **Developed by:** [Instagram Data API](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Developer tools
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 50.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $0.44 / 1,000 taken usernames

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 username checker: taken or available, in bulk

**Paste username ideas and see at once which are taken — with the account behind each — and which are free.**

- ✅ **Available usernames are free** — you pay only for taken ones.
- 👤 **Who has it** — name, followers, posts, private and verified flags of the account.
- 📋 **Thousands at once** — duplicates checked and charged once.
- 🔓 **No login**.

### Why this one

- 🔓 **No Instagram login or cookies** — you paste usernames, links or keywords; your own account is never involved.
- 🧾 **Free rows, not silent gaps** — private, deleted or missing items come back as free rows with an `error` reason; duplicates are never returned or charged.
- 🧯 **Your budget is a hard stop** — set **Maximum cost per run** and the run stops at your limit (the run summary says so).
- 📊 **A summary you can check** — every run saves a `SUMMARY` record: results, free rows, what was skipped and why.
- 🚫 **`null`, never a fake `0`** — when Instagram hides a number (hidden likes, saves on photos), you see that it's missing.

### Why scrape Instagram usernames?

- **Brand names:** check if your handle is still free before you launch.
- **Bulk checks:** thousands of name ideas in one run; free names cost nothing.
- **Clean a list:** which usernames in your sheet still exist, with followers and verification.

### How to scrape Instagram usernames

1. Paste usernames or links into the input, one per line.
2. Press **Start** — rows stream into the Output tab while the run goes.
3. Download them as JSON, CSV, Excel or HTML, or get them through the API.

Works with any public profile on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/) — no login, no cookies, no Instagram account
of yours.

**No input at hand?** Press **Start** with an empty input — you get a 3-row sample.

### Input example

```json
{
  "usernames": [
    "natgeo",
    "zalet.free.handle.2026"
  ]
}
```

### Output example: Instagram usernames data

```json
{
  "username": "natgeo",
  "status": "taken",
  "exists": true,
  "id": "787132",
  "fullName": "National Geographic",
  "followers": 283000000,
  "posts": 30000,
  "isPrivate": false,
  "isVerified": true,
  "isBusiness": true,
  "category": "Media/news company"
}
```

Each row has up to 14 fields — the **Output** tab describes every one of them. Fields Instagram
doesn't show come as `null`, never as a fake `0`.

### Limits

- “Available” = no account uses it now; Instagram may still block some names.
- **Free Apify plan:** the first 100 results of each run. Any paid Apify plan gets every result — no cap.

### How much does it cost to scrape Instagram usernames?

Pay per event: you pay for the rows you get, plus $0.0005 per run. No subscription to this Actor.

| Apify plan | Per 1,000 taken usernames | What $5 of free credit gets you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $2.50 | ≈ 2,000 taken usernames |
| Starter | $0.63 | — |
| Business and higher | $0.44 | — |

Every event of this Actor on the Starter plan:

| Event | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Taken username | Each username that belongs to an account — free usernames cost nothing | $0.63 per 1,000 |

**Typical jobs on Starter:**

- 1,000 name ideas, 600 of them taken ≈ $0.38

**Always free:** available usernames and duplicates. Set **Maximum cost per run** in the run options to cap any run.

### Chain it with other Actors

Use the rows of an earlier run as the input: paste its **dataset ID** into *Or: dataset from another run*. For example,
run [Instagram Followers Scraper](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-followers-scraper) on a brand, then give its dataset to
[Instagram Email & Phone Scraper](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-email-phone-scraper) — you get the emails of the brand's
followers. Works with the datasets of Apify's own Instagram Actors too.

### Instagram usernames API: Python, n8n, Make, Zapier and AI agents

Python:

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("instagram-data-api/instagram-username-checker").call(run_input={'usernames': ['natgeo', 'zalet.free.handle.2026']})
for row in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(row)
```

**n8n, Make, Zapier or any HTTP client:** one request runs the Actor and returns the rows —
`POST https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/instagram-data-api~instagram-username-checker/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN`
with the input JSON as the body.

**AI agents (MCP)** — your agent gets this Actor as a tool:

- **Claude Code:** `claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=instagram-data-api/instagram-username-checker"`
- **Claude, Cursor, VS Code, n8n:** add `https://mcp.apify.com?tools=instagram-data-api/instagram-username-checker` as a remote MCP server and sign in to Apify.
- **Ask it:** *“Which of these 20 brand names are still free on Instagram?”* · *“Check if @natgeo and @natgeo2026 are taken.”*

### FAQ: scraping Instagram usernames

**Is “available” guaranteed?**
It means no account uses the name right now. Instagram may still hold some names (recently deleted or reserved accounts), so check in the app before you rely on it.

**Why do I pay only for taken names?**
A taken name returns an account card; a free one is just a yes — we don't charge for it.

**Do I need an Instagram account or cookies?**
No. You only paste usernames, links or keywords. Nothing to log in, nothing to install, and your own Instagram account is never involved.

**What am I charged for — and what's free?**
Only the events in the pricing table, plus $0.0005 per run. Rows with an `error` field are free, and duplicates are never returned or charged. Each run's `SUMMARY` record shows results and free rows.

**Can I cap what a run costs?**
Yes. Set **Maximum cost per run** in the run options — the run stops at your limit and `SUMMARY` shows `stoppedAtChargeLimit: true`.

**Can I use it from n8n, Make, Zapier or an AI agent?**
Yes, like any Apify Actor: REST API, webhooks, the n8n, Make and Zapier integrations, and the Apify MCP server for Claude, Cursor, VS Code and other MCP clients.

**Is it legal to scrape Instagram?**
We only collect what public profiles show publicly. Results can include personal data such as names, usernames or public business contacts, which laws like GDPR protect — use the data for a legitimate purpose and ask a lawyer if unsure.

### For AI agents

```text
Actor:   instagram-data-api/instagram-username-checker
Does:    Check Instagram username availability in bulk: taken or available, with followers and verification of taken ones. Free names cost nothing. No login.
Input:   {"usernames": ["natgeo", "zalet.free.handle.2026"]}
Output:  one JSON row per result, up to 14 fields; main: username, status, exists, followers, fullName, isPrivate, isVerified, message
Free:    available usernames and duplicates
Price:   event "username-checked" $0.63 per 1,000 on Starter + $0.0005 per run
Run:     POST https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/instagram-data-api~instagram-username-checker/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=APIFY_TOKEN
```

### More Instagram Actors from us

| Content | People | Stories |
|---|---|---|
| [All-in-one Instagram Scraper](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-scraper) · [Reels](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-reels-scraper) · [Posts](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-posts-scraper) · [Post details](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-post-details) · [Reel views checker](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-reel-views-checker) · Hashtags (coming this week) · Search (coming this week) · Transcripts (coming this week) · Tagged posts (coming this week) · Sounds (coming this week) · Locations (coming this week) |[Profiles](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-profile-scraper) · [Account age](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-account-age-checker) · [Emails & phones](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-email-phone-scraper) · [Similar](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-similar-accounts) · [Lookalikes](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-lookalike-accounts) · [Followers](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-followers-scraper) · Comments (coming this week) · Likers (coming this week) · [Engagement rate](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-engagement-rate-calculator) · [Username checker](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-username-checker) · [User ID](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-user-id-finder) · [Follower checker](https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-follower-checker) | Stories (coming this week) · Highlights (coming this week) |

What changed and when — see the **Changelog** tab.

*Independent. Not affiliated with, endorsed or sponsored by Instagram or Meta. Instagram is a trademark of Meta Platforms, Inc.*

# Changelog

This Actor's version history is a separate document: https://apify.com/instagram-data-api/instagram-username-checker/changelog.md

# Actor input Schema

## `usernames` (type: `array`):

One per line, with or without <code>@</code>.

## `datasetId` (type: `string`):

Pick the dataset of an earlier run (or paste its ID). We take usernames from <code>username</code> / <code>ownerUsername</code>.

## `returnWithinSecs` (type: `integer`):

Stop after this many seconds and return the results collected so far — you pay only for them. Handy for AI agents with a short tool timeout. Empty — run until everything is collected.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "usernames": [
    "natgeo",
    "zalet.free.handle.2026"
  ]
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `results` (type: `string`):

All rows of this run (JSON, CSV, Excel).

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

What was returned, what was free and why (SUMMARY record).

# 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 = {
    "usernames": [
        "natgeo",
        "zalet.free.handle.2026"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("instagram-data-api/instagram-username-checker").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 = { "usernames": [
        "natgeo",
        "zalet.free.handle.2026",
    ] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("instagram-data-api/instagram-username-checker").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 '{
  "usernames": [
    "natgeo",
    "zalet.free.handle.2026"
  ]
}' |
apify call instagram-data-api/instagram-username-checker --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,instagram-data-api/instagram-username-checker"
        }
    }
}
```

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/xeFP18D49fzfbfhlZ/builds/pxf0YvUfsY7PbCtcT/openapi.json