# Instagram Hashtag Scraper - Posts, Reels & Stats (`mellowed_headpiece/instagram-hashtag-scraper-reliable`) Actor Scrape Instagram hashtag posts, reels, and stats: captions, likes, comments, views, and media URLs. Get top posts and recent posts for any hashtag — ideal for hashtag research, influencer marketing, social listening, trend tracking, and content analysis. Reliable pagination, no browser automation - **URL**: https://apify.com/mellowed\_headpiece/instagram-hashtag-scraper-reliable.md - **Developed by:** [Trevor Smith](https://apify.com/mellowed_headpiece) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, Lead generation, Automation - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $2.00 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. 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 Hashtag Scraper - Top & Recent Posts Extracts hashtag stats, top posts, and recent posts from Instagram. Fully cookieless by default; an optional session cookie improves reliability and unlocks reels. ### Why this exists The most-used Instagram Hashtag Scraper on Apify (57,685 users) sits at 2.98★ — the worst rating in the platform's top 20 — and its README reuses generic troubleshooting boilerplate word-for-word across unrelated actors from the same publisher, a strong signal of a template-cloned, unmaintained listing rather than an actively fixed one. ### IMPORTANT — read before running Unlike a documented public API (there is no official one for this), this actor talks to Instagram's **internal, undocumented** endpoints. That means: - I could not test this against live Instagram from the build environment (no proxy access, Instagram not reachable). The parsing logic is built defensively — it searches responses for recognizable media objects rather than assuming one fixed JSON path — and is unit-tested against realistic sample shapes, but **the first real run against live Instagram is the real test**, the same way the SAM.gov actor's first live run was. - **A residential proxy is required.** Instagram blocks datacenter IPs almost immediately. Use Apify's `RESIDENTIAL` proxy group (default in the input schema). - If a run logs `"No recognizable media objects found"` on a hashtag known to have posts, that means Instagram changed its response shape — check the `_raw` field kept on every dataset item to see the actual response and adjust `findMediaLikeObjects` in `src/ig-client.js` accordingly, rather than assuming the hashtag is empty. ### Setup 1. In the input, provide one or more hashtags (no `#`). 2. Leave `sessionCookie` blank for cookieless operation (posts/photos only), or paste your Instagram `sessionid` cookie for better reliability and to include reels. 3. Proxy defaults to Apify's `RESIDENTIAL` group — keep this on. ### Reliability behavior - Retries 429/5xx with exponential backoff; logs a clear note that repeated 429s usually mean the proxy IP needs rotating. - A single hashtag failing (not found, or genuinely blocked) does not stop the rest of the batch from processing. - If *every* hashtag in a run fails, the run fails loudly instead of quietly producing an empty dataset — that pattern almost always means a systemic problem (blocked proxy, changed endpoint), not coincidence. ### Output Two record types in one dataset, distinguished by `recordType`: - `hashtagStats`: `mediaCount` (total public posts using the hashtag) - `post`: `postSource` (top/recent), caption, like/comment/play counts, owner, media URLs, and a direct `postUrl` link. # Actor input Schema ## `hashtags` (type: `array`): One or more hashtags to scrape, without the # symbol. ## `maxPostsPerHashtag` (type: `integer`): Maximum posts to extract per hashtag. ## `instagramUsername` (type: `string`): Your Instagram login email/username. The Actor will log in automatically — saves you finding cookies. ## `instagramPassword` (type: `string`): Your Instagram password. Kept secret by Apify. Required alongside username for automatic login. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Optional proxy settings. ## Actor input object example ```json { "hashtags": [ "webscraping" ], "maxPostsPerHashtag": 20, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } } ```` # Actor output Schema ## `hashtag` (type: `string`): No description ## `shortcode` (type: `string`): No description ## `imageUrl` (type: `string`): No description ## `postUrl` (type: `string`): No description ## `caption` (type: `string`): No description ## `isReel` (type: `string`): No description ## `username` (type: `string`): No description ## `timestamp` (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 = { "hashtags": [ "webscraping" ], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("mellowed_headpiece/instagram-hashtag-scraper-reliable").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 = { "hashtags": ["webscraping"], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": False }, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("mellowed_headpiece/instagram-hashtag-scraper-reliable").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 '{ "hashtags": [ "webscraping" ], "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": false } }' | apify call mellowed_headpiece/instagram-hashtag-scraper-reliable --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=mellowed_headpiece/instagram-hashtag-scraper-reliable", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Instagram Hashtag Scraper - Posts, Reels & Stats", "description": "Scrape Instagram hashtag posts, reels, and stats: captions, likes, comments, views, and media URLs. Get top posts and recent posts for any hashtag — ideal for hashtag research, influencer marketing, social listening, trend tracking, and content analysis. Reliable pagination, no browser automation", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "C4z8dCHoaIioNV08M" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/mellowed_headpiece~instagram-hashtag-scraper-reliable/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-mellowed_headpiece-instagram-hashtag-scraper-reliable", "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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/mellowed_headpiece~instagram-hashtag-scraper-reliable/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-mellowed_headpiece-instagram-hashtag-scraper-reliable", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/mellowed_headpiece~instagram-hashtag-scraper-reliable/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-mellowed_headpiece-instagram-hashtag-scraper-reliable", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": [ "hashtags" ], "properties": { "hashtags": { "title": "Hashtags", "type": "array", "description": "One or more hashtags to scrape, without the # symbol.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxPostsPerHashtag": { "title": "Max posts per hashtag", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 200, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum posts to extract per hashtag.", "default": 20 }, "instagramUsername": { "title": "Instagram Username (optional)", "type": "string", "description": "Your Instagram login email/username. The Actor will log in automatically — saves you finding cookies." }, "instagramPassword": { "title": "Instagram Password (optional)", "type": "string", "description": "Your Instagram password. Kept secret by Apify. Required alongside username for automatic login." }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Optional proxy settings." } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```