# Instagram Reels Scraper - Plays, Audio, Video (`orkait/instagram-reels-scraper`) Actor

Scrape Instagram reels from any creator. Add usernames and extract play count, view count, likes, comments, caption, hashtags, audio track, duration, thumbnail and the direct video URL. Filter reels by plays or date and sort server-side. Export to JSON, CSV or Excel.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/orkait/instagram-reels-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [orkait](https://apify.com/orkait) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Videos
- **Stats:** 4 total users, 3 monthly users, 50.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$1.50 / 1,000 reels

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 web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
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.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — 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 Reels Scraper

**Reach lives in plays, and plays are the number most scrapers skip.**

Scrape Instagram reels from any public creator. Just add Instagram usernames to get play counts, view counts, likes, comments, captions, hashtags, mentions, music attribution, duration and direct video URLs.

### ✨ What makes this Instagram scraper different

| | Most Instagram scrapers | This one |
|---|---|---|
| **Filtering** | Returns everything, you filter afterwards | Filters **before** counting, so you pay for matches |
| **Sorting** | Whatever order the platform gave | Enforced with a stable tiebreaker, identical every run |
| **Missing data** | A silent `0` you cannot distinguish from a real zero | Named in `meta.fields_unavailable` |
| **Bad input** | Burns a run, then fails | Rejected before the request is made |

### 🎯 What can I do with Instagram Reels Scraper?

#### Find out what actually performs

Sort a creator's reels by plays and the pattern is usually obvious within ten rows.

```json
{
  "targets": ["creator_username"],
  "limit": 50,
  "sortBy": "play_count",
  "sortOrder": "desc"
}
```

#### Track a competitor's cadence

Pull their reels weekly with a date filter and you have posting frequency and engagement trend without opening the app.

```json
{
  "targets": ["competitor"],
  "filters": { "posted_after": "2026-07-01T00:00:00Z" }
}
```

#### Spot trending audio early

Every reel carries its music attribution, so the same track appearing across accounts is visible in the data.

```json
{
  "targets": ["creator_one", "creator_two"],
  "filters": { "min_play_count": 100000 }
}
```

### 🧾 What can Instagram Reels Scraper do?

- Scrape all Instagram reels from any public creator
- Get play counts, view counts, likes and comments per reel
- Extract captions with hashtags and mentions already parsed out
- Get music and audio attribution for trend research
- Get Instagram reel video URLs and thumbnails
- Filter Instagram reels by plays, likes or date and sort by performance

### 📋 What data can I scrape from Instagram reels?

| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| `id` | Instagram media ID |
| `shortcode` | Reel shortcode |
| `url` | Reel permalink |
| `kind` | `reel` |
| `caption` | Reel caption |
| `play_count` | Plays |
| `view_count` | Views |
| `like_count` | Likes |
| `comment_count` | Comments |
| `duration_secs` | Length in seconds |
| `taken_at` | Publish time, UTC |
| `owner_username` | Creator username |
| `owner_id` | Creator Instagram ID |
| `hashtags` | Hashtags parsed from the caption |
| `mentions` | Mentions parsed from the caption |
| `music` | Song name, artist, audio ID |
| `video_url` | Direct video URL |
| `thumbnail_url` | Cover image |
| `is_paid_partnership` | Sponsored content flag |

### ▶️ How to scrape Instagram reels

1. Add your Instagram creator usernames to **targets**
2. Set `limit`, and optionally **Sort by** and `filters`
3. Click **Start**
4. Download the dataset as JSON, CSV, Excel or XML, or pull it from the API

### ⬇️ Input

| Field | Required | Description |
|---|:--:|---|
| `targets` | yes | Instagram creator usernames. |
| `limit` | no | Max items per target, applied after filtering. Default 15, max 5000. |
| `sortBy` | no | Pick a field to order by. Leave empty for the default order. |
| `sortOrder` | no | Highest first or lowest first. Defaults to highest first. |
| `filters` | no | Applied before sorting and before the limit. |

```json
{
  "targets": [
    "natgeo"
  ],
  "limit": 30,
  "sortBy": "play_count",
  "sortOrder": "desc",
  "filters": {
    "min_play_count": 100000
  }
}
```

### 🎛️ How to filter and sort Instagram reels

| Filter | Effect |
|---|---|
| `min_play_count` | Only reels above a performance floor |
| `min_like_count` / `min_comment_count` | Engagement floors |
| `posted_after` / `posted_before` | Date window |
| `caption_contains` | Substring match on the caption |
| `hashtags_any` | Keep reels using any of these hashtags |
| `paid_partnership_only` | Only sponsored content |

Filters run before the row count, so a narrow filter costs less than a broad one.
Sorting is applied with a stable tiebreaker, so two identical runs return
identical order, and the sort you pick is applied server-side, not left to the platform.

### ⬆️ Output

One row per item, exportable as JSON, CSV, Excel or XML, or straight from the API.

#### 🎬 Extracted Instagram reels data sample

```json
{
  "id": "3963946321739534979",
  "shortcode": "DcCxC2AAFKD",
  "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DcCxC2AAFKD/",
  "kind": "reel",
  "caption": "Hammerhead sharks up close...",
  "play_count": 580358,
  "like_count": 3312,
  "comment_count": 41,
  "duration_secs": 27.5,
  "taken_at": "2026-08-15T09:12:44Z",
  "owner_username": "natgeo",
  "hashtags": [
    "hammerheadsharksupclose"
  ],
  "music": {
    "song_name": "Original audio",
    "artist_name": "natgeo"
  },
  "video_url": "https://..."
}
```

### 🛡️ Why results stay reliable when Instagram changes

Instagram changes what it returns. When a field stops being available it does not
vanish from the schema: it comes back empty and `meta.fields_unavailable` names
it. You branch on that instead of guessing why a number is zero.

### ❓ FAQ

#### How do I find a creator's best performing Instagram reels?

Set **Sort by** to Plays and raise `limit`. Sorting runs server-side, so the top reels come back first.

#### Can I get Instagram reel video URLs?

Yes. `video_url` is a direct link to the source video for each reel, and `thumbnail_url` gives you the cover image.

#### Can I scrape Instagram reels by hashtag?

Use `filters.hashtags_any` to keep only reels using specific hashtags, or try the Instagram Search Scraper to find reels by keyword instead of by creator.

#### Can I get the music used in an Instagram reel?

Yes. `music` carries song name, artist name and audio ID, which is how trending audio becomes visible in the data.

#### How many Instagram reels can I scrape per creator?

Up to 5000 per run via `limit`, applied after filtering.

#### What is the difference between plays and views?

Both are returned separately as `play_count` and `view_count`, because Instagram counts them differently and collapsing them loses information.

### 🔗 Scrape more from Instagram

- 💬 [Instagram Comments Scraper](https://apify.com/orkait/instagram-comments-scraper)
- 👤 [Instagram Profile Scraper](https://apify.com/orkait/instagram-profile-scraper)
- 📸 [Instagram Posts Scraper](https://apify.com/orkait/instagram-posts-scraper)
- 🔍 [Instagram Search Scraper](https://apify.com/orkait/instagram-search-scraper)

# Actor input Schema

## `targets` (type: `array`):

One or more Instagram creator usernames.

## `limit` (type: `integer`):

Maximum items returned per target, after filtering.

## `sortBy` (type: `string`):

Which field to order results by. Leave empty for the default (Newest first).

## `sortOrder` (type: `string`):

Highest first, or lowest first.

## `filters` (type: `object`):

Applied before sorting and before the limit. Accepts: kind, min\_like\_count, min\_comment\_count, min\_play\_count, posted\_after, posted\_before, caption\_contains, hashtags\_any, paid\_partnership\_only.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "targets": [
    "natgeo"
  ],
  "limit": 15,
  "sortOrder": "desc",
  "filters": {}
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

Every reel returned by this run, one row each.

# 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 = {
    "targets": [
        "natgeo"
    ],
    "limit": 15
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("orkait/instagram-reels-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 = {
    "targets": ["natgeo"],
    "limit": 15,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("orkait/instagram-reels-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 '{
  "targets": [
    "natgeo"
  ],
  "limit": 15
}' |
apify call orkait/instagram-reels-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,orkait/instagram-reels-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/asqjU65espzPK1WpZ/builds/rcL8Uei7ZNwPg19YF/openapi.json