# Instagram Scraper (`pratyush07/instagram-scraper`) Actor Fast, reliable, and production-ready Instagram Scraper. Extract public profile metadata (followers, following, bio, verified status, profile pic) and recent posts (captions, likes, comments, media URLs, timestamps) without login. Supports residential proxy rotation and is fully optimized. - **URL**: https://apify.com/pratyush07/instagram-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Pratyush Kumar](https://apify.com/pratyush07) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, E-commerce - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing Pay per usage This Actor is paid per platform usage. The Actor is free to use, and you only pay for the Apify platform usage, which gets cheaper the higher subscription plan you have. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-usage ## 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 ## 🚀 High-Performance Instagram Scraper A lightweight, reliable, and blazingly fast Instagram Scraper built with TypeScript, **Crawlee**, and **Apify SDK**. It extracts Instagram profile details and recent posts without requiring you to log in, bypassing Instagram's aggressive login walls and scraping limitations. --- ### ⚡ Key Features - **Hybrid Crawling Engine (Fast Path + Browser Fallback)**: - **Phase 1 (Fast Path)**: Attempts to scrape profile information directly via Instagram's JSON API using optimized HTTP requests (`gotScraping`). This consumes almost zero CPU/memory and executes in **under 1 second per profile**. - **Phase 2 (Browser Fallback)**: If the API blocks the request, the scraper automatically spins up a headless Chromium browser page via **Playwright**, navigates to the profile page, accepts cookie prompts, and intercepts the network requests to retrieve the profile data. - **Proxy Grouping & Rotation**: Seamlessly integrates with Apify Proxy (Residential Proxies recommended) to prevent rate limits and blocks. - **Post Limitation**: Control how many posts you want to extract per profile to save bandwidth and runtime. - **No Login Required**: Avoid the risk of getting your own accounts flagged or banned. --- ### 🛠 How It Works ```mermaid graph TD A[Start Scraper] --> B[Parse & Clean Usernames] B --> C[Phase 1: Fast HTTP API Request] C -->|Success| D[Save Data & Mark Done] C -->|Blocked/Failed| E[Phase 2: Fallback Playwright Browser] E -->|Navigate & Intercept API| F{Successfully Intercepted?} F -->|Yes| D F -->|No| G[Direct API call inside Browser Session] G -->|Success| D G -->|Failed| H[Retry with next Proxy / Fail] D --> I[Export JSON Result] ```` *** ### 📥 Input Configuration The scraper accepts the following input parameters: | Field | Type | Required | Default | Description | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | `usernames` | `array` | **Yes** | — | A list of Instagram usernames to scrape (e.g. `["instagram", "nasa"]`). Supports leading `@` and full profile URLs. | | `maxPosts` | `integer` | No | `12` | The maximum number of recent posts to extract from each profile. | | `proxyConfiguration` | `object` | No | `{ "useApifyProxy": true }` | Proxy configuration options. It is highly recommended to use **Residential Proxies** to prevent login walls. | #### Input Example (JSON) ```json { "usernames": [ "instagram", "@nasa", "https://www.instagram.com/nationalgeographic/" ], "maxPosts": 5, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } ``` *** ### 📤 Output Format Data is exported to the default dataset directory. Each item contains both the profile's metadata and an array of recent posts. #### Output Example (JSON) ```json { "profile": { "id": "25025320", "username": "instagram", "fullName": "Instagram", "biography": "Bring you closer to the people and things you love. ❤️", "externalUrl": "https://linkin.bio/instagram", "followersCount": 673920182, "followingCount": 84, "postsCount": 7450, "profilePicUrl": "https://instagram.famd1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-19/...", "isVerified": true, "isPrivate": false, "scrapedAt": "2026-06-06T17:10:00.000Z" }, "posts": [ { "id": "3128954703928120348", "shortcode": "C71abcXYZ", "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/C71abcXYZ/", "type": "GraphImage", "caption": "Exploring the wonders of the digital world. #instagram #community", "displayUrl": "https://instagram.famd1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/...", "videoUrl": null, "likesCount": 142805, "commentsCount": 1250, "timestamp": "2026-06-05T18:00:00.000Z", "dimensions": { "height": 1080, "width": 1080 }, "location": "San Francisco, California" } ] } ``` *** ### 🚀 Local Development Follow these steps to run the scraper on your own computer: #### Prerequisites - **Node.js** (v18 or v20 recommended) - **NPM** #### Setup Instructions 1. **Clone the repository and install dependencies**: ```bash npm install ``` 2. **Configure Local Input**: Create a folder named `storage/key_value_stores/default` in the root of the project if it doesn't exist. Then create a file named `INPUT.json` inside it: ```json { "usernames": ["instagram"], "maxPosts": 3 } ``` 3. **Build the TypeScript files**: ```bash npm run build ``` 4. **Run the actor locally**: ```bash npm start ``` The results will be written to `storage/datasets/default/`. *** ### 💡 Performance Optimization & Tips > \[!TIP] > **Use Residential Proxies**: Instagram uses sophisticated anti-bot filters. Regular datacenter IPs will trigger login walls almost immediately. For industrial-scale scraping, always enable residential proxies. > > **Keep maxPosts Moderate**: Requesting a high number of posts requires more data parsing and memory. Set `maxPosts` to what is absolutely necessary for your business needs. # Actor input Schema ## `usernames` (type: `array`): List of Instagram usernames to scrape. One per line. ## `maxPosts` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of recent posts to scrape per user profile. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Instagram heavily blocks requests. Using residential proxies (e.g., Apify Proxy) is highly recommended. ## Actor input object example ```json { "usernames": [ "instagram" ], "maxPosts": 12, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } ``` # 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 = { "usernames": [ "instagram" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("pratyush07/instagram-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 = { "usernames": ["instagram"] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("pratyush07/instagram-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 '{ "usernames": [ "instagram" ] }' | apify call pratyush07/instagram-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=pratyush07/instagram-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Instagram Scraper", "description": "Fast, reliable, and production-ready Instagram Scraper. Extract public profile metadata (followers, following, bio, verified status, profile pic) and recent posts (captions, likes, comments, media URLs, timestamps) without login. Supports residential proxy rotation and is fully optimized.", "version": "0.0", "x-build-id": "OZZACMGXcU8v7xwp7" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/pratyush07~instagram-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-pratyush07-instagram-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/pratyush07~instagram-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-pratyush07-instagram-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/pratyush07~instagram-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-pratyush07-instagram-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": [ "usernames" ], "properties": { "usernames": { "title": "Instagram Usernames", "type": "array", "description": "List of Instagram usernames to scrape. One per line.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxPosts": { "title": "Max Posts Per Profile", "minimum": 0, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of recent posts to scrape per user profile.", "default": 12 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy Configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Instagram heavily blocks requests. Using residential proxies (e.g., Apify Proxy) is highly recommended.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```