# Instagram Reel Scraper (`scrapeai/instagram-reel-scraper`) Actor

Scrape or download Instagram reels. Just add Instagram profile or reel URL, and get caption, timestamp, transcript, hashtags, mentions, tagged users, comments, likes, shares, views, duration, and downloaded video. Export scraped data, schedule via API, and integrate with other tools or AI workflows.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/scrapeai/instagram-reel-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ScrapeAI](https://apify.com/scrapeai) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Videos, Automation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $2.99 / 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 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 Reel Scraper 🎥

Scrape or download Instagram Reels data easily and reliably. Extract comprehensive metadata including captions, publication timestamps, auto-generated audio transcripts, hashtags, mentions, tagged users, comments, engagement metrics (likes, shares, views), video duration, and direct MP4 video download links.

Export scraped reel data to JSON, CSV, Excel, or HTML, schedule runs via Apify API, and seamlessly integrate into AI workflows, social listening tools, or marketing automation pipelines.

***

### 🌟 Key Features

- **Profile & Direct Reel Support**: Add any Instagram profile handle or direct reel URL (`https://www.instagram.com/reel/...`).
- **Complete Reel Metadata**: Extract captions, publication timestamps, view counts, like counts, share counts, and video duration.
- **Audio Transcripts**: Retrieve speech transcripts and original audio title details for AI analysis.
- **Hashtags & Mentions**: Automatically parse all `#hashtags` and `@mentions` used in the caption.
- **Tagged Users & Co-authors**: Get tagged creators and brand partner profiles.
- **Comment Extraction**: Scrape recent comments per reel, including comment text, owner handle, timestamp, and comment likes.
- **Direct Video Downloads**: Extract high-quality MP4 download links and video stream metadata.
- **Flexible Data Export**: Download results in JSON, CSV, XML, Excel, or access via Apify API endpoints.

***

### 📥 Input Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Default | Description |
|-----------|------|---------|-------------|
| `usernames` | Array | `["instagram", "natgeo"]` | List of Instagram usernames to scrape reels from. |
| `directUrls` | Array | `["https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-XyZ12345/"]` | List of direct reel URLs or profile URLs to scrape. |
| `resultsLimit` | Integer | `20` | Maximum number of reels to extract per target handle/URL. |
| `includeComments` | Boolean | `true` | Include recent comments for each extracted reel. |
| `maxComments` | Integer | `5` | Maximum comments to extract per reel item. |
| `downloadVideo` | Boolean | `true` | Include direct MP4 download URLs and video metadata. |
| `proxyConfiguration` | Object | `{ "useApifyProxy": false }` | Proxy settings to bypass rate limits or blocks. |
| `debugLog` | Boolean | `false` | Enable detailed debug log outputs. |

***

### 💡 Example Input JSON

```json
{
    "usernames": [
        "instagram",
        "natgeo"
    ],
    "directUrls": [
        "https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-XyZ12345/"
    ],
    "resultsLimit": 10,
    "includeComments": true,
    "maxComments": 5,
    "downloadVideo": true,
    "proxyConfiguration": {
        "useApifyProxy": false
    },
    "debugLog": false
}
```

***

### 📤 Example Output Dataset Record

```json
{
    "id": "reel_C12345EXAMPLE",
    "type": "Reel",
    "shortCode": "C12345EXAMPLE",
    "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/C12345EXAMPLE/",
    "caption": "Check out this amazing creative reel! 🚀 Sound on 🔊 #creative #instagram #reels #trending #viral @instagram",
    "timestamp": "2026-08-04T12:00:00.000Z",
    "transcript": "Hey guys, welcome back! Today we are exploring incredible creative secrets that you need to try right now. Drop a comment below if you agree!",
    "hashtags": [
        "#creative",
        "#instagram",
        "#reels",
        "#trending",
        "#viral"
    ],
    "mentions": [
        "@instagram",
        "@reels_creative"
    ],
    "taggedUsers": [
        {
            "username": "co_creator_creative",
            "fullName": "Creative Partner",
            "id": "user_102"
        }
    ],
    "comments": [
        {
            "commentId": "c_C12345EXAMPLE_1",
            "text": "This reel is incredible! 🔥 @instagram",
            "ownerUsername": "viewer_8921",
            "timestamp": "2026-08-06T14:30:00.000Z",
            "likesCount": 42,
            "reelId": "reel_C12345EXAMPLE",
            "reelShortCode": "C12345EXAMPLE"
        }
    ],
    "likesCount": 14520,
    "likes": 14520,
    "sharesCount": 2613,
    "shares": 2613,
    "views": 58080,
    "videoViewCount": 58080,
    "duration": 24.5,
    "videoDuration": 24.5,
    "videoUrl": "https://instagram.com/reel/C12345EXAMPLE/video.mp4",
    "downloadedVideo": {
        "url": "https://instagram.com/reel/C12345EXAMPLE/video.mp4",
        "width": 1080,
        "height": 1920,
        "mimeType": "video/mp4",
        "fileSizeMb": 11.03
    },
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://instagram.com/reel/C12345EXAMPLE/thumbnail.jpg",
    "audioTitle": "instagram · Original Audio",
    "ownerUsername": "instagram",
    "ownerId": "user_instagram_985",
    "ownerFullName": "Instagram",
    "scrapedAt": "2026-08-06T15:12:00.000Z"
}
```

***

### ⚡ Integration & API Usage

You can trigger this Actor programmatically using the Apify API:

#### Node.js API Client

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: 'YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN' });

const run = await client.actor('instagram-reel-scraper').call({
    usernames: ['natgeo'],
    resultsLimit: 10,
    downloadVideo: true
});

const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
console.log(items);
```

***

### 🛡️ Support & Legal Notice

This scraper is designed for legitimate research, analytical, and marketing intelligence purposes. Please respect Instagram's Terms of Service and apply appropriate proxies and rate limits during large-scale scraping tasks.

# Actor input Schema

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

List of Instagram usernames or handles to scrape reels from. E.g. \['instagram', 'natgeo']

## `directUrls` (type: `array`):

List of direct Instagram reel URLs or profile URLs to scrape.

## `resultsLimit` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of reels to extract per username or profile URL.

## `includeComments` (type: `boolean`):

Fetch recent comments for each extracted reel.

## `maxComments` (type: `integer`):

Number of recent comments to include per reel item.

## `downloadVideo` (type: `boolean`):

Extract direct MP4 video download URLs and media details for reels.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Proxy settings to bypass anti-scraping protections.

## `debugLog` (type: `boolean`):

Output verbose debug diagnostic logs.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "usernames": [
    "instagram",
    "natgeo"
  ],
  "directUrls": [
    "https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-XyZ12345/"
  ],
  "resultsLimit": 20,
  "includeComments": true,
  "maxComments": 5,
  "downloadVideo": true,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": false
  },
  "debugLog": false
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `dataset` (type: `string`):

Dataset containing scraped Instagram reels and video metrics.

# 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 = {};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("scrapeai/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 '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("scrapeai/instagram-reel-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 '{}' |
apify call scrapeai/instagram-reel-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,scrapeai/instagram-reel-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/RHnif4WiIAGjYTorg/builds/YDB0e2sPvl8J2SjLO/openapi.json