# Instagram Comments Scraper 💬 (`scriptbase/instagram-comments-scraper`) Actor 💬 Export Instagram comments to JSON, CSV or Excel. Get comment text, author handle, likes, reply count and date from any post or reel. Paginated, no login, no Instagram API access needed. - **URL**: https://apify.com/scriptbase/instagram-comments-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Scriptbase](https://apify.com/scriptbase) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, Automation, Developer tools - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $10.00 / 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 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. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.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/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 Comments Scraper Export Instagram comments to JSON, CSV or Excel. Give it a post or reel URL, get back every comment with its author handle, likes, reply count and date — no login, no cookies, no Instagram Graph API app review. Instagram's official API only reaches comments on accounts you own or manage, after Meta app review. This actor reads any public post. ### What it does Reads the comment thread of one public Instagram post or reel and writes one dataset row per comment. It pages until it reaches your `maxItems` limit or the comments run out. Works on feed posts (`/p/…`) and reels (`/reel/…`). ### Input | Field | Type | Required | Default | Description | |---|---|---|---|---| | `url` | string | yes | — | Instagram post or reel URL | | `maxItems` | integer | no | 100 | Stop after this many comments | ```json { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWoej6aDOaE", "maxItems": 300 } ```` `maxItems` is your cost ceiling — you are charged per comment delivered. ### Output One row per comment. ```json { "id": "17912345678901234", "text": "where is this filmed?", "author": { "name": "janedoe", "id": "janedoe", "avatarUrl": "https://scontent.cdninstagram.com/…", "verified": false }, "likeCount": 42, "replyCount": 3, "publishedAt": "2026-06-14T00:00:00.000Z", "publishedAtConfidence": "exact" } ``` | Field | Type | Notes | |---|---|---| | `id` | string | Platform comment id | | `text` | string | Comment body | | `author.name` | string | @handle | | `author.id` | string | Handle, used as the stable id | | `author.avatarUrl` | string | Profile image URL | | `author.verified` | boolean | Verified badge | | `likeCount` | integer | Likes | | `replyCount` | integer | Replies — **may be absent**, see below | | `publishedAt` | string | ISO 8601 | | `publishedAtConfidence` | string | `exact` | `parsed` | `unknown` | #### Fields that can be absent `replyCount` is not reported by every upstream source. When it is missing it is **omitted**, not set to `0` — reporting zero would falsely assert a thread has no replies. Same rule for `author.verified` and `author.avatarUrl`. An absent field means "not known", never "not present on Instagram". ### What it does not do - **Replies are not expanded.** Top-level comments only, with `replyCount` where available. - **Public posts only.** Private accounts return `NOT_FOUND`. No cookie or session workaround is offered. - **No comment likes breakdown, no reply threads, no comment search.** - **One post per run.** ### Pricing Charged per comment delivered. A run returning 300 comments bills 300. Failed runs charge nothing. ### Errors | Code | Meaning | |---|---| | `BAD_REQUEST` | Input missing, malformed, or not a URL this actor serves | | `NOT_FOUND` | The target is private, removed, or does not exist | | `UNSUPPORTED_OPERATION` | The URL resolved to a platform this actor does not serve | | `UPSTREAM_FAILED` | Every upstream source failed — retry shortly | | `RATE_LIMITED` | Too many requests; back off and retry | | `TIMEOUT` | The source took longer than the actor's budget | | `UNAUTHORIZED` | The actor's API credentials are invalid — contact the author | | `INSUFFICIENT_CREDITS` | The account behind this actor is out of credits — contact the author | | `INTERNAL_ERROR` | Unexpected failure | `UNAUTHORIZED` and `INSUFFICIENT_CREDITS` are on us, not you. If you see either, the actor is misconfigured on our side. ### How it works Two independent upstream sources serve this operation. If the first returns nothing usable, the second is tried automatically inside the same run — no double charge, no retry on your side. An empty comment thread is a genuine answer, not a failure — a post with comments turned off completes successfully with zero rows. Comments are always fetched live, never cached. ### FAQ **Do I need an Instagram account or cookies?** No. **Does this need Meta app review?** No — it does not use the Graph API. **Can I scrape a private account?** No. Those return `NOT_FOUND`. **Why is `replyCount` missing on some rows?** The source that served that page does not report it. Absent means unknown, not zero. **Can I get replies?** Not from this actor. # Actor input Schema ## `url` (type: `string`): URL of the Instagram post or reel whose comments you want. ## `maxItems` (type: `integer`): Stop after this many results. Charged per result delivered, so this caps the run's cost. ## Actor input object example ```json { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWoej6aDOaE", "maxItems": 25 } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `overview` (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 = { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWoej6aDOaE", "maxItems": 25 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("scriptbase/instagram-comments-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 = { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWoej6aDOaE", "maxItems": 25, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("scriptbase/instagram-comments-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 '{ "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWoej6aDOaE", "maxItems": 25 }' | apify call scriptbase/instagram-comments-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=scriptbase/instagram-comments-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Instagram Comments Scraper 💬", "description": "💬 Export Instagram comments to JSON, CSV or Excel. Get comment text, author handle, likes, reply count and date from any post or reel. Paginated, no login, no Instagram API access needed.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "p1etePradOagfq5Pb" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/scriptbase~instagram-comments-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-scriptbase-instagram-comments-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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/scriptbase~instagram-comments-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-scriptbase-instagram-comments-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/scriptbase~instagram-comments-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-scriptbase-instagram-comments-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": [ "url" ], "properties": { "url": { "title": "Instagram Post or Reel URL", "type": "string", "description": "URL of the Instagram post or reel whose comments you want." }, "maxItems": { "title": "Maximum results", "minimum": 1, "type": "integer", "description": "Stop after this many results. Charged per result delivered, so this caps the run's cost.", "default": 100 } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```