Instagram MCP Server — Profiles, Posts & Hashtags for AI Agents

Connect AI assistants to Instagram data via MCP. 6 tools for searching users, browsing profiles, getting posts, exploring hashtags, and retrieving post details. No Instagram API key needed. Works with Claude Desktop, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Cursor, Windsurf, and any MCP-compatible client.

What does Instagram MCP Server do?

Instagram MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that gives AI agents real-time access to public Instagram data. It exposes 6 specialized tools that let AI assistants search for users, retrieve profile details (bio, followers, posts count), browse recent posts with engagement metrics, explore hashtag trends, and get detailed post information including captions, likes, comments, and tagged users.

Built on the Apify platform, it supports Streamable HTTP transport, stateless requests, and automatic scaling. You get pay-per-event billing — you only pay when tools are actually called.

Why use Instagram MCP Server?

• Social media research — Analyze influencer profiles, track follower counts, compare engagement rates
• Content monitoring — Monitor hashtag trends, track brand mentions, discover trending content
• Competitive analysis — Research competitor Instagram presence and content strategy
• Lead generation — Find relevant profiles in your industry, research potential partners
• Market research — Explore hashtag popularity, understand audience interests
• Content inspiration — Browse top-performing posts in your niche

How to use Instagram MCP Server

1. Get your Apify API token from Apify Console → Settings → API & Integrations
2. Add the MCP server to your AI client:

Claude Desktop / Claude Code

Add a custom connector in Settings → MCP Servers and paste:

https://YOUR_USERNAME--instagram-mcp-server.apify.actor/mcp?token=YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN

Replace YOUR_USERNAME with your Apify username and YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN with your Apify API token.

Cursor / Windsurf / Other MCP clients

Add to your MCP config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagram": {
      "url": "https://YOUR_USERNAME--instagram-mcp-server.apify.actor/mcp?token=YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN"
    }
  }
}

3. Start using it — Ask your AI assistant things like "Search for fitness influencers on Instagram" or "Show me recent posts from @natgeo"

Available MCP Tools

Tool	Description	Price
instagram_search_users	Search users by name or username	$0.005
instagram_get_profile	Get full profile details (bio, followers, posts count)	$0.008
instagram_get_posts	Get recent posts with engagement metrics	$0.01
instagram_explore_hashtag	Explore top posts for a hashtag	$0.01
instagram_get_post	Get detailed info about a specific post	$0.008
instagram_search_hashtags	Search hashtags with post counts	$0.005

Output examples

Profile lookup

Username: @natgeo
Full name: National Geographic
Bio: Experience the world through the eyes of National Geographic photographers.
Followers: 283,000,000
Following: 156
Posts: 28,432
Verified: Yes
Private: No
Website: natgeo.com
Category: Media/News Company

Post detail

Post by @natgeo
Type: Photo
Caption: A polar bear surveys the Arctic landscape...
Likes: 1,245,678
Comments: 4,532
Date: 2025-07-08
URL: https://www.instagram.com/p/CxYz123/
Location: Svalbard, Norway

Pricing

Pay-per-event billing — you only pay when tools are called. No monthly fees.

• Search operations: $0.005 per call (~200 searches for $1)
• Profile lookups: $0.008 per call (~125 lookups for $1)
• Post retrieval: $0.01 per call (~100 retrievals for $1)

Apify offers a free tier to get started. Typical research session (10-20 tool calls) costs $0.05-0.15.

Tips

• Use instagram_search_users first to find usernames, then instagram_get_profile for details
• Combine instagram_get_posts with profile data for engagement rate analysis
• Use shortcodes or full URLs with instagram_get_post
• Private accounts return limited data — search results still show follower counts

Running locally

npm install
npm run start:dev

Server starts at http://localhost:3000/mcp

Deploy to Apify

apify login
apify push

Your MCP server will be live at https://YOUR_USERNAME--instagram-mcp-server.apify.actor/mcp

FAQ

Is this legal? This server accesses publicly available Instagram data only. It does not access private profiles, bypass authentication, or violate Instagram's Terms of Service.

Do I need an Instagram account? No. The server works without any Instagram credentials.

What about rate limits? The server includes retry logic with exponential backoff. Apify handles scaling automatically.

Need a custom solution? Check the Issues tab or contact the developer for custom Instagram data requirements.

Resources

• What is Anthropic's Model Context Protocol?
• How to use MCP with Apify Actors
• Webinar: Building and monetizing MCP servers on Apify
• Apify MCP server documentation