# Instagram Comments Scraper (`thescrappa/instagram-post-comments-scraper`) Actor

Collect public Instagram comments with text, posting times, likes, and author handles. Add several post shortcodes in one run and page through replies.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/thescrappa/instagram-post-comments-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Scrappa](https://apify.com/thescrappa) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media
- **Stats:** 1 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $0.20 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
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.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## 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.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## Instagram Comments Scraper

Collect public comments from Instagram posts with text, posting times, like totals, and author profile details. Batch post shortcodes and follow available comment pages.

### What data can you extract?

| Field | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `id` | String | Instagram identifier for this comment. |
| `text` | String | Comment text published beneath the Instagram post. |
| `taken_at` | String | ISO 8601 timestamp when the comment was posted, when available. |
| `taken_at_timestamp` | Integer | Unix timestamp for the comment posting time. |
| `like_count` | Integer | Number of likes shown for the comment. |
| `author` | Object | Public profile details associated with the comment author. |
| `author_id` | String | Instagram identifier for the public comment author. |
| `author_username` | String | Public Instagram handle of the comment author. |
| `author_verified` | String | True when Instagram marks the comment author as verified. |
| `input_shortcode` | String | Instagram post shortcode used to retrieve this comment. |
| `scraped_at` | String | UTC date and time when this record was collected. |

### Use cases

- Community managers can review public replies across several posts.
- Researchers can compare comment activity and posting times on public content.
- Brand teams can export comments and author handles for moderation workflows.

### How to use

1. Add each post shortcode to `shortcodes`.
2. Set `maxPages` to limit comment pages requested for each post.
3. Use `maxResults` to cap all saved comments in the run.

```json
{
  "shortcodes": [
    {
      "shortcode": "DdVztIfpeKW"
    }
  ],
  "maxResults": 20,
  "maxPages": 1
}
```

### Input

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `shortcodes` | Array\<object> | Yes | Instagram post shortcodes to retrieve public comments. |
| `shortcodes[].shortcode` | string | Yes per entry | Post Shortcode sent to the source search. |
| `shortcodes[].max_id` | string | No | Next Page Cursor sent to the source search. |
| `max_id` | string | No | Next Page Cursor sent to the source search. |
| `maxResults` | integer | No | Maximum dataset items to save across this entire run. |
| `maxPages` | integer | No | Maximum pages to request for each batch entry. |

### Output example

```json
{
  "id": "18012345678901234",
  "text": "The colors in this landscape are beautiful.",
  "taken_at": "2025-09-18T14:32:11Z",
  "taken_at_timestamp": 1758205931,
  "like_count": 86,
  "author": {
    "id": "584700123456789",
    "username": "coastline.creator",
    "profile_pic_url": "https://cdn.instagram.com/profiles/coastline-creator.jpg",
    "is_verified": false
  },
  "author_id": "584700123456789",
  "author_username": "coastline.creator",
  "author_verified": false,
  "input_shortcode": "DdVztIfpeKW",
  "scraped_at": "2026-10-01T12:00:00Z"
}
```

### Pricing

$0.30 per 1,000 results. Apify saves one dataset item per result and applies the Actor’s per-result price to saved items.

Pagination follows the source response. Set **maxPages** per batch entry and **maxResults** across the run.

### FAQ

#### Is scraping this information legal?

Rules depend on the source, location, data type, and intended use. Check applicable laws and source terms, and make sure your workflow follows privacy and data protection requirements.

#### What limits apply?

Submit up to 100 batch entries per run. Use **maxResults** to cap saved items and **maxPages** to limit pages for each entry. Results also depend on source availability and your Scrappa API plan.

#### Can I start runs through the Apify API?

Yes. Send a POST request to `https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/thescrappa~instagram-post-comments-scraper/runs` with your Actor input, or use an Apify client library. Read the output from the run dataset.

#### Can I connect the results to other tools?

Yes. Apify integrations and APIs can pass dataset results to Make, Zapier, n8n, Google Sheets, and other data workflows.

#### What happens when one input fails?

The Actor logs a short source error and continues with the remaining entries. Transient rate limits and gateway errors are retried; if every entry fails, the run reports an error.

#### How do I find a post shortcode?

Open the Instagram post URL and use the letters and numbers after `/p/` or `/reel/`.

### Related Scrappa Actors

- [Instagram Post Info | Cheapest $0.20/1k results](https://apify.com/thescrappa/instagram-post-info-cheapest-0-20-1000-results)
- [Instagram User Posts Scraper](https://apify.com/thescrappa/instagram-user-posts-cheapest-0-20-1000-results)
- [TikTok Comments Scraper](https://apify.com/thescrappa/tiktok-comments-scraper)

# Actor input Schema

## `shortcodes` (type: `array`):

Instagram post shortcodes to retrieve public comments.

## `max_id` (type: `string`):

Next Page Cursor sent to the source search.

## `maxResults` (type: `integer`):

Maximum dataset items to save across this entire run.

## `maxPages` (type: `integer`):

Maximum pages to request for each batch entry.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "shortcodes": [
    {
      "shortcode": "DdVztIfpeKW"
    }
  ],
  "maxResults": 20,
  "maxPages": 1
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

All results from this run in the default dataset.

# 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 = {
    "shortcodes": [
        {
            "shortcode": "DdVztIfpeKW"
        }
    ],
    "maxResults": 20,
    "maxPages": 1
};

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

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "shortcodes": [{ "shortcode": "DdVztIfpeKW" }],
    "maxResults": 20,
    "maxPages": 1,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("thescrappa/instagram-post-comments-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 '{
  "shortcodes": [
    {
      "shortcode": "DdVztIfpeKW"
    }
  ],
  "maxResults": 20,
  "maxPages": 1
}' |
apify call thescrappa/instagram-post-comments-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,thescrappa/instagram-post-comments-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/nSFsanNsjLbeyoO6W/builds/r1Gzcz61YANMBEhHS/openapi.json