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

Extract public Instagram Reel metadata from profile and Reel URLs.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/thriftapi/instagram-reel-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ThriftAPI](https://apify.com/thriftapi) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media
- **Stats:** 3 total users, 2 monthly users, 50.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$0.80 / 1,000 reel results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

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

Collect public Instagram Reel metadata in structured rows—captions, creators,
dates, plays, likes, comments, duration, thumbnails, and public media URLs.

### Two ways to scrape Reels

1. Add usernames to collect Reels found in their public profile feeds.
2. Add direct Reel URLs to extract exact posts.

### Quick start

```json
{
  "usernames": ["mrbeast"],
  "directUrls": [],
  "maxItems": 50,
  "maxItemsPerSource": 25
}
```

### Example result

```json
{
  "platform": "instagram",
  "id": "987654321",
  "type": "reel",
  "shortcode": "REEL123",
  "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/REEL123/",
  "ownerUsername": "mrbeast",
  "caption": "Example Reel",
  "videoPlayCount": 25000,
  "likesCount": 1400,
  "commentsCount": 52,
  "durationSeconds": 18.4,
  "timestamp": "2026-09-01T12:00:00.000Z",
  "scrapedAt": "2026-09-14T02:30:00.000Z"
}
```

### Pricing

**$0.80 per 1,000 Reels** ($0.0008 per `instagram-reel` event).

One successfully stored Reel equals one `instagram-reel` event, and Apify proxy
and platform usage are included in that price. Failed sources are reported
separately and are not charged as Reel results.

### Limits

The profile mode finds Reels exposed in the public profile feed; Instagram may
not expose every historical Reel there. This MVP does not access private
profiles, log in, download media files, or solve CAPTCHAs.

Use it only where your collection and use comply with applicable law and
platform terms. This Actor is not affiliated with Meta or Instagram.

### Support

Open an issue with the run ID and URL or username. Structured failures are
available in the run's `ERRORS` record.

Built by [ThriftAPI](https://apify.com/thriftapi). Pay per result. HTTP-first.

# Actor input Schema

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

Return public Reels found in each profile feed.

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

Direct public Instagram Reel URLs, one per line.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Hard cap for Reel rows in this run.

## `maxItemsPerSource` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of Reels returned for each profile.

## `onlyPostsNewerThan` (type: `string`):

Optional earliest Reel date.

## `maxConcurrency` (type: `integer`):

Number of sources processed in parallel.

## `includeRaw` (type: `boolean`):

Add the original response object to each dataset row.

## `useApifyProxy` (type: `boolean`):

Rotate requests through Apify Proxy when running on the platform.

## `apifyProxyGroups` (type: `array`):

Use UNBLOCKER for Instagram. BUYPROXIES94952 is the included datacenter group; RESIDENTIAL is $8/GB.

## `proxyUrls` (type: `array`):

Optional custom proxy URLs used instead of Apify Proxy.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "usernames": [
    "mrbeast"
  ],
  "directUrls": [],
  "maxItems": 100,
  "maxItemsPerSource": 100,
  "maxConcurrency": 3,
  "includeRaw": false,
  "useApifyProxy": true,
  "apifyProxyGroups": [
    "UNBLOCKER"
  ]
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

No description

## `summary` (type: `string`):

No description

## `errors` (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 '<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("thriftapi/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("thriftapi/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 thriftapi/instagram-reel-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,thriftapi/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/5WJMs0aZ6SlRFwDki/builds/dG26OXykX8S2nhYUM/openapi.json