# Instagram Transcript 🎙️ Reels Captions — $2/1K (`viralanalyzer/instagram-transcript-scraper`) Actor

Extract native Instagram Reel transcripts and captions (audio transcription, captions, VTT). Never invents speech. Pay per event + usage — you pay compute and proxy.

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

## Pricing

from $1.06 / 1,000 reel processeds

This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

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 Transcript Scraper — Native Reel Captions

> 🔗 [View on Apify Store](https://apify.com/viralanalyzer/instagram-transcript-scraper) | 🇺🇸 English | [🇧🇷 Português](#português)

Extract **native Instagram transcripts** from Reels and videos: audio transcription, captions and WebVTT subtitles **exactly as Instagram exposes them**. Plus metadata (caption, duration, plays, owner). No Meta API key. **No Whisper** — this actor never invents speech.

### ✨ Features

- 🎙️ **Native transcript** — `clips_metadata.audio_transcription`, captions list, VTT
- 🔗 **Profiles or Reel URLs** — discover Reels from a handle, or pass permalinks
- 🌍 **Original language** — whatever Instagram stored on the Reel
- 🍪 **Optional cookies** — for login walls / private profiles
- 🔄 **Cascade** — media API → VTT → XHR on the Reel page → “View transcript” UI
- 🛡️ **Honest empty** — `has_transcript: false` and `transcript: null` when the creator has no captions
- 🌐 **Proxy** — datacenter default; residential only after a confirmed block
- ✅ **PPE** — only transcript or metadata rows are billed; diagnostics are free

### 🧭 Capabilities & Limits

| Discover by | Supported? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Handle (`profiles`) | ✅ Yes | Finds Reels on the public profile grid |
| Direct Reel / post / TV URL (`reelUrls`) | ✅ Yes | Best for a known permalink |
| Keyword / hashtag search | ❌ No | Use [Instagram Keyword Search](https://apify.com/viralanalyzer/instagram-keyword-search-scraper) |
| Whisper / local speech-to-text | ❌ No | Instagram native text only. Use [Video Transcriber](https://apify.com/viralanalyzer/video-transcriber) for AI |

### 📥 Input

| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| `profiles` | string\[] | one-of | `["cristiano"]` | Usernames (with or without `@`) |
| `reelUrls` | string\[] | one-of | — | `https://www.instagram.com/reel/XXXX/` |
| `maxReels` | integer | No | 10 | Max Reels per profile (1–50) |
| `maxResults` | integer | No | — | Alias of `maxReels` |
| `cookies` | object\[] | No | — | `{name,value,domain}` session cookies |
| `proxyConfig` | proxy | No | Apify DC | Datacenter default |

```json
{
  "reelUrls": ["https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTfS7SMEk8B/"],
  "maxReels": 1
}
```

### 📤 Output

| Field | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `url` | string | Reel permalink |
| `shortcode` | string | Instagram shortcode |
| `has_transcript` | boolean | True only when Instagram returned real text |
| `transcript` | string | null | Native transcript / captions / VTT text |
| `transcript_language` | string | null | Language code when exposed |
| `caption` | string | null | On-post caption |
| `video_duration` | number | null | Seconds |
| `play_count` | integer | null | Plays |
| `published_at` | string | null | ISO 8601 |
| `owner_username` | string | null | Owner |
| `source` | string | `api` / `api_vtt` / `xhr` / `dom` |
| `_dataQuality` | string | `transcript`, `metadata_only`, `url_only`, `diagnostic` |

#### Output Example

```json
{
  "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTfS7SMEk8B/",
  "shortcode": "DTfS7SMEk8B",
  "has_transcript": true,
  "transcript": "Welcome back to the trail...",
  "transcript_language": "en",
  "caption": "Golden hour #travel",
  "video_duration": 18.4,
  "play_count": 120400,
  "owner_username": "citywalks",
  "source": "api",
  "_dataQuality": "transcript",
  "scrapedAt": "2026-08-16T20:40:00Z"
}
```

### 📋 Use Cases

- 📝 Subtitle archives of a creator’s Reels
- 🔍 Searchable text on spoken content
- 🌐 Language detection on a niche
- 🤖 Seed text for your own NLP (this actor does **not** run an LLM)

### ❓ FAQ

**Q: Why is transcript null?**
A: The creator did not enable Instagram captions / audio transcription, or the media is not a video. We never fabricate speech.

**Q: Do you use Whisper?**
A: No. Only text Instagram already stored. For speech-to-text on downloaded audio, use Video Transcriber.

**Q: Who pays compute and proxy?**
A: **You.** Pay per event **+ usage**. Events cover each billed Reel; CU and Apify proxy go to the run owner.

**Q: Do I need to log in?**
A: Public Reels often work after homepage cookie seeding. Login wall → pass `cookies`.

### 💰 Pricing

**Pay Per Event + platform usage** (client pays CU, traffic, Apify proxy):

| Event | Price |
|---|---|
| `apify-actor-start` | $0.00005 (default; 1× per GB) |
| `reel-transcripted` | $0.002 per Reel with transcript **or** metadata ($2.00 / 1,000) |

`url_only` and diagnostic rows are **not** charged. Free-plan users are capped at 12 Reels/run.

### 🔗 Related Actors

- [Instagram Keyword Search](https://apify.com/viralanalyzer/instagram-keyword-search-scraper) — posts by keyword
- [Instagram Reels & Posts Scraper](https://apify.com/viralanalyzer/instagram-reels-scraper) — profile grid + engagement
- [Video Transcriber](https://apify.com/viralanalyzer/video-transcriber) — Whisper on any video URL

### 📝 Changelog

#### v1.1 (Current)

- Store README (9 sections, PT/EN)
- Incremental PPE, owner-skip, client-paid platform usage
- UAG-SG only on confirmed block / empty origin
- Residential only after a confirmed block
- Default run 2048 MB / 600 s
- `proxyConfig` in input

#### v1.0

- Native transcript cascade (API / VTT / XHR / DOM)

***

<a name="português"></a>

## 🎙️ Instagram Transcript Scraper — Legendas nativas de Reels

> [🇺🇸 English](#-instagram-transcript-scraper--native-reel-captions) | 🇧🇷 Português

Extraia **transcrições nativas** do Instagram: áudio, captions e VTT **como o Instagram expõe**. Sem chave da Meta. **Sem Whisper** — este actor nunca inventa fala.

### ✨ Funcionalidades

- 🎙️ Transcrição nativa (audio\_transcription, captions, VTT)
- 🔗 Perfis ou URLs de Reel
- 🌍 Idioma original do criador
- 🍪 Cookies opcionais
- 🔄 Cascata API → VTT → XHR → botão “Ver transcrição”
- 🛡️ Sem texto inventado
- 🌐 Datacenter padrão; residencial só após bloqueio
- ✅ PPE só em transcript/metadata

### 🧭 Capacidades e Limites

| Descobrir por | Suportado? | Observações |
|---|---|---|
| Handle (`profiles`) | ✅ Sim | Reels da grade pública |
| URL de Reel (`reelUrls`) | ✅ Sim | Melhor para permalink conhecido |
| Keyword / hashtag | ❌ Não | Use o Keyword Search |
| Whisper | ❌ Não | Só texto nativo. Use o Video Transcriber para IA |

### 📥 Entrada

`profiles` **ou** `reelUrls`. `maxReels` default 10. `proxyConfig` = datacenter.

### 📤 Saída

`has_transcript` só é true quando o Instagram devolveu texto real. `transcript` null = criador sem legendas, não falha do actor.

### 💰 Preços

Pay per event **+ usage** (você paga CU e proxy):

| Evento | Preço |
|---|---|
| `apify-actor-start` | $0.00005 |
| `reel-transcripted` | $0.002 / Reel com transcript ou metadata |

### 📝 Changelog

#### v1.1 (Atual)

- README da Store, PPE incremental, user-pays, UAG-SG block-gated, 2048/600

# Actor input Schema

## `profiles` (type: `array`):

List of Instagram usernames to discover Reels from (with or without @).

## `reelUrls` (type: `array`):

Direct Reel/video URLs to extract transcripts from (e.g. https://www.instagram.com/reel/XXXX/). When provided alongside profiles, results are combined.

## `maxReels` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of Reels to extract transcripts from per profile.

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

Unified-vocabulary alias for 'maxReels'. If set, it overrides 'maxReels'. Optional — leave empty to use 'maxReels'.

## `seeds` (type: `array`):

Unified-vocabulary alias for 'profiles'. When non-empty AND seedType is 'handle', these values are used as Instagram usernames instead of 'profiles'. Optional.

## `seedType` (type: `string`):

Type of the values in 'seeds'. This actor only supports Instagram usernames ('handle').

## `normalizeOutput` (type: `boolean`):

When true, each item gets an additive '\_normalized' block with a cross-platform unified schema (platform, url, author, text, views, publishedAtISO, lang, hashtags, etc.). Existing fields are kept unchanged. Default false.

## `cookies` (type: `array`):

Optional cookies for authenticated access. Array of {name, value, domain} objects.

## `proxyConfig` (type: `object`):

Datacenter is the default. Residential is used only after a confirmed login/block.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "profiles": [
    "cristiano"
  ],
  "maxReels": 10,
  "seedType": "handle",
  "normalizeOutput": false,
  "proxyConfig": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `url` (type: `string`):

Field url of each item.

## `has_transcript` (type: `string`):

Field has\_transcript of each item.

## `transcript_language` (type: `string`):

Field transcript\_language of each item.

## `video_duration` (type: `string`):

Field video\_duration of each item.

# 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 = {
    "profiles": [
        "cristiano"
    ],
    "proxyConfig": {
        "useApifyProxy": true
    }
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("viralanalyzer/instagram-transcript-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 = {
    "profiles": ["cristiano"],
    "proxyConfig": { "useApifyProxy": True },
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("viralanalyzer/instagram-transcript-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 '{
  "profiles": [
    "cristiano"
  ],
  "proxyConfig": {
    "useApifyProxy": true
  }
}' |
apify call viralanalyzer/instagram-transcript-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,viralanalyzer/instagram-transcript-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/X72IASeSpP4e81W8L/builds/EBLfMIYzOwTz7Q1jg/openapi.json