# Instagram Account Posts Scraper - Cheaper (`xtracto/instagram-account-posts-scraper`) Actor Scrape all posts from any public Instagram account: caption, media URLs, engagement counts, etc. HTTP-only, fast, supp pagination, and no cookies required. - **URL**: https://apify.com/xtracto/instagram-account-posts-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Xtractoo](https://apify.com/xtracto) (community) - **Categories:** Social media - **Stats:** 1 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $0.30 / 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. 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 a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. 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.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.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/platform/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 Account Posts Scraper Fetch the post timeline of any public Instagram account in bulk — captions, image and video URLs, like and comment counts, carousel children, timestamps, and the poster's profile data — as clean structured JSON. ### Why use this actor - **No account, no login, no API key** — give it a username and you get the same feed the Instagram app shows. - **Paginated timeline** — pulls the full grid newest-first, dozens to thousands of posts per account, in a single run. - **All post formats** — single photos, single videos, Reels, and multi-slide carousels with every child media included. - **Rich engagement** — like count, comment count, view / play count, video duration, and the original capture timestamp. - **Full media** — multi-resolution image and video URLs straight from Instagram's CDN, plus alt-friendly metadata. - **Stable JSON envelope** — every row carries `_input`, `_source`, `_scrapedAt` so you can join results back to your input list and feed pipelines, spreadsheets, or databases. ### How it works 1. You provide a list of Instagram usernames (e.g. `nasa`) or full profile URLs. 2. The actor walks the account's post timeline page by page, newest-first, until `maxPosts` is reached or the timeline ends. 3. Each post is emitted as one dataset row with media URLs, caption, counters, and the poster's user record. 4. Results stream into your Apify dataset, ready to download as JSON, CSV, or Excel. You do not manage scrapers, browsers, sessions, or rotating IPs — all handled internally. ### Input ```json { "usernames": [ "nasa", "natgeo" ], "maxPosts": 30, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": ["DATACENTER"] } } ```` | Field | Type | Description | |---|---|---| | `usernames` | array | List of Instagram usernames or full profile URLs. Both `nasa` and `https://www.instagram.com/nasa/` are accepted. | | `maxPosts` | integer | Max posts returned per account, paginated newest-first. `0` = unlimited. Default: `30`. | | `proxyConfiguration` | object | Apify Proxy settings. Datacenter works for most accounts; switch to Residential for large batches. | ### Output Input: `nasa`, `maxPosts: 30` (first 2 posts shown, long URLs truncated). ```json [ { "_input": "nasa", "_source": "S1-primary", "_scrapedAt": "2026-05-18T10:54:19.253080+00:00", "pk": "3895560746578059612", "id": "3895560746578059612_528817151", "code": "DYPz9wEvaFc", "taken_at": 1778607257, "media_type": 1, "product_type": "feed", "caption": { "text": "Percy is roving the “Western Frontier” of Mars 🤠\n \nIt's the farthest west our Perseverance rover has explored since landing in Jezero Crater in 2021, and it's an ancient landscape that may predate the crater itself…" }, "like_count": 227972, "comment_count": 936, "play_count": null, "video_duration": null, "original_width": 2500, "original_height": 2123, "user": { "pk": "528817151", "username": "nasa", "full_name": "NASA", "is_verified": true, "profile_pic_url": "https://instagram.fcgk52-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-19/29090066_159271188110124..." }, "image_versions2": { "candidates": [ { "width": 2500, "height": 2123, "url": "https://instagram.fcgk52-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-15/689446779_18608299801049152..." } ] }, "locations": [] }, { "_input": "nasa", "_source": "S1-primary", "_scrapedAt": "2026-05-18T10:54:19.253080+00:00", "pk": "3891942993783911519", "id": "3891942993783911519_528817151", "code": "DYC9YhOj3Rf", "taken_at": 1778175780, "media_type": 8, "product_type": "carousel_container", "caption": { "text": "Don't let anyone dull your shine 💫\n \nThe heart of galaxy M77 is shining so brightly in this Webb telescope image, it nearly outshines the galaxy itself…" }, "like_count": 678128, "comment_count": 1549, "user": { "pk": "528817151", "username": "nasa", "full_name": "NASA", "is_verified": true }, "image_versions2": { "candidates": [ { "width": 1060, "height": 1288, "url": "https://instagram.fcgk52-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-15/672396587_18606926689049152..." } ] }, "carousel_media_count": 3, "carousel_media": [ { "id": "3891940960318236431_528817151", "media_type": 1, "image_versions2": { "candidates": [ { "width": 1060, "height": 1288, "url": "https://instagram.fcgk52-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-15/672396587_18606926689049152..." } ] } }, { "id": "3891940963992441227_528817151", "media_type": 1, "image_versions2": { "candidates": [ { "width": 1440, "height": 1743, "url": "https://instagram.fcgk52-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-15/688674294_18606926698049152..." } ] } }, "... 1 more" ] } ] ``` | Field | Type | Description | |---|---|---| | `_input` | string | The username or URL exactly as you supplied it. Use this to join results back to your input list. | | `_source` | string | Internal tag for the path used to fetch the post. `S1-primary` means the fastest, richest path; `S2-*` would indicate a fallback. | | `_scrapedAt` | string | ISO-8601 UTC timestamp when the row was captured. | | `pk` | string | Instagram's internal numeric media ID. Stable across edits. | | `id` | string | Composite `_` id used in Instagram's mobile responses. | | `code` | string | Shortcode visible in the post URL (`instagram.com/p//` or `/reel//`). | | `taken_at` | integer | Unix epoch (seconds) when the post was uploaded. | | `media_type` | integer | `1` = single photo, `2` = single video / Reel, `8` = carousel container (children are in `carousel_media`). | | `product_type` | string | `feed` for grid photos, `clips` for Reels, `carousel_container` for multi-slide posts, `igtv` for long video. | | `caption.text` | string | Full caption text (may contain emoji and line breaks). `null` if the post has no caption. | | `like_count` | integer | Number of likes at fetch time. Some accounts hide this; `null` when hidden. | | `comment_count` | integer | Number of comments at fetch time. | | `play_count` | integer | Plays for video / Reels posts; absent for photos. | | `video_duration` | number | Length in seconds for video / Reels posts. | | `original_width` / `original_height` | integer | Native resolution of the post (or the first carousel child). | | `user` | object | Poster's profile snippet: `pk`, `username`, `full_name`, `is_verified`, `profile_pic_url`. | | `image_versions2.candidates` | array | Multi-resolution image URLs (largest first). Each entry: `{ width, height, url }`. | | `video_versions` | array | Multi-resolution video URLs (Reels and single videos). Each entry: `{ type, width, height, url }`. | | `carousel_media` | array | For carousel posts (`media_type: 8`) — one entry per slide, each with its own `image_versions2` / `video_versions`. | | `carousel_media_count` | integer | Number of slides in a carousel post. | | `locations` | array | Tagged location(s); empty array when none was attached. | #### Error envelope Accounts that don't exist, are deactivated, or fail to fetch return a structured error instead of crashing the run: ```json { "_input": "this-account-does-not-exist-xyz", "_error": "not_found", "_errorDetail": "NotFound feed/user this-account-does-not-exist-xyz", "_source": "S1-primary", "_scrapedAt": "2026-05-18T10:54:19.253080+00:00" } ``` Filter on `_error` to triage failed rows. ### Pricing This actor is billed per result: **$6.00 per 1,000 posts**. Each post in the dataset = 1 result. Error rows (not-found, fetch-failed) are not billed. ### Other Sosmed Actors | Platform | Actor | Best for | |---|---|---| | Instagram | [Instagram Account Scraper](https://apify.com/xtracto/instagram-account-scraper) | Bio, follower / following counts, post count for any handle | | Instagram | [Instagram Account Reels Scraper](https://apify.com/xtracto/instagram-account-reels-scraper) | Reels-only timeline with play counts and durations | | Instagram | [Instagram Post Detail Scraper](https://apify.com/xtracto/instagram-post-detail-scraper) | Full single-post detail by shortcode or URL | | Threads | [Threads Account Threads Scraper](https://apify.com/xtracto/threads-account-threads-scraper) | Posts timeline for a Threads handle | | Facebook | [Facebook Page Posts Scraper](https://apify.com/xtracto/facebook-page-posts) | Posts timeline for any public Facebook Page | | Twitter / X | [X Account Tweets Scraper](https://apify.com/xtracto/x-account-tweets-scraper) | Tweets timeline for any handle | | Bluesky | [Bluesky Account Posts Scraper](https://apify.com/xtracto/bluesky-account-posts-scraper) | atproto posts timeline by handle or DID | Browse the full catalog at [apify.com/xtracto](https://apify.com/xtracto). ### Notes - Instagram returns a rich record per post (carousel children with their own resolutions, video manifests, music metadata, paid-partnership flags, etc.). This actor preserves the full envelope so you can pick the fields you need. - Pagination is handled internally — you do not need to manage cursors. To page externally, simply re-run with a larger `maxPosts`. - Private accounts return zero posts and a single `not_found` error row. - Media CDN URLs are signed and time-bound (valid for a few hours). If you need permanent copies, mirror the bytes shortly after the run finishes. - `like_count` and `comment_count` are eventually-consistent and may lag the live UI by a few minutes. - `maxPosts: 0` means unlimited — a multi-year account can return thousands of posts; budget your run accordingly. - For batches over ~30 accounts, switch `proxyConfiguration` to `RESIDENTIAL` to avoid per-IP rate limits. # Actor input Schema ## `usernames` (type: `array`): Instagram usernames or full profile URLs to fetch the post timeline for. Both `nasa` and `https://www.instagram.com/nasa/` are accepted. ## `maxPosts` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of posts to return per account, paginated newest-first. Use `0` for unlimited (large accounts can return thousands). ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Apify Proxy settings. Datacenter proxy is fine for most accounts; switch to Residential if you scrape a large batch in a tight window. ## Actor input object example ```json { "usernames": [ "nasa", "natgeo" ], "maxPosts": 30, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "DATACENTER" ] } } ``` # 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 = { "usernames": [ "nasa", "natgeo" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("xtracto/instagram-account-posts-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 = { "usernames": [ "nasa", "natgeo", ] } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("xtracto/instagram-account-posts-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 '{ "usernames": [ "nasa", "natgeo" ] }' | apify call xtracto/instagram-account-posts-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=xtracto/instagram-account-posts-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Instagram Account Posts Scraper - Cheaper", "description": "Scrape all posts from any public Instagram account: caption, media URLs, engagement counts, etc. HTTP-only, fast, supp pagination, and no cookies required.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "3UJFaFFMJ5fbH3MBc" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/xtracto~instagram-account-posts-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-xtracto-instagram-account-posts-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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/xtracto~instagram-account-posts-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-xtracto-instagram-account-posts-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/xtracto~instagram-account-posts-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-xtracto-instagram-account-posts-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": [ "usernames" ], "properties": { "usernames": { "title": "Instagram usernames", "type": "array", "description": "Instagram usernames or full profile URLs to fetch the post timeline for. Both `nasa` and `https://www.instagram.com/nasa/` are accepted.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "maxPosts": { "title": "Max posts per account", "minimum": 0, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of posts to return per account, paginated newest-first. Use `0` for unlimited (large accounts can return thousands).", "default": 30 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Apify Proxy settings. Datacenter proxy is fine for most accounts; switch to Residential if you scrape a large batch in a tight window.", "default": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "DATACENTER" ] } } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```