# Instagram Reels Transcript — $0.004/min, No Login (`yugenox/instagram-reels-transcript`) Actor

Turn Instagram reels into text: the spoken words of any public reel or a creator's latest reels, in any language, with plays, likes and captions. $0.004 per minute of audio, no login, music-only reels skipped free.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/yugenox/instagram-reels-transcript.md
- **Developed by:** [Yugenox Corp](https://apify.com/yugenox) (community)
- **Categories:** Videos, Social media, AI
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 66.7% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $1.10 / 1,000 reels

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 Reels Transcript — $0.004/min, No Login

Turn Instagram reels into text. Paste reel links, @usernames or an audio page. You get the spoken words of each reel, in the language it was spoken, in the same row as its plays, likes, comments, caption, audio track and creator. Nothing is translated or summarized. No account or cookies are needed.

Good for content research, hook swipe files, repurposing reels into posts and blogs, checking what competitors say, and feeding AI agents with real creator scripts.

### Why this one

- **$0.004 per minute of audio.** A 60-second reel costs $0.0059 in total, including its data row.
- **Music-only reels cost nothing extra.** A reel set to a licensed song has no speech to transcribe, so it's skipped and never charged a transcript minute.
- **Performance data in the same row.** Plays, likes, comments, date, duration, caption, audio and the creator's follower count come with every transcript, so you can see which scripts actually worked.
- **Transcribe only the reels that performed.** When you give a creator, `minPlays` skips the flops before any transcription is done.
- **Creators, single reels or a sound.** An @username transcribes that creator's latest reels. An audio page transcribes the reels that use that sound.
- **Any language.** Each row carries the language the reel was spoken in (`transcriptLanguage`).

### Input

| Field | What it does |
|---|---|
| `reelUrls` | Reel URLs, profile URLs, @usernames (their latest reels), or `/reels/audio/<id>/` pages. |
| `maxReels` | Stop after this many reels (default 20). |
| `newerThan` | Only reels after a date (`2026-09-01`) or within a period (`30 days`). |
| `minPlays` | Only transcribe reels with at least this many plays. This works when you give a creator (play counts come from their reels tab). |
| `includeAiSummary` | Add the title and summary that Instagram's own AI writes for the post (free). |
| `includeVideoViews` | Add the public view count, which is separate from plays (free). |

```json
{ "reelUrls": ["@natgeo"], "maxReels": 10, "minPlays": 500000 }
```

### Output

Each row is one reel. The fields below are from a real run on 2026-09-26, with the transcript shortened:

```json
{
  "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdpAtTHkvgk/",
  "owner": { "username": "natgeo", "followerCount": 268501633 },
  "createdAt": "2026-09-23T19:00:54.000Z",
  "video": { "duration": 39.04, "playCount": null },
  "likeCount": 23208,
  "commentCount": 202,
  "transcript": "You can't speed up and accelerate faster than the speed of light. But there are back doorways to accomplish that. … If we discover a substance called negative mass, that actually has negative gravity, you can use that to pry open a wormhole. …",
  "transcriptLanguage": "en",
  "caption": "It's not possible to accelerate faster than the speed of light, but that doesn't…",
  "audio": { "id": "28641574595474603", "title": "Original audio", "artist": "natgeo", "isOriginal": true }
}
```

Rows carry every field of [yugenox/instagram-scraper](https://apify.com/yugenox/instagram-scraper): media URLs, hashtags, mentions, tagged users, co-authors, location and more. A reel with no speech has `transcript: ""`.

### Pricing

These are the same prices as [yugenox/instagram-scraper](https://apify.com/yugenox/instagram-scraper) with "Video transcripts" on.

- **$0.0019 per reel row** ($1.90 per 1,000), with volume discounts by Apify plan (table below).
- **$0.004 per started minute of audio transcribed**, on every plan. Reels set to a licensed song are skipped and not charged. Reels longer than 15 minutes aren't transcribed, and no minute is charged for them.

| Reel length | You pay (Free and Starter plans) |
|---|---|
| 30 seconds | $0.0059 |
| 60 seconds | $0.0059 |
| 90 seconds | $0.0099 |

| Your Apify plan (discount tier) | Per reel row | Per 1,000 reel rows |
|---|---:|---:|
| Free (FREE) | $0.0019 | $1.90 |
| Starter (BRONZE) | $0.0019 | $1.90 |
| Scale (SILVER) | $0.0015 | $1.50 |
| Business (GOLD) | $0.0011 | $1.10 |
| Enterprise (PLATINUM) | $0.0008 | $0.80 |
| Enterprise (DIAMOND) | $0.0006 | $0.60 |

- AI summaries and video view counts are included at no extra cost.
- Free Apify plans are limited to 100 reels per run.
- The pricing tab also lists `creator-report`, an optional add-on of the shared engine. Transcript runs never use it.

### How it compares

This is the total cost of one 60-second reel with a transcript, at Free-plan list prices on the Apify Store (2026-09-26):

| Actor | Price for one 60-second reel | Plays, likes and creator in the row |
|---|---|---|
| **This Actor** | **$0.0059** | **Yes** |
| apple\_yang / Instagram Transcript API | $0.0055 ($0.0045/min + $0.001/row) | Partly |
| steadyfetch / Instagram Reels Transcript Scraper | $0.015 per reel | Yes |
| crawlerbros / Instagram Transcript Scraper | $0.07 ($0.01 per 10 s + $0.01/row) plus a start fee | Partly |
| afanasenko / Reel Transcript & Hooks | $0.075 per reel (also reads on-screen text) | Yes |

### FAQ

**Do I need an Instagram account or cookies?** No.

**Which languages work?** Any language spoken in the reel. The transcript stays in the original language, and `transcriptLanguage` gives its ISO code.

**Can I transcribe photo posts or a hashtag?** Photos have no audio, and hashtag or location pages mix photos with videos. This Actor only accepts sources that are all videos. For mixed sources, use [yugenox/instagram-scraper](https://apify.com/yugenox/instagram-scraper) with "Video transcripts" turned on.

**Why is `playCount` empty for a single reel link?** Logged-out visitors only see play counts on a creator's reels tab. Give the @username instead of the link and every row gets its plays.

**Does it read text shown on screen?** No, only the spoken audio.

**Is it legal to scrape Instagram?** This Actor only collects publicly available data: posts, reels and profiles from public Instagram accounts, which anyone can see without logging in. Collecting publicly available data is generally legal, but you're responsible for how you use it. Results can include usernames, profile details, captions and comments from public accounts, and that counts as personal data. You must follow privacy laws such as GDPR, PIPEDA and CCPA, as well as Instagram's terms. If you're unsure, check with a lawyer. More on this: [Is web scraping legal?](https://blog.apify.com/is-web-scraping-legal/)

Transcripts reproduce creators' words, so respect copyright when you republish them. If you contact creators you find, anti-spam laws apply: CASL in Canada, CAN-SPAM in the US, and GDPR/ePrivacy in the EU.

**Does it access any private data?** No. Everything comes from pages Instagram shows to any visitor without logging in. It never uses a login, never touches private or restricted accounts, and never reaches password-protected areas. Private accounts are never accessed.

### Use it from code, n8n, Make or an AI agent

```bash
curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/yugenox~instagram-reels-transcript/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H 'content-type: application/json' \
  -d '{"reelUrls":["@natgeo"],"maxReels":5}'
```

- **n8n / Make:** use the Apify node, choose "Run Actor and get dataset items" and pick `yugenox/instagram-reels-transcript`.
- **MCP (Claude, Cursor and others):** add `https://mcp.apify.com?actors=yugenox/instagram-reels-transcript` as an MCP server.

### More Instagram tools

- [Instagram Scraper](https://apify.com/yugenox/instagram-scraper): posts, reels, profiles, hashtags, locations and audio.
- [Instagram Comments Scraper](https://apify.com/yugenox/instagram-comments-scraper): every public comment, top comments first.
- [Instagram Trends](https://apify.com/yugenox/instagram-trends-scraper): Instagram's own trending keywords and rising profiles.
- [Instagram Influencer Analytics](https://apify.com/yugenox/instagram-creator-analytics): median reel plays, engagement and brand deals per creator.

# Actor input Schema

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

Reel URLs (https://www.instagram.com/reel/…/), profile URLs or @usernames (their latest reels are transcribed), or an audio page (/reels/audio/<id>/). Hashtag and location pages are not accepted here because they mix photos with videos.

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

Stop after this many reels in total.

## `newerThan` (type: `string`):

Only reels posted after a date (YYYY-MM-DD) or within a period such as "30 days".

## `minPlays` (type: `integer`):

Only transcribe reels with at least this many plays — skip the flops, pay only for what performed.

## `includeAiSummary` (type: `boolean`):

Add the title and summary Instagram's own AI writes for public posts, when there is one. Included in the price.

## `includeVideoViews` (type: `boolean`):

Add each video's public view count (separate from plays). Included in the price.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "reelUrls": [
    "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddl5eH-u4le/"
  ],
  "maxReels": 5,
  "includeAiSummary": false,
  "includeVideoViews": false
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

Every row this run saved, as JSON.

## `resultsCsv` (type: `string`):

The same rows as CSV, ready for a spreadsheet.

## `resultsTable` (type: `string`):

The same rows narrowed to the key columns (the "transcripts" view).

# 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 = {
    "reelUrls": [
        "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddl5eH-u4le/"
    ],
    "maxReels": 5
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("yugenox/instagram-reels-transcript").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 = {
    "reelUrls": ["https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddl5eH-u4le/"],
    "maxReels": 5,
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("yugenox/instagram-reels-transcript").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 '{
  "reelUrls": [
    "https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddl5eH-u4le/"
  ],
  "maxReels": 5
}' |
apify call yugenox/instagram-reels-transcript --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,yugenox/instagram-reels-transcript"
        }
    }
}
```

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/4s4T3hjcmaQ6ckyM3/builds/ERxYq70liZzetSPZs/openapi.json