Instagram API skill

Read public Instagram data as clean JSON. This Instagram API skill transcribes reels, summarises them, returns profile and post statistics, walks comment threads, and analyses hashtags and locations — including post counts, top posts and reels for a tag or place. It also covers keyword, profile and reel search.

Instagram is one of the harder platforms to read programmatically. These endpoints return structured JSON without a logged-in session or a browser farm.

This skill wraps 23 live Instagram endpoints from the ScraperSocial API. Public data only, returned as clean JSON.

When to use this skill

• A user pastes a reel URL and asks what is said in it, or wants it summarised.
• You are researching a creator or brand account: followers, posting pattern, engagement.
• You need comments on a post for sentiment or FAQ mining.
• You are tracking a hashtag or a location and want its stats and top posts.

Do not use this skill when

• Watch the price on media endpoints. get_transcript.js and get_download.js cost 40 credits, and --section=summary costs 42 — the most expensive calls in the API. Never fire them speculatively; confirm the user actually wants the video's content first.
• An Instagram link appears in passing with no question attached.
• You need private accounts, stories from private users, or DMs. Public data only.
• You run the account yourself. Meta's Graph API gives owners richer insights for free.
• You need to post, comment or follow. Read-only.

Setup

export SCRAPERSOCIAL_KEY=sk_live_...   # https://scrapersocial.com/app/keys

Signing up at scrapersocial.com/signup includes 100 free credits, no card required.

Permissions and scope

These scripts do exactly three things and nothing else: read one environment variable (SCRAPERSOCIAL_KEY), send HTTPS requests to https://api.scrapersocial.com (the host is a constant in the code, not configurable), and print JSON. They run as node scripts/<name>.js with no other shell use, no file writes and no persistence. call_endpoint.js accepts only the 23 documented /v1/instagram/ paths in the table below and refuses anything else before a request is made.

Scripts

Every script also accepts --limit, --cursor, --fields, --format and --fresh. --limit is clamped to 50: above that the API returns an async job instead of data.

Example

node skills/instagram-api/scripts/get_hashtag.js latteart --section=posts

Every response uses the same envelope:

{ "data": {}, "meta": { "count": 20, "next_cursor": "..." }, "request_id": "a18e4ef88ad4b00b" }

meta appears on paginated endpoints only. Keep request_id — support traces calls with it.

Endpoints

Costs shown per item for paginated endpoints, per call otherwise. Failed calls are not charged.

FAQ

How do I transcribe an Instagram reel?

get_transcript.js with the reel URL, 40 credits. --section=summary returns an AI summary instead, for 42. Both read the video directly. These are the priciest calls here — check before spending.

How do I get an Instagram profile as JSON?

get_profile.js --section=full returns the full profile, --section=about a lighter version. This script has no default section, so --section is required.

Can I get hashtag statistics?

Yes. get_hashtag.js --section=stats returns counts, --section=analytics a richer breakdown, and --section=posts or --section=reels the content ranked under the tag.

Why does a post return 404?

It is private, deleted, or from an account that blocks public reads. The API returns not_found rather than guessing, and failed calls are not charged.

Is this an official Instagram API?

No. ScraperSocial is independent and not affiliated with Meta. It returns publicly available data only.

Links

• Instagram data on ScraperSocial
• All 33 platform skills
• OpenAPI spec · llms.txt

Disclaimer

ScraperSocial is an independent product and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by any platform named in this repository. All product names, logos and brands are property of their respective owners. These skills return only publicly available data.