> **For coding agents and LLMs:** This is one page from the Social Fetch docs (markdown export). For curated orientation and workflow guidance, start with [`/llms.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/llms.txt); for agent onboarding and crawl rules, use [`/agents.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/agents.txt); for the full endpoint list with links to pages like this one, use [`/llms-endpoints.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/llms-endpoints.txt); for one platform's parameters and curls, use [`/llms-{platform}.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/llms-tiktok.txt); use [`/llms.json`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/llms.json) when you need structured JSON for tool registration.

## This page

- **On-site (HTML):** [https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/api/v1/instagram](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/api/v1/instagram)
- **Markdown (.mdx) URL:** [https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/api/v1/instagram.mdx](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/api/v1/instagram.mdx)

## API base URL and authentication

- **API origin (from OpenAPI `servers`):** `https://api.socialfetch.dev`
- **Authentication:** send `x-api-key: sfk_...` on `/v1/**` routes unless the operation is explicitly anonymous (check OpenAPI `security`, the [API reference hub](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/api.mdx), [`/llms.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/llms.txt), or [`/llms.json`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/llms.json) for each route).
- **OpenAPI JSON:** [https://www.socialfetch.dev/openapi.json](https://www.socialfetch.dev/openapi.json)

## Recommended docs entrypoints (this site)

- [Documentation overview](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs.mdx) — top-level orientation (markdown).
- [Quickstart](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/quickstart.mdx) — authenticate with `x-api-key`, validate auth with `whoami`, and understand the JSON envelope.
- [SDK](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/sdk.mdx) — official TypeScript SDK guide, including `SocialFetchClient`, `Result`, and `unwrap()`.
- [SDK reference](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/sdk-reference.mdx) — exhaustive SDK method inventory and route mapping for agents, tooling, and power users.
- [Choose the right endpoint](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/choose-endpoint.mdx) — task-oriented route selection for smoke tests, profiles, list endpoints, and single-item lookups.
- [Capability matrix](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/capability-matrix.mdx) — fast comparison of identifiers, pagination, outcomes, media download, and SDK coverage.
- [Recipes](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/recipes.mdx) — copyable workflows (brand monitoring, transcripts, Ad Library, creator scoring, Reddit research) with credit callouts and SDK examples.
- [Integrations](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/integrations.mdx) — MCP for AI clients, n8n verified node, Apify Store Actors, Make custom app, SDK, and REST API connection paths.
- [MCP product page](https://www.socialfetch.dev/mcp) — hosted MCP overview, OAuth, Skills install.
- [MCP integration](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/integrations/mcp.mdx) — hosted `/mcp` server, OAuth, Cursor/VS Code/Claude install snippets, 165 endpoint tools, plus docs_search/docs_read for implementation help.
- [n8n integration](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/integrations/n8n.mdx) — install `n8n-nodes-socialfetch`, credentials, and workflow examples.
- [Apify integration](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/integrations/apify.mdx) — Store Actors under @social-fetch, PPE billing, dataset export, and quick start.
- [Make integration](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/integrations/make.mdx) — custom app modules for Make scenarios, API key credentials, and module catalog.
- [`/llms-endpoints.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/llms-endpoints.txt) — every documented operation with a direct link to that route's agent-readable markdown page (prefer this over parsing OpenAPI).
- [`/llms-{platform}.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/llms-tiktok.txt) — per-platform endpoint files generated from OpenAPI (parameters, credits, curls).
- [`/agents.txt`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/agents.txt) — agent crawl/onboarding file with capabilities, auth rules, and allowlist.
- [`/llms.json`](https://www.socialfetch.dev/llms.json) — structured machine-readable operation inventory with parameter names, pagination, outcomes, credits, and SDK mapping.
- [API reference hub](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/api.mdx) — human-friendly index of operations with links into generated pages.
- [Errors](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/errors.mdx) — shared error envelope and HTTP status guidance.
- [Credits](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/credits.mdx) — metering, `402`, and planning batch jobs.
- Outcome semantics such as `found`, `not_found`, and `private` are documented in [Errors](https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/errors.mdx) and on operation pages when present in the OpenAPI contract.

## Markdown docs convention

- Every docs page has a markdown twin: append **`.mdx`** to the docs pathname (for example `/docs/quickstart` → `/docs/quickstart.mdx`).
- Agents that send `Accept: text/markdown` on `/docs/**` HTML URLs may receive markdown directly (same URL, `Vary: Accept`).

---
# Instagram API reference (https://www.socialfetch.dev/docs/api/v1/instagram)

Social Fetch's Instagram tag is sixteen `GET /v1/instagram/...` routes. Pass a handle, post URL, or search query and get `{ data, meta }` with `data.lookupStatus`, `meta.requestId`, and `meta.creditsCharged`. Authenticate with `x-api-key` only — no Meta app review, business account, or page token.

These pages are generated from the public OpenAPI spec. Product overview, examples, and FAQs live on the [Instagram platform hub](/platforms/instagram). Build-vs-buy and DIY scraping: [How to scrape Instagram data](/guides/how-to-scrape-instagram-data).

  Most Instagram routes are **1 credit** per completed lookup, and paginated calls bill **each page**. The exceptions: the profile engagement audit is **5** and media download is **11**. Opt-in parameters add credits — `hostMedia` on profile posts and reels, and `downloadMedia` on a post. Trust `meta.creditsCharged`.

## Profiles

- [Instagram profile](/docs/api/v1/instagram/profiles/handle/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/profiles/{handle}` — profile, metrics, and recent posts.

- [Basic profile](/docs/api/v1/instagram/profiles/userid/basic/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/profiles/{userId}/basic` — lightweight card by user id.

- [Profile posts](/docs/api/v1/instagram/profiles/handle/posts/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/profiles/{handle}/posts` — post feed, cursor-paged.

- [Profile reels](/docs/api/v1/instagram/profiles/handle/reels/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/profiles/{handle}/reels` — reels tab, cursor-paged.

- [Profile highlights](/docs/api/v1/instagram/profiles/handle/highlights/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/profiles/{handle}/highlights` — highlight covers.

- [Highlight](/docs/api/v1/instagram/highlights/highlightid/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/highlights/{highlightId}` — items in one highlight.

- [Engagement audit](/docs/api/v1/instagram/profiles/handle/engagement/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/profiles/{handle}/engagement` — engagement rate (5 credits).

## Search

- [Search profiles](/docs/api/v1/instagram/search/profiles/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/search/profiles` — find accounts by keyword.

- [Search reels](/docs/api/v1/instagram/search/reels/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/search/reels` — keyword reel discovery.

- [Hashtag search](/docs/api/v1/instagram/search/hashtags/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/search/hashtags` — hashtag-led discovery.

## Posts and reels

- [Post or reel](/docs/api/v1/instagram/posts/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/posts` — one post or reel by URL.

- [Post comments](/docs/api/v1/instagram/posts/comments/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/posts/comments` — comment list, cursor-paged.

- [Comment replies](/docs/api/v1/instagram/posts/comments/replies/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/posts/comments/replies` — nested replies.

- [Download media](/docs/api/v1/instagram/posts/download/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/posts/download` — hosted post or reel assets (11 credits).

- [Post transcript](/docs/api/v1/instagram/posts/transcript/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/posts/transcript` — spoken text from a reel or video.

- [Trending reels](/docs/api/v1/instagram/reels/trending/get) — `GET /v1/instagram/reels/trending` — trending reels by region.

## Related

* [Instagram platform hub](/platforms/instagram) — coverage, FAQs, and credit notes
* [How to scrape Instagram data](/guides/how-to-scrape-instagram-data)
* [Best Instagram data APIs](/blog/best-instagram-data-apis-2026) — vendor comparison
* [API reference](/docs/api) — all platforms