Tutorial · curl
How to scrape Instagram search results with curl (2026)
A curl walkthrough for GET /v1/instagram/search/profiles. Copy the snippet, run it, then read the JSON.
GET /v1/instagram/search/profiles · 1 credit per successful request.
In this tutorial
You'll search Instagram for a phrase and see the video results you get back.
Example job: find Instagram videos for a phrase, then open the URLs you keep.
Step 1
Get ready
You need a Social Fetch API key and a working curl environment. New accounts include 100 free credits.
API key. Create a Social Fetch account and copy an API key. New accounts include 100 free credits.
curl setup. Any shell with curl. Export SOCIALFETCH_API_KEY before you run the sample.
When you're done, SOCIALFETCH_API_KEY is set in your shell.
Step 2
Make the request
Copy the curl snippet, keep SOCIALFETCH_API_KEY in the environment, and send GET /v1/instagram/search/profiles with the x-api-key header. Example path: /v1/instagram/search/profiles?query=travel+photographer. The sample uses public values for search results.
You should see a JSON body on stdout. Use curl -sS so HTTP errors still print on stderr.
Step 3
Read the response
A JSON body with data (the search results) and meta (creditsCharged, requestId). The sample below is illustrative; field-level docs live on the endpoint page. Credits charge on completed lookups, not transport failures.
Branch on data.lookupStatus when present, then keep meta.requestId if a row looks wrong.
Watch out
search hits are discovery rows, not full profile cards. Hydrate keepers with GET /v1/instagram/profiles/{handle} before you store follower counts or verification. Keep the same query string when you pass cursor for the next page.
Step 4
You finished
Same path and credits in playground, docs, and production. Pick a next action below.
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need an official Instagram developer account?
No. Social Fetch authenticates with your Social Fetch API key. You call GET /v1/instagram/search/profiles and we handle upstream access. You still need to follow each platform's terms for how you use public data.
What does the instagram profile search endpoint return?
A JSON envelope with data (the search results) and meta (creditsCharged, requestId). Shape details and field docs live on the endpoint page and in the OpenAPI docs.
Instagram profile search vs hashtag search vs reels search?
Use this route to find accounts by keyword. Use GET /v1/instagram/search/hashtags for tag discovery. Use GET /v1/instagram/search/reels for reel keyword search. They are separate operations on the Instagram hub.
Does Instagram profile search return the full profile card?
No. Treat hits as a shortlist of handles (and related discovery fields). Call GET /v1/instagram/profiles/{handle} for the full card and metrics before you upsert CRM rows.
How much does a successful request cost?
1 credit per successful request.
Is this okay for production?
Yes. Same production API as the rest of Social Fetch: typed errors, requestId on every response, and credit charges only on completed lookups (not infrastructure failures). New accounts get 100 free credits.
Any curl-specific tips for this request?
Yes. Pass the key with -H "x-api-key: $SOCIALFETCH_API_KEY", and wrap the full URL in double quotes so the shell does not split on & in query strings. Prefer curl -sS so HTTP errors still surface on stderr.
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