Instagram Scraper API endpoints

This guide shows you how to send a synchronous request to each Bright Data Instagram Scraper API endpoint. It covers profiles, posts, reels, and comments.

Prerequisites

A Bright Data account with an active API key
Completed the Quickstart

Request structure

Every synchronous request follows the same pattern:

POST https://api.brightdata.com/datasets/v3/scrape?dataset_id={DATASET_ID}&format=json
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY
Content-Type: application/json

[{"url": "https://www.instagram.com/..."}]

The only thing that changes between endpoints is the dataset_id and the input URL format.

The /scrape endpoint is built for real-time, single-URL requests. Bright Data recommends 20 URLs or fewer per request, a best practice rather than a hard limit, and the endpoint waits up to 1 minute. If collection takes longer, the response is HTTP 202 with a snapshot_id instead of data, and collection continues asynchronously. Fetch the result with async requests or have it pushed to you with webhook delivery.

How to scrape Instagram profiles

Dataset ID: gd_l1vikfch901nx3by4

curl -X POST \
  "https://api.brightdata.com/datasets/v3/scrape?dataset_id=gd_l1vikfch901nx3by4&format=json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '[{"url": "https://www.instagram.com/instagram"}]'

You should see a 200 response. Processing time varies with target-site conditions and scraper workload.

Example response

[
  {
    "full_name": "Instagram",
    "biography": "Discover what's new on Instagram 🔎✨",
    "followers": 686423902,
    "following": 286,
    "posts_count": 8579,
    "is_verified": true,
    "account": "instagram",
    "fbid": "17841400039600391",
    "id": "25025320",
    "profile_image_link": "https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-19/550891366_18667771684001321_1383210656577177067_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s150x150_tt6&_nc_cat=1&ccb=7-5&_nc_..."
  }
]

Full Profiles response schema

Which output fields does the Instagram profiles scraper return?

The Instagram profiles scraper (gd_l1vikfch901nx3by4, collect_by_url) returns 26 output fields.

Output fields (26)

Field	Type	Description
`account`	text	The username or handle of the Instagram account
`fbid`	text	Facebook ID associated with the account
`id`	text	Unique identifier for the Instagram account
`followers`	number	The number of followers for the account
`posts_count`	number	The total count of posts made by the account
`is_verified`	boolean	Indicates whether the account is verified
`external_url`	array	External websites that users may link to from their Instagram profiles, such as personal blogs or online stores
`biography`	text	Brief descriptions or statements that users write to introduce themselves or share their interests and passions on Instagram
`post_hashtags`	array	Keywords or phrases that the user specified in their top posts preceded by the ”#” symbol that help categorize and discover content related to a specific topic
`following`	number	The number of accounts that the account is following
`posts`	array	Data regarding the top posts that the user has published
`profile_image_link`	text	URL that link directly to the Instagram profile image
`profile_url`	url	URL that link directly to the Instagram profile
`profile_name`	text	The name associated with the account’s profile
`highlights_count`	number	The count of highlights (featured stories) on the account
`highlights`	array	Data regarding the highlights that the user has published
`full_name`	text	The full name associated with the account
`is_private`	boolean	Indicates whether the account is private
`bio_hashtags`	array	Keywords or phrases that the user specified in his bio preceded by the ”#” symbol that help categorize and discover content related to a specific topic
`url`	url	URL pointing to the account’s profile
`is_joined_recently`	boolean	Indicates if the account has joined Instagram recently
`partner_id`	text	The partner ID associated with the account
`email_address`	text	Email address extracted from profile description
`external_url_title`	object	External websites that users may link to from their Instagram profiles, such as personal blogs or online stores, with their descriptions
`pronouns`	text	The profile’s pronouns (if available)
`external_urls`	array	External URLs

Machine-readable version with the input schema: /scrapers/gd_l1vikfch901nx3by4.json

How to scrape Instagram posts

Dataset ID: gd_lk5ns7kz21pck8jpis

curl -X POST \
  "https://api.brightdata.com/datasets/v3/scrape?dataset_id=gd_lk5ns7kz21pck8jpis&format=json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '[{"url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuf4s0MNqNr"}]'

Example response

[
  {
    "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuf4s0MNqNr",
    "user_posted": "tin***i",
    "description": "Pet tattoo with forget me nots 🖤💙💛\n.\n.\n.\n#tinybaki #littlepondstudio #cattattoo #pettattoo #forgetmenot #crayontattoo #forgetmenottattoo #forgetmenots #fl...",
    "num_comments": 97,
    "date_posted": "2023-07-10T01:21:31.000Z",
    "likes": 123941,
    "hashtags": [
      "#tinybaki"
    ],
    "content_type": "Carousel",
    "shortcode": "Cuf4s0MNqNr",
    "post_id": "3143480435228975979"
  }
]

Full Posts response schema

Which output fields does the Instagram posts scraper return?

The Instagram posts scraper (gd_lk5ns7kz21pck8jpis, collect_by_url) returns 40 output fields.

Output fields (40)

Field	Type	Description
`url`	url	The direct URL of the Instagram post
`user_posted`	text	Username of the post creator
`description`	text	Post text description
`hashtags`	array	Hashtags used in the post
`num_comments`	number	Number of comments
`date_posted`	date	Post publication date
`likes`	number	Number of likes on the post
`photos`	array	URLs of attached photos, URLs can be expired due to Instagram policy
`videos`	array	URLs of attached videos, URLs can be expired due to Instagram policy
`location`	array	Geographical location associated with the post
`location_details`	object	Detailed geographical location metadata as returned by Instagram
`latest_comments`	array	Recent comments on the post
`post_id`	text	Unique post identifier
`discovery_input`	object	Discovery input values used to trigger the collection
`has_handshake`	boolean	Indicates if the post has a handshake (collaborative agreement between accounts)
`shortcode`	text	The shortcode of the Instagram post, used in the post URL path
`content_type`	text	The type of content — Posts or Reels
`pk`	text	The primary key of the media content as assigned by Instagram
`content_id`	text	The content ID of the media item
`engagement_score_view`	number	Video view count used as an engagement score metric
`thumbnail`	text	The URL of the post’s display image or video thumbnail
`video_view_count`	text	The number of views on the video post
`product_type`	text	The type of product associated with the post, such as ‘clips’ for Reels
`coauthor_producers`	array	List of co-authors or producers who collaborated on the post
`tagged_users`	array	List of users tagged in the post
`video_play_count`	number	The number of times the video has been played
`followers`	number	Number of followers the post owner has at the time of collection
`posts_count`	number	The total count of posts made by the account at the time of collection
`profile_image_link`	text	URL linking directly to the Instagram profile image of the post owner
`is_verified`	boolean	Indicates whether the post owner’s account is verified
`partnership_details`	object	Details of the paid partnership brand associated with the post
`user_posted_id`	text	The Instagram user ID of the account that posted the post
`post_content`	array	List of media items (photos or videos) attached to the post, including carousel items
`audio`	object	Audio track metadata associated with the post or Reel
`profile_url`	url	URL of the Instagram profile that posted the post
`videos_duration`	array	List of video durations for each video attached to the post
`images`	array	List of image objects attached to the post
`alt_text`	text	Accessibility alt text for the post’s main image — descriptive text that conveys the meaning of the image for blind or visually impaired users
`photos_number`	number	Total number of photos attached to the post
`audio_url`	url	Direct URL of the audio track used in the post

Machine-readable version with the input schema: /scrapers/gd_lk5ns7kz21pck8jpis.json

How to scrape Instagram reels

Dataset ID: gd_lyclm20il4r5helnj

curl -X POST \
  "https://api.brightdata.com/datasets/v3/scrape?dataset_id=gd_lyclm20il4r5helnj&format=json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '[{"url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5Rdyj_q7YN/"}]'

Example response

[
  {
    "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/C5Rdyj_q7YN/",
    "user_posted": "dex***t",
    "description": "Bro is a cat-of-all-trades 🧳 \n\n#catoftheday #orangecatsofinstagram #orangecatbehavior #kitten #asmr #orangecat #catsofig #cardboardcat",
    "num_comments": 7899,
    "date_posted": "2024-04-02T20:44:39.000Z",
    "likes": 3481930,
    "views": null,
    "video_play_count": null,
    "length": "46.79999923706055",
    "shortcode": "C5Rdyj_q7YN"
  }
]

Full Reels response schema

Which output fields does the Instagram reels scraper return?

The Instagram reels scraper (gd_lyclm20il4r5helnj, collect_by_url) returns 27 output fields.

Output fields (27)

Field	Type	Description
`url`	url	URL of the reel
`user_posted`	text	Username of the reel creator
`description`	text	Reel text description
`hashtags`	array	Hashtags used in the post
`num_comments`	number	Number of comments
`date_posted`	date	Reel publication date
`likes`	number	Number of likes
`views`	number	Number of views
`video_play_count`	number	The number of times the Reel has been played
`top_comments`	array	Top comments
`post_id`	text	Unique post identifier
`thumbnail`	url	The URL of the reel’s display image or video thumbnail
`shortcode`	text	The shortcode of the Instagram reel
`content_id`	text	The content ID of the media
`product_type`	text	The type of product, such as “clips”
`coauthor_producers`	array	Coauthor producers
`tagged_users`	array	Tagged users
`length`	text	Length of the reel
`video_url`	url	The video url
`audio_url`	url	link to the audio connected to the post
`posts_count`	number	The profile’s number of posts
`followers`	number	The profile’s number of followers
`following`	number	The profile’s number of following
`user_profile_url`	url	User profile URL
`is_paid_partnership`	boolean	Is the post sponsored
`is_verified`	boolean	Is verified
`profile_image_link`	url	profile image link

Machine-readable version with the input schema: /scrapers/gd_lyclm20il4r5helnj.json

How to scrape Instagram comments

Dataset ID: gd_ltppn085pokosxh13

curl -X POST \
  "https://api.brightdata.com/datasets/v3/scrape?dataset_id=gd_ltppn085pokosxh13&format=json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '[{"url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuf4s0MNqNr"}]'

Example response

[
  {
    "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuf4s0MNqNr",
    "comment_user": "ink***e",
    "comment_user_url": "https://www.instagram.com/ink***e",
    "comment_date": "2026-08-18T03:37:10.000Z",
    "comment": "Wow! Awesome 🙌🙌🙌🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥",
    "likes_number": 0,
    "replies_number": 0,
    "comment_id": "18112992241972031",
    "post_url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/Cuf4s0MNqNr"
  }
]

Full Comments response schema

Which output fields does the Instagram comments scraper return?

The Instagram comments scraper (gd_ltppn085pokosxh13, collect_by_url) returns 14 output fields.

Field	Type	Description
`url`	url	URL
`comment_user`	text	The username commenting
`comment_user_url`	url	Url of the commenting user
`comment_date`	text	Date when the comment was made
`comment`	text	The comment of the comment
`likes_number`	number	Number of likes on the comment
`replies_number`	number	Number of replies on the comment
`replies`	array	replies on the comment
`hashtag_comment`	array	The hashtags used in the comment
`tagged_users_in_comment`	array	The usernames tagged in the comment
`post_url`	url	The URL of the post itself
`post_user`	text	The user posting the original post
`comment_id`	text	unique id for each comment
`post_id`	text	Post ID

Machine-readable version with the input schema: /scrapers/gd_ltppn085pokosxh13.json

Quick reference: dataset IDs

Endpoint	Dataset ID	URL pattern
Profiles	`gd_l1vikfch901nx3by4`	`instagram.com/{username}`
Posts	`gd_lk5ns7kz21pck8jpis`	`instagram.com/p/{shortcode}`
Reels	`gd_lyclm20il4r5helnj`	`instagram.com/reel/{shortcode}`
Comments	`gd_ltppn085pokosxh13`	`instagram.com/p/{shortcode}` or `instagram.com/reel/{shortcode}`

Output formats

Control the response format with the format query parameter:

Value	Description
`json`	JSON array
`ndjson`	Newline-delimited JSON, one record per line (default)
`csv`	Comma-separated values

These are the format values for /scrape. The full list, NDJSON (default), JSON, JSON lines, CSV and Parquet, and where each applies is in output formats.

Async batch requests

Scrape hundreds of URLs in a single batch job.

API reference

Full parameter and response field reference.

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Instagram Scraper API endpoints

Prerequisites

Request structure

How to scrape Instagram profiles

Which output fields does the Instagram profiles scraper return?

How to scrape Instagram posts

Which output fields does the Instagram posts scraper return?

How to scrape Instagram reels

Which output fields does the Instagram reels scraper return?

How to scrape Instagram comments

Which output fields does the Instagram comments scraper return?

Quick reference: dataset IDs

Output formats

Async batch requests

API reference

​Prerequisites

​Request structure

​How to scrape Instagram profiles

​Which output fields does the Instagram profiles scraper return?

​How to scrape Instagram posts

​Which output fields does the Instagram posts scraper return?

​How to scrape Instagram reels

​Which output fields does the Instagram reels scraper return?

​How to scrape Instagram comments

​Which output fields does the Instagram comments scraper return?

​Quick reference: dataset IDs

​Output formats

​Related

Async batch requests

API reference

Prerequisites

Request structure

How to scrape Instagram profiles

Which output fields does the Instagram profiles scraper return?

How to scrape Instagram posts

Which output fields does the Instagram posts scraper return?

How to scrape Instagram reels

Which output fields does the Instagram reels scraper return?

How to scrape Instagram comments

Which output fields does the Instagram comments scraper return?

Quick reference: dataset IDs

Output formats

Related