Instagram: scrapers and the official API, compared

Route map

Each line is one way to get Instagram data; each stop is a field you probably need. Green lines are catalogue Actors, ranked by the published formula.

Which route for which job

The catalogue Actors for Instagram return different records. "Only this route" lists the published fields no other Actor in this table returns, which is usually what decides the choice. Cost is the published per-result rate; start events and platform usage are extra.

Field matrix: who returns what

Every tool with a published output schema, against the 7 fields most Instagram jobs need. A dot means the field name appears in the schema; rows can still leave it empty.

Field dictionary: the exact keys

The same core field has a different key in each Actor's output. Map these before you merge datasets; a dash means the published schema has no matching key. Need a field that is not listed here, such as email? Search every Instagram Actor by field.

Download this comparison: CSV · JSON (every tool with a published schema, matching keys per core field, price and score).

All 12 tools, scored

Catalogue Actors link to their detail pages; the score (0 to 100) is the published formula, identical for every tool. Other Store tools follow in their own table, for reference. Price is the published primary-result rate per 1,000 (the Free-plan rate where the price is tiered; higher Apify plans pay less); start events and platform usage are excluded.

Other Store tools, for reference

Scored with the same published formula and listed for comparison only; this site does not link or recommend them.

What to check before you choose

Teams use public Instagram posts and reels to review campaign content, study creator publishing and track engagement snapshots. Video transcripts support research into spoken content that captions may not contain.

Choose a post collector for known post links, a profile tool for account-focused research, or a transcript tool for video speech. Use the official API for professional-account workflows within its permitted access.

Checklist

• Inspect status before using a row: the post tool distinguishes unavailable, private, restricted, blocked and invalid inputs.
• Check likes_hidden and comments_disabled before interpreting missing engagement values or planning comment collection.
• Choose transcript output when speech matters, and inspect media_items when a post contains several media items.

Where the data is incomplete

The listed post schema provides comment_count without a comment-text field. Restricted or unavailable posts can produce status records instead of content.

Its price summary and evidence note also disagree about the cheapest route, so check the relevant tool's billing details.

Official API route

Terms and personal data

Limit collection to public business or profile data and respect Instagram's terms. Review the permitted collection and reuse for your project before retaining personal details. This is general information, not legal advice.

Read Instagram's terms. Keep to public data, do not bypass logins or access controls, and check whether personal data is involved before you collect it. The can-I-scrape checklist walks through it.

How to start

1. Open Instagram Posts & Reels Data Scraper and follow its documented input format for a small set of public post or reel links.
2. Collect the dataset and inspect status for each input. Review caption, pub_date, media_items, like_count and comment_count alongside likes_hidden and comments_disabled.
3. Save the output and retain post_url, shortcode and post_id for matching records. Record unavailable inputs separately before adding more links.

Call Instagram Profile Scraper - Bio & Posts from code

The example input uses the Actor's published defaults; set your own Instagram query before you run it. You need an Apify API token.

from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN>")
run_input = {
    "usernames": [
        "instagram"
    ],
    "maxPosts": 3,
    "skipPinnedPosts": False
}

run = client.actor("dataspryva/instagram-profile-scraper-bio-and-posts").call(run_input=run_input)
if run is None:
    raise RuntimeError("The Actor run was not found.")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

import { ApifyClient } from "apify-client";

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: "<YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN>" });
const input = {
    "usernames": [
        "instagram"
    ],
    "maxPosts": 3,
    "skipPinnedPosts": false
};

const run = await client.actor("dataspryva/instagram-profile-scraper-bio-and-posts").call(input);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
console.log(items);

curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/dataspryva~instagram-profile-scraper-bio-and-posts/run-sync-get-dataset-items"   -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN"   -H "Content-Type: application/json"   -d '{"usernames":["instagram"],"maxPosts":3,"skipPinnedPosts":false}'

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apify": {
      "url": "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=dataspryva/instagram-profile-scraper-bio-and-posts",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer <YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Questions people ask

More on Instagram

• Error fixInstagram 429 Too Many Requests: what the error means
• AlternativesCrowdTangle alternatives: what still works for public social data
• Retired toolCrowdTangle is gone: what replaced it and what did not
• Topic groupSocial media data: every website compared
• ToolWhich Instagram route fits your job?
• ToolInstagram cost by Apify plan, rows and runs

Related websites

• Facebook10 Actors
• TikTok17 Actors
• Pinterest6 Actors

Sources

• Instagram Profile Scraper - Bio & Posts on Apify Store
• Instagram Posts & Reels Data Scraper on Apify Store
• Instagram Downloader API - Reels, Video & Photo on Apify Store
• Instagram Transcript Scraper - Reels & Video on Apify Store
• Instagram Platform API documentation
• Instagram terms