# Instagram Post API Instagram · Post Beta Returns a public Instagram post, reel or carousel: the caption with its hashtags and mentions, the author and any collaborators, the publish time, every carousel item's image or video URL with its size, duration and alt text, and the like, comment and (for single videos) view counts. Accepts post, reel, tv, instagr.am and share links or a raw shortcode. GET `https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/instagram/post` [Try it in the playground](https://staging.socialtap.dev/playground/?endpoint=instagram.post) · [Quickstart](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md) - From **1 credit** per request - Sources: Public page ## Use cases - Track engagement on influencer and brand posts - Monitor competitors' reels and campaigns - Collect captions, hashtags and tags for social listening - Archive post media and metadata - Verify sponsored-post deliverables ## Good to know - Media URLs are Instagram CDN links that expire: media\[\].expires_at says when; download what you need before then. - view_count is set for single videos and reels only (Instagram shows no view count for photos and carousels). like_count and view_count are null when the owner hides them. - Instagram does not expose share or save counts, pinned state, sponsorship labels or the caption's language to logged-out visitors: those fields are null. - Private, age-restricted and deleted posts return private_or_unavailable or not_found and are not charged. ## Example request Send a `GET` request with your key in the `x-api-key` header. cURL: ```shell curl -G 'https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/instagram/post' \ --data-urlencode 'url=https://www.instagram.com/p/De1S3KpCXf0/' \ -H "x-api-key: $SOCIALTAP_API_KEY" ``` TypeScript: ```typescript const params = new URLSearchParams({ url: "https://www.instagram.com/p/De1S3KpCXf0/", }); const res = await fetch(`https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/instagram/post?${params}`, { headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.SOCIALTAP_API_KEY ?? "" }, }); const body = await res.json(); if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${body.error.code}: ${body.error.message}`); const { data, meta } = body; console.log(data, meta.credits_charged); ``` Python: ```python import os import requests res = requests.get( "https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/instagram/post", params={"url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/De1S3KpCXf0/"}, headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"]}, ) body = res.json() if not res.ok: raise RuntimeError(f"{body['error']['code']}: {body['error']['message']}") data, meta = body["data"], body["meta"] print(data, meta["credits_charged"]) ``` Go: ```go package main import ( "encoding/json" "fmt" "log" "net/http" "net/url" "os" ) func main() { q := url.Values{} q.Set("url", "https://www.instagram.com/p/De1S3KpCXf0/") req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/instagram/post?"+q.Encode(), nil) if err != nil { log.Fatal(err) } req.Header.Set("x-api-key", os.Getenv("SOCIALTAP_API_KEY")) res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req) if err != nil { log.Fatal(err) } defer res.Body.Close() var body struct { Data json.RawMessage `json:"data"` Meta map[string]any `json:"meta"` Error *struct { Code string `json:"code"` Message string `json:"message"` } `json:"error"` } if err := json.NewDecoder(res.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil { log.Fatal(err) } if body.Error != nil { log.Fatalf("%s: %s", body.Error.Code, body.Error.Message) } fmt.Println(string(body.Data), body.Meta["credits_charged"]) } ``` ## Parameters | Name | Type | Description | Example | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `url` required | `string`
max 2,048 chars | Instagram post, reel or carousel URL (instagram.com/p/…, /reel/…, /reels/…, /tv/…, /\/p/…, m.instagram.com, instagr.am, instagram.com/share/… links) or a raw shortcode. Tracking params and img_index are ignored: the whole post is returned. | `https://www.instagram.com/reel/De1S3KpCXf0/` | `url` takes Instagram post and video links. A link of another kind or platform fails free with [`invalid_input`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_input), naming the endpoint that takes it. Parameters not listed here are rejected (with a suggestion for a likely typo), so a misspelled one never silently changes nothing: see [Requests](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/requests/index.md). Every endpoint also accepts [`max_age`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md#param-max_age), [`fields`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md#param-fields). ## Example response A `200` response is `{data, meta}`: `data` is a [post](https://staging.socialtap.dev/resources/post/index.md) object, `meta` describes the request ([meta fields](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md#response)). 200 OK: ```json { "data": { "approximate_fields": [], "author": { "avatar_url": "https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-19/683576066_18653628823019133_9051036240972105113_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s150x150_tt6&_nc_cat=1&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&efg=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=24&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_gid=S…", "display_name": "National Geographic", "id": "787132", "is_verified": true, "url": "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/", "username": "natgeo" }, "coauthors": [ { "avatar_url": "https://scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/293493364_162817252949028_8275460966213229030_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s150x150_tt6&_nc_cat=108&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&efg=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=24&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ss=7b6…", "display_name": "National Geographic Society", "id": "4757225830", "is_verified": true, "url": "https://www.instagram.com/natgeosociety/", "username": "natgeosociety" }, { "avatar_url": "https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/11419091_505296402966021_797003013_a.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&efg=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=24&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ss=7b689&oh=SCRUBBED&oe=SCRUBBED", "display_name": "Joel Sartore- Photo Ark", "id": "225429667", "is_verified": true, "url": "https://www.instagram.com/joelsartore/", "username": "joelsartore" }, { "avatar_url": "https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-19/681945023_18592998970017301_7811445524976503069_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s150x150_tt6&_nc_cat=1&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&efg=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=24&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_gid=S…", "display_name": "National Geographic Animals", "id": "1029649300", "is_verified": true, "url": "https://www.instagram.com/natgeoanimals/", "username": "natgeoanimals" } ], "duration_ms": 23744, "hashtags": [ "PhotoArk" ], "id": "De1S3KpCXf0", "is_nsfw": null, "is_pinned": null, "is_sponsored": null, "language": null, "media": [ { "alt_text": "Video by National Geographic on October 23, 2026. May be an image of snail and text.", "duration_ms": 23744, "expires_at": null, "height": 1920, "thumbnail_url": "https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/862543567_18711062458019133_8845814561108513720_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e15_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ig_cache_key=NDAxNDE5NzU5ODcwNDk5MDE5NjE4NzExMDYyNDUyMDE5MTMz.3-ccb7-5&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&efg=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=…", "type": "video", "url": "https://scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com/o1/v/t2/f2/m86/AQO0Zc3E_eoYHXxPOVvPDNzjiHnCGoREl8vxeookIy4831a0VLAN6T9CITX0dyH2cQS6Dy0fs5SGxYC42fWpG2JeAvlnP9yrsgmHUk8.mp4?_nc_cat=106&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&efg=SCRUBBED&ccb=SCRUBBED&vs=S…", "width": 1080 } ], "mentions": [ "joelsartore", "natgeoanimals", "natgeosociety" ], "metrics": { "comment_count": 238, "like_count": 68253, "quote_count": null, "repost_count": null, "save_count": null, "share_count": null, "view_count": 759188 }, "platform": "instagram", "platform_type": "reel", "published_at": "2026-10-23T10:01:35Z", "text": "Warning—looking at nudibranchs may cause excessive awe. @joelsartore loves these little creatures, and so do we. 💛🧡🩷\n\nWe’re celebrating 20 years of the National Geographic #PhotoArk, an audacious project documenting the world's incredible biodiversity and highlighting the importa…", "thumbnail_url": "https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/862543567_18711062458019133_8845814561108513720_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_s640x640_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&efg=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc…", "title": null, "type": "video", "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/De1S3KpCXf0/" }, "meta": { "request_id": "req_3f9c2a7d1e8b4c6a9f0e2d4b6a8c0e1f", "platform": "instagram", "source": "page", "is_cached": false, "credits_charged": 1, "latency_ms": 0, "fetched_at": "2026-10-25T12:00:00Z", "input": { "kind": "post", "id": "De1S3KpCXf0", "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/De1S3KpCXf0/" }, "credits_remaining": 9999, "client_request_id": null, "warnings": [], "mode": "live" } } ``` Long arrays and strings are shortened for display; real responses are complete. ## Response fields `data` follows the shared [Post schema](https://staging.socialtap.dev/resources/post/index.md), identical on every platform. | Field | Type | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | `data.platform` | `string` | Platform ID (tiktok, youtube, …). | | `data.id` | `string` | Platform-native post ID (string; Instagram shortcode, Reddit without t3_). | | `data.url` | `string` (uri) | Canonical post URL. | | `data.type` | `string` | Normalized content shape. New values may be added; treat unknown values as other.
One of `video`, `image`, `carousel`, `text`, `link`, `audio` | | `data.platform_type` | `string` or `null` | The platform's own product label, lowercase (reel, short, story, live, tweet, …). | | `data.title` | `string` or `null` | Headline (YouTube title, Reddit title); null on caption-only platforms. | | `data.text` | `string` or `null` | Caption, description or body as plain text. | | `data.language` | `string` or `null` | BCP-47 language of text, when the platform states it. | | `data.published_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | When the post went public, RFC 3339 UTC. | | `data.author` | `object` | The posting account. | | `data.author.id` | `string` or `null` | Platform-native account ID; null when only the handle is known. | | `data.author.username` | `string` or `null` | Handle without the @; null when the account has none. | | `data.author.display_name` | `string` or `null` | Display name shown on the profile. | | `data.author.url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Canonical profile URL. | | `data.author.avatar_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Profile picture URL. Platform CDN URLs can expire within hours. | | `data.author.is_verified` | `boolean` or `null` | Platform verification badge; null where the platform has no badge. | | `data.coauthors` | `object[]` | Other accounts credited as co-authors of the post (Instagram and Facebook collabs, YouTube collaborations), in the platform's order, author excluded; \[\] if none. | | `data.coauthors[].id` | `string` or `null` | Platform-native account ID; null when only the handle is known. | | `data.coauthors[].username` | `string` or `null` | Handle without the @; null when the account has none. | | `data.coauthors[].display_name` | `string` or `null` | Display name shown on the profile. | | `data.coauthors[].url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Canonical profile URL. | | `data.coauthors[].avatar_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Profile picture URL. Platform CDN URLs can expire within hours. | | `data.coauthors[].is_verified` | `boolean` or `null` | Platform verification badge; null where the platform has no badge. | | `data.duration_ms` | `integer` or `null` | Length of the primary video or audio in milliseconds; null for other posts. | | `data.thumbnail_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Cover or poster image URL. | | `data.media` | `object[]` | Attachments in display order (carousel items); \[\] for text posts. | | `data.media[].type` | `string` | Kind of file. New values may be added; treat unknown values as other.
One of `image`, `video`, `audio`, `gif` | | `data.media[].url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Direct file URL; null when the platform withholds it, or when the link would only work from SocialTap's network or with a login. Often signed and expiring: see expires_at. | | `data.media[].expires_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | When url stops working, RFC 3339 UTC, read from the platform's signed URL; null when unknown or when it does not expire. | | `data.media[].thumbnail_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Poster or preview image URL. | | `data.media[].width` | `integer` or `null` | Width in pixels. | | `data.media[].height` | `integer` or `null` | Height in pixels. | | `data.media[].duration_ms` | `integer` or `null` | Duration in milliseconds (video and audio only). | | `data.media[].alt_text` | `string` or `null` | Accessibility text provided by the author or platform. | | `data.hashtags` | `string[]` | Hashtags without #, case kept; \[\] if none. | | `data.mentions` | `string[]` | Mentioned or tagged usernames without @; \[\] if none. | | `data.is_pinned` | `boolean` or `null` | Pinned to the author's profile. | | `data.is_sponsored` | `boolean` or `null` | Labeled as a paid partnership or branded content. | | `data.is_nsfw` | `boolean` or `null` | Marked adult or sensitive by the platform. | | `data.metrics` | `object` | Counts at fetch time; null = hidden or not exposed, 0 = zero. | | `data.metrics.view_count` | `integer` or `null` | Views or plays. | | `data.metrics.like_count` | `integer` or `null` | Likes, hearts, total reactions or upvotes; never negative. Null when hidden by the owner. | | `data.metrics.comment_count` | `integer` or `null` | Comments and replies. | | `data.metrics.share_count` | `integer` or `null` | Shares or sends (not reposts). | | `data.metrics.repost_count` | `integer` or `null` | Reposts, retweets or reshares. | | `data.metrics.quote_count` | `integer` or `null` | Quote posts. | | `data.metrics.save_count` | `integer` or `null` | Saves, bookmarks or favorites. | | `data.approximate_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of values rounded by the platform or parsed from display text; \[\] when all exact. | ## Pricing You pay only for successful requests. The price depends on which source produced the result, reported as `meta.source`. | Source | Price per successful request | Per 1,000 requests | | --- | --- | --- | | Public page `page` | 1 credit | $0.50–$0.80 | | meta.source | Source | What it means | | --- | --- | --- | | `page` | Public page | Data embedded in the platform's public web page. | Your balance must be at least **1 credit** to start a request; with less, it is refused with [`insufficient_credits`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#insufficient_credits) (HTTP 402) and costs nothing. Only that minimum is set aside when the request starts. `meta.credits_charged` and the `x-credits-charged` header show what you paid. [How credits work](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md) · [Packs](https://staging.socialtap.dev/pricing/index.md) ## Errors Errors cost nothing. Codes marked “Yes, later” under Retry can succeed on a later attempt; the others return the same answer every time. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `invalid_input` | 400 | No | The request parameters are missing or malformed, or the URL is not a supported link for this endpoint. | Fix the parameter named in param (the message says how); for a link of the wrong kind, call the endpoint the message names. | | `unauthorized` | 401 | No | The x-api-key header is missing, unknown or revoked (or, on the dashboard's routes, the session cookie is missing or expired). | Send a valid API key in the x-api-key header; without one, get a key at details.signup_url (AI agents: POST details.agent_signup_url). | | `forbidden` | 403 | No | The API key is valid but may not make this request: its account is suspended, its scopes do not include the route, it is waiting for its owner's email confirmation, it is past its expiry, or the request came from an IP its allowlist does not include. | Do what details.reason says: if suspended, contact support; otherwise use a key whose scopes cover the route (details.required_scope), have the owner confirm the emailed link, create a new key, or call from an allowed IP. | | `insufficient_credits` | 402 | No | The account does not have enough credits for this request. | Buy a credit pack, then repeat the request; do not retry automatically. | | `spend_limit_reached` | 402 | No | The API key reached its spend limit for the current period; the account may still have credits. | Wait until details.resets_at or raise the key's spend limit (PATCH /v1/api_keys/{id}); do not retry automatically. | | `rate_limited` | 429 | Yes, later | The account exceeded its runaway-protection ceiling: plans do not limit request rate, but a high per-account safety ceiling stops broken client loops. Support raises it on request. | Wait for the number of seconds in the retry-after header, then retry; ask support to raise the ceiling if your sustained traffic needs more. | | `not_found` | 404 | No | The item does not exist or was deleted. | Check the URL or ID; do not retry. | | `private_or_unavailable` | 403 | No | The item exists but is private, age- or region-gated, or requires a login to view. | Only public items can be fetched; do not retry. | | `upstream_blocked` | 503 | Yes, later | The platform refused every attempt. | Retry later with backoff; failed requests are free. | | `upstream_error` | 502 | Yes, later | The platform failed or returned something unexpected. | Retry with backoff; failed requests are free. | | `overloaded` | 503 | Yes, later | SocialTap was momentarily at capacity and did not start the request: nothing was fetched or charged. | Retry after the number of seconds in the retry-after header; failed requests are free. | | `internal` | 500 | Yes, later | Unexpected SocialTap error. | Retry with backoff; contact support with the request_id if it persists. | not_found and private_or_unavailable are item-level: the request was fine, the item can't be returned. ## Test mode A key starting with `st_test_` gets recorded responses, free and the same every time ([test mode](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/test-mode/index.md)). These inputs return their recording; any other input returns the example above. | Input | Answer | | --- | --- | | `https://www.instagram.com/p/De492EVDJd3/` | 200 OK | | `https://www.instagram.com/p/DexcKhDDno3/` | 200 OK | | `https://www.instagram.com/p/DeuOR-CjKE9/` | 200 OK | | `https://www.instagram.com/p/De1S3KpCXf1/` | 404 [`not_found`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#not_found) | | `https://www.instagram.com/p/De1S3KpCXf0/` Default | 200 OK | | `https://www.instagram.com/p/ChdZ_3UALgB/` | 200 OK | | `https://www.instagram.com/share/reel/_oDaXMUlS/` | 200 OK | | `https://www.instagram.com/p/BBBBBBBBBBB/` | 403 [`private_or_unavailable`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#private_or_unavailable) | | `https://www.instagram.com/p/AAAAAAAAAAA/` | 403 [`private_or_unavailable`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#private_or_unavailable) | | `https://www.instagram.com/p/DDDDDDDDDDD/` | 200 OK | | `https://www.instagram.com/p/CCCCCCCCCCC/` | 503 [`upstream_blocked`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#upstream_blocked) | | `https://www.instagram.com/p/EEEEEEEEEEE/` | 200 OK | Magic inputs: send one of these as `url` to get that error. | Error | Value | | --- | --- | | [`invalid_input`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_input) | `https://socialtap.dev/test/invalid_input` | | [`insufficient_credits`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#insufficient_credits) | `https://socialtap.dev/test/insufficient_credits` | | [`spend_limit_reached`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#spend_limit_reached) | `https://socialtap.dev/test/spend_limit_reached` | | [`rate_limited`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#rate_limited) | `https://socialtap.dev/test/rate_limited` | | [`not_found`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#not_found) | `https://socialtap.dev/test/not_found` | | [`private_or_unavailable`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#private_or_unavailable) | `https://socialtap.dev/test/private_or_unavailable` | | [`upstream_blocked`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#upstream_blocked) | `https://socialtap.dev/test/upstream_blocked` | | [`upstream_error`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#upstream_error) | `https://socialtap.dev/test/upstream_error` | | [`overloaded`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#overloaded) | `https://socialtap.dev/test/overloaded` | | [`internal`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#internal) | `https://socialtap.dev/test/internal` | ## FAQ **Does it return every image of a carousel?** Yes: media\[\] has one entry per carousel item, in display order, each with its own URL, size and, for videos, duration. **Who is in mentions?** Accounts @mentioned in the caption, then accounts tagged in the media, without duplicates. Collaborators of a collab post are in coauthors. **How much does the Instagram Post API cost?** 1 credit for public page results (meta.source = page), charged only for successful requests. SocialTap credits cost $0.50–$0.80 per 1,000 depending on the pack. **Am I charged for failed requests?** No. Requests that return an error cost 0 credits. Responses served from the cache are free too. ## Related ### More Instagram endpoints - [Instagram Reels Transcript API](https://staging.socialtap.dev/apis/instagram/transcript/index.md): Instagram reel / video transcript (From 1 credit · `GET /v1/instagram/transcript`) --- [HTML version](https://staging.socialtap.dev/apis/instagram/post/) · [Docs index for AI agents](https://staging.socialtap.dev/llms.txt) · [All docs in one file](https://staging.socialtap.dev/llms-full.txt)