# Instagram Profile API Instagram Beta Returns a public Instagram account: user ID, username, display name, bio, the links in its bio with their titles, profile picture, verification badge, whether the account is private, and exact follower, following and post counts, plus Instagram's own fields (Meta-wide ID, memorialized, live story, highlights, pronouns). Accepts a username with or without the @ or any instagram.com profile link. GET `/v1/instagram/profile` ## Example cURL: ```shell curl -G 'https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/instagram/profile' \ --data-urlencode 'handle=https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/' \ -H "x-api-key: $SOCIALTAP_API_KEY" ``` Node.js: ```javascript const params = new URLSearchParams({ handle: "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/", }); const res = await fetch(`https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/instagram/profile?${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/profile", params={"handle": "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/"}, 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("handle", "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/") req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/instagram/profile?"+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"]) } ``` 200 OK: ```json { "data": { "approximate_fields": [], "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…", "banner_url": null, "bio": "Step into wonder and find your inner explorer with National Geographic 🌎", "category": null, "country_code": null, "created_at": null, "display_name": "National Geographic", "external_links": [ { "title": null, "url": "http://visitstore.bio/natgeo" }, { "title": "Subscribe Here!", "url": "https://ngmdomsubs.nationalgeographic.com/servlet/OrdersGateway?cds_mag_code=NGM&cds_page_id=283562&cds_response_key=I5FX10002" } ], "id": "787132", "is_private": false, "is_verified": true, "location": null, "metrics": { "follower_count": 268266804, "following_count": 195, "post_count": 32123, "total_like_count": null, "total_view_count": null }, "platform": "instagram", "platform_specific": { "instagram": { "fbid": "17841400573960012", "is_highlights_shown": true, "is_memorialized": false, "is_story_live": true, "pronouns": [] } }, "type": "unknown", "unknown_fields": [], "url": "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/", "username": "natgeo" }, "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": "profile", "id": "787132", "url": "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/" }, "credits_remaining": 9999, "client_request_id": null, "warnings": [], "mode": "live" } } ``` Long arrays and strings are shortened for display; real responses are complete. > [!NOTE] > > **Good to know** > > - Private accounts return their profile with is_private true: name, bio, links and counts as Instagram shows them logged out. > - metrics.post_count is exact; on the rare answer where only a rounded count was available it is listed in approximate_fields. > - category, location, country_code, created_at, banner_url, metrics.total_like_count and metrics.total_view_count are always null and type is unknown: Instagram does not show them to logged-out visitors. Business email and phone are not returned. > - avatar_url is Instagram's 150-pixel profile picture, a CDN link that expires within days. > - When the profile page is unavailable the answer comes from Instagram's embed page: bio and following count are then null, and external_links is \[\] listed in unknown_fields. > - Unknown, deactivated and banned accounts answer not_found; restricted ones (age-restricted brands) private_or_unavailable. Numeric user IDs are not accepted: a bare number is read as a username. ## Authorizations `x-api-key`stringheaderrequired Your API key. Keys starting with `st_test_` are [test keys](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/test-mode/index.md): recorded responses, free. [Authentication](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/authentication/index.md) ## Query parameters | Name | Type | Description | Example | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `handle` required | `string`
max 2,048 chars | Instagram username with or without the @ (natgeo, @natgeo), or a profile link (instagram.com/natgeo, with or without a tab such as /reels/ or /tagged/, m.instagram.com, instagr.am, instagram.com/_u/natgeo, instagram.com/stories/natgeo/, with any query such as ?igsh=…). Usernames are case-insensitive. A bare number is a username: numeric user IDs are not accepted. | `natgeo` | `handle` takes Instagram profile links; another kind of link, or another platform's, fails free with [`invalid_input`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_input). Unknown parameters are rejected with a suggestion, never ignored ([Requests](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/requests/index.md)). **Parameters every endpoint accepts** | Name | Type | Description | Example | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `max_age` optional | `integer`
min 0 | Accept a cached response up to this many seconds old. Cache hits cost 0 credits. Omit to always fetch fresh. The Cache-Control: max-age=N request header is equivalent; max_age wins when both are sent. | — | | `fields` optional | `string` | Return only these fields of each item: comma-separated paths in the schema's notation (id,text,metrics.view_count,segments\[\].text; a parent path keeps the whole object). Unknown paths are rejected. Applied after the cache, so it changes neither the price nor cache hits; page and meta are always returned whole. | — | ## Response ### 200 `{data, meta}`. `data` is a [profile](https://staging.socialtap.dev/resources/profile/index.md) object; `meta` describes the request ([meta](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/reference/index.md#meta)). Fields only Instagram has are under `platform_specific.instagram`. | Field | Type | Description | | --- | --- | --- | | `data.platform` | `string` | Platform ID (tiktok, youtube, …). | | `data.id` | `string` | Platform-native account ID (string; YouTube UC…, Reddit without t2_). | | `data.username` | `string` or `null` | Handle without the @; null when the account has none. | | `data.display_name` | `string` or `null` | Display name, channel title or page name; null when empty or not exposed. | | `data.url` | `string` (uri) | Canonical profile URL. | | `data.type` | `string` | Coarse account kind, as the platform labels it; unknown when it does not (TikTok labels organizations only). New values may be added; treat unknown values as unknown.
One of `person`, `organization`, `community`, `unknown` | | `data.bio` | `string` or `null` | Profile bio, channel description or page about text; null when empty or not exposed. | | `data.avatar_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Profile picture URL (largest available). Platform CDN URLs can expire within hours. | | `data.banner_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Header or cover image URL. | | `data.is_verified` | `boolean` or `null` | Platform verification badge; null where the platform has no badge. | | `data.is_private` | `boolean` or `null` | True when the account's posts are not public. | | `data.category` | `string` or `null` | Platform category label (e.g. Musician, Media & Entertainment), as shown; not normalized. Often set only for business or creator accounts. | | `data.external_links` | `object[]` | Links in the bio or channel links; \[\] if none or not exposed. | | `data.external_links[].url` | `string` (uri) | Link target, absolute (https:// is added where the platform stores the link without a scheme). | | `data.external_links[].title` | `string` or `null` | Link label shown by the platform. | | `data.location` | `string` or `null` | Self-declared location text. | | `data.country_code` | `string` or `null` | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country the platform states for the account. | | `data.created_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | Account creation or join date, RFC 3339 UTC (some platforms give only the day: see approximate_fields). | | `data.metrics` | `object` | Counts at fetch time; null = hidden or not exposed, 0 = zero. | | `data.metrics.follower_count` | `integer` or `null` | Followers or subscribers. | | `data.metrics.following_count` | `integer` or `null` | Accounts this profile follows. | | `data.metrics.post_count` | `integer` or `null` | Posts or videos as the platform counts them on the profile (for a private account, posts the caller cannot see). | | `data.metrics.total_like_count` | `integer` or `null` | Likes received across all of the profile's posts (not likes given). | | `data.metrics.total_view_count` | `integer` or `null` | Lifetime views across all of the profile's posts. | | `data.platform_specific` | `object` | Fields only this platform has, under its ID (platform_specific.\); each null when unknown. | | `data.platform_specific.instagram` | `object` or `null` | An Instagram account's own fields (core/profile_instagram.go). | | `data.platform_specific.instagram.fbid` | `string` or `null` | The account's Meta-wide ID (17841…), the one Meta's Instagram Graph API uses; id is Instagram's own user ID. Null when the source does not show it. | | `data.platform_specific.instagram.is_memorialized` | `boolean` or `null` | True when Instagram has memorialized the account (its owner has died), false otherwise; null when unknown. | | `data.platform_specific.instagram.is_story_live` | `boolean` or `null` | True when the account has a story up now (stories last 24 hours), false when it has none; null when unknown (Instagram does not say for private accounts). | | `data.platform_specific.instagram.is_highlights_shown` | `boolean` or `null` | True when the profile shows story highlights, false when it shows none; null when unknown (private accounts, or a source that does not show them). | | `data.platform_specific.instagram.pronouns` | `string[]` | The pronouns the owner chose to show on the profile, as shown; \[\] when none (listed in unknown_fields when the source cannot see them). | | `data.approximate_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of values rounded by the platform or parsed from display text (e.g. metrics.follower_count). A list path (external_links) means the list may be incomplete. \[\] when all exact. | | `data.unknown_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of lists whose \[\] means unknown rather than none (a source that cannot see them); null already means unknown for every other field. \[\] when every list is known. | not_found and private_or_unavailable are item-level: the request was fine, the item can't be returned. ### 400 400 Bad Request: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing. | 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. | ### 401 401 Unauthorized: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `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). | ### 402 402 Payment Required: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `insufficient_credits` | 402 | No | The account does not have enough credits for this request. | Buy credits (a human pays: details.purchase_url, or details.checkout makes a checkout link), 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. | ### 403 403 Forbidden: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `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. A running job stops the same way when its account is suspended or the key that created it is revoked or expires. It is about the key, never the item (a private item is private_or_unavailable, also 403): branch on the code. | Do what details.reason says: if suspended, contact [support](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md); 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. | | `private_or_unavailable` | 403 | No | The item exists but is private, age- or region-gated, or requires a login to view. It shares 403 with forbidden (which is about the key): branch on the code. | Only public items can be fetched; do not retry. | ### 404 404 Not Found: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `not_found` | 404 | No | The item does not exist or was deleted. | Check the URL or ID; do not retry. | ### 429 429 Too Many Requests: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `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. Without an API key (signup, the MCP server's tool listing and find_endpoint), requests are limited per IP address instead. | Wait for the number of seconds in the retry-after header, then retry; ask [support](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md) to raise the ceiling if your sustained traffic needs more (calls without an API key: use one). | ### 500 500 Internal Error: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `internal` | 500 | Yes, later | Unexpected SocialTap error. | Retry with backoff; contact [support](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md) with the request_id if it persists. | ### 502 502 Bad Gateway: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `upstream_error` | 502 | Yes, later | The platform failed or returned something unexpected. | Retry with backoff; failed requests are free. | ### 503 503 Unavailable: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing. | Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `upstream_blocked` | 503 | Yes, later | The platform refused every attempt. | Retry later 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. | ## Pricing From **1 credit** per request. Charged only for successful requests. Errors are free. The price depends on the source that produced the result, reported as `meta.source`. | Source | Price per successful request | Per 1,000 requests | | --- | --- | --- | | Public page `page` | 1 credit | $0.75–$1.45 | **Balance, sources and what you were charged** 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.source | Source | What it means | | --- | --- | --- | | `page` | Public page | Data embedded in the platform's public web page. | `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) ## 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)). The recorded inputs return their recording; any other input returns the example above. **13 recorded inputs and magic inputs** | Input | Answer | | --- | --- | | `legal` | 200 OK | | `nasa` | 200 OK | | `natgeo` Default | 200 OK | | `bts.bighitofficial` | 200 OK | | `zzq9x81nouser` | 404 [`not_found`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#not_found) | | `qp` | 200 OK | | `vogue` | 200 OK | | `budweiser` | 403 [`private_or_unavailable`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#private_or_unavailable) | | `jackdaniels_us` | 403 [`private_or_unavailable`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#private_or_unavailable) | | `nba` | 200 OK | | `srr` | 200 OK | | `nike` | 200 OK | | `age_restricted_example` | 403 [`private_or_unavailable`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#private_or_unavailable) | Magic inputs: send one of these as `handle` to get that error. | Error | Value | | --- | --- | | [`invalid_input`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_input) | `socialtap_test_invalid_input` | | [`insufficient_credits`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#insufficient_credits) | `socialtap_test_insufficient_credits` | | [`spend_limit_reached`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#spend_limit_reached) | `socialtap_test_spend_limit_reached` | | [`rate_limited`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#rate_limited) | `socialtap_test_rate_limited` | | [`not_found`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#not_found) | `socialtap_test_not_found` | | [`private_or_unavailable`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#private_or_unavailable) | `socialtap_test_private_or_unavailable` | | [`upstream_blocked`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#upstream_blocked) | `socialtap_test_upstream_blocked` | | [`upstream_error`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#upstream_error) | `socialtap_test_upstream_error` | | [`overloaded`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#overloaded) | `socialtap_test_overloaded` | | [`internal`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#internal) | `socialtap_test_internal` | Endpoint ID `instagram.profile` · operationId `instagram.profile.get` · [Product overview](https://staging.socialtap.dev/apis/instagram/profile/index.md) --- [HTML version](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/reference/instagram/profile/) · [Docs index for AI agents](https://staging.socialtap.dev/llms.txt) · [All docs in one file](https://staging.socialtap.dev/llms-full.txt)