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Instagram API
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Bloomberg API
Associated Press APIInstagram API
One public Instagram post, reel, or profile, with its counts and newest comments.
Overview
What teams build with the Instagram API
Creator vetting
Check an account's followers, following, post count, and latest posts before a partnership, personal accounts included.
Campaign reporting
Track likes and comment counts on the posts and reels a campaign paid for, from the links alone.
Audience research
Read the newest comments on a post, with their authors and likes, to see what people say about a launch or a brand.
Official API restricted
Does Instagram have an official API for public posts and profiles?
Partly. Meta's Business Discovery reads business and creator accounts, from your own professional account and Meta app.
Business Discovery returns another account's follower and media counts and its posts with like and comment counts. It works only on business and creator accounts, not personal or age-gated ones, and each call is made as your own Instagram professional account, with a Facebook Login token holding instagram_basic, instagram_manage_insights, and pages_read_engagement. It takes a username, not a post link, and returns no comment text for other accounts' posts.
Clair reads the page Instagram shows any signed-out visitor for a public post, reel, or account, so it needs no Meta app and covers personal accounts. That page has no view counts, and Clair does not return a licensed song's details or a location yet.
Read from these pages on October 28, 2026.
Data samples
From the page to JSON
The page the Instagram API reads, and the response it returns for the same query.
shortcode
DeTUk4sDSp-
https://www.instagram.com/p/DeTUk4sDSp-/
{
"engine": "instagram",
"family": "social",
"query": {
"shortcode": "DeTUk4sDSp-"
},
"post": {
"shortcode": "DeTUk4sDSp-",
"post_id": "4004634989362489982",
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeTUk4sDSp-/",
"type": "reel",
"caption": "POV: you're watching the Earth set\n\nWe just released hundreds of new images and hours of new audio from our Artemis II mission around the Moon this spring. Check out our link in bio for the Artemis II Preliminary Lunar Science Report.\n\n#NASA #ArtemisII #Artemis",
"caption_edited": false,
"alt_text": "Video by NASA on October 10, 2026. May be an image of planet, eclipse and text.",
"hashtags": [
"NASA",
"ArtemisII",
"Artemis"
],
"mentions": [],
"published_at": "2026-10-10T15:15:02.000Z",
"duration_ms": 43767,
"cover": "https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/842191580_18656578867049152_4200499629839780998_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e15_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ig_cache_key=NDAwNDYzNDk4OTM2MjQ4OTk4MjE4NjU2NTc4ODYxMDQ5MTUy.3-ccb7-5&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=58cdad&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6IkNMSVBTLnhwaWRzLjEwNzQuc2RyLnZpZGVvX2RlZmF1bHRfY292ZXJfZnJhbWUuQzMifQ%3D%3D&_nc_ohc=-pFHKreB7_EQ7kNvwGlWVAx&_nc_oc=AdrcCXz96pO4ok8M7Hlr1GBy1QFKzUMyI6oHDOBRbG-O5pQA8jEyvO2C1m0LfJ0vUP0&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_gid=aX6Ov6Ppb-VjrgVf59uHPw&_nc_ss=79689&oh=00_AQRuiuu5o0hsGNNDB4Spd77Eet_SV0pFsO-xyhfkZqWXzA&oe=6AE81757",
"media": [
{
"type": "video",
"image": "https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/842191580_18656578867049152_4200499629839780998_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e15_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ig_cache_key=NDAwNDYzNDk4OTM2MjQ4OTk4MjE4NjU2NTc4ODYxMDQ5MTUy.3-ccb7-5&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=58cdad&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6IkNMSVBTLnhwaWRzLjEwNzQuc2RyLnZpZGVvX2RlZmF1bHRfY292ZXJfZnJhbWUuQzMifQ%3D%3D&_nc_ohc=-pFHKreB7_EQ7kNvwGlWVAx&_nc_oc=AdrcCXz96pO4ok8M7Hlr1GBy1QFKzUMyI6oHDOBRbG-O5pQA8jEyvO2C1m0LfJ0vUP0&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_gid=aX6Ov6Ppb-VjrgVf59uHPw&_nc_ss=79689&oh=00_AQRuiuu5o0hsGNNDB4Spd77Eet_SV0pFsO-xyhfkZqWXzA&oe=6AE81757",
"video_url": "https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/o1/v/t2/f2/m86/AQNUvreb47JFAC3mKM7kF_weYHzhiVF-MfERm99CfyBTok0ezeRdbVW8cH5NXn4mxO8gVi6j1GQ2RU9i4ByvKCLVPHdDruUpsCKYDQI.mp4?_nc_cat=105&_nc_sid=5e9851&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=6Ld3pq6_eHMQ7kNvwHqXTMl&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6Inhwdl9wcm9ncmVzc2l2ZS5JTlNUQUdSQU0uQ0xJUFMuQzMuNzE4LmRhc2hfYmFzZWxpbmVfMV92MSIsInhwdl9hc3NldF9pZCI6MTg2NTY0MjU5NjMwNDkxNTIsImFzc2V0X2FnZV9kYXlzIjoxOCwidmlfdXNlY2FzZV9pZCI6MTAwOTksImR1cmF0aW9uX3MiOjQzLCJ1cmxnZW5fc291cmNlIjoid3d3In0%3D&ccb=17-1&vs=968afb625a8cd52f&_nc_vs=HBksFQIYUmlnX3hwdl9yZWVsc19wZXJtYW5lbnRfc3JfcHJvZC8wMzJERDAzMDk4RkU0QkU4QUE1NkY2RUNFMDMzMjkxNl92aWRlb19kYXNoaW5pdC5tcDQVAALIARIAFQIYUWlnX3hwdl9wbGFjZW1lbnRfcGVybWFuZW50X3YyLzIwQzg2MTY2NUNENjRBMTFBRkE3RTM4ODA0ODlCQTk4X2F1ZGlvX2Rhc2hpbml0Lm1wNBUCAsgBEgAoABgAGwKIB3VzZV9vaWwBMRJwcm9ncmVzc2l2ZV9yZWNpcGUBMRUAACaAw_Kk9fqjQhUCKAJDMywXQEXmZmZmZmYYEmRhc2hfYmFzZWxpbmVfMV92MREAdf4HZeadAQA&_nc_gid=aX6Ov6Ppb-VjrgVf59uHPw&_nc_ss=79689&_nc_zt=28&oh=00_AQS9uxu-CWYJfrPHBrQlfVlusRrWl4tf8etdmmm6UlUOCw&oe=6AE40896",
"width": 1074,
"height": 1908,
"duration_ms": 43767
}
],
"likes_count": 752840,
"comments_count": 7577,
"author": {
"user_id": "528817151",
"username": "nasa",
"full_name": "NASA",
"verified": true,
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/nasa/",
"private": false,
"avatar": "https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/29090066_159271188110124_1152068159029641216_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s150x150_tt6&_nc_cat=1&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=f7ccc5&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InByb2ZpbGVfcGljLnd3dy4xMDgwLkMzIn0%3D&_nc_ohc=5z5oMO3RoxYQ7kNvwHH1Oka&_nc_oc=AdqPzWJTSAfU4wK0h62sFhpVA9hRWElWpLHuP0pgradj3wCFJNeb9hLO2rDWAHJe85g&_nc_zt=24&_nc_ht=scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ss=79689&oh=00_AQQ4iiRc-SR8a6Qe5f1LNnrtVqzGM8wVmxreNvQe7PNGXQ&oe=6AE80AA9"
},
"coauthors": [
{
"user_id": "1611722079",
"username": "nasasolarsystem",
"full_name": "NASA Solar System Exploration",
"verified": true,
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/nasasolarsystem/"
},
{
"user_id": "1104426670",
"username": "nasaartemis",
"full_name": "NASA Artemis",
"verified": true,
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/nasaartemis/"
}
],
"tagged_users": [
{
"user_id": "1104426670",
"username": "nasaartemis",
"full_name": "NASA Artemis",
"verified": true,
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/nasaartemis/"
},
{
"user_id": "1611722079",
"username": "nasasolarsystem",
"full_name": "NASA Solar System Exploration",
"verified": true,
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/nasasolarsystem/"
}
],
"audio": {
"audio_id": "28589819277311219",
"title": "Original audio",
"artist": "nasa"
},
"latest_comments": [
{
"comment_id": "18060775346647906",
"text": "🎬🎬🎬🤹♀️🤹♀️🤹♀️",
"published_at": "2026-10-28T14:20:46.000Z",
"likes_count": 0,
"author": {
"user_id": "268681544",
"username": "doctorkarin",
"full_name": null,
"verified": true,
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/doctorkarin/"
}
}
]
}
}Source page captured separately from the recorded response, so live values can differ.
Code
Integrate in minutes
One host, one Bearer key for every Clair API. Each call returns JSON with the same envelope, so a second API is a new path, not a new client.
curl -G "https://api.clair.im/v1/instagram/post?shortcode=DeTUk4sDSp-" \ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
Reference
Query and response fields
shortcode takes the code in a post's link, such as DeTUk4sDSp-, or the link itself: /p/, /reel/, and /tv/ links all work. A post that is gone or never existed returns 404, as does one Instagram shows only to signed-in viewers.
GET /v1/instagram/post
Authorizationheader · stringrequired
- Bearer <api_key>. Create keys under API keys.
shortcodestringrequired
- The post's shortcode, such as
DeTUk4sDSp-, or an instagram.com /p/, /reel/, or /tv/ link.
Pricing
What can I pass as shortcode?
The code in a post's link, such as DeTUk4sDSp-, or the link itself. /p/, /reel/, and /tv/ links all work, with or without the username in them.
Does it work on personal accounts?
Yes, on any public account, personal, creator, or business. Business Discovery covers only the last two.
Are the counts exact?
Likes, comment counts, followers, and following are exact. The post count is as Instagram shows it: exact below 10,000 and rounded above, so 32K comes back as 32000.
How many comments come back?
The newest ones the post page shows, usually 12 to 15, with their text, author, time, and likes. Older comments are not on the page.
Can I get view counts or hashtag search?
No. Instagram does not put view counts on the signed-out page, and hashtag pages require a login.
How long do image and video links work?
A few days. Instagram signs its media links with an expiry; download the ones you want to keep.
What does the Instagram API return?
Reads the logged-out page of a public Instagram post or reel, by shortcode or link, or of an account, by username. Any public account works, personal ones included. A post comes back with its likes, comment count, caption, hashtags, every photo and video in it, coauthors, tagged accounts, original sound, and the newest comments the page shows. A profile comes back with its followers, following, post count, bio, links, highlights, and the first twelve posts on its grid. View counts, a licensed song's details, and locations are not read.
Which endpoints does a plan include?
All of them: Post, Profile. Each call spends this API's rate from your plan's balance.
How is a request counted?
Each call is one request, and each extra page is a new call. A malformed request (400) is not counted, and a request that fails on our side (5xx) is refunded.
Is there a free tier?
Yes. The free tier is $1 of usage a month across every Clair API, with no card: about 303 Instagram API requests if it all goes here. It resets monthly, and calls stop when the balance runs out.
What happens when I use up my plan's balance?
The API returns 429 until the next period, on every plan, and nothing is billed past the balance. An upgrade starts a new month at once, and the unused balance carries over.
Does my plan cover other Clair APIs?
Yes. One plan and one key cover every Clair API, and every call spends from the same monthly balance. Your first call starts the free tier.
Related
Related APIs
APIs teams often combine with the Instagram API.
One plan, every API.
Your plan's price is your monthly usage balance, spent across every Clair API. Start free, no card.