# Instagram Posts & Comments Scraper - 25 Fields (`parseforge/instagram-scraper`) Actor

Collect Instagram posts, comments, hashtag content, and profile data in minutes. Perfect for competitor tracking, creator research, engagement analysis, trend monitoring, and exporting structured Instagram data for reports, dashboards, and recurring social media workflows.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/parseforge/instagram-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ParseForge](https://apify.com/parseforge) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Developer tools, Automation
- **Features:** Limited permissions
- **Stats:** 137 total users, 6 monthly users, 94.1% runs succeeded, 2 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $1.30 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

[![ParseForge](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ParseForge/apify-assets/main/banner-v4.webp)](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp)

### Instagram Posts & Comments Scraper

**Scrape Instagram posts, comments, hashtags, and profiles without an API key.** Collect up to a million items per run with media type and date filters. Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML.

**Low minimum charge:** $0.02 to start a run, then you only pay for the results you get.

Instagram's official API requires a Facebook app, business verification, and strict rate limits. This Instagram scraper reads public data directly from profile pages, post URLs, and hashtag feeds. Filter by image, video, or reel, set a date range, and get every matching item in one consistent row.

| Who uses it | What they scrape Instagram for |
|---|---|
| Social media managers | Track competitor content calendars and post frequency. |
| Market researchers | Analyze trending hashtags and audience engagement on specific topics. |
| Influencer agencies | Audit a creator's recent posts and media mix before outreach. |
| E-commerce brands | Monitor user-generated content tagged with a campaign hashtag. |

### What it does

This Actor collects Instagram posts, comments, hashtag posts, or profile metadata and returns each item as a flat row.

- 📸 **Posts mode:** Collect posts from one or more public profiles with full caption text and media URLs.
- 💬 **Comments mode:** Extract all comments from a list of post URLs, including replies and timestamps.
- \#️⃣ **Hashtags mode:** Gather every post under a hashtag, filtered by media type and date.
- 👤 **Profile mode:** Pull profile metadata like bio, follower count, website, and post count.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

### What you can do with Instagram data

**📈 Track competitor content strategies.**

A social media manager enters a list of competitor @usernames in posts mode with a 90-day date filter and exports a CSV of posting frequency and media types.

**🔍 Research trending hashtags.**

A market researcher runs hashtags mode on a niche tag, filters to the last 30 days, and analyzes which posts get the most engagement.

**📋 Audit influencer profiles before outreach.**

An agency runs profile mode on a batch of @usernames to compare follower counts, bios, and recent post counts in one spreadsheet.

**💬 Collect feedback from campaign posts.**

A brand takes the URLs of its latest campaign posts, runs comments mode, and reads every user reply in a single dataset.

### Why choose this scraper

|  | What you get |
|---|---|
| **No API key** | Reads public pages directly, no app registration or OAuth flow. |
| **Four modes** | One scraper for posts, comments, hashtags, and profiles. |
| **Media filters** | Keep only images, videos, or reels with one dropdown. |
| **Date filter** | Collect posts from the last 30 days, 3 months, or a fixed date onward. |
| **Per-source caps** | Set a max items limit per profile or hashtag when scraping many sources. |

### How it compares

This Actor combines posts, comments, hashtags, and profiles in one scraper, while the competitors below each focus on a single data type.

| Feature | ParseForge | Instagram Scraper | Instagram Reel Scraper | Instagram Profile Scraper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Posts mode | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Comments mode | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Hashtags mode | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Profile metadata mode | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |
| Media type filter (image/video/reel) | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Date filter | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Video file download | Not listed | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |

### Configure the run

Drive the Actor from profile URLs, @usernames, post URLs, or hashtags, alone or together. Filters run as each item is read so only matches reach your dataset. The Input tab lists every parameter.

A first run with the defaults:

```json
{
  "mode": "posts",
  "startUrls": [
    "https://www.instagram.com/nasa/",
    "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/",
    "https://www.instagram.com/apple/"
  ],
  "maxItems": 1000,
  "mediaTypeFilter": "all"
}
```

A larger pull:

```json
{
  "mode": "posts",
  "startUrls": [
    "https://www.instagram.com/nasa/",
    "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/",
    "https://www.instagram.com/apple/"
  ],
  "maxItems": 200,
  "mediaTypeFilter": "all"
}
```

### Pricing

Pay-per-result: **$0.0026 per result** collected. You pay only for the results written to your dataset.

| Results collected | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 100 results | $0.26 |
| 1,000 results | $2.60 |
| 10,000 results | $26.00 |

**Optional connector enrichment:** with `enrichOutput` on, each result your Trends MCP or Apollo connector actually enriches adds a `connector-enrichment` event at **$0.005** ($5 per 1,000). Leave it off and you pay only the per-result price above.

New Apify accounts start with $5 in free credit.

### Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. [Upgrade your Apify plan](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp) to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

### Run it

1. [Create a free Apify account with $5 in credit](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp).
2. Open the [Instagram Posts & Comments Scraper](https://apify.com/parseforge/instagram-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp).
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click **Start**.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the **Dataset** tab.

Run it programmatically through the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) (`run-sync-get-dataset-items`) or the [ApifyClient](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js) for JavaScript and Python.

### Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to Instagram through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=parseforge/instagram-scraper"
```

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

### Troubleshooting

**Why am I getting no results?**

Check that the profile or post URL is public and spelled correctly. If you are using a date filter, try widening the range. Also confirm your max items is set above zero.

**The run stopped early and I did not hit my max items.**

Instagram may rate-limit requests. The Actor handles this with automatic retries. If the profile has fewer posts than your max items, the run finishes when all posts are collected.

**Why are some posts missing captions?**

Some posts have no caption text. The caption field will be empty in those cases. This is expected behavior.

**I get an error when using a hashtag.**

Enter the hashtag without the # symbol. For example, use 'travel' not '#travel'. Also ensure the hashtag is still active and public.

**The comments mode is not collecting replies.**

The Actor collects top-level comments and threaded replies. If a post has a very large number of comments, increase your max items to ensure replies are captured.

### FAQ

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need an Instagram login or API key? | No. The Actor reads public pages directly. You do not need to register an app, provide a password, or manage an access token. |
| Can I scrape private profiles? | No. The Actor can only access public profiles and posts. Private accounts require authentication and are not supported. |
| How many items can I collect per run? | Free users are limited to 100 items. Paid Apify plans can collect up to 1,000,000 items per run. |
| What format does the data export to? | You can export your dataset to CSV, JSON, Excel, XML, or push it directly to a webhook or cloud storage. |
| Can I filter posts by date? | Yes. Use the date filter to collect only posts published after a specific date or within a relative window like 30 days or 3 months. |
| Does it download images or videos? | The Actor returns media URLs in the dataset. It does not download the binary files. For video downloads, use the Instagram Reel Scraper. |
| Can I scrape multiple profiles at once? | Yes. Add as many profile URLs or @usernames as you need in the start URLs field. Use the per-source cap to limit items from each one. |
| What is the difference between posts mode and profile mode? | Posts mode collects the actual posts from a profile. Profile mode collects only the account metadata like bio, follower count, and website. |
| Can I scrape Instagram Reels? | Yes. Set the media type filter to 'Reels Only' in posts or hashtags mode to collect only reels. |
| How do I scrape comments on a post? | Switch the mode to 'Comments', paste the post URLs into the start URLs field, and run. The Actor will collect every comment and reply. |

### Related actors

- [instagram-reel-scraper](https://apify.com/parseforge/instagram-reel-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp): Use this if you need to download the actual video files from Instagram Reels.
- [instagram-profile-scraper](https://apify.com/parseforge/instagram-profile-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp): Use this if you only need profile metadata and related profiles, without posts or comments.

Browse the full [ParseForge collection](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp) for more scrapers.

⭐ **Found this Actor useful?** [Leave a review](https://console.apify.com/actors/ZCZsPYS80C1T1ZX2W/reviews). It takes a minute and helps us keep it maintained.

🆘 **Need help?** Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ **Disclaimer.** This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Meta Platforms, Inc. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.

# Actor input Schema

## `mode` (type: `string`):

What to scrape:

- **posts** - Collect posts from one or more profiles
- **comments** - Collect comments from post URLs
- **hashtags** - Collect posts matching a hashtag
- **profile** - Collect profile metadata only

## `startUrls` (type: `array`):

Instagram usernames or URLs. For posts and profile mode use profile URLs or @usernames. For comments mode use post URLs (e.g. https://instagram.com/p/ABC123). For hashtags mode use the hashtags field below.

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Free users: Limited to 100. Paid users: Optional, max 1,000,000.

## `maxItemsPerSource` (type: `integer`):

Maximum items to collect per profile, post, or hashtag. Useful when scraping multiple sources and you want a per-source cap. Optional.

## `hashtags` (type: `array`):

Hashtags to collect posts from. Enter without the # symbol. Example: travel, food, photography.

## `mediaTypeFilter` (type: `string`):

Filter posts by media type. Applies to posts and hashtags modes.

## `dateFilter` (type: `string`):

Only collect posts from this date onward. Accepts YYYY-MM-DD or relative formats like 30 days, 3 months, 1 year.

## `enrichOutput` (type: `boolean`):

Toggle on to add a global top-trends snapshot + per-creator brand momentum (Trends MCP — works on every post regardless of caption format) OR company profile (Apollo — business accounts only). Auto-detects which connector you picked. Snapshot fetched once per run; momentum cached per username.

## `enrichConnector` (type: `string`):

Pick Trends MCP (recommended — adds hashtag momentum to every post) or Apollo (business accounts only). Click '+' to authorize.

## `mcpProxyUrlOverride` (type: `string`):

Diagnostic only.

## `mcpTokenOverride` (type: `string`):

Diagnostic only.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "mode": "posts",
  "startUrls": [
    "https://www.instagram.com/nasa/",
    "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/",
    "https://www.instagram.com/apple/"
  ],
  "maxItems": 1000,
  "mediaTypeFilter": "all",
  "enrichOutput": false
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `overview` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "mode": "posts",
    "startUrls": [
        "https://www.instagram.com/nasa/",
        "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/",
        "https://www.instagram.com/apple/"
    ],
    "maxItems": 1000,
    "mediaTypeFilter": "all"
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("parseforge/instagram-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "mode": "posts",
    "startUrls": [
        "https://www.instagram.com/nasa/",
        "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/",
        "https://www.instagram.com/apple/",
    ],
    "maxItems": 1000,
    "mediaTypeFilter": "all",
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("parseforge/instagram-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "mode": "posts",
  "startUrls": [
    "https://www.instagram.com/nasa/",
    "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/",
    "https://www.instagram.com/apple/"
  ],
  "maxItems": 1000,
  "mediaTypeFilter": "all"
}' |
apify call parseforge/instagram-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,parseforge/instagram-scraper"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/ZCZsPYS80C1T1ZX2W/builds/qkgle6U78uaOhTzKw/openapi.json