# Instagram Post API (https://www.socialcrawl.dev/platforms/instagram/post)

> Returns detailed information about a specific Instagram post including view count on videos and reels, like count, comment count, caption, media URLs, media type, author info, and tagged users. The place the post is tagged at is `post.ext.location` (`{ id, name, lat, lng }`, null when it has none), the usernames tagged are `post.ext.usertags`, the comments Instagram shows under the post are `post.ext.top_comments` (`{ id, text, username, likes, published_at }`) when the primary source answers, a carousel lists its slides in `post.ext.media` (`{ type, url, width, height }`), and the `#tags` and `@handles` in the caption are `post.ext.hashtags` and `post.ext.mentions`. The view count is served resiliently: Instagram removed per-post play counts from its public web pages in August 2026, so when the primary source omits the count on a video the API automatically fills engagement.views (and ext.ig_play_count) from a second source within the same request. One call, one credit, no extra endpoint needed. Co-author data is the one thing this endpoint cannot give you: the public web page behind it reports an empty co-author list on every post, including genuine collaborative ones, so `post.ext.coauthors` is deliberately omitted here rather than returned as a misleading empty array. For the co-author list of a single post use /v1/instagram/post/stats, and for a whole feed use /v1/instagram/profile/posts or /v1/instagram/profile/reels.

TL;DR: `GET /v1/instagram/post` costs 1 credit per call and returns SocialCrawl's unified JSON schema. Single x-api-key auth, 100 free credits on signup.

## Parameters

| Parameter | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `url` | yes | Full URL of the Instagram post. A share link copied from the app (`instagram.com/share/...`) works too; a share link to a profile is refused at no charge with the handle to send, and a dead one is a free 404. |
| `region` | no | 2 letter country code to set the proxy in |
| `trim` | no | Set to true to get a trimmed response |
| `download_media` | no | Set to true to also download the video/images and get back durable hosted media URLs under `data.post.ext.download_media_urls` (`[{ post_id, cdn_url, type, cached }]`). Use these for archiving; the raw `media_urls` are short-lived signed CDN links that expire. Adds a few seconds of latency while the media is fetched. Not available on login-gated posts (age-restricted 18+ and similar), which are served by a source that cannot host durable copies: the post and its media still come back in full, and the response carries a `data._warnings` note telling you to read `data.post.content.media_urls` directly. |

## Code example

```bash
curl -G "https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/instagram/post" \
  --data-urlencode "url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DcCH2ZygIiP/" \
  -H "x-api-key: sc_YOUR_API_KEY"
```

## FAQ

### How do I get a single Instagram post with an API?

Send a GET request to /v1/instagram/post with the full post URL in the url parameter. SocialCrawl returns a JSON object with caption, like count, comment count, media URLs, author info, and tagged users.

### What fields does the Instagram Post API return?

Responses include post ID, shortcode, caption, like count, comment count, media type, media URLs (full resolution), thumbnail URL, timestamp, author profile data, location, and tagged users where present.

### Can I pass any Instagram post URL?

Yes. Public post URLs for photos, videos, reels, and carousels all work. The endpoint accepts the standard instagram.com/p/ and instagram.com/reel/ URL formats that Instagram exposes for sharing.

### Can I download the media files from a post?

Yes. Set download_media=true and SocialCrawl includes direct media URLs you can fetch. The response always includes the original media URL, so you can download and store the files in your own storage.

### How much does one Instagram post request cost?

One request costs 1 credit on the standard tier. With 100 free credits on signup and no credit card required, you can scrape around 100 posts before deciding whether to upgrade.

See the full Instagram API: https://www.socialcrawl.dev/platforms/instagram

## Pricing

- Standard endpoints: 1 credit per call
- Advanced endpoints: 5 credits per call
- Premium endpoints: 10 credits per call
- 100 free credits on signup, no credit card required. Cached responses cost 0 credits. Credit packs never expire.
- Full pricing: https://www.socialcrawl.dev/pricing

## Explore with AI

Questions this API answers, phrased for an AI assistant:

- How to get Instagram post data from just a URL
- Which Instagram API returns caption likes comments and media URLs