# Instagram Profile API (https://www.socialcrawl.dev/platforms/instagram/profile)

> Returns public profile information for an Instagram user including the exact integer follower count, following count, bio, profile picture URL, and verification status. `author.posts_count` is the account's lifetime post count, for accounts of any size, in the same call and for the same 1 credit. In the rare case that count cannot be read in time the leaf is null rather than a wrong number, and a repeat call normally fills it. Age-restricted (18+) profiles are supported. Every link in the bio is listed in `author.ext.bio_links` (`{ title, url, link_type }`, the direct address), the Facebook-side id of the account is `author.ext.fbid`, and `author.ext.is_business` says whether it is an Instagram business account. `author.ext.hd_avatar_url` is the full-size profile picture. When the account publishes a contact address in its bio, it is returned as `author.ext.public_email`; otherwise that leaf is null. Instagram's in-app tap-to-email button is not readable from any public surface, so the bio is the only source for it. To vet a creator by market, call /v1/instagram/profile/about instead: it returns the follower count and the declared country in one call, at the same price, so there is no need to call both.

TL;DR: `GET /v1/instagram/profile` 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `handle` | yes | Instagram username without the @ symbol |
| `trim` | no | Set to true to skip the recent-posts read. The profile comes back faster, at the same price, with `author.last_post_at` and `computed.engagement_rate` null. |
| `contact_email` | no | Optional. When 1, also returns author.ext.contact_email: when the bio lists two or more email addresses, the one the creator gives for contacting them personally, copied verbatim from the bio. Null when there is one address or none, when every address belongs to a manager, agency or brand, or when the choice was not confident. author.ext.public_email is unchanged. No extra credits. (1) |

## Code example

```bash
curl -G "https://www.socialcrawl.dev/v1/instagram/profile" \
  --data-urlencode "handle=instagram" \
  -H "x-api-key: sc_YOUR_API_KEY"
```

## FAQ

### How do I get Instagram profile data with an API?

Send a GET request to /v1/instagram/profile with the handle parameter (the username without the @). SocialCrawl returns a JSON object with follower count, following count, post count, bio, profile picture URL, and verification status.

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

Each response includes the available profile fields: username, full name, bio, profile picture URL, follower count, following count, post count, verification status, private flag, and external URL. Computed engagement rate and content category appear only when this endpoint supports them and the required source inputs are present.

### Can I look up an Instagram account by username alone?

Yes. Pass the handle parameter and SocialCrawl resolves the account straight from the username, no numeric user ID to look up first and no separate ID-resolution step to maintain.

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

One request costs 1 credit on the standard tier. New accounts get 100 free credits with no card, so you can pull about 100 profiles before deciding whether to top up.

### How fast is the Instagram Profile API?

Most responses return within 1–3 seconds. Repeat calls for the same handle hit the profile cache category and come back faster on subsequent requests within the cache window.

### Does the Instagram Profile API return the exact follower count?

Yes. GET /v1/instagram/profile returns author.followers as the exact integer follower count, not an abbreviated string such as 4.4M.

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 profile data with an API in 2026
- SocialCrawl vs Meta Graph API for Instagram profile data
- Best Instagram profile scraping API with computed fields