Instagram · Guide

How to get Instagram channel posts

TL;DR

To get Instagram channel posts, sign up for a free Captapi key, then send one GET request to /v1/instagram/channel-posts with your input. You get clean JSON back in seconds for ~6 credits (0.3/result) per call — no OAuth, scraping or platform SDKs. Latest posts from a public Instagram profile — carousel children[], mediaCount, user{} in one call.

Get your free API key API reference

How to get Instagram channel posts (step by step)

1
Get a free API key
Create a free Captapi account (100 credits, no card) and generate an API key from the dashboard.
2
Call the Instagram Channel Posts API
Send an authenticated GET request to /v1/instagram/channel-posts with your input. No OAuth, no scraping setup.
3
Read the JSON response
Parse the clean JSON response. Pass cache=true for a free 24h cache hit; default is always fresh.

Code example

curl "https://api.captapi.com/v1/instagram/channel-posts?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fnasa%2F" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."
# or: -H "x-api-key: capt_live_..."

What the response looks like

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "url": "https://www.instagram.com/nasa/",
    "totalReturned": 2,
    "posts": [
      {
        "platform": "instagram",
        "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbYmqpplO_N/",
        "id": "3952078729724096461",
        "postType": "Video",
        "productType": "clips",
        "caption": "The Sun and Moon are coming together to put on a show for Earth, and we'll be sharing it with you. 😎\n\nOn Aug. 12, a total solar eclipse will pass over Earth, and we'll be broadcasting it live along the path of totality. Check our link in bio to learn how to watch along with us!\n\n#NASA #Sun #TotalSolarEclipse2026",
        "description": "The Sun and Moon are coming together to put on a show for Earth, and we'll be sharing it with you. 😎\n\nOn Aug. 12, a total solar eclipse will pass over Earth, and we'll be broadcasting it live along the path of totality. Check our link in bio to learn how to watch along with us!\n\n#NASA #Sun #TotalSolarEclipse2026",
        "publishedAt": "2026-07-29T17:02:45Z",
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://scontent-lga3-3.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/760192799_18631809481049152_7782886010573196119_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e15_tt6&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-3.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=104&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2gGam1aPbxqnPf0b0JKP7tArIHvIrXRHft307eWE7UMXS_pr6S4N6-Dm4L-cNp1JOIg&_nc_ohc=NLXhSIvSAE8Q7kNvwG7hHBp&_nc_gid=EJ9eFsuBV8RTUu0BGi0U6A&edm=AOQ1c0wBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_AQAOYlO_MiU0ymVZP-LUmVyzq1Qfu0qndl3JUXVB6LqVwA&oe=6A6FEEDB&_nc_sid=8b3546",
        "videoUrl": "https://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/o1/v/t2/f2/m86/AQOkpXQA9C2FhMuyAbNvepC6OP6PrkitJW3nqH3dhIDVm7lu82BvCIZApUA5L2uZr02DWsYDPOvZUymd3s8Q5RQJ_i1Bkk9Qx3VnTwk.mp4?_nc_cat=111&_nc_sid=5e9851&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_ohc=DqUQRmuNQ38Q7kNvwEf3m2C&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6Inhwdl9wcm9ncmVzc2l2ZS5JTlNUQUdSQU0uQ0xJUFMuQzMuNzIwLmRhc2hfYmFzZWxpbmVfMV92MSIsInhwdl9hc3NldF9pZCI6MTg2MzE4MDkzMTAwNDkxNTIsImFzc2V0X2FnZV9kYXlzIjowLCJ2aV91c2VjYXNlX2lkIjoxMDA5OSwiZHVyYXRpb25fcyI6NDQsInVybGdlbl9zb3VyY2UiOiJ3d3cifQ%3D%3D&ccb=17-1&vs=d63b773f9b2109a6&_nc_vs=HBksFQIYUmlnX3hwdl9yZWVsc19wZXJtYW5lbnRfc3JfcHJvZC9ENjQ4OTVCRTVEN0I2MDc3MzFGQkNDNUI1MjZDN0RCMl92aWRlb19kYXNoaW5pdC5tcDQVAALIARIAFQIYUWlnX3hwdl9wbGFjZW1lbnRfcGVybWFuZW50X3YyLzlBNDA3ODFBQjMyMTkwODU4OTg3RTNFRUYzNUJBMkE4X2F1ZGlvX2Rhc2hpbml0Lm1wNBUCAsgBEgAoABgAGwKIB3VzZV9vaWwBMRJwcm9ncmVzc2l2ZV9yZWNpcGUBMRUAACaAjpb3hOKYQhUCKAJDMywXQEZnztkWhysYEmRhc2hfYmFzZWxpbmVfMV92MREAdf4HZeadAQA&_nc_gid=EJ9eFsuBV8RTUu0BGi0U6A&_nc_ss=7a22e&_nc_zt=28&oh=00_AQDrxCQWJjYdJ_A1wP9NAqwnYMpcGLVAhJP0LpoE3AyyTg&oe=6A6C1F8C",
        "author": {
          "username": "nasa",
          "displayName": "NASA",
          "url": "https://instagram.com/nasa",
          "followers": 104263202,
          "verified": true,
          "profileImage": "https://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/29090066_159271188110124_1152068159029641216_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s320x320_tt6&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InByb2ZpbGVfcGljLmRqYW5nby4xMDgwLmMyIn0&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=1&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2gGam1aPbxqnPf0b0JKP7tArIHvIrXRHft307eWE7UMXS_pr6S4N6-Dm4L-cNp1JOIg&_nc_ohc=sUQGBsPKUTMQ7kNvwEjppQT&_nc_gid=EJ9eFsuBV8RTUu0BGi0U6A&edm=AOQ1c0wBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_AQABrOC8fhriT4lnoxQ6_A9newYDo18-mqvkuOv21yGkUQ&oe=6A701229&_nc_sid=8b3546"
        },
        "engagement": {
          "views": 51078,
          "likes": 10645,
          "comments": 149,
          "viewsInstagram": 40862,
          "viewsFacebook": 10216
        },
        "hashtags": [
          "NASA",
          "Sun"
        ],
        "mentions": []
      },
      {
        "platform": "instagram",
        "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DbYaLffE2DD/",
        "id": "3952023811948503235",
        "postType": "Sidecar",
        "productType": null,
        "caption": "Suit up!\n\nThese photos show NASA astronaut candidates @astro_fuhrmann and @astro_lawler preparing for their training flights aboard a high-flying WB-57 aircraft. These high-altitude flights train astronaut candidates to operate in tight spaces while wearing a pressure suit—a feat that prepares them for missions to the @ISS, Moon, or beyond.\n\nWhy are pressure suits necessary? The two main bodily dangers of high altitude are extremely thin air and low oxygen. Pressure suits counteract those dangers and make it possible to survive if something goes wrong in the aircraft.\n\nCredit: NASA\n\n#NASA #FlightSuit #Aircraft",
        "description": "Suit up!\n\nThese photos show NASA astronaut candidates @astro_fuhrmann and @astro_lawler preparing for their training flights aboard a high-flying WB-57 aircraft. These high-altitude flights train astronaut candidates to operate in tight spaces while wearing a pressure suit—a feat that prepares them for missions to the @ISS, Moon, or beyond.\n\nWhy are pressure suits necessary? The two main bodily dangers of high altitude are extremely thin air and low oxygen. Pressure suits counteract those dangers and make it possible to survive if something goes wrong in the aircraft.\n\nCredit: NASA\n\n#NASA #FlightSuit #Aircraft",
        "publishedAt": "2026-07-29T15:12:56Z",
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/759146473_18631780879049152_2448145103133242635_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_s1080x1080_sh2.08_tt6&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=1&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2gGam1aPbxqnPf0b0JKP7tArIHvIrXRHft307eWE7UMXS_pr6S4N6-Dm4L-cNp1JOIg&_nc_ohc=nvbF_-MRTWYQ7kNvwE_MszZ&_nc_gid=EJ9eFsuBV8RTUu0BGi0U6A&edm=AOQ1c0wBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_AQBJhJwZzwhl7hvGpLhh1jBk2dWyz3xAd05kIR1XwonMrg&oe=6A701485&_nc_sid=8b3546",
        "author": {
          "username": "nasa",
          "displayName": "NASA",
          "url": "https://instagram.com/nasa",
          "followers": 104263202,
          "verified": true,
          "profileImage": "https://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/29090066_159271188110124_1152068159029641216_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s320x320_tt6&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InByb2ZpbGVfcGljLmRqYW5nby4xMDgwLmMyIn0&_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=1&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2gGam1aPbxqnPf0b0JKP7tArIHvIrXRHft307eWE7UMXS_pr6S4N6-Dm4L-cNp1JOIg&_nc_ohc=sUQGBsPKUTMQ7kNvwEjppQT&_nc_gid=EJ9eFsuBV8RTUu0BGi0U6A&edm=AOQ1c0wBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_AQABrOC8fhriT4lnoxQ6_A9newYDo18-mqvkuOv21yGkUQ&oe=6A701229&_nc_sid=8b3546"
        },
        "engagement": {
          "likes": 34106,
          "comments": 177,
          "views": null
        },
        "hashtags": [
          "NASA",
          "FlightSuit"
        ],
        "mentions": [
          "astro_fuhrmann",
          "astro_lawler"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "nextCursor": "3947740140450436425_528817151",
    "hasMore": true
  }
}

Billing metadata (credits charged, cache hit/miss) is returned in the X-Captapi-Credits and X-Captapi-Cache response headers.

Request parameters

Name	Type	Required	Description
url	string	Yes	Instagram profile URL, @handle, or username, e.g. https://instagram.com/username/. The URL platform must match this endpoint's platform. Do not pass cross-platform URLs, e.g. YouTube to TikTok, Instagram to Facebook, LinkedIn to X/Twitter, or Pinterest to Rumble.
limit	integer	No	Max items to return (default 20, max 200). Billed per result.
cursor	string	No	Pagination cursor. Leave empty for the first page; then pass the nextCursor value returned in the previous response (e.g. 3937014945555313553_1697296). A null nextCursor means the end of the list.
cache	boolean	No	Set true to serve from the 24h response cache (0 credits on hit). Default false — always fetch fresh.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Instagram Channel Posts API do?

The Instagram Channel Posts API lets you list items in bulk with metadata from a public Instagram post using one GET request to /v1/instagram/channel-posts. It returns clean JSON — no OAuth or infrastructure setup required.

How many credits does the Instagram Channel Posts API cost?

At the default limit this endpoint costs 6 credits (0.3 per result). Billing scales with how many results you request. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. Selected profile endpoints also accept cacheMaxAge=1d|3d|7d|14d|30d. Failed or empty results are never charged.

Do I need a Instagram API key or OAuth?

No. A single Captapi key works across every platform Captapi supports — YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, Reddit, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Rumble, Spotify, Kwai, and more. We handle proxies, rate limits, retries, and authentication for you.

Is the Instagram Channel Posts API suitable for production use?

Yes. It is a stable REST endpoint with predictable JSON and automatic retries. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. Selected profile endpoints also accept cacheMaxAge=1d|3d|7d|14d|30d. Use it for analytics, monitoring, and content automation.

Ready to get Instagram channel posts?

Start free with 100 credits — no credit card required.

Get your free API key