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 12 credits per call — no OAuth, scraping or platform SDKs. Bulk-list Instagram content with full metadata for each item.

How to get Instagram channel posts (step by step)

  1. 1

    Get a free API key

    Create a free Captapi account (100 credits, no card) and generate an API key from the dashboard.

  2. 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. 3

    Read the JSON response

    Parse the clean JSON response. Results are cached for 24 hours, so repeat calls are free.

Code example

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

What the response looks like

{
  "success": true,
  "cached": false,
  "creditsUsed": 12,
  "data": {
    "url": "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/",
    "totalReturned": 5,
    "posts": [
      {
        "platform": "instagram",
        "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DZFqdAxlkUG/",
        "id": "3910718563091367174",
        "caption": "After decades of recovery efforts, the wild giant panda population has nearly doubled since the species was listed as endangered in 1990. In this photograph by @amivitale, a keeper wearing a panda suit performs a health check in Wolong, China, reflecting one of the many measures used to prepare captive-bred pandas for life in the wild.\n\nSee what other stories our Nat Geo archive images have to tell at the link in bio.",
        "description": "After decades of recovery efforts, the wild giant panda population has nearly doubled since the species was listed as endangered in 1990. In this photograph by @amivitale, a keeper wearing a panda suit performs a health check in Wolong, China, reflecting one of the many measures used to prepare captive-bred pandas for life in the wild.\n\nSee what other stories our Nat Geo archive images have to tell at the link in bio.",
        "publishedAt": "2026-06-03T13:00:01.000Z",
        "durationSeconds": null,
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://scontent-mia3-3.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/712483886_18663141787019133_915376241070987040_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_s1080x1080_sh2.08_tt6&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-3.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=1&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2gFr-FZxF6EDPIZSbBs91tAgWEQ0f0euuR9J8xM53GeCJEJ-tp8y_qG4HAuQbm6SP9M&_nc_ohc=M60GCqdKGTcQ7kNvwGqJlOa&_nc_gid=WbXN_HT1o7F5uxFgKYivpA&edm=APs17CUBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_Af8rGKmWTQm0cwquB63mvy0pwt5ydgPcYYbcn0ISvoissA&oe=6A265E7A&_nc_sid=10d13b",
        "videoUrl": null,
        "author": {
          "username": "natgeo",
          "displayName": "National Geographic",
          "url": "https://instagram.com/natgeo",
          "followers": null,
          "verified": null,
          "profileImage": null
        },
        "engagement": {
          "views": null,
          "likes": 58239,
          "comments": 293
        },
        "hashtags": []
      },
      {
        "platform": "instagram",
        "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DZITFoDg_bH/",
        "id": "3911460225861023431",
        "caption": "Immerse yourself in a jungle brimming with life as the unmistakable calls of lar gibbons echo throughout the canopy. 🧡\n\n#HostilePlanet is now streaming on @DisneyPlus.",
        "description": "Immerse yourself in a jungle brimming with life as the unmistakable calls of lar gibbons echo throughout the canopy. 🧡\n\n#HostilePlanet is now streaming on @DisneyPlus.",
        "publishedAt": "2026-06-03T16:00:53.000Z",
        "durationSeconds": 17.152,
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://scontent-phl2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/714503866_18663456262019133_7068332191437668325_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e15_fr_p1080x1080_tt6&_nc_ht=scontent-phl2-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=1&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2gGpFUU6WWKtRa637jJ-GIMTI52cC6lYq6szl3Hu4msnstYubh8guIny2Fc1ihGW0-0&_nc_ohc=2DChURMCZqUQ7kNvwHhYTNr&_nc_gid=lpWfjXrKyig_AmNuD55DWw&edm=APs17CUBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_Af8P767ne9puPbGd0ds6rOsG4H4jW_yYfHcGQ5wdqeht2g&oe=6A26341F&_nc_sid=10d13b",
        "videoUrl": "https://scontent-phl2-1.cdninstagram.com/o1/v/t16/f2/m86/AQN6fsdmZcfx4mZfD1KH33KSu4m06jI9gnPg0KT320baqlr4UrNgLzkBmF1ThhE3ysDqMiZdCive07LqNlPhu4n7ElG2SBswPknLe1I.mp4?stp=dst-mp4&efg=eyJxZV9ncm91cHMiOiJbXCJpZ193ZWJfZGVsaXZlcnlfdnRzX290ZlwiXSIsInZlbmNvZGVfdGFnIjoidnRzX3ZvZF91cmxnZW4uY2xpcHMuYzIuNzIwLmJhc2VsaW5lIn0&_nc_cat=105&vs=4529887827333353_3386022582&_nc_vs=HBksFQIYUmlnX3hwdl9yZWVsc19wZXJtYW5lbnRfc3JfcHJvZC8wMjQzNUUzQzA1MTIzMERCQTNEQTY0RjREQzAzMUQ5RF92aWRlb19kYXNoaW5pdC5tc ...",
        "author": {
          "username": "natgeo",
          "displayName": "National Geographic",
          "url": "https://instagram.com/natgeo",
          "followers": null,
          "verified": null,
          "profileImage": null
        },
        "engagement": {
          "views": 98142,
          "likes": 21715,
          "comments": 110
        },
        "hashtags": [
          "HostilePlanet"
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Request parameters

NameTypeRequiredDescription
urlstring YesInstagram profile URL, e.g. https://instagram.com/username/.
limitintegerNoMax items to return (default 20, max 200). Billed per result.

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 video using one GET request to /v1/instagram/channel-posts. It returns clean JSON — no OAuth or scraping setup required.

How many credits does the Instagram Channel Posts API cost?

Each successful call costs 12 credits. Responses are cached for 24 hours, and cached results cost 0 credits. Failed or empty results are never charged.

Do I need a Instagram API key or OAuth?

No. A single Captapi key works across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. 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, automatic retries, and a shared 24-hour cache. Use it for RAG pipelines, 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