How to download a Instagram video
GET request to /v1/instagram/video-download with your input. You get clean JSON back in seconds for 3 credits per call — no OAuth, scraping or platform SDKs. Get a direct, watermark-free download URL for any public Instagram video.How to download a Instagram video (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 Video Download API
Send an authenticated GET request to /v1/instagram/video-download with your input. No OAuth, no scraping setup.
- 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/video-download?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Freel%2FCzKZqfdN5j8%2F" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."What the response looks like
{
"success": true,
"cached": false,
"creditsUsed": 3,
"data": {
"platform": "instagram",
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DZFsjH9E3gK/",
"downloadUrl": "https://scontent-atl3-3.cdninstagram.com/o1/v/t16/f2/m86/AQMGnrDghjltKSeAy4tBhpXNhUZBbdga72RFRiGFOv3lqblGz4DR09Ab0_Cs4uG1AKsGWOm0P59LSwcVEB8DosKGM9N5ohVEr1mnXJk.mp4?stp=dst-mp4&efg=eyJxZV9ncm91cHMiOiJbXCJpZ193ZWJfZGVsaXZlcnlfdnRzX290ZlwiXSIsInZlbmNvZGVfdGFnIjoidnRzX3ZvZF91cmxnZW4uY2xpcHMuYzIuNzIwLmJhc2VsaW5lIn0&_nc_cat=108&vs=984718010813089_166086278&_nc_vs=HBksFQIYUmlnX3hwdl9yZWVsc19wZXJtYW5lbnRfc3JfcHJvZC9GNTRCNjRGREM1MEUyOTVBNkQ3RTA3ODA4RDA5MDU4Ql92aWRlb19kYXNoaW5pdC5tcDQ ...",
"thumbnailUrl": "https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/713685045_18583942372030593_722863052752067183_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e15_fr_p1080x1080_tt6&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=1&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2gGxgK3ESwZweaIRokS4jQ_UO2MngdCVMo-T_XiXKlyLC2PYYHPMKE9tzcD_aB2lQQ4&_nc_ohc=dtgW6uMgdl0Q7kNvwH-3rDA&_nc_gid=7PxBw05EXtNsdJtKZDJWrA&edm=APs17CUBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_Af9HLX0odm1MMLH5EdJgpN8rl3lgTa8MIfqGlC1p-LF-tA&oe=6A26560C&_nc_sid=10d13b",
"duration": 55.733
}
}Request parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| url | string | Yes | Instagram Reel URL, e.g. https://instagram.com/reel/ID/. |
Frequently asked questions
What does the Instagram Video Download API do?
The Instagram Video Download API lets you get a direct, no-watermark download URL from a public Instagram video using one GET request to /v1/instagram/video-download. It returns clean JSON — no OAuth or scraping setup required.
How many credits does the Instagram Video Download API cost?
Each successful call costs 3 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.
Are the downloads watermark-free?
Yes — the Instagram Video Download API returns a direct, watermark-free media URL where the platform allows it, along with available quality variants.
Is the Instagram Video Download 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 download a Instagram video?
Start free with 100 credits — no credit card required.
Get your free API key