Instagram Basic Profile API
Look up a full public Instagram profile by user ID (or @handle) — bio, follower counts, verification, and profile pictures.
GET request to /v1/instagram/basic-profile that responds with clean JSON and costs 1 credit. Pass cache=true for a free 24h cache hit; default is always fresh. Start with 100 free credits — no credit card.What is the Instagram Basic Profile API?
Pass an Instagram numeric user ID (e.g. 314216) and get that account's public profile as clean JSON: username, full name, biography, follower / following / media counts, verification and privacy flags, business status, and profile pictures. A profile URL, @handle, or username is also accepted and resolved automatically. Fast, costs just 1 credit, and needs no Instagram login or OAuth. Empty fields are omitted. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h shared cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh.
What you get
- Username, full name, and biography
- Follower, following, and media counts
- Verification, privacy, and business flags
- Standard and HD profile picture URLs, plus stable user IDs
Try it
Fill in the parameters below and copy a ready-to-run request, or open the live Playground to run it against your account (no API key paste).
Parameters
curl "https://api.captapi.com/v1/instagram/basic-profile?userId=314216" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."
# or: -H "x-api-key: capt_live_..."Edit the parameters and the code updates instantly. Switch languages and hit copy.
Example response
{
"success": true,
"data": {
"id": "314216",
"pk": "314216",
"username": "zuck",
"full_name": "Mark Zuckerberg",
"biography": "I build stuff",
"biography_with_entities": {
"raw_text": "I build stuff",
"entities": []
},
"follower_count": 16944276,
"following_count": 620,
"media_count": 436,
"highlight_reel_count": 0,
"is_private": false,
"is_verified": true,
"is_business": false,
"is_professional_account": true,
"should_show_category": false,
"profile_pic_url": "https://instagram.fscl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-19/550234512_18532404670058217_8758519395071163708_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s150x150_tt6&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InByb2ZpbGVfcGljLmRqYW5nby4xMDgwLmMyIn0&_nc_ht=instagram.fscl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=1&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2gEGmyGBjnyLEtHbhEtAZrW4crvPeMpPLfp8Yy0Lrfn0_vQhEHyYh23QJ00H6DVK_VM&_nc_ohc=Y_4zRJVeNMAQ7kNvwFRwYxd&_nc_gid=Ge4vi-V9UTLD2FUMCnmsKw&edm=AOQ1c0wBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_AQD9_gXgZJvog7nIb0Ul7nHSl7_wAAGx9yOrW67giUoqyA&oe=6A61336D&_nc_sid=8b3546",
"hd_profile_pic_url_info": {
"url": "https://instagram.fscl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-19/550234512_18532404670058217_8758519395071163708_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s320x320_tt6&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InByb2ZpbGVfcGljLmRqYW5nby4xMDgwLmMyIn0&_nc_ht=instagram.fscl1-1.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=1&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2gEGmyGBjnyLEtHbhEtAZrW4crvPeMpPLfp8Yy0Lrfn0_vQhEHyYh23QJ00H6DVK_VM&_nc_ohc=Y_4zRJVeNMAQ7kNvwFRwYxd&_nc_gid=Ge4vi-V9UTLD2FUMCnmsKw&edm=AOQ1c0wBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_AQAXB3DwpL7ZK8fs3tlWiQ-bPK8ZOOXOWiaMKyvsZNzjbw&oe=6A61336D&_nc_sid=8b3546"
},
"fbid_v2": "17841401746480004",
"pronouns": [],
"bio_links": [],
"is_embeds_disabled": false,
"is_regulated_c18": false,
"show_account_transparency_details": true,
"show_text_post_app_badge": true,
"remove_message_entrypoint": false
}
}Billing metadata is returned in response headers: X-Captapi-Credits (credits charged), X-Captapi-Cache (hit or miss), and X-Captapi-Source. Failed requests (4xx/5xx) are never charged. See the full list of error codes in the error reference.
Response structure
A successful call returns success, cached, creditsUsed, and a data object with the following fields:
Top-level fields
idStable platform ID for the item.pkInstagram user primary key (same as id).usernameAccount username / handle.full_nameAccount display (full) name.biographyProfile bio text.follower_countFollower count.following_countNumber of accounts this profile follows.media_countTotal number of posts on the profile.highlight_reel_countNumber of Story Highlight albums on the profile.is_privateWhether the account is private.is_verifiedWhether the account is verified.is_businessWhether the account is a business account.is_professional_accountWhether the account is a professional (creator/business) account.should_show_categoryWhether Instagram shows the account's category publicly.profile_pic_urlStandard-resolution profile picture URL.fbid_v2Linked Facebook/Meta ID for the account.pronounsPronouns listed on the profile.bio_linksExternal links shown on the profile.is_embeds_disabledWhether embedding this account's content is disabled.is_regulated_c18Whether the account is age-restricted (18+).show_account_transparency_detailsWhether Instagram shows account transparency details.show_text_post_app_badgeWhether the Threads badge is shown on the profile.remove_message_entrypointWhether the message button is hidden on the profile.
Biography with entities
The biography_with_entities object contains:
raw_textRaw text. Example: "I build stuff".entitiesEntities (array).
Hd profile pic url info
The hd_profile_pic_url_info object contains:
urlCanonical URL of the item.
Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| userId | string | Yes | Instagram numeric user ID (e.g. 314216). A profile URL, @handle, or username is also accepted and resolved automatically. |
| cache | boolean | No | Set true to serve from the 24h response cache. Default false — always fetch fresh data. |
Authentication: send your key as Authorization: Bearer capt_live_.... A typical call costs 1 credit. Pass cache=true for a free 24h cache hit; default is always fresh.
instagram_basic_profile via @captapi/mcp. Set it up →How it works
- 1. Sign up — get 100 free credits, no card required.
- 2. Create a key from your dashboard.
- 3. Send one request to
/v1/instagram/basic-profileand parse the JSON response.
Use cases
Influencer Discovery
Find and vet creators by audience size.
CRM Enrichment
Add social stats to your contact profiles.
Competitive Analysis
Track follower growth and posting cadence.
Outreach
Qualify partnership and sponsorship targets.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Instagram Basic Profile API do?+
The Instagram Basic Profile API lets you fetch profile or page details and audience stats from a public Instagram profile or page using one GET request to /v1/instagram/basic-profile. It returns clean JSON — no OAuth or infrastructure setup required.
How many credits does the Instagram Basic Profile API cost?+
Each successful call costs 1 credit. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h shared cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. 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 Basic Profile 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 shared cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. Use it for analytics, monitoring, and content automation.
More Instagram APIs
Ready to use the Instagram Basic Profile API?
Sign up, grab your key, and make your first call in 60 seconds.