Instagram Profile Search API
Look up an Instagram account by name or @handle and get its profile back — display name, follower count, verified badge, private flag, and avatar.
GET request to /v1/instagram/profile-search 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 Profile Search API?
Pass an account name, @handle, or profile URL (e.g. nike, @nasa, or instagram.com/natgeo) and the Instagram Profile Search API resolves it to the matching public profile as clean JSON. It returns the account itself, not its posts: username, display name, profile URL, follower count, whether the account is verified or private, and the profile picture. Use it to turn a brand or creator name into a confirmed @handle, enrich a CRM or lead list, or feed an influencer-discovery tool. Fast and costs just 1 credit — no Instagram login or OAuth. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h shared cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh.
What you get
- The public Instagram profile that matches your query
- Username, display name, and profile URL
- Follower count plus verified and private flags
- Profile picture URL
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/profile-search?q=nike" \
-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": {
"query": "nike",
"totalReturned": 1,
"users": [
{
"username": "nike",
"displayName": "Nike",
"url": "https://instagram.com/nike",
"followers": 291780978,
"verified": true,
"private": false,
"profileImage": "https://instagram.ftas2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.82787-19/551608484_18567162979020081_1135468084872726555_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s320x320_tt6&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InByb2ZpbGVfcGljLmRqYW5nby4zOTkuYzIifQ&_nc_ht=instagram.ftas2-1.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=1&_nc_ohc=8gPTDp1oVhMQ7kNvwETrvZ3&edm=AOQ1c0wBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_AQBCOb7zz2iSBpbY2fpaSBUR25Hk-mqCp17LsL48j6fuIw&oe=6A5E90BA&_nc_sid=8b3546"
}
]
}
}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
queryThe search query you sent.totalReturnedNumber of items returned in this response.
Users
Each item in users contains:
usernameAccount username / handle.displayNameDisplay name of the account.urlCanonical URL of the item.followersFollower count.verifiedWhether the account is verified.privateWhether the account is private.profileImageProfile image URL.
Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| q | string | Yes | Account name, @handle, or profile URL to look up (min 2 characters). |
| 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_profile_search 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/profile-searchand parse the JSON response.
Use cases
Trend Discovery
Find trending content by keyword or hashtag.
Content Sourcing
Build feeds and playlists programmatically.
Monitoring
Track topics, brands, and competitors.
Research
Sample large sets of content for analysis.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Instagram Profile Search API do?+
The Instagram Profile Search API lets you search and return matching results from a public Instagram query using one GET request to /v1/instagram/profile-search. It returns clean JSON — no OAuth or infrastructure setup required.
How many credits does the Instagram Profile Search 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 Profile Search 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
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