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Instagram · Guide

How to get Instagram channel reels

TL;DR
To get Instagram channel reels, sign up for a free Captapi key, then send one GET request to /v1/instagram/channel-reels 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.
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How to get Instagram channel reels (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 Reels API

    Send an authenticated GET request to /v1/instagram/channel-reels 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-reels?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,
    "reels": [
      {
        "platform": "instagram",
        "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DZFsjH9E3gK/",
        "id": "3910727779210197002",
        "caption": "Keep exploring! ABC News and National Geographic are taking you to America's most extraordinary and awe-inspiring locations, revealing the “Seven Natural Wonders of America.” \n\nCan you guess our first stop?  Nightline Co-Anchor Juju Chang and National Geographic Explorer Andrés Ruzo take you there. \n\nFollow more on the ground adventures with David Muir, Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts, Michael Strahan, Deborah Roberts and other National Geographic Explorers when the full list is  ...",
        "description": "Keep exploring! ABC News and National Geographic are taking you to America's most extraordinary and awe-inspiring locations, revealing the “Seven Natural Wonders of America.” \n\nCan you guess our first stop?  Nightline Co-Anchor Juju Chang and National Geographic Explorer Andrés Ruzo take you there. \n\nFollow more on the ground adventures with David Muir, Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts, Michael Strahan, Deborah Roberts and other National Geographic Explorers when the full list is  ...",
        "publishedAt": "2026-06-02T15:46:24.000Z",
        "durationSeconds": 55.733,
        "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=Q6cZ2gFJzXIRmSWhdVLqsrARi5lNCyiJfCjOO-dQ2zTL_0F45sBP1RTw0EPvsEXa-dXC8S0&_nc_ohc=dtgW6uMgdl0Q7kNvwFq3Qsf&_nc_gid=7wV4FIQXWSBqOC2k1XtPCw&edm=APs17CUBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_Af_j3rRyPtOKY7p1FLcdJXDyXKKTOIBhOhobck-BjnHlyg&oe=6A26560C&_nc_sid=10d13b",
        "videoUrl": "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 ...",
        "author": {
          "username": "abc2020",
          "displayName": "ABC 20/20",
          "url": "https://instagram.com/abc2020",
          "followers": null,
          "verified": null,
          "profileImage": null
        },
        "engagement": {
          "views": 769674,
          "likes": 10702,
          "comments": 303
        },
        "hashtags": []
      },
      {
        "platform": "instagram",
        "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DZFq5BWAgnU/",
        "id": "3910720487847758292",
        "caption": "Filmed by @ottowhitehead while on assignment with @thomaspeschak, the Lugenda River winds through the Niassa Reserve, a protected area in northern Mozambique. Here, thousands of people coexist with hippos, lions, wild dogs, and other animals, allowing both to thrive in this iconic part of the African wilderness.",
        "description": "Filmed by @ottowhitehead while on assignment with @thomaspeschak, the Lugenda River winds through the Niassa Reserve, a protected area in northern Mozambique. Here, thousands of people coexist with hippos, lions, wild dogs, and other animals, allowing both to thrive in this iconic part of the African wilderness.",
        "publishedAt": "2026-06-02T15:31:37.000Z",
        "durationSeconds": 20.032,
        "thumbnailUrl": "https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/713404791_18663142810019133_8048718627604900958_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e15_tt6&_nc_ht=scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=109&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2gHLd-lrq3izekge9KpG_NHE41lcvv6jSOXhOptv5wRXkUwXHDKaGyaUs6xvKHwMrbw&_nc_ohc=CgK7-MBUYK8Q7kNvwGC8QiW&_nc_gid=xB8G1w-xW7TE7BAIRkauwg&edm=APs17CUBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_Af-f2JpnVKDgNxQdSOTFsD_nfzs6XAYnkCtUVGYBOCA62A&oe=6A26516F&_nc_sid=10d13b",
        "videoUrl": "https://scontent-iad6-1.cdninstagram.com/o1/v/t16/f2/m86/AQOQtloPlbPGwzZNHrHBg4urX-gVZvRoQL1S8niOxjTptH1ZlZHQNL4wS8Hk_gZB4Yl32pHEwWUhB3pIj7D2LxNw5BJFto9czXi0z0c.mp4?stp=dst-mp4&efg=eyJxZV9ncm91cHMiOiJbXCJpZ193ZWJfZGVsaXZlcnlfdnRzX290ZlwiXSIsInZlbmNvZGVfdGFnIjoidnRzX3ZvZF91cmxnZW4uY2xpcHMuYzIuNzIwLmJhc2VsaW5lIn0&_nc_cat=107&vs=970566749141178_850743568&_nc_vs=HBksFQIYUmlnX3hwdl9yZWVsc19wZXJtYW5lbnRfc3JfcHJvZC8wODQwNEM5QzMyRjVDNTg3NzcxRThEODUyM0U5RjVBRF92aWRlb19kYXNoaW5pdC5tcDQ ...",
        "author": {
          "username": "natgeo",
          "displayName": "National Geographic",
          "url": "https://instagram.com/natgeo",
          "followers": null,
          "verified": null,
          "profileImage": null
        },
        "engagement": {
          "views": 107883,
          "likes": 18325,
          "comments": 90
        },
        "hashtags": []
      }
    ]
  }
}

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 Reels API do?

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

How many credits does the Instagram Channel Reels 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 Reels 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 reels?

Start free with 100 credits — no credit card required.

Get your free API key