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Instagram · Guide

How to run a Instagram profile search

TL;DR
To run a Instagram profile search, sign up for a free Captapi key, then send one GET request to /v1/instagram/profile-search with your input. You get clean JSON back in seconds for 12 credits per call — no OAuth, scraping or platform SDKs. Search Instagram programmatically and get structured, ranked results.
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How to run a Instagram profile search (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 Profile Search API

    Send an authenticated GET request to /v1/instagram/profile-search 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/profile-search?q=skincare" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."

What the response looks like

{
  "success": true,
  "cached": false,
  "creditsUsed": 12,
  "data": {
    "query": "nature",
    "totalReturned": 10,
    "users": [
      {
        "username": "ncc_cnc",
        "displayName": "Nature Conservancy of Canada | Conservation de la nature Canada",
        "url": "https://instagram.com/ncc_cnc",
        "followers": 61940,
        "verified": null,
        "private": null,
        "profileImage": "https://scontent-phl2-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/166594668_103754221763556_2725053308824708161_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e0_s150x150_tt6&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InByb2ZpbGVfcGljLmRqYW5nby43MjAuYzIifQ&_nc_ht=scontent-phl2-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=100&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2gG31OPp6rXczA5nEcRLSQWLuK8hG3uLS9oxheIJALzhBQKlfzXW1NkyeTP9FQZ3UqYl_lKaJfByEIVOTUm55a1Z&_nc_ohc=w4pVONmiD34Q7kNvwHAyigl&_nc_gid=k8wsiH8GsfykKJHxrrFHUw&edm=AOQ1c0wBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_Af-5i0Sr9OhZcmJkPdpfqdH3641KS4xleGpI ..."
      },
      {
        "username": "naturequeenstore",
        "displayName": "Naturequeenstore",
        "url": "https://instagram.com/naturequeenstore",
        "followers": 46043,
        "verified": null,
        "private": null,
        "profileImage": "https://scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/474530162_1613687809521651_8446827958246387142_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e0_s150x150_tt6&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InByb2ZpbGVfcGljLmRqYW5nby42MDAuYzIifQ&_nc_ht=scontent-iad3-2.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=103&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2gFw2JsVYjbRZ8pZD-ks4kZoIxxZM479GOgFZr6BWYg3hd05YZ1ZxYfOBzSvhpu4VI4&_nc_ohc=w1-6MzVEUNgQ7kNvwHnGFZf&_nc_gid=2QLel14lCEffh1suz66k1g&edm=AOQ1c0wBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_Af9d3MFL5J1-q1xGUeUamt2ku5AaKcv7ZS8-ZiNC24WPmQ&oe=6A264090&_nc_sid=8b3546"
      }
    ]
  }
}

Request parameters

NameTypeRequiredDescription
qstring YesSearch query or keywords (min 2 characters).
limitintegerNoMax items to return (default 20, max 100). Billed per result.

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 scraping setup required.

How many credits does the Instagram Profile Search 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 Profile Search 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 run a Instagram profile search?

Start free with 100 credits — no credit card required.

Get your free API key