Instagram API · Endpoint
Instagram Explore API
Read the sections of Instagram's public Explore page, or page through one section.
- 1 credit per call
- Failed calls are free
- Updated
- instagram.explore.list
Response
completed
{ "sections": [ { "display_subtitle": null, "display_title": "Trending now", "id": "PolarisPopularSearchHomeSection:trending_now", "section": "TRENDING_NOW", "entries_connection": { "page_info": { "end_cursor": "11", "has_next_page": true }, "edges": [ { "cursor": "0", "node": { "rank": 1, "keyword": { "keyword_text": "verzuz", "media_count": 2247246 } } }, { "cursor": "1", "node": { "rank": 2, "keyword": { "keyword_text": "gary indiana", "media_count": 696498 } } } ] } }, { "display_subtitle": "The entertainment news you can't miss", "display_title": "Pop culture moments", "id": "PolarisPopularSearchHomeSection:entertainment", "section": "ENTERTAINMENT", "entries_connection": { "page_info": { "end_cursor": "11", "has_next_page": true }, "edges": [ { "cursor": "0", "node": { "rank": 1, "keyword": { "keyword_text": "thelasthouse", "media_count": null } } }, { "cursor": "1", "node": { "rank": 2, "keyword": { "keyword_text": "sugar ray leonard boxing", "media_count": 20 } } } ] } } ]}
| # | Display subtitle | Display title | Section | Id |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Trending now | TRENDING_NOW | PolarisPopularSearchHomeSection:trending_now | |
| 2 | The entertainment news you can't miss | Pop culture moments | ENTERTAINMENT | PolarisPopularSearchHomeSection:entertainment |
| 3 | See who people are following lately | Profiles to look out for | CELEBRITIES | PolarisPopularSearchHomeSection:celebrities |
Input
What you send
The input
object of the request, with every field the endpoint accepts.
| Field | Type | Required | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cursor | string | no | Continuation cursor returned by a previous request. | |
| limit | integer | no | Maximum number of results to return. From 1 to 120. Default: 24. |
|
| max_pages | integer | no | Maximum number of result pages to fetch. From 1 to 10. Default: 5. |
|
| section_id | string | no | Optional section ID returned by the Explore home response |
Response
Fields it returns
What each record in the response holds, with the values from the sample above.
| Field | Type | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| sections[].display_subtitle | null | The section's subtitle, when it has one. | null |
| sections[].display_title | string | The section's title as Instagram shows it. | Trending now |
| sections[].entries_connection | object | The section's entries and paging details. | 2 fields |
| sections[].entries_connection.edges | array | The section's entries. | 3 records |
| sections[].entries_connection.page_info | object | Paging details for the section. | 2 fields |
| sections[].id | string | Instagram's ID for the section. | PolarisPopularSearchHomeSection:trending_now |
| sections[].section | string | The section's type, such as TRENDING_NOW. | TRENDING_NOW |
| sections | array | The sections of Instagram's Explore page. | 3 records |
REST API · MCP server
Call it from your code, or ask your agent
Set UPSCRAPE_API_KEY to your key and copy a working request.
curl --request POST \ --url https://data.upscrape.com/execute \ --header "Authorization: Bearer $UPSCRAPE_API_KEY" \ --header "Content-Type: application/json" \ --header "Prefer: wait=30" \ --data '{ "capability": "instagram.explore.list", "input": {}}'
import jsonimport osimport requestspayload = json.loads(r'''{ "capability": "instagram.explore.list", "input": {}}''')response = requests.post( "https://data.upscrape.com/execute", headers={ "Authorization": f"Bearer {os.environ['UPSCRAPE_API_KEY']}", "Content-Type": "application/json", "Prefer": "wait=30", }, json=payload,)response.raise_for_status()print(json.dumps(response.json(), indent=2))
const response = await fetch("https://data.upscrape.com/execute", { method: "POST", headers: { "Authorization": `Bearer ${process.env.UPSCRAPE_API_KEY}`, "Content-Type": "application/json", "Prefer": "wait=30", }, body: JSON.stringify({ "capability": "instagram.explore.list", "input": {}}),});if (!response.ok) { throw new Error(`Upscrape request failed: ${response.status}`);}console.log(JSON.stringify(await response.json(), null, 2));
In your AI agent
Claude · Cursor · any MCP client
1Add the Upscrape MCP server
2Ask for the data in plain words
The agent finds the endpoint, shows you the price, and runs it with your credits.
https://data.upscrape.com/mcp
With Upscrape, get the Instagram explore. Tell me what it costs before you run it, then show the results as a table.
Instagram
More from the Instagram API
- Instagram Profile API1 credit
- Instagram Profile Posts API1 credit
- Instagram Reels API1 credit
- Instagram Post API1 credit
- Instagram Comments API1 credit
- Instagram Hashtag Posts Search API1 credit
- Instagram Hashtag Keyword Search API1 credit
- Instagram Popular Search API1 credit
- Instagram Topic Search API1 credit
- Instagram Topics API1 credit
- Instagram Profiles Search API1 credit
- Instagram Reels Search API1 credit
- Instagram Reels by Audio API1 credit
- Instagram Highlights API1 credit
- Instagram Saved Highlight Items API1 credit
- Instagram Basic Profile by ID API1 credit
- Instagram Location API1 credit
- Instagram Embed API1 credit
Questions
Instagram Explore API FAQ
The short answers. The docs have the long ones.
Still have a question?
Talk to the people who build the endpoints.
How much does the Instagram Explore API cost?
1 credit per successful call, shown before it runs. You buy credits once, and paid credits never expire.
What do I send?
Every input is optional; the input fields below list what each one does.
Do I need an Instagram login?
No. It reads public Instagram data; nothing runs on your account.
Can my AI agent call it?
Yes, over MCP: the agent finds instagram.explore.list, checks its price and runs it with the same credits as the REST API.
Get started
Your first Instagram call is free.
Up to 100 free credits to start, no card needed.