# Instagram Comment API

Instagram

Returns one public top-level comment on an Instagram post, reel or carousel, from its link or the post's link and comment_id. You get its text, exact like count, posting time, the GIF when it is one, whether the post's author wrote it, and the commenter's username, ID, picture and verified badge.

GET `/v1/instagram/comment`

## Example

cURL:

```shell
curl -G 'https://socialtap.dev/v1/instagram/comment' \
  --data-urlencode 'comment_id=18201877798382683' \
  --data-urlencode 'url=https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/p/DeuOR-CjKE9/' \
  -H "x-api-key: $SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"
```

TypeScript SDK:

```typescript
import { SocialTap } from "socialtap";

const client = new SocialTap(); // apiKey defaults to process.env.SOCIALTAP_API_KEY

const res = await client.instagram.comment.get({ url: "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/p/DeuOR-CjKE9/", comment_id: "18201877798382683" });
console.log(res.data);
console.log(res.credits.charged, res.meta.request_id);
```

Node.js (fetch):

```javascript
const params = new URLSearchParams({
  comment_id: "18201877798382683",
  url: "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/p/DeuOR-CjKE9/",
});
const res = await fetch(`https://socialtap.dev/v1/instagram/comment?${params}`, {
  headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.SOCIALTAP_API_KEY ?? "" },
});
const body = await res.json();
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${body.error.code}: ${body.error.message}`);
const { data, meta } = body;
console.log(data, meta.credits_charged);
```

Python (requests):

```python
import os

import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://socialtap.dev/v1/instagram/comment",
    params={"comment_id": "18201877798382683", "url": "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/p/DeuOR-CjKE9/"},
    headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"]},
)
body = res.json()
if not res.ok:
    raise RuntimeError(f"{body['error']['code']}: {body['error']['message']}")
data, meta = body["data"], body["meta"]
print(data, meta["credits_charged"])
```

Go (net/http):

```go
package main

import (
	"encoding/json"
	"fmt"
	"log"
	"net/http"
	"net/url"
	"os"
)

func main() {
	q := url.Values{}
	q.Set("comment_id", "18201877798382683")
	q.Set("url", "https://www.instagram.com/natgeo/p/DeuOR-CjKE9/")
	req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://socialtap.dev/v1/instagram/comment?"+q.Encode(), nil)
	if err != nil {
		log.Fatal(err)
	}
	req.Header.Set("x-api-key", os.Getenv("SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"))
	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		log.Fatal(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()
	var body struct {
		Data  json.RawMessage `json:"data"`
		Meta  map[string]any  `json:"meta"`
		Error *struct {
			Code    string `json:"code"`
			Message string `json:"message"`
		} `json:"error"`
	}
	if err := json.NewDecoder(res.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
		log.Fatal(err)
	}
	if body.Error != nil {
		log.Fatalf("%s: %s", body.Error.Code, body.Error.Message)
	}
	fmt.Println(string(body.Data), body.Meta["credits_charged"])
}
```

200 OK:

```json
{
  "data": {
    "approximate_fields": [],
    "author": {
      "avatar_url": "https://scontent-atl3-2.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-19/487214600_1013796433961568_4617588958569444737_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s150x150_tt6&_nc_cat=111&ig_cache_key=GAhOCh1gIlLgCpoDAIE1TFqx_BRAbkULAAAB1501500j-ccb7-5&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&efg=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCR…",
      "display_name": null,
      "id": "2736561256",
      "is_verified": true,
      "url": "https://www.instagram.com/tropiclifepr/",
      "username": "tropiclifepr"
    },
    "edited_at": null,
    "id": "18201877798382683",
    "is_by_post_author": false,
    "is_edited": null,
    "is_liked_by_author": null,
    "is_pinned": null,
    "metrics": {
      "like_count": 1,
      "reply_count": null
    },
    "parent_id": null,
    "platform": "instagram",
    "platform_specific": {
      "instagram": {
        "gif_url": null
      }
    },
    "post_id": "DeuOR-CjKE9",
    "published_at": "2026-10-28T13:22:42Z",
    "text": "Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷 🇵🇷",
    "unknown_fields": [],
    "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DeuOR-CjKE9/c/18201877798382683/"
  },
  "meta": {
    "request_id": "req_3f9c2a7d1e8b4c6a9f0e2d4b6a8c0e1f",
    "platform": "instagram",
    "source": "api",
    "is_cached": false,
    "credits_charged": 1,
    "latency_ms": 629,
    "fetched_at": "2026-10-25T12:00:00Z",
    "input": {
      "kind": "post",
      "id": "18201877798382683",
      "url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DeuOR-CjKE9/c/18201877798382683/"
    },
    "credits_remaining": 9999,
    "client_request_id": null,
    "warnings": []
  }
}
```

Long arrays and strings are shortened for display; real responses are complete.

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Good to know**
>
> - Logged out, Instagram shows a post's comments only as a list, newest first, so an older comment on a busy post returns private_or_unavailable.
> - A reply's link also returns private_or_unavailable, because Instagram shows replies only to signed-in visitors.
> - A deleted or hidden comment, one that isn't on the post given, and a reply's ID sent with the post's link return not_found.
> - reply_count, is_pinned, is_liked_by_author and the commenter's display name are null: Instagram doesn't show them logged out.

## Authorizations

`x-api-key`stringheaderrequired

Your API key. [Authentication](https://socialtap.dev/docs/authentication/index.md)

## Query parameters

| Name | Type | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `url` required | `string`<br>max 2,048 chars | The comment's permalink (instagram.com/p/\<code>/c/\<comment ID>/, also on /reel/, /reels/, /tv/ and /\<username>/p/ links, m.instagram.com and instagr.am, and a reply's /c/\<comment ID>/r/\<reply ID>/), or the post the comment is on: a post, reel or carousel link, a share link (instagram.com/share/…), a raw shortcode or a numeric media ID. Tracking params are ignored. | `https://www.instagram.com/p/DeuOR-CjKE9/c/18172542484466705/` |
| `comment_id` optional | `string`<br>max 32 chars | ID of the comment (the id of a comment from the comments endpoint). Required unless url is a comment's permalink; when both are given they must name the same comment. | `18172542484466705` |

`url` takes Instagram post and video links; another kind of link, or another platform's, fails free with [`invalid_input`](https://socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_input). Unknown parameters are rejected with a suggestion, never ignored ([Requests](https://socialtap.dev/docs/requests/index.md)).

**Parameters every endpoint accepts**

| Name | Type | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `max_age` optional | `integer`<br>min 0 | Accept a cached response up to this many seconds old. Cache hits cost 0 credits. Omit to always fetch fresh. The Cache-Control: max-age=N request header is equivalent; max_age wins when both are sent. | — |
| `fields` optional | `string` | Return only these fields of each item: comma-separated paths in the schema's notation (id,text,metrics.view_count,segments\[\].text; a parent path keeps the whole object). Unknown paths are rejected. Applied after the cache, so it changes neither the price nor cache hits; page and meta are always returned whole. | — |

## Response

### 200

`{data, meta}`. `data` is a [comment](https://socialtap.dev/resources/comment/index.md) object; `meta` describes the request ([meta](https://socialtap.dev/docs/reference/index.md#meta)). Fields only Instagram has are under `platform_specific.instagram`.

| Field | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `data.platform` | `string` | Platform ID (tiktok, youtube, …). |
| `data.id` | `string` | Platform-native comment ID (string; Reddit with its t1_ prefix). |
| `data.post_id` | `string` | ID of the post commented on (equals post.id). |
| `data.parent_id` | `string` or `null` | ID of the comment this replies to; null for top-level comments. |
| `data.url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Permalink, when the platform has one. |
| `data.text` | `string` | Comment body as plain text. |
| `data.author` | `object` | The commenting account. An account the platform no longer names (a deleted account) has a null id and username and the platform's label as display_name (Reddit: \[deleted\]). |
| `data.author.id` | `string` or `null` | Platform-native account ID; null when only the handle is known. |
| `data.author.username` | `string` or `null` | Handle without the @; null when the account has none. |
| `data.author.display_name` | `string` or `null` | Display name shown on the profile. |
| `data.author.url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Canonical profile URL. |
| `data.author.avatar_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Profile picture URL. Platform CDN URLs can expire within hours. |
| `data.author.is_verified` | `boolean` or `null` | Platform verification badge; null where the platform has no badge. |
| `data.published_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | When the comment was posted, RFC 3339 UTC. Where the platform shows only a relative time ("3 weeks ago"), the latest time that label allows (the fetch time minus the stated amount), listed in approximate_fields. |
| `data.edited_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | When the comment was last edited, RFC 3339 UTC; null when never edited or when the platform marks edits without a time (see is_edited). |
| `data.is_edited` | `boolean` or `null` | The comment was edited after posting (the platform's edited mark); null when the platform does not say. |
| `data.is_pinned` | `boolean` or `null` | Pinned by the post's author. |
| `data.is_liked_by_author` | `boolean` or `null` | Liked or hearted by the post's author. |
| `data.is_by_post_author` | `boolean` or `null` | Written by the post's author (the creator's own comment, marked as such by the platform). |
| `data.metrics` | `object` | Counts at fetch time; null = hidden or not exposed, 0 = zero. |
| `data.metrics.like_count` | `integer` or `null` | Likes or upvotes; never negative. |
| `data.metrics.reply_count` | `integer` or `null` | Direct replies. |
| `data.platform_specific` | `object` | Fields only this platform has, under its ID (platform_specific.\<platform>); each null when unknown. |
| `data.platform_specific.instagram` | `object` or `null` | Instagram's own comment fields. |
| `data.platform_specific.instagram.gif_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | The GIF the comment is (Instagram's GIPHY picker; text is then usually empty), on Meta's CDN; the URL is signed and expires within days. null when the comment has no GIF or the source does not show it (the post page's first comments). |
| `data.approximate_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of values rounded by the platform or parsed from display text. A list path (external_links) means the list may be incomplete. \[\] when all exact. |
| `data.unknown_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of lists whose \[\] means unknown rather than none (a source that cannot see them); null already means unknown for every other field. \[\] when every list is known. |

not_found and private_or_unavailable are item-level: the request was fine, the item can't be returned.

### 400

400 Bad Request: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `invalid_input` | 400 | No | A parameter is missing or malformed, or the link is not one this endpoint takes. | Fix the parameter named in param as the message says. For a link of the wrong kind, call an endpoint listed in details.endpoints, when there is one. |

### 401

401 Unauthorized: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `unauthorized` | 401 | No | The x-api-key header is missing, or its key is unknown or revoked. On the dashboard's routes: the session cookie is missing or expired. | Send a valid API key in the x-api-key header. No key yet? A person gets one at details.signup_url; an AI agent follows details.agent_auth_url. |

### 402

402 Payment Required: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `insufficient_credits` | 402 | No | The account does not have enough credits for this request. | Have a person buy credits at details.purchase_url (or make them a checkout link with details.checkout), then repeat the request. Do not retry automatically. |
| `spend_limit_reached` | 402 | No | The API key reached its spend limit for this period. The account may still have credits. | Wait until details.resets_at, or raise the key's spend limit (PATCH /v1/api_keys/{id}). Do not retry automatically. |

### 403

403 Forbidden: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `forbidden` | 403 | No | The API key is valid but may not make this request, and details.reason says why: the account is suspended, the key lacks the route's scope, waits for its owner to confirm it by email, has expired, or was used from an IP outside its allowlist, or a rotated key's previous secret was used for a call that needs the admin scope. A running job stops with it too when its account is suspended or the key that created it is revoked or expires. It is about the key, never the item: a private item is private_or_unavailable, also 403, so branch on the code. | Act on details.reason. suspended: contact [support](mailto:support@socialtap.dev). scope: use a key with details.required_scope. previous_secret: use the new secret. key_pending: have the owner open the emailed link. key_expired or key_revoked: create a new key. ip_not_allowed: call from an allowed IP. |
| `private_or_unavailable` | 403 | No | The item exists but is not public: it is private, age- or region-restricted, or needs a login to view. It shares 403 with forbidden (which is about the key), so branch on the code. | Only public items can be fetched. Do not retry. |

### 404

404 Not Found: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `not_found` | 404 | No | The item does not exist or was deleted. On GET /v1/requests/{id}/response: the response was not kept (details.reason says why). | Check the link or ID. Do not retry. |

### 429

429 Too Many Requests: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `rate_limited` | 429 | Yes, later | The account passed its runaway-protection ceiling: a high per-account limit that stops a broken client loop (plans have no rate limit). Requests without an API key (signup, the MCP server's tool listing and find_endpoint) are limited per IP address instead. It also stops an account whose failed requests in the last hour cost far more than its successful ones paid for: failures are free within a limit (the message says so), and successes raise it. | Wait the seconds in the retry-after header, then retry. If your steady traffic needs more, ask [support](mailto:support@socialtap.dev) to raise the ceiling; without an API key, send one. |

### 500

500 Internal Error: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `internal` | 500 | Yes, later | An unexpected error on SocialTap's side. | Retry with backoff. If it keeps happening, contact [support](mailto:support@socialtap.dev) with the request_id. |

### 502

502 Bad Gateway: 1 error code. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `upstream_error` | 502 | Yes, later | The platform failed, or answered with something we could not read. | Retry with backoff. Failed requests are free. |

### 503

503 Unavailable: 2 error codes. Free: errors cost nothing.

| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `upstream_blocked` | 503 | Yes, later | The platform refused every attempt, our own retries included. | Retry later with backoff. Failed requests are free. |
| `overloaded` | 503 | Yes, later | SocialTap was at capacity, or paused by its operators, and did not start the request. Nothing was fetched or charged. | Retry after the seconds in the retry-after header. Failed requests are free. |

## Pricing

From **1 credit** per request. Charged only for successful requests. Errors are free. The price depends on the source that produced the result, reported as `meta.source`; sources are tried cheapest first: Platform API → Public page.

| Source | Price per successful request | Per 1,000 requests |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Any source | 1 credit | $0.75–$1.97 |

**Balance, sources and what you were charged**

Your balance must be at least **1 credit** to start a request; with less, it is refused with [`insufficient_credits`](https://socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#insufficient_credits) (HTTP 402) and costs nothing. Only that minimum is set aside when the request starts.

| meta.source | Source | What it means |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `api` | Platform API | The platform's public, logged-out API. |
| `page` | Public page | Data embedded in the platform's public web page. |

`meta.credits_charged` and the `x-credits-charged` header show what you paid. [How credits work](https://socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md) · [Packs](https://socialtap.dev/pricing/index.md)

Endpoint ID `instagram.comment` · operationId `instagram.comment.get` · [Product overview](https://socialtap.dev/apis/instagram/comment/index.md)

---

[HTML version](https://socialtap.dev/docs/reference/instagram/comment/) · [Docs index for AI agents](https://socialtap.dev/llms.txt) · [All docs in one file](https://socialtap.dev/llms-full.txt)