# HikerAPI

> Unofficial Instagram REST API. Access user profiles, posts, stories, reels, comments, followers, hashtags, and locations. 100+ endpoints, no blocks. From $0.0006 per request.

## Markdown for agents

Every Help Center article, every top-level landing page, /pricing, /faq, /status and /changelog on
hikerapi.com are also served as plain markdown — just append `.md` to the URL:

- https://hikerapi.com/help.md (Help Center index with every article's `.md` URL)
- https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api.md
- https://hikerapi.com/pricing.md (plans and per-request prices)
- https://hikerapi.com/changelog.md (API release notes, newest first)
- https://hikerapi.com/status.md (current status and 90-day uptime)

For articles and landing pages, sending `Accept: text/markdown` to the normal HTML URL returns the
same markdown (responses carry `Vary: Accept`). Every page below lists its `- Markdown:` URL — those are canonical and carry no
tracking parameters.

## Docs

- [API Reference](https://api.hikerapi.com/docs): Interactive Swagger UI with all 100+ endpoints
- [ReDoc](https://api.hikerapi.com/redoc): Alternative API documentation
- [Documentation](https://hiker-doc.readthedocs.io/): Getting started guides and examples
- [Python Package](https://pypi.org/project/hikerapi/): Official Python SDK on PyPI
- [JavaScript Package](https://www.jsdelivr.com/package/npm/hikerapi): Official JavaScript SDK on npm — `npm install hikerapi`
- [MCP Server](https://github.com/subzeroid/hikerapi-mcp): Use HikerAPI from Claude, Cursor, and other AI assistants — `npx -y hikerapi-mcp`
- [API Versioning & Deprecation Policy](https://hikerapi.com/help/api-deprecation-policy): how endpoints are versioned and deprecated, 90 days for our own replacements, 410 (not billed) after removal

## Features

- Get public data of user profiles, posts, stories, highlights, followers and following users
- Get public email and phone number from business profiles
- Get public data of post, story, album, reels with the ability to download content
- Get public data of hashtag and location, as well as a list of posts for them
- Get all comments on a post and a list of users who liked it
- Download photos, videos, reels, albums and stories
- Read-only: HikerAPI returns public data and never acts on an account — no posting, uploads, likes, follows or direct messages

## API Categories

### /v1/user (15 endpoints)
User profiles, followers, following, media. Includes:
- Get user profile by username or ID
- Get user followers and following lists (paginated, about 25 per page)
- Get user media feed, reels, tagged posts
- Get user stories and highlights
- Get business contact info (email, phone)

### /v1/media (11 endpoints)
Posts, reels, comments, likers. Includes:
- Get media info by shortcode or ID
- Get media comments and likers
- Get media download URLs

### /gql (15 endpoints)
GraphQL-based data access. Includes:
- /gql/user/followers/chunk - returns [users, end_cursor], billed up to 2 requests per call
- /gql/user/following/chunk - same format and billing
- Alternative interface for profile and media data

### /v1/hashtag (3 endpoints)
Hashtag search and posts. Includes:
- Search hashtags
- Get top and recent posts by hashtag
- Get hashtag metadata and post counts

### /v1/location (7 endpoints)
Location search and posts. Includes:
- Search locations by name
- Get top and recent posts by location
- Get location metadata

### /v1/story (5 endpoints)
Stories and highlights. Includes:
- Get user stories
- Get user highlights
- Get story/highlight details and media

### /v1/search (3 endpoints)
User and content search. Includes:
- Search users by username or name
- Search places and hashtags
- Facebook search integration

## CLI tools

Open-source command-line tools that run on HikerAPI (set `HIKERAPI_TOKEN` to your API key):

- [insto](https://github.com/subzeroid/insto): interactive Instagram OSINT CLI (REPL) — install with `pipx install insto` or `uv tool install insto`, run `insto`
- [insta-dl](https://github.com/subzeroid/insta-dl): async Instagram downloader CLI — profiles, posts, reels, stories, highlights, hashtags, comments; install with `pipx install instagram-dl`, run `insta-dl`

## Pricing

Pay-as-you-go from $0.0006 per request. 100 free requests on signup.

- We charge for any successful response (200, 403, 404)
- For 50x server errors we do not charge
- Funds never expire - if you stop making requests, your balance remains unchanged
- No subscription - pure prepaid balance, no monthly/annual fees, no recurring charges
- Your per-request rate is permanent - unlock a cheaper rate once by reaching its balance, and it stays for life even if your balance later drops
- You choose your rate yourself; adding funds never changes it automatically
- Volume discounts available - contact support for 1M+ request plans
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/pricing?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/pricing.md

## Quick Start Examples

All requests authenticate with `x-access-key: <YOUR_KEY>` header. Get a key (and 100 free requests) at https://hikerapi.com/?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=quick-start.

### Get user profile by username (Python SDK)

```python
# pip install hikerapi
from hikerapi import Client

cl = Client(token="YOUR_ACCESS_KEY")
user = cl.user_by_username_v2("instagram")
print(user["pk"], user["full_name"], user["follower_count"])
```

### Get user profile by username (cURL)

```bash
curl "https://api.hikerapi.com/v2/user/by/username?username=instagram" \
  -H "x-access-key: YOUR_ACCESS_KEY"
```

### Get user profile by username (Node.js)

```javascript
// npm install axios
import axios from "axios";

const { data } = await axios.get(
  "https://api.hikerapi.com/v2/user/by/username",
  { params: { username: "instagram" }, headers: { "x-access-key": "YOUR_ACCESS_KEY" } }
);
console.log(data.pk, data.full_name, data.follower_count);
```

### Paginate followers (Python SDK)

`user_followers_chunk_v1` returns one page as a `[users, next_max_id]` pair (about 25 users). Pass the cursor back as `max_id` until it comes back empty. For verified accounts Instagram returns only the first page of followers (about 50) with no cursor.

```python
# pip install hikerapi
from hikerapi import Client

cl = Client(token="YOUR_ACCESS_KEY")
followers, max_id = [], None
while True:
    users, max_id = cl.user_followers_chunk_v1(user_id="25025320", max_id=max_id)
    followers.extend(users)
    if not max_id or len(followers) >= 500:  # stop at the end or after 500
        break
for u in followers:
    print(u["pk"], u["username"])
```

Async variant:

```python
import asyncio
from hikerapi import AsyncClient

async def main():
    cl = AsyncClient(token="YOUR_ACCESS_KEY")
    followers, max_id = [], None
    while True:
        users, max_id = await cl.user_followers_chunk_v1(user_id="25025320", max_id=max_id)
        followers.extend(users)
        if not max_id or len(followers) >= 500:
            break
    for u in followers:
        print(u["username"])

asyncio.run(main())
```

Cursor rules: `g2` / `v2` endpoints return `next_page_id` — pass it back as `page_id`. `v1` / `gql` chunk endpoints return an `[items, cursor]` pair — pass the cursor back as `max_id` (v1 followers/following) or `end_cursor` (gql, v1 medias/clips).

```python
cl = Client(token="YOUR_ACCESS_KEY")
users, end_cursor = cl.user_followers_chunk_gql(user_id="25025320")
if end_cursor:
    more_users, end_cursor = cl.user_followers_chunk_gql(
        user_id="25025320", end_cursor=end_cursor
    )
```

### Get post / reel by URL (cURL)

```bash
curl "https://api.hikerapi.com/v2/media/info/by/url?url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CxYz123ABC/" \
  -H "x-access-key: YOUR_ACCESS_KEY"
```

### Get top posts for a hashtag (Python)

```python
from hikerapi import Client

cl = Client(token="YOUR_ACCESS_KEY")
medias = cl.hashtag_medias_top_v2("travel")
for m in medias:
    print(m["code"], m["like_count"], m["caption_text"][:80])
```

### Download user stories (Python)

```python
from hikerapi import Client

cl = Client(token="YOUR_ACCESS_KEY")
stories = cl.user_stories_v2(user_id="25025320")
for s in stories:
    media_url = s["video_url"] or s["thumbnail_url"]
    print(s["pk"], media_url)
```

### Search hashtags / users / places (cURL)

```bash
curl "https://api.hikerapi.com/v2/fbsearch/topsearch?query=travel photographer" \
  -H "x-access-key: YOUR_ACCESS_KEY"
```

### Get media comments with pagination (cURL)

```bash
# First page (15 comments)
curl "https://api.hikerapi.com/v2/media/comments?code=CxYz123ABC" \
  -H "x-access-key: YOUR_ACCESS_KEY"

# Next page — pass end_cursor from previous response
curl "https://api.hikerapi.com/v2/media/comments?code=CxYz123ABC&end_cursor=ENCODED_CURSOR" \
  -H "x-access-key: YOUR_ACCESS_KEY"
```

### Pricing-conscious endpoint choice

Same data, different cost / completeness tradeoffs:
- `/v2/user/by/username` — full profile, business contacts, latest media
- `/v1/user/by/username` — minimal profile (cheapest)
- `/gql/user/web_profile_info` — web profile shape (matches instagram.com)

For followers/following:
- `/v1/user/followers/chunk` and `/v1/user/following/chunk` — recommended; `[users, next_max_id]`, about 25 per page
- `/g2/user/followers` and `/g2/user/following` — about 25 per page, cursor in `next_page_id`
- `/gql/user/followers/chunk` and `/gql/user/following/chunk` — `[users, end_cursor]`, billed up to 2 requests per call
- `/v2/user/followers` is retired (`410 Gone`); `/v2/user/following` still works
- For verified accounts Instagram returns only the first ~50 followers on every endpoint

## FAQ

- Page: https://hikerapi.com/faq?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/faq.md

### Do you have a plan to make over a million requests?
Yes, you can write to us by email (support@hikerapi.com) or Telegram (https://telegram.me/HikerAPISupportBot).

### Will my funds expire at the end of the month?
No, we only charge for successful requests. If you stop making requests your balance will remain unchanged.

### What requests do you charge for?
We charge for any successful response (such as 200, 403, 404). For 50x errors we do not charge.

### Do you have a referral program?
Yes, we have a referral program. See https://hikerapi.com/help/affiliate?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery for details.

### What are the differences between API versions?
- **Version v1:** Validated data ensuring compliance with standards. You receive necessary and verified fields, simplifying integration and reducing errors.
- **Version v2:** Raw data as originally provided. In rare cases, some fields may be modified or added.
- **Version gql:** GraphQL API - select and query specific data, retrieve only relevant information without unnecessary data.

### What is the best endpoint to use to get followers/followings?
- v1 (recommended): /v1/user/followers/chunk and /v1/user/following/chunk - about 25 records per page
- g2: /g2/user/followers and /g2/user/following - about 25 records per page
- gql: /gql/user/followers/chunk and /gql/user/following/chunk - about 25 records per page, billed up to 2 requests per call
- /v2/user/followers is retired; for verified accounts Instagram returns only the first ~50 followers on every endpoint

## Solutions

### Instagram API
Complete Instagram REST API with 100+ endpoints for accessing user profiles, posts, stories, reels, comments, followers, hashtags, and locations. No blocks. From $0.0006 per request.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api.md

### Instagram Private API
Unofficial Mobile API — no authentication required, no session management, automatic recovery from blocks. Access private-level Instagram data without Graph API limitations.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-private-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-private-api.md

### Instagram Followers API
Get follower and following lists of public accounts via /v1/user/followers/chunk and /v1/user/following/chunk. Cursor pagination, about 25 users per page, one request per page. For verified accounts Instagram shows only the first ~50 followers.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-followers-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-followers-api.md

### Instagram Scraper API
Managed Instagram scraping at scale — no proxies, no blocks, no infrastructure management. Get structured JSON data instead of raw HTML.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-scraper-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-scraper-api.md

### Instagram Reels API
Download and analyze Instagram Reels. Get video URLs, view counts, like counts, comments, and metadata. Fetch user reels feed with pagination.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-reels-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-reels-api.md

### Threads API
Access public Threads data with a structured API. Retrieve user profiles, threads, replies, followers, following, and engagement signals without maintaining your own scraping stack.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/threads-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/threads-api.md

### RocketAPI Alternative
Alternative to RocketAPI for teams that need stronger pricing transparency, broader Instagram endpoint coverage, top-level SEO pages, and a richer public documentation footprint.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/rocketapi-alternative?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/rocketapi-alternative.md

### HikerAPI vs RocketAPI
Direct product comparison covering API coverage, pricing model, documentation depth, integration effort, and best-fit use cases for SaaS, analytics, and monitoring products.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/hikerapi-vs-rocketapi?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/hikerapi-vs-rocketapi.md

### instagrapi Alternative
Managed REST API that wraps the same Instagram private endpoints as the instagrapi open-source Python library, without account bans, proxies, or captchas on the caller's side. Targets teams moving from instagrapi to a supported production stack.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/instagrapi-alternative?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/instagrapi-alternative.md

## Comparisons & Alternatives

### Best Instagram API for Developers 2026
Six Instagram APIs compared for 2026: Instagram Graph API, HikerAPI, Apify, Bright Data, ScrapingBee, EnsembleData. Free tiers, real pricing, rate limits, Python and Node.js code.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/best-instagram-api-for-developers-2026?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/best-instagram-api-for-developers-2026.md

### Best Instagram Scraping API
Eight Instagram scraping APIs ranked: pricing at three volumes, data coverage matrix, decision tree. Includes HikerAPI, RocketAPI, EnsembleData, Apify, Bright Data, PhantomBuster, ScrapingBee, Scrape Creators.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/best-instagram-scraping-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/best-instagram-scraping-api.md

### Instagram Private API Alternatives
Five alternatives to the instagram-private-api OSS library for Python developers: managed APIs vs self-hosted libraries, ban risk, and maintenance cost.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/instagram-private-api-alternatives?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/instagram-private-api-alternatives.md

### Apify Instagram Scraper Alternatives
Seven alternatives to Apify's Instagram Scraper actor: HikerAPI, Bright Data, EnsembleData, Scrape Creators, RocketAPI, Data365, Oxylabs. Cost per 1K profiles, sync vs async, coverage.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/apify-instagram-scraper-alternatives?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/apify-instagram-scraper-alternatives.md

### Bright Data Alternatives for Instagram
Six Bright Data alternatives for Instagram data: HikerAPI, Apify, EnsembleData, Data365, Scrape Creators, Oxylabs. Entry costs, per-1K pricing, and where Bright Data still wins.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/bright-data-alternatives-instagram?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/bright-data-alternatives-instagram.md

### HikerAPI vs Instagram Graph API
Official Graph API requires app review and reaches only owned accounts; HikerAPI opens public Instagram data with an API key. Scope, limits, and code compared.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/hikerapi-vs-instagram-graph-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/hikerapi-vs-instagram-graph-api.md

### HikerAPI vs Apify Instagram Scraper
Synchronous JSON API at $0.60 per 1K requests vs browser-actor runs billed in compute units. Speed, cost, and follower/liker coverage compared.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-apify-instagram-scraper?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-apify-instagram-scraper.md

### HikerAPI vs Bright Data
Dedicated Instagram API vs enterprise data-collection platform: 10x-100x cost difference on Instagram workloads, KYC and minimums, datasets vs live queries.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-bright-data?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-bright-data.md

### HikerAPI vs Oxylabs
Structured Instagram JSON vs raw HTML fetches from a generic Web Scraper API: parser maintenance, follower-list reachability, and cost per 1K compared.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-oxylabs?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-oxylabs.md

### HikerAPI vs Data365
Self-serve pay-per-request Instagram API vs sales-led multi-platform contracts from €300/month. Credit math per profile, trial terms, endpoint depth.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-data365?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-data365.md

### HikerAPI vs EnsembleData
Instagram-focused depth (100+ endpoints) vs 8-platform unit-based bundle. Daily caps, pricing tiers, and when multi-platform coverage wins.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-ensembledata?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-ensembledata.md

### HikerAPI vs PhantomBuster
Account-free data API vs no-code browser automation running on your session cookie. Safety, time-based vs per-request pricing, developer fit.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-phantombuster?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-phantombuster.md

### HikerAPI vs ScrapingBee
Dedicated Instagram endpoints vs general-purpose scraping credits returning raw HTML. Cost per profile and parser maintenance compared.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-scrapingbee?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-scrapingbee.md

### HikerAPI vs ScrapingDog
151 dedicated Instagram endpoints vs general-purpose scraper subscription. Pricing, coverage, and code examples.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-scrapingdog?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-scrapingdog.md

### HikerAPI vs MediaCrawlers
Pay-per-request with no daily caps vs subscription tiers with request ceilings. Endpoint depth and billing on failures compared.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-mediacrawlers?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-mediacrawlers.md

### HikerAPI vs Scrape Creators
Instagram-dedicated API at $0.60 per 1K vs TikTok-first credit packs at $0.99-$1.88 per 1K. Coverage and pricing compared.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-scrape-creators?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-scrape-creators.md

## Language Guides

### Instagram API for Python
Official hikerapi PyPI package. Installation: `pip install hikerapi`. Supports async/await, type hints, pagination helpers.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-python?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-python.md

### Instagram API for Node.js
Use with fetch or axios. Installation: `npm install axios`. Supports async/await, TypeScript, ES modules.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-nodejs?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-nodejs.md

### Instagram API for PHP
Use with cURL or file_get_contents. Composer integration, Laravel/Symfony compatible.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-php?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-php.md

### Instagram API for Go
Use with net/http. Struct-based response parsing, concurrent request patterns with goroutines.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-go?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-go.md

### Instagram API for Java
Use with java.net.http.HttpClient. Maven dependency, Spring Boot integration, Jackson JSON parsing.
- Page: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-java?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery
- Markdown: https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-java.md

## AI Assistants / MCP

### HikerAPI MCP Server
HikerAPI is available as a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, so any MCP-compatible AI assistant — Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, OpenAI Codex, Zed, Windsurf — can call HikerAPI endpoints directly.

The server is published on npm as `hikerapi-mcp`. It runs locally as a stdio process (Node.js >= 20). On startup it fetches the live HikerAPI OpenAPI spec from `https://api.hikerapi.com/openapi.json` and generates MCP tools from it. By default it exposes a core set of 44 read-only tools, one per task, each with a description of when to use it (profiles 16, posts and comments 8, search 7, hashtags 4, locations 3, stories/highlights/links 5, audio 1). `HIKERAPI_TOOLS=all` exposes every non-deprecated GET endpoint instead (100+).

- npm: https://www.jsdelivr.com/package/npm/hikerapi-mcp
- GitHub: https://github.com/subzeroid/hikerapi-mcp
- License: MIT

#### Install for Claude Code
```bash
claude mcp add hikerapi -e HIKERAPI_KEY=your-api-key -- npx -y hikerapi-mcp
```

#### Install for Claude Desktop / Cursor / Windsurf
```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "hikerapi": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "hikerapi-mcp"],
      "env": { "HIKERAPI_KEY": "your-api-key" }
    }
  }
}
```

#### Install for OpenAI Codex (append to `~/.codex/config.toml`)
```toml
[mcp_servers.hikerapi]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "hikerapi-mcp"]

[mcp_servers.hikerapi.env]
HIKERAPI_KEY = "your-api-key"
```

#### Install for Zed (`~/.config/zed/settings.json`)
```json
{
  "context_servers": {
    "hikerapi": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "hikerapi-mcp"],
      "env": { "HIKERAPI_KEY": "your-api-key" }
    }
  }
}
```

#### Configuration
- `HIKERAPI_KEY` (required) — your HikerAPI access key, sent as `x-access-key` header
- `HIKERAPI_TOOLS` (optional) — `core` (default, 44 curated tools) or `all` (every endpoint)
- `HIKERAPI_TAGS` (optional) — comma-separated whitelist of tags (e.g. `User Profile,Post Details,Search`) to limit which tools are exposed
- `HIKERAPI_EXCLUDE_TAGS` (optional) — additional tags to exclude (defaults already exclude `Legacy` and `System`)
- `HIKERAPI_TIMEOUT_MS` (optional) — per-request timeout, default 30000

#### Pricing
The MCP server is free (MIT). HikerAPI usage is charged the same as direct API calls — pay-as-you-go from $0.0006 per request, 100 free requests on signup. No subscription required.

## Support

- Email: support@hikerapi.com
- Telegram: https://telegram.me/HikerAPISupportBot
- Status page: https://hikerapi.com/status?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery

## Legal

- [Terms of Service](https://hikerapi.com/help/terms-of-service?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery)
- [Privacy Policy](https://hikerapi.com/help/privacy-policy?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery)
- [Refund Policy](https://hikerapi.com/help/refund-policy?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery)