# 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 and every top-level page on hikerapi.com is also served as plain markdown — just append `.md` to the URL: - https://hikerapi.com/help/best-instagram-api-for-developers-2026.md - https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api.md Sending `Accept: text/markdown` to the normal HTML URL returns the same markdown (responses carry `Vary: Accept`). The HTML links below work the same way. ## 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.npmjs.com/package/hikerapi): Official JavaScript SDK on npm - [MCP Server](https://www.npmjs.com/package/hikerapi-mcp): Use HikerAPI from Claude, Cursor, and other AI assistants — `npx -y hikerapi-mcp` ## Products - [Features](https://hikerapi.com/features?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): User profiles, posts, reels, stories, followers, following, comments, hashtags, locations data - [Pricing](https://hikerapi.com/pricing?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Pay-as-you-go from $0.0006 per request. 100 free requests on signup. No subscription; balance never expires. Per-request rate is permanent — unlock a rate once and keep it for life, even if your balance drops. - [Quick Start for AI users](https://hikerapi.com/?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=quick-start): Sign up → get API key → 100 free requests, no card required. Works with Python, Node.js, PHP, Go, Java SDKs. ## API Categories - /v1/user (16 endpoints): User profiles, followers, following, media - /v1/media (11 endpoints): Posts, reels, comments, likers - /gql (12 endpoints): GraphQL-based data access - /v1/hashtag (3 endpoints): Hashtag search and posts - /v1/location (7 endpoints): Location search and posts - /v1/story (5 endpoints): Stories and highlights - /v1/search (3 endpoints): User and content search ## AI / MCP Integration - [HikerAPI MCP Server](https://www.npmjs.com/package/hikerapi-mcp): Local stdio MCP server, ~110 tools auto-generated from the OpenAPI spec - [GitHub repo](https://github.com/subzeroid/hikerapi-mcp): Source code (TypeScript, MIT) - Install for Claude Code: `claude mcp add hikerapi -e HIKERAPI_KEY=your-key -- npx -y hikerapi-mcp` - Works with Claude Desktop, Cursor, OpenAI Codex, Zed, Windsurf, and any MCP-compatible AI assistant - Same `HIKERAPI_KEY` and pricing — pay-as-you-go, no subscription ## Solutions - [Instagram API](https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Complete Instagram REST API with 100+ endpoints - [Instagram Private API](https://hikerapi.com/instagram-private-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Unofficial Mobile API — no auth, no blocks - [Instagram Followers API](https://hikerapi.com/instagram-followers-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Get full follower/following lists - [Instagram Scraper API](https://hikerapi.com/instagram-scraper-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Managed scraping at scale - [Instagram Reels API](https://hikerapi.com/instagram-reels-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Download and analyze Reels - [Threads API](https://hikerapi.com/threads-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Access public Threads profiles, posts, replies, followers, and engagement data - [RocketAPI Alternative](https://hikerapi.com/rocketapi-alternative?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Compare pricing, endpoint coverage, and integration model - [HikerAPI vs RocketAPI](https://hikerapi.com/hikerapi-vs-rocketapi?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Direct competitor comparison for Instagram and Threads API use cases - [instagrapi Alternative](https://hikerapi.com/instagrapi-alternative?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Managed Instagram private API for teams outgrowing the OSS Python library ## Comparisons & Alternatives - [Best Instagram API for Developers 2026](https://hikerapi.com/help/best-instagram-api-for-developers-2026?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): 6 APIs compared — free tiers, real pricing, code - [Best Instagram Scraping API](https://hikerapi.com/help/best-instagram-scraping-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): 8 scraping APIs ranked by pricing and coverage - [Instagram Private API Alternatives](https://hikerapi.com/help/instagram-private-api-alternatives?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): 5 alternatives to the OSS instagram-private-api library - [Apify Instagram Scraper Alternatives](https://hikerapi.com/help/apify-instagram-scraper-alternatives?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): 7 alternatives with cost per 1K compared - [Bright Data Alternatives for Instagram](https://hikerapi.com/help/bright-data-alternatives-instagram?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): 6 alternatives — pricing, minimums, setup - [HikerAPI vs Instagram Graph API](https://hikerapi.com/hikerapi-vs-instagram-graph-api?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Official API scope and app review vs open public data - [HikerAPI vs Apify Instagram Scraper](https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-apify-instagram-scraper?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Sync JSON API vs actor runs - [HikerAPI vs Bright Data](https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-bright-data?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Dedicated Instagram API vs enterprise data platform - [HikerAPI vs Oxylabs](https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-oxylabs?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Structured JSON vs raw HTML fetches - [HikerAPI vs Data365](https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-data365?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Self-serve pay-per-request vs €300/mo managed contracts - [HikerAPI vs EnsembleData](https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-ensembledata?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Instagram depth vs 8-platform unit pricing - [HikerAPI vs PhantomBuster](https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-phantombuster?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Data API vs browser automation - [HikerAPI vs ScrapingBee](https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-scrapingbee?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Instagram JSON vs generic scraping credits - [HikerAPI vs ScrapingDog](https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-scrapingdog?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Dedicated endpoints vs general-purpose scraper - [HikerAPI vs MediaCrawlers](https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-mediacrawlers?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Pay-per-request vs subscription caps - [HikerAPI vs Scrape Creators](https://hikerapi.com/help/hikerapi-vs-scrape-creators?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Instagram depth vs credit packs ## Language Guides - [Instagram API for Python](https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-python?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): SDK, async, pagination examples - [Instagram API for Node.js](https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-nodejs?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): fetch/axios, TypeScript - [Instagram API for PHP](https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-php?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): cURL, Laravel integration - [Instagram API for Go](https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-go?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): net/http, concurrent requests - [Instagram API for Java](https://hikerapi.com/instagram-api-java?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): HttpClient, Spring Boot ## Support - [FAQ](https://hikerapi.com/faq?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Common questions about pricing, rate limits, data freshness - [Status](https://hikerapi.com/status?utm_source=llmstxt&utm_medium=ai&utm_campaign=llms-discovery): Real-time API health monitoring - Email: support@hikerapi.com - Telegram: https://telegram.me/HikerAPISupportBot ## Legal - [Terms of Service](https://hikerapi.com/help/terms-of-service) - [Privacy Policy](https://hikerapi.com/help/privacy-policy) - [Refund Policy](https://hikerapi.com/help/refund-policy)