# HikerAPI

> Unofficial Instagram REST API. Access user profiles, posts, stories, reels, comments, followers, hashtags, and locations. 154 endpoints, no blocks. From $0.0006 per request.

## Docs

- [API Reference](https://api.hikerapi.com/docs): Interactive Swagger UI with all 154 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 (25 endpoints): User profiles, followers, following, media
- /v1/media (16 endpoints): Posts, reels, comments, likers
- /gql (22 endpoints): GraphQL-based data access
- /v1/hashtag (8 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)