# Instagram Transcript Extractor (`bulletproof/instagram-transcript-extractor`) Actor 📸 Convert any Instagram Reel, IGTV, or video post to text. Extract transcripts and subtitles with timestamps. Outputs JSON, SRT, or plain text. Auto-captions + speech-to-text fallback. 14+ languages. No login needed. - **URL**: https://apify.com/bulletproof/instagram-transcript-extractor.md - **Developed by:** [Zero Downtime](https://apify.com/bulletproof) (community) - **Categories:** AI, Social media, Automation - **Stats:** 417 total users, 85 monthly users, 72.3% runs succeeded, 4 bookmarks - **User rating**: 5.00 out of 5 stars ## Pricing from $10.00 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours, and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store. In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server. Actors are written with capital "A". ## How to integrate an Actor? If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects. You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready. The best way to integrate Actors is as follows. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/platform/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md). For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below. For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt). # README ## Instagram Transcript Extractor Extract transcripts from any Instagram Reel, video post, or IGTV. Paste a URL, get back timestamped text -- ready for repurposing, analysis, or translation. Works with any public video. No login required. ### What it does 1. You provide an Instagram video URL. 2. The actor extracts the transcript. 3. You get back structured text with timestamps -- in JSON, plain text, or SRT. ### Key features - **Multi-language** -- supports any language Instagram provides captions for. See [supported languages](#supported-languages) for speech-to-text fallback. - **4 output formats** -- JSON with timestamps, plain text, SRT subtitles, or WebVTT. - **Video metadata** -- title, author, duration, thumbnail, and upload date. - **All video types** -- Reels, IGTV, and regular video posts. - **Fast on repeat lookups** -- recently extracted videos return from cache in milliseconds. - **No login required.** ### Supported languages When captions are available, the actor supports any language Instagram provides. When captions aren't available, the speech-to-text fallback supports: | Code | Language | |------|----------| | `en` | English | | `es` | Spanish | | `fr` | French | | `de` | German | | `pt` | Portuguese | | `it` | Italian | | `nl` | Dutch | | `ja` | Japanese | | `ko` | Korean | | `zh` | Chinese | | `ar` | Arabic | | `ru` | Russian | | `tr` | Turkish | | `hi` | Hindi | ### Input | Field | Type | Default | Description | |-------|------|---------|-------------| | `url` | string | *(required)* | Instagram video URL | | `language` | string | `"en"` | Preferred language ([ISO 639-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ISO_639-1_codes)) | | `format` | string | `"json"` | `"json"`, `"text"`, `"srt"`, or `"vtt"` | #### Supported URLs ```` https://www.instagram.com/reel/ABC123DEF/ https://www.instagram.com/reels/ABC123DEF/ https://www.instagram.com/p/ABC123DEF/ https://www.instagram.com/tv/ABC123DEF/ https://m.instagram.com/reel/ABC123DEF/ ```` ### Output example When `format` is `json`, the dataset row looks like this: ```json { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/...", "platform": "instagram", "video_id": "...", "source": "live", "metadata": { "title": "...", "duration_sec": 120, "extracted_via": "..." }, "transcript": { "language": "en", "segments": [ { "start": 0.0, "end": 3.5, "text": "..." }, { "start": 3.5, "end": 7.2, "text": "..." } ], "full_text": "..." } } ```` When `format` is `text`, `srt`, or `vtt`, the formatted transcript is written to the actor's key-value store under the `OUTPUT` key. `source` indicates freshness: `live` (fresh pipeline run), `warm` (recent cache hit), `cold` (older cache rehydrate). When extraction fails, you get a clear error in the dataset: ```json { "error": "NotAvailable", "message": "No transcript available for this video." } ``` ### Error codes | Code | Meaning | |------|---------| | `InvalidURL` | Not a valid Instagram URL | | `UnsupportedPlatform` | URL host is not a supported platform | | `NotAvailable` | Video is private, removed, or has no extractable transcript | | `RateLimited` | Too many requests -- retry after a short delay | | `TIMEOUT` | Extraction took longer than the actor's poll budget | | `INTERNAL_ERROR` | Unexpected error during extraction | ### Use cases - **Content repurposing** -- turn Instagram Reels into blog posts, newsletters, or social media captions. - **Market research** -- analyze what creators and brands are saying at scale. - **Accessibility** -- generate subtitles for videos that don't have them. - **SEO & content strategy** -- extract trending topics and keywords from viral Reels. - **Translation** -- get text for translating Instagram content into other languages. - **Dataset building** -- collect transcripts for training, analysis, or archival. ### Integrations Use this actor with the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) or connect it to your workflow: - **Python** -- `apify_client.actor("your-actor-id").call(run_input={"url": "..."})` - **JavaScript** -- `await client.actor("your-actor-id").call({url: "..."})` - **Zapier / Make / n8n** -- trigger on new videos and get transcripts automatically. - **Webhooks** -- get notified when a transcript is ready. ### FAQ **Does this need an Instagram account?** No. Works with any public video, no login needed. **Does it work with Reels?** Yes. Reels, IGTV, and regular video posts are all supported. **What if a video has no subtitles?** The actor will still extract a transcript using speech-to-text. **Does it work with private accounts?** No. Only public Instagram videos are supported. **Which languages work?** Any language Instagram provides captions for. See the [supported languages](#supported-languages) table for speech-to-text fallback. **Can I process multiple videos?** Yes. Call the actor via the Apify API or use integrations (Zapier, Make, n8n) to process videos in a loop. **What does it cost?** The actor runs on the Apify platform. Cost depends on video length and processing needed. # Actor input Schema ## `url` (type: `string`): URL of the Instagram video. Supports Reels, IGTV, and video posts. ## `language` (type: `string`): Preferred transcript language as an ISO 639-1 code (e.g. en, es, fr, de, ja). ## `format` (type: `string`): Choose how the transcript is returned. JSON includes timestamps per segment. Text returns the full transcript as a plain string. SRT and VTT are subtitle file formats. ## Actor input object example ```json { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWoej6aDOaE", "language": "en", "format": "json" } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `overview` (type: `string`): No description ## `segments` (type: `string`): No description # API You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup. ## JavaScript example ```javascript import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client'; // Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token // Replace the '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWoej6aDOaE", "language": "en", "format": "json" }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("bulletproof/instagram-transcript-extractor").call(input); // Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any) console.log('Results from dataset'); console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`); const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems(); items.forEach((item) => { console.dir(item); }); // 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs ``` ## Python example ```python from apify_client import ApifyClient # Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token # Replace '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWoej6aDOaE", "language": "en", "format": "json", } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("bulletproof/instagram-transcript-extractor").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "url": "https://www.instagram.com/reel/DWoej6aDOaE", "language": "en", "format": "json" }' | apify call bulletproof/instagram-transcript-extractor --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=bulletproof/instagram-transcript-extractor", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Instagram Transcript Extractor", "description": "📸 Convert any Instagram Reel, IGTV, or video post to text. Extract transcripts and subtitles with timestamps. Outputs JSON, SRT, or plain text. Auto-captions + speech-to-text fallback. 14+ languages. No login needed.", "version": "0.1", "x-build-id": "fZwamxGQWL4s1bhla" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/bulletproof~instagram-transcript-extractor/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-bulletproof-instagram-transcript-extractor", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/bulletproof~instagram-transcript-extractor/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-bulletproof-instagram-transcript-extractor", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/bulletproof~instagram-transcript-extractor/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-bulletproof-instagram-transcript-extractor", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "required": [ "url" ], "properties": { "url": { "title": "Instagram Video URL", "type": "string", "description": "URL of the Instagram video. Supports Reels, IGTV, and video posts." }, "language": { "title": "Language", "type": "string", "description": "Preferred transcript language as an ISO 639-1 code (e.g. en, es, fr, de, ja).", "default": "en" }, "format": { "title": "Output Format", "enum": [ "json", "text", "srt", "vtt" ], "type": "string", "description": "Choose how the transcript is returned. JSON includes timestamps per segment. Text returns the full transcript as a plain string. SRT and VTT are subtitle file formats.", "default": "json" } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```