# Advanced Instagram Stories Scraper (Fast) (`datavoyantlab/advanced-instagram-stories-scraper`) Actor

Scrape public Instagram stories by profiles with media URLs, timestamps & metadata. No login needed. Fast, reliable & easy to use. Supports photo & video stories. Ideal for research & monitoring.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/datavoyantlab/advanced-instagram-stories-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [DataVoyantLab](https://apify.com/datavoyantlab) (community)
- **Categories:** Social media, Videos, Automation
- **Stats:** 1,315 total users, 228 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 27 bookmarks
- **User rating**: 4.73 out of 5 stars

## Pricing

Pay per event

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
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.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — 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

## Advanced Instagram Stories Scraper

[![Apify Actor](https://apify.com/actor-badge?actor=datavoyantlab/advanced-instagram-stories-scraper)](https://apify.com/datavoyantlab/advanced-instagram-stories-scraper)

**Download Instagram stories from public accounts — fast, reliable, and built for scale.**

Scrape Instagram stories from multiple usernames in one run and receive clean, structured data including media URLs, timestamps, stickers, hashtags, and rich metadata.\
No Instagram login. No artificial limits. No maintenance overhead.

> 💰 **Market-Leading Pricing:** $0.099 per run + $3.00 per 1,000 usernames

If you need to **download Instagram stories**, run an **Instagram stories scraper**, or integrate an **Instagram story API** into automated workflows without handling accounts or sessions, this actor is designed for professional use.

For users who prefer a simpler rental-style setup, we also offer a lighter alternative:\
👉 [Rental Mode version](https://apify.com/datavoyantlab/instagram-story-downloader)\
The rental version focuses on basic downloads, while **this actor provides full metadata and advanced output**.

***

### Access & usage

This actor is available to:

1. ✅ **Subscribed Apify users** — full access with usage-based billing
2. ✅ **Approved free users** — limited access via allowlist

Free-tier users can request access by emailing **datavoyant @ gmail .com** with their Apify username.
If the actor log says access is only available for paying users, also send the Apify user identifier shown in that log. In some Apify permission modes the actor receives this user ID instead of your public username.
You can also find this user ID in your Apify account settings under the **API & Integrations** page.
Once approved, you’ll be added to the allowlist and can use the actor within free-tier limits.

***

### What this actor does

Advanced Instagram Stories Scraper extracts **public Instagram stories** from any username you provide.

You supply one or more accounts, run the actor, and receive structured story data for all currently active stories — ready for analysis, storage, or automation.

No Instagram credentials are required at any point.

***

### **Pricing & billing**

This actor uses **Apify’s event-based pricing**, specifically designed for high-volume users, agencies, and automated workflows.

#### **Pricing breakdown**

- **Actor start (one-time per run):** $0.099
- **Cost per username:** $3.00 per 1,000 usernames ($0.003 per account)

#### **Total Price Comparison:**

We’ve benchmarked our **total costs** against the leading high-priced scrapers. Even when factoring in multiple runs for large batches, our **40% lower usage rate** ensures you always come out ahead.

| Total Profiles | Leading Competitor ($0.01 + $5/1k) | Our Actor ($0.099 + $3/1k) | Your Savings |
| :---- | :---- | :---- | :---- |
| **100 Profiles** | $0.51 | $0.40 | **-21.6%** |
| **500 Profiles** | $2.51 | $2.00 | **-20.3%** |
| **1,000 Profiles** | $5.01 | $3.99 | **-20.4%** |
| **5,000 Profiles** | $25.01 | $19.95 | **-20.2%** |
| **10,000 Profiles** | $50.01 | $39.90 | **-20.2%** |

*Note: Comparison includes all applicable start fees and usage rates. Our pricing is optimized for consistent savings across all batch sizes.*

***

### Key features

- Scrape stories from multiple Instagram accounts in a single run
- Extract media URLs, timestamps, stickers, hashtags, and metadata
- Rich, structured output designed for downstream processing
- Stable execution with automatic retries
- Built for APIs, automation, and repeated professional use

***

### Common use cases

- Market and competitor research
- Content and trend monitoring
- Marketing and PR analysis
- Audience engagement insights
- Dataset generation for AI and ML workflows
- Long-term content strategy analysis

***

### How it works

1. Enter one or more Instagram usernames (for example: `natgeo`)
2. Run the actor
3. Retrieve results via dataset, API, or integrations

No logins, no session handling, no ongoing maintenance.

***

### Output Format

The actor returns structured data for each story:

```json
{
  "taken_at": 1741730864,
  "pk": 3586220921557665410,
  "id": "3586220921557665410_787132",
  "is_visual_reply_commenter_notice_enabled": true,
  "like_and_view_counts_disabled": false,
  "is_post_live_clips_media": false,
  "is_reshare_of_text_post_app_media_in_ig": false,
  "is_reel_media": true,
  "fbid": 18022662014670655,
  "device_timestamp": 1741730865348847,
  "caption_is_edited": false,
  "strong_id__": "3586220921557665410_787132",
  "is_quicksnap_recap": false,
  "deleted_reason": 0,
  "expiring_at": 1741817264,
  "mezql_token": "",
  "should_request_ads": false,
  "is_terminal_video_segment": false,
  "has_privately_liked": false,
  "filter_type": 0,
  "commenting_disabled_for_viewer": true,
  "hide_view_all_comment_entrypoint": false,
  "is_comments_gif_composer_enabled": false,
  "video_sticker_locales": [],
  "can_viewer_save": false,
  "shop_routing_user_id": null,
  "is_organic_product_tagging_eligible": true,
  "product_suggestions": [],
  "can_see_insights_as_brand": false,
  "media_type": 1,
  "code": "DHE0O1zhMaC",
  "caption": null,
  "fundraiser_tag": {
    "has_standalone_fundraiser": false
  },
  "sharing_friction_info": {
    "bloks_app_url": null,
    "should_have_sharing_friction": false,
    "sharing_friction_payload": null
  },
  "timeline_pinned_user_ids": [],
  "has_translation": false,
  "original_media_has_visual_reply_media": false,
  "coauthor_producers": [],
  "coauthor_producer_can_see_organic_insights": false,
  "invited_coauthor_producers": [],
  "is_in_profile_grid": false,
  "profile_grid_control_enabled": false,
  "user": {
    "fbid_v2": 17841400573960012,
    "full_name": "National Geographic",
    "id": "787132",
    "is_private": false,
    "pk": 787132,
    "pk_id": "787132",
    "strong_id__": "787132",
    "username": "natgeo",
    "account_type": 2,
    "account_badges": [],
    "is_verified": true,
    "profile_pic_id": "3562176969995988570_787132",
    "profile_pic_url": "https://instagram.fdnk1-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-19/476424694_3911047592506753_8995392926225146489_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e0_s150x150_tt6&_nc_ht=instagram.fdnk1-3.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=1&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2AFs0QMMfjTXmuFlFyl6mAgGo8662rXwxImtiMBWBG2XZNtT_Stqed43XtEuDiA_YiU&_nc_ohc=jIhB5Py2XV4Q7kNvgFrGIx3&_nc_gid=2fb757922c18489293200d559d75afa6&edm=ALCvFkgBAAAA&ccb=7-5&oh=00_AYHJkHxOQFsmNdBzxJoFay_QZwepIL38nBbI9CI_FW94hw&oe=67D7CE08&_nc_sid=6d62aa"
  },
  "image_versions2": {
    "candidates": [
      {
        "width": 750,
        "height": 1334,
        "url": "https://instagram.fdnk1-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/483243166_18560047117019133_3699765169628560181_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6ImltYWdlX3VybGdlbi43NTB4MTMzNC5zZHIuZjc1NzYxLmRlZmF1bHRfaW1hZ2UifQ&_nc_ht=instagram.fdnk1-3.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=1&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2AFs0QMMfjTXmuFlFyl6mAgGo8662rXwxImtiMBWBG2XZNtT_Stqed43XtEuDiA_YiU&_nc_ohc=O8CTZ1fs_GQQ7kNvgEKwsBt&_nc_gid=2fb757922c18489293200d559d75afa6&edm=ALCvFkgBAAAA&ccb=7-5&ig_cache_key=MzU4NjIyMDkyMTU1NzY2NTQxMA%3D%3D.3-ccb7-5&oh=00_AYEwho8VI59hS0pQfMq_WPWMWvy3kye8ymbREjCGXnAezQ&oe=67D7DBE3&_nc_sid=6d62aa",
        "scans_profile": "e35",
        "estimated_scans_sizes": [
          9527,
          19054,
          28582,
          38109,
          47636,
          53305,
          67833,
          77096,
          85746
        ]
      },
      {
        "width": 750,
        "height": 1334,
        "url": "https://instagram.fdnk1-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/483243166_18560047117019133_3699765169628560181_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6ImltYWdlX3VybGdlbi43NTB4MTMzNC5zZHIuZjc1NzYxLmRlZmF1bHRfaW1hZ2UifQ&_nc_ht=instagram.fdnk1-3.fna.fbcdn.net&_nc_cat=1&_nc_oc=Q6cZ2AFs0QMMfjTXmuFlFyl6mAgGo8662rXwxImtiMBWBG2XZNtT_Stqed43XtEuDiA_YiU&_nc_ohc=O8CTZ1fs_GQQ7kNvgEKwsBt&_nc_gid=2fb757922c18489293200d559d75afa6&edm=ALCvFkgBAAAA&ccb=7-5&ig_cache_key=MzU4NjIyMDkyMTU1NzY2NTQxMA%3D%3D.3-ccb7-5&oh=00_AYEwho8VI59hS0pQfMq_WPWMWvy3kye8ymbREjCGXnAezQ&oe=67D7DBE3&_nc_sid=6d62aa",
        "scans_profile": "e35",
        "estimated_scans_sizes": [
          9527,
          19054,
          28582,
          38109,
          47636,
          53305,
          67833,
          77096,
          85746
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "original_width": 750,
  "original_height": 1334,
  "product_type": "story",
  "is_paid_partnership": false,
  "music_metadata": null,
  "organic_tracking_token": "eyJ2ZXJzaW9uIjo1LCJwYXlsb2FkIjp7ImlzX2FuYWx5dGljc190cmFja2VkIjp0cnVlLCJ1dWlkIjoiMmZiNzU3OTIyYzE4NDg5MjkzMjAwZDU1OWQ3NWFmYTYzNTg2MjIwOTIxNTU3NjY1NDEwIiwic2VydmVyX3Rva2VuIjoiMTc0MTgxMzg3MjExMHwzNTg2MjIwOTIxNTU3NjY1NDEwfDcyODc0Njc4MTc3fDUzYzFjZWZhNmYzZGQ0MDdhZGI1NzgzMDkwYzMzNTQ0ZjM5YTczYzlhZDAzOTM3MzA5NDViYmZiNjBmYWE3NDMifSwic2lnbmF0dXJlIjoiIn0=",
  "ig_media_sharing_disabled": false,
  "crosspost_metadata": {
    "fb_downstream_use_xpost_metadata": {
      "downstream_use_xpost_deny_reason": "NONE"
    }
  },
  "boost_unavailable_identifier": null,
  "boost_unavailable_reason": null,
  "boost_unavailable_reason_v2": null,
  "subscribe_cta_visible": false,
  "is_cutout_sticker_allowed": false,
  "can_hype": false,
  "gen_ai_detection_method": {
    "detection_method": "NONE"
  },
  "fb_aggregated_like_count": 0,
  "fb_aggregated_comment_count": 0,
  "has_high_risk_gen_ai_inform_treatment": false,
  "open_carousel_show_follow_button": false,
  "is_tagged_media_shared_to_viewer_profile_grid": false,
  "should_show_author_pog_for_tagged_media_shared_to_profile_grid": false,
  "archive_story_deletion_ts": 0,
  "can_send_prompt": false,
  "is_first_take": false,
  "is_from_discovery_surface": false,
  "is_rollcall_v2": false,
  "supports_reel_reactions": true,
  "is_photo_mash_story": false,
  "can_play_spotify_audio": false,
  "is_superlative": false,
  "show_one_tap_fb_share_tooltip": true,
  "story_link_stickers": [
    {
      "x": 0.5,
      "y": 0.7168351616841281,
      "z": 0,
      "width": 0.39863816154471005,
      "height": 0.067335594407885,
      "rotation": 0.0,
      "is_pinned": 0,
      "is_hidden": 0,
      "is_sticker": 1,
      "is_fb_sticker": 0,
      "start_time_ms": 0.0,
      "end_time_ms": 86400.0,
      "story_link": {
        "link_type": "web",
        "click_id": "PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaoVHfEG6OWX8Lzu3skAEgzbYohseEcB3ktk0TQSTIIwJ1HU8dqdqCa3-k_aem_Gk3O_oETP66DJdDjAbKIrQ",
        "url": "https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalgeographic.com%2Flifestyle%2Farticle%2Fhow-to-sleep-on-a-plane%3Fcmpid%3Dorg%253Dngp%253A%253Amc%253Dsocial%253A%253Asrc%253Dinstagram%253A%253Acmp%253Deditorial%253A%253Aadd%253Digs20250311lifestyle-howtosleeponaplanecommerce%26fbclid%3DPAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaaoVHfEG6OWX8Lzu3skAEgzbYohseEcB3ktk0TQSTIIwJ1HU8dqdqCa3-k_aem_Gk3O_oETP66DJdDjAbKIrQ&e=AT0o9tsdCMEsbmYGHdnA4STAES_bFRmN-8o6MbDYCBuOcYfFFaz5oeEebcBdrUYqBDV3KeviE6A10IE2t5sy9gxOCR27rUL3hnE-u24",
        "link_title": "Visit Link",
        "display_url": "nationalgeographic.com/lifestyle/article/how-to-sleep-on-a-plane?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=social::src=instagram::cmp=editorial::add=igs20250311lifestyle-howtosleeponaplanecommerce"
      }
    }
  ],
  "can_reply": false,
  "story_hashtags": [
    {
      "end_time_ms": 86400.0,
      "height": 0.039026277912155,
      "is_fb_sticker": 0,
      "is_hidden": 0,
      "is_pinned": 0,
      "is_sticker": 0,
      "rotation": 0.0,
      "start_time_ms": 0.0,
      "width": 0.26218174086066304,
      "x": 0.32213583952684405,
      "y": 0.807033944533707,
      "z": 1,
      "hashtag": {
        "id": 17843737234063624,
        "name": "affiliate"
      }
    },
    {
      "end_time_ms": 86400.0,
      "height": 0.039026277912155,
      "is_fb_sticker": 0,
      "is_hidden": 0,
      "is_pinned": 0,
      "is_sticker": 0,
      "rotation": 0.0,
      "start_time_ms": 0.0,
      "width": 0.345211777302777,
      "x": 0.6374114193878081,
      "y": 0.807033944533707,
      "z": 2,
      "hashtag": {
        "id": 17843851639046037,
        "name": "commision"
      }
    }
  ],
  "is_viewer_mentioned": false,
  "can_reshare": true,
  "creative_config": {
    "camera_facing": "front",
    "capture_type": "rich-text",
    "attribution_user_id": "25025320",
    "attribution_user": {
      "instagram_user_id": "25025320",
      "username": "instagram",
      "profile_picture": {
        "uri": "https://scontent.fdnk1-3.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t51.2885-15/281440578_1088265838702675_6233856337905829714_n.jpg?_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=9a7156&_nc_ohc=JpggONfZrZ0Q7kNvgFkb1N_&_nc_oc=AdiIT6NfV3IQmH55YwCrAk4dYklI1gP5eGsH8oHA-Xy72oKm8c-Z-AaUgsXG0sq0qcM&_nc_ad=z-m&_nc_cid=0&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent.fdnk1-3.fna&oh=00_AYE2EpG7bkuE6u2cfMLN7bDSrR_MWfIKurZ0THw0-C2e3A&oe=67D7B000"
      },
      "id": "17841400039600391"
    },
    "should_render_try_it_on": false
  },
  "create_mode_attribution": {
    "type": "TYPE",
    "name": "Type"
  },
  "has_liked": false
}

```

***

### Why choose this actor

The Apify Store includes multiple ways to scrape Instagram stories.\
This actor is designed for **reliability and professional workflows**, not shortcuts.

- No Instagram login required
- No artificial rate limits
- Fast execution, even at scale
- Rich metadata, not just media files
- Designed for automation, APIs, and long-term use

If you need a dependable **Instagram stories scraper** that integrates cleanly into real data pipelines, this actor is built for that purpose.

***

### Legal & ethical use

This actor accesses **only publicly available Instagram stories**.

Please keep in mind:

- Output may include personal data subject to GDPR or similar regulations
- You are responsible for ensuring a lawful basis for data processing
- Avoid collecting personal data without legitimate purpose
- When in doubt, consult legal counsel

This actor is intended for responsible and compliant data use.

***

### Integrations

Connect this actor with the rest of the Apify platform and your existing tools:

- Zapier
- Slack
- Airbyte
- GitHub
- Google Sheets
- Google Drive

You can also use [webhooks](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/webhooks) to trigger workflows when runs finish.

***

### API access

All functionality is available programmatically through the Apify API.

You can:

- Run and schedule the actor
- Fetch datasets and results
- Monitor runs and performance
- Integrate into backend services

Use:

- `apify-client` for Node.js
- `apify-client` for Python

See the [Apify API reference](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) or the **API tab** on this actor page for code examples.

***

### Feedback & support

If you encounter an issue or have a suggestion:

1. Open the **Issues** tab in the Apify Console
2. Create a new issue with details

Feedback is actively reviewed and helps keep the actor stable and reliable.

# Actor input Schema

## `usernames` (type: `array`):

List of Instagram usernames to scrape stories from

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "usernames": [
    "natgeo",
    "selenagomez",
    "cristiano",
    "nike"
  ]
}
```

# 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 '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "usernames": [
        "natgeo",
        "selenagomez",
        "cristiano",
        "nike"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("datavoyantlab/advanced-instagram-stories-scraper").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 '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "usernames": [
        "natgeo",
        "selenagomez",
        "cristiano",
        "nike",
    ] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("datavoyantlab/advanced-instagram-stories-scraper").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 '{
  "usernames": [
    "natgeo",
    "selenagomez",
    "cristiano",
    "nike"
  ]
}' |
apify call datavoyantlab/advanced-instagram-stories-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-remote",
                "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=datavoyantlab/advanced-instagram-stories-scraper",
                "--header",
                "Authorization: Bearer <YOUR_API_TOKEN>"
            ]
        }
    }
}

```

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/dLL7b34nRrgN6ZV24/builds/UUNUM0M9lqi5pJvjG/openapi.json