# OmniSocials Instagram API > Publish posts, carousels, Stories and Reels. Answer comments and DMs, turn comments into DMs and read insights. One API key, on OmniSocials’ approved Meta app. This is the machine-readable version of [omnisocials.com/instagram-api](https://omnisocials.com/instagram-api), maintained for AI agents. Facts checked against the OmniSocials app and API on October 17, 2026. Platform reference: [docs.omnisocials.com/platforms/instagram](https://docs.omnisocials.com/platforms/instagram). API reference: [docs.omnisocials.com/api](https://docs.omnisocials.com/api). ## Basics - Base URL: `https://api.omnisocials.com/v1` - Auth: `Authorization: Bearer omsk_live_...`. One key belongs to one workspace. Keys are created in the app under Settings, API. - Channel id in `accounts`: `instagram`. The account connects inside the OmniSocials app, not through the API. - Rate limit: 100 requests per minute per key. A 429 carries `Retry-After`. - Responses use a `{ "data": ... }` envelope. Create returns `201`. - Webhooks: `post.scheduled`, `post.published`, `post.failed`, `post.approved`, `post.rejected`, signed with HMAC-SHA256 in `X-OmniSocials-Signature`. ## Skip the Meta app review Instagram's own API needs a Meta app, five approved permissions and a publish flow. OmniSocials already did that work. - On your own: Meta app, 5 reviews, Verification, Hosting, Containers, Polling, Tokens, Scheduler, then the first post. - Permissions your own app must get approved: `instagram_business_basic`, `instagram_business_content_publish`, `instagram_business_manage_comments`, `instagram_business_manage_messages`, `instagram_business_manage_insights`. - On OmniSocials: sign in, create an API key, POST. All 5 permissions already approved. ## Schedule a post ```bash curl -X POST https://api.omnisocials.com/v1/posts/create \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $OMNISOCIALS_API_KEY" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "type": "reel", "content": "Post from your own code: SDKs in 8 languages.", "accounts": ["instagram"], "media_urls": ["https://cdn.example.com/sdks.mp4"], "schedule_at": "2026-10-22T18:00:00Z", "instagram": { "share_to_feed": true, "thumb_offset": 3000, "first_comment": "#instagramapi" } }' ``` The answer (`201`, shortened): ```json { "data": { "id": "1024", "status": "scheduled", "app_url": "https://app.omnisocials.com/create-post/1024" } } ``` ## Every format, one request Posts, carousels of up to 10, Stories and Reels share one request shape. Set the type, add media URLs and a time. OmniSocials checks the media against Instagram’s rules before it uploads. - **Posts and carousels.** One image, or up to 10 photos and videos in one carousel, with alt text per item and a first comment. (`media_urls`, `instagram.first_comment`) - **Stories.** Each media item goes out as its own Story, in order. Up to 10 slides and 60 seconds per video. (`type: "story"`) - **Reels.** Pick the cover frame, add licensed audio, share it to the grid or post it as a trial Reel. (`type: "reel"`, `thumb_offset`, `share_to_feed`) ### Post ```json { "content": "The Social Inbox has an API now. Comment GUIDE and we DM you the setup guide.", "accounts": ["instagram"], "media_urls": ["https://cdn.example.com/inbox-api.jpg"], "schedule_at": "2026-10-24T09:00:00Z", "instagram": { "first_comment": "#socialmedia #api" } } ``` ### Carousel ```json { "content": "Best times to post, worked out from your own posts. Swipe to see how.", "accounts": ["instagram"], "media_urls": [ "https://cdn.example.com/best-times-1.jpg", "https://cdn.example.com/best-times-2.jpg" ], "schedule_at": "2026-10-25T12:00:00Z", "instagram": { "first_comment": "#socialmediatips" } } ``` ### Story ```json { "type": "story", "content": "New this week", "accounts": ["instagram"], "media_urls": [ "https://cdn.example.com/bluesky.jpg", "https://cdn.example.com/mastodon.jpg" ], "schedule_at": "2026-10-23T09:00:00Z" } ``` ### Reel ```json { "type": "reel", "content": "Post from your own code: SDKs in 8 languages.", "accounts": ["instagram"], "media_urls": ["https://cdn.example.com/sdks.mp4"], "schedule_at": "2026-10-22T18:00:00Z", "instagram": { "share_to_feed": true, "thumb_offset": 3000, "first_comment": "#instagramapi" } } ``` ## Turn comments into DMs Put an automation on a post. Everyone who comments a keyword gets your DM, once, with an optional public reply under the comment. Instagram’s limits are built in. `POST /v1/automations`: ```json { "name": "Setup guide", "post_id": "1019", "trigger": { "keywords": ["guide", "setup"] }, "actions": { "dm": { "text": "Here is the guide: docs.omnisocials.com/automations" }, "public_reply": { "enabled": true, "variations": [ "Sent you a DM!", "Check your inbox, the guide is there." ] } }, "limits": { "max_sends": 500 } } ``` The answer: ```json { "data": { "id": "57", "status": "active" } } ``` - **Keyword triggers.** Match a word in a comment, a DM or a Story reply, on one post or on the next post you publish. (`trigger.keywords`, `trigger.kinds`) - **A public reply too.** Post one of your reply variations under the comment, so the thread shows that a DM went out. (`actions.public_reply`) - **Instagram’s rules built in.** One private reply per comment, within 7 days. At most 180 DMs an hour per account, and each person gets the DM once. ## Connect once, post from code Sign in with Instagram once inside OmniSocials and create an API key. From then on, your code posts, replies and reports for that account. - **Instagram Login.** Business and Creator accounts sign in with Instagram. Publishing needs no Facebook Page. - **A key per workspace.** A key only reaches its own workspace. Inbox and automation access are switched on per key. - **What each account can post.** The accounts call lists every connected account with the formats it takes. (`GET /v1/accounts`, `content_types`) `GET /v1/accounts?platform=instagram` answers: ```json { "data": [ { "id": "4127_instagram", "platform": "instagram", "username": "omnisocials_", "display_name": "OmniSocials", "content_types": ["post", "story", "reel"], "status": "active" } ], "workspace_name": "OmniSocials" } ``` ## Answer comments and DMs List Instagram comments, DMs and mentions, then reply, hide or delete from your own code. The API checks Meta’s 24-hour DM window before it sends. - **Comments.** Reply under the comment, hide it or delete it. Each comment comes with the post it sits on. (`/inbox/messages/:id/hide`) - **DMs.** Answer within Meta’s 24-hour window. Outside it the API says so with outside_messaging_window, before anything is sent. (`/conversations/:id/reply`) - **Mentions.** Posts and comments that tag your account show up in the same list, ready for a reply. (`type=mention`) `GET /v1/inbox/conversations?platform=instagram&type=dm` lists the conversations. Reply with `POST /v1/inbox/conversations/8812/reply`: ```json { "text": "Yes, Reels work. Send a video URL with type reel." } ``` ## Read what Instagram reports Views, reach, likes, comments, saves and shares per post, and the account’s numbers per day. The API returns the same numbers the app charts. - **Per post and per Reel.** Views, reach, likes, comments, saves, shares, profile visits and follows, as Instagram reports them. (`/analytics/posts/:id`) - **Per account and workspace.** A daily snapshot per connected account, and a workspace overview for 7, 30 or 90 days or your own dates. (`/analytics/accounts`, `/analytics/overview`) - **Best times to post.** Days and hours worked out from your own Instagram history, once 15 of your posts are analyzed. (`/analytics/best-times`) `GET /v1/analytics/posts/1019` answers: ```json { "data": { "post_id": "1019", "platforms": { "instagram": { "metrics": { "views": 6412, "reach": 4236, "likes": 284, "comments": 347, "saves": 118, "shares": 52, "follows": 31 } } } } } ``` ## Instagram’s rules, in one place OmniSocials checks every post against them before it reaches Meta, so a bad file fails in your request, not at publish time. | Limit | Value | | --- | --- | | Caption | 2,200 characters, 5 hashtags | | First comment | 2,200 characters, not on Stories | | Carousel | Up to 10 photos and videos | | Story | Up to 10 slides, 60 seconds per video | | Video | MP4 or MOV, up to 15 minutes and 300 MB | | Image | JPEG, PNG or WebP, up to 8 MB | | DM reply | 1,000 characters, within 24 hours | | Replies | 1,000 a day per workspace | | Rate limit | 100 requests a minute per API key | | Accounts | Business or Creator, Instagram Login | ## Your first Reel in three steps About five minutes from sign-up to a scheduled Reel. Then hand the key to your coding agent. 1. **Create an API key** (`Settings › API`). Start your trial, open Settings, API and create a key. It is shown once. 2. **Connect Instagram** (`GET /v1/accounts`). Sign in with Instagram in OmniSocials, once. Then list it from your code. 3. **Send your first Reel** (`POST /v1/posts/create`). Post now with create-and-publish, or add schedule_at to plan it. ## FAQ ### Do I need my own Meta app or an app review? No. The Instagram account connects through OmniSocials’ approved Meta app, with Instagram’s own sign-in. You call the OmniSocials API with an API key and never handle Meta tokens. ### Which Instagram accounts can I post to? Business and Creator accounts. They connect with Instagram Login, so publishing needs no Facebook Page. A linked Facebook Page is only needed for licensed Reel music and for mentions in the inbox. ### Can my own users connect their Instagram accounts through the API? Not yet. Accounts connect inside the OmniSocials app. Every API key in that workspace can then post to them. ### Can I schedule Instagram posts through the API? Yes. Send schedule_at with the request and OmniSocials keeps the queue and publishes on time. Instagram’s own API publishes right away only, so with it you run your own queue and workers. ### Can I post Reels with a cover, music or as a trial Reel? Yes. In the instagram object, set thumb_offset in milliseconds or cover_url for the cover, audio_id for licensed music, share_to_feed to also show it on the grid, and is_trial_reel to show it to non-followers first. ### Can I read and answer Instagram comments and DMs? Yes. The inbox endpoints list DMs, comments and mentions, and reply to them. DM replies follow Meta’s 24-hour window: outside it the API answers 422 outside_messaging_window. The API cannot start a new DM. ### Can the API send comment-to-DMs? Yes. POST /v1/automations puts a keyword automation on a post. Instagram allows one private reply per comment, within 7 days of the comment, and OmniSocials sends at most 180 DMs an hour per account. ### How do webhooks work? Register a URL and pick the events: post.scheduled, post.published, post.failed, post.approved and post.rejected. Every delivery is signed with HMAC-SHA256 in the X-OmniSocials-Signature header. ### What are the rate limits? 100 requests per minute per API key. The SDKs retry automatically and respect the Retry-After header. ### How much does OmniSocials cost? One plan with every feature included: $10 per seat per month billed annually, or $12 billed monthly. Team members and client seats cost the same. Every account starts with a 14-day free trial. The REST API, the SDKs, the CLI, webhooks and the MCP server are part of that one plan. ## Pricing From $10 per seat a month, API included. 14-day free trial. ## Related - [Instagram scheduler](https://omnisocials.com/instagram.md) - [Instagram MCP server](https://omnisocials.com/instagram-mcp.md) - [All channels](https://omnisocials.com/channels.md) - [Instagram character limits](https://omnisocials.com/instagram-character-limits) - [Instagram video lengths](https://omnisocials.com/instagram-video-lengths) ## Links - Page: https://omnisocials.com/instagram-api - Instagram platform docs: https://docs.omnisocials.com/platforms/instagram - API reference: https://docs.omnisocials.com/api - REST API overview: https://omnisocials.com/api.md - MCP server: https://omnisocials.com/mcp.md - Sign up: https://app.omnisocials.com/signup