PostPost

Instagram

Post to Instagram programmatically using the PostPost REST API. A simpler alternative to the Instagram Graph API, Instagram Basic Display API, or Instagrapi.

Instagram API Overview

PostPost provides a unified REST API for publishing image posts, carousels, Reels, and Stories to Instagram through the Instagram Graph API. A business or creator account is required. No need to manage OAuth flows, handle the Instagram Content Publishing API complexity, or set up a Facebook Developer app.

Why Use PostPost Instead of Instagram Graph API / Instagrapi?

FeaturePostPost APIInstagram Graph API
AuthenticationSingle API keyInstagram Business Login (OAuth 2.0)
API accessInstantFacebook app review
Reels & StoriesSupportedSupported
Multi-platformPost to 11 platformsInstagram only
Setup time5 minutesDays to weeks
Carousel supportYesYes

Keywords: Instagram API, Instagram posting API, Instagram Graph API, post to Instagram programmatically, Instagram REST API, Instagram developer API, Instagram automation API, Instagram Reels API, Instagram Stories API, Instagram content API, Instagrapi alternative, Instagram bot API

Platform ID Format

instagram-{accountId}

Where {accountId} is your Instagram Business account ID assigned during connection via Instagram OAuth.

Requirements

  • An Instagram Business account is recommended (personal accounts are not supported)
  • Creator accounts may also work, but Business is the recommended account type
  • Connected via Instagram OAuth through the PostPost dashboard
  • API key from PostPost

Important: Business accounts are recommended but Creator accounts also work with instagram_business_* scopes. Personal accounts are not supported.

API Limits

These are critical limits specific to the Instagram Graph API (different from native app limits):

Character Limit

  • Caption: 2,200 characters (first 125 characters visible before "more")

Image Limits (API)

LimitValue
Max file size8 MB
Max count (carousel)10 images (native app allows 20)
FormatsJPEG recommended via API (PNG may work in practice)

Warning: You cannot mix images and videos in the same carousel via the API.

Video Limits (API)

LimitReelsCarousel Videos
Max duration15 minutes (900 seconds) via API (only 5-90s Reels eligible for Reels tab). Native app allows up to 15-20 minutes.60 seconds
Min duration3 seconds3 seconds
Max file size300 MB300 MB
FormatsMP4, MOVMP4, MOV

Rate Limits

  • 50 posts per 24 hours (some accounts report a limit of 25)

Important API Restrictions

The following features are not available via the Instagram Graph API:

  • Personal accounts (Business recommended, Creator may also work)
  • Shopping tags
  • Branded content tags
  • Filters and effects
  • Music/audio additions
  • Mixing images and videos in carousels

Supported Content

TypeSupportedLimits
Text onlyNoInstagram requires at least one image or video
ImagesYesJPEG recommended via API (PNG may work in practice), max 8 MB, 10 per carousel
Videos (Reels)YesMP4/MOV, max 15 minutes (900 seconds), max 300 MB
Videos (Stories)YesMP4/MOV, requires videoType: "STORIES" setting
CarouselsYes2-10 items (API limit; native app allows 20)

Platform-Specific Settings

Instagram supports a platformSettings object to control video behavior:

{
  "platformSettings": {
    "instagram": {
      "videoType": "REELS"
    }
  }
}
SettingValuesDefaultDescription
videoType"REELS", "STORIES""REELS"Determines how videos are published
videoTimestampnumber (milliseconds)—Selects the video cover frame at the specified timestamp. Important: This must be set at the top level of the post group request body (not nested under platformSettings.instagram). The thumbOffset name under platformSettings.instagram has no effect. Note: This setting is only available via the dashboard updatePostGroup endpoint, not via the create-post API.

Examples

Post with an Image

JavaScript (fetch)

const response = await fetch('https://api.postpost.dev/api/v1/create-post', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    content: 'Sunset views from the office rooftop. #startup #views',
    platforms: ['instagram-11223344']
  })
});

const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);
// Response: { "success": true, "postGroupId": "abc123..." }

Python (requests)

import requests

response = requests.post(
    'https://api.postpost.dev/api/v1/create-post',
    headers={
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
        'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY'
    },
    json={
        'content': 'Sunset views from the office rooftop. #startup #views',
        'platforms': ['instagram-11223344']
    }
)

data = response.json()
print(data)
# Response: { "success": true, "postGroupId": "abc123..." }

cURL

curl -X POST https://api.postpost.dev/api/v1/create-post \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "content": "Sunset views from the office rooftop. #startup #views",
    "platforms": ["instagram-11223344"]
  }'
# Response: { "success": true, "postGroupId": "abc123..." }

Node.js (axios)

const axios = require('axios');

const response = await axios.post('https://api.postpost.dev/api/v1/create-post', {
  content: 'Sunset views from the office rooftop. #startup #views',
  platforms: ['instagram-11223344']
}, {
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY'
  }
});

console.log(response.data);
// Response: { "success": true, "postGroupId": "abc123..." }

Note: Instagram requires media on every post. First create the post, then upload media using the media upload workflow with the returned postGroupId. For carousels, upload multiple files to the same postGroupId.

Post a Carousel

Carousels require 2-10 images. The workflow is: create a draft post, upload images, then schedule.

JavaScript (fetch)

const API_KEY = 'YOUR_API_KEY';
const BASE_URL = 'https://api.postpost.dev/api/v1';

// Step 1: Create a draft post (no scheduledTime)
const postResponse = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/create-post`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'x-api-key': API_KEY
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    content: '10 tips for better code reviews. Swipe through! #coding #devtips',
    platforms: ['instagram-11223344']
    // No scheduledTime = draft
  })
});

const { postGroupId } = await postResponse.json();

// Step 2: Upload each image (2-10 images for Instagram carousels)
const images = ['tip1.jpg', 'tip2.jpg', 'tip3.jpg'];

for (const fileName of images) {
  // Get upload URL
  const uploadUrlResponse = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/get-upload-url`, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
      'x-api-key': API_KEY
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      fileName,
      contentType: 'image/jpeg',
      type: 'image',
      postGroupId
    })
  });

  const { uploadUrl } = await uploadUrlResponse.json();

  // Upload to S3
  const fileBuffer = await fs.promises.readFile(`./${fileName}`);
  await fetch(uploadUrl, {
    method: 'PUT',
    headers: { 'Content-Type': 'image/jpeg' },
    body: fileBuffer
  });
}

// Step 3: Schedule the post
await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/update-post/${postGroupId}`, {
  method: 'PUT',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'x-api-key': API_KEY
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    status: 'scheduled',
    scheduledTime: '2026-03-15T14:00:00.000Z'
  })
});

console.log('Carousel scheduled!');

Python (requests)

import requests

API_KEY = 'YOUR_API_KEY'
BASE_URL = 'https://api.postpost.dev/api/v1'
HEADERS = {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'x-api-key': API_KEY
}

# Step 1: Create a draft post (no scheduledTime)
post_response = requests.post(
    f'{BASE_URL}/create-post',
    headers=HEADERS,
    json={
        'content': '10 tips for better code reviews. Swipe through! #coding #devtips',
        'platforms': ['instagram-11223344']
        # No scheduledTime = draft
    }
)

post_group_id = post_response.json()['postGroupId']

# Step 2: Upload each image (2-10 images for Instagram carousels)
images = ['tip1.jpg', 'tip2.jpg', 'tip3.jpg']

for file_name in images:
    # Get upload URL
    upload_response = requests.post(
        f'{BASE_URL}/get-upload-url',
        headers=HEADERS,
        json={
            'fileName': file_name,
            'contentType': 'image/jpeg',
            'type': 'image',
            'postGroupId': post_group_id
        }
    )

    upload_url = upload_response.json()['uploadUrl']

    # Upload to S3
    with open(f'./{file_name}', 'rb') as f:
        requests.put(upload_url, headers={'Content-Type': 'image/jpeg'}, data=f.read())

# Step 3: Schedule the post
requests.put(
    f'{BASE_URL}/update-post/{post_group_id}',
    headers=HEADERS,
    json={
        'status': 'scheduled',
        'scheduledTime': '2026-03-15T14:00:00.000Z'
    }
)

print('Carousel scheduled!')

cURL

API_KEY="YOUR_API_KEY"

# Step 1: Create a draft post (no scheduledTime)
POST_RESPONSE=$(curl -s -X POST https://api.postpost.dev/api/v1/create-post \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "x-api-key: $API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "content": "10 tips for better code reviews. Swipe through! #coding #devtips",
    "platforms": ["instagram-11223344"]
  }')

POST_GROUP_ID=$(echo "$POST_RESPONSE" | jq -r '.postGroupId')

# Step 2: Upload each image (2-10 images for Instagram carousels)
for FILE in tip1.jpg tip2.jpg tip3.jpg; do
  UPLOAD_RESPONSE=$(curl -s -X POST https://api.postpost.dev/api/v1/get-upload-url \
    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
    -H "x-api-key: $API_KEY" \
    -d "{
      \"fileName\": \"$FILE\",
      \"contentType\": \"image/jpeg\",
      \"type\": \"image\",
      \"postGroupId\": \"$POST_GROUP_ID\"
    }")

  UPLOAD_URL=$(echo "$UPLOAD_RESPONSE" | jq -r '.uploadUrl')

  curl -s -X PUT "$UPLOAD_URL" \
    -H "Content-Type: image/jpeg" \
    --data-binary @"./$FILE"
done

# Step 3: Schedule the post
curl -X PUT "https://api.postpost.dev/api/v1/update-post/$POST_GROUP_ID" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "x-api-key: $API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "status": "scheduled",
    "scheduledTime": "2026-03-15T14:00:00.000Z"
  }'

Note: For immediate publishing, set scheduledTime to the current time. For more details, see the media upload workflow.

Post a Reel

JavaScript (fetch)

const response = await fetch('https://api.postpost.dev/api/v1/create-post', {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY'
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    content: 'Behind the scenes of building our product. #buildinpublic',
    platforms: ['instagram-11223344'],
    platformSettings: {
      instagram: {
        videoType: 'REELS'
      }
    }
  })
});

const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);
// Response: { "success": true, "postGroupId": "abc123..." }

Python (requests)

import requests

response = requests.post(
    'https://api.postpost.dev/api/v1/create-post',
    headers={
        'Content-Type': 'application/json',
        'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY'
    },
    json={
        'content': 'Behind the scenes of building our product. #buildinpublic',
        'platforms': ['instagram-11223344'],
        'platformSettings': {
            'instagram': {
                'videoType': 'REELS'
            }
        }
    }
)

data = response.json()
print(data)
# Response: { "success": true, "postGroupId": "abc123..." }

cURL

curl -X POST https://api.postpost.dev/api/v1/create-post \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -d '{
    "content": "Behind the scenes of building our product. #buildinpublic",
    "platforms": ["instagram-11223344"],
    "platformSettings": {
      "instagram": {
        "videoType": "REELS"
      }
    }
  }'
# Response: { "success": true, "postGroupId": "abc123..." }

Node.js (axios)

const axios = require('axios');

const response = await axios.post('https://api.postpost.dev/api/v1/create-post', {
  content: 'Behind the scenes of building our product. #buildinpublic',
  platforms: ['instagram-11223344'],
  platformSettings: {
    instagram: {
      videoType: 'REELS'
    }
  }
}, {
  headers: {
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    'x-api-key': 'YOUR_API_KEY'
  }
});

console.log(response.data);
// Response: { "success": true, "postGroupId": "abc123..." }

Platform Quirks

  • No text-only posts: Instagram requires at least one image or video. Attempting to post text without media will return an error.
  • Business account recommended: Personal Instagram accounts cannot be used with the API. Business is recommended; Creator accounts may also work but are not fully tested.
  • Direct Instagram connection: PostPost connects directly to Instagram via Instagram Business Login. No Facebook Page is required.
  • Carousel limits: Carousels require between 2 and 10 media items. A single image is posted as a regular photo post, not a carousel.
  • Reel is the default: When posting a video, PostPost defaults to publishing it as a Reel. Set videoType: "STORIES" to post as a Story instead.
  • Stories disappear: Stories are ephemeral and will disappear after 24 hours. This is standard Instagram behavior.
  • Image aspect ratios: Instagram supports aspect ratios between 4:5 (portrait) and 1.91:1 (landscape). Images outside this range may be cropped.
  • Caption hashtags: Hashtags are included in the caption text. There is no separate hashtags field.

Character Limits

ElementLimit
Caption2,200 characters
Hashtags30 per post
Carousel items2-10 media items

Facebook

Post to Facebook Pages programmatically using the PostPost REST API. A simpler alternative to the Facebook Graph API or Meta Marketing API.

Threads

Post to Threads (by Meta) programmatically using the PostPost REST API. A simpler alternative to the official Threads API or Meta Graph API for Threads.

On this page

Instagram API OverviewWhy Use PostPost Instead of Instagram Graph API / Instagrapi?Keywords: Instagram API, Instagram posting API, Instagram Graph API, post to Instagram programmatically, Instagram REST API, Instagram developer API, Instagram automation API, Instagram Reels API, Instagram Stories API, Instagram content API, Instagrapi alternative, Instagram bot APIPlatform ID FormatRequirementsAPI LimitsCharacter LimitImage Limits (API)Video Limits (API)Rate LimitsImportant API RestrictionsSupported ContentPlatform-Specific SettingsExamplesPost with an ImagePost a CarouselPost a ReelPlatform QuirksCharacter Limits