MCP server
An Instagram MCP server for your Assistant
By Jackson Gathondu. Published 1 November 2026. Updated .
ShortsIntel works as an Instagram MCP server. Connect it to Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code, Codex or Cursor and your Assistant can search Reels, look up Creators, Hashtags and Keywords, run a Research on a niche and track accounts from the chat.
This page covers Instagram only: the tools that work there, the limits, the prices and real output from our own account. The MCP server overview covers every Platform, and the guides cover the research itself.
What your Assistant can do on Instagram
The server reads public Instagram data: Reels, posts, captions, public counts and public profiles. It never logs in to your Instagram account and never posts anything.
With it connected, your Assistant can find Reels on a topic, open any Reel or post from a link, get an analysis of the Video itself (hook, on-screen text, format, tone, call to action and transcript), read the comments, and compare a Creator's latest Reels with their usual reach.
For a whole niche, the research tool searches Instagram Reels (and TikTok and YouTube Shorts, if you want them), analyses the top Videos and returns a Digest: themes, hooks quoted word for word with templates, formulas that worked, and the questions viewers ask in the comments.
Tools that work on Instagram
Your Assistant picks the tool. Each paid tool can quote its price first if you ask for an estimate.
| Tool | What it does on Instagram | Price |
|---|---|---|
| search_videos | Searches Reels by keyword and returns up to 30 per page with their counts. Add analysis to have the top 20 analysed. | 3 credits per page, plus 20 credits per analysed Reel. |
| get_video | Opens one Reel, post or carousel by link or shortcode: caption, counts, tagged people, location and paid partnership flags. Can add the full analysis or the transcript alone. | 3 credits. With analysis 23 credits, transcript only 10 credits. |
| get_comments | Reads a Reel's comments, with an optional analysis of what viewers are saying. | 3 credits per page, plus 10 credits with analysis. |
| get_creator | A Creator's profile, follower count, bio links, baseline (median views, engagement rate, posts per week) and recent Reels or all posts, each Reel under 30 days old with Scores against that baseline (outlier, percentile, velocity). | 6 credits, then 3 credits per next page. |
| get_hashtag_or_sound | A Hashtag's totals, trend and top Videos, or a page of its Videos. | 3 credits. |
| get_keyword | One page of Instagram search for a phrase from the past month: sample stats, trend since the last lookup and the top 10 Videos by views. | 3 credits. |
| research | Researches a niche on Instagram Reels, alone or with TikTok and YouTube Shorts, and returns a Digest plus the ranked Videos, Creators and Hashtags. | 1,036 credits for up to 50 analysed Videos. Reading it again is free. |
| track | Checks a Creator, Hashtag or Keyword every day and writes a Change Report when something moves. | A daily cycle costs 6 credits per Creator, 3 credits per Hashtag, 3 credits per Keyword. |
Data limits
Instagram data limits
- Sounds and the score_video tool are TikTok only. On Instagram there is no Sound lookup and no Sound Tracker. Scores still come back on a Creator's recent Reels through get_creator, measured against that Creator's baseline; Reels older than 30 days carry no Score (aged_out).
- Instagram Video search and Keyword lookups are best effort. Results come back marked as partial coverage, and a search can miss Reels that Instagram itself would show.
- The server reads public data only. It cannot see private accounts, Stories or anything behind a login.
- Analysis covers Videos up to 10 minutes long.
- Ads that run on Instagram come from the Meta Ad Library through search_ads, not from the Instagram tools.
Sample output from Instagram
Real responses from our own account, trimmed to fit. Both calls went over the REST API; the MCP tools get_creator and research call the same operations and return the same objects to your Assistant.
Instagram, via REST API
Look up the Instagram Creator glossier with their recent Reels
{
"run": { "kind": "creator_lookup", "status": "completed", "charge_credits": 6 },
"result": {
"platform": "instagram",
"handle": "glossier",
"name": "Glossier",
"verified": true,
"follower_count": 3124621,
"following_count": 3618,
"baseline": {
"sample": 11,
"median_views": 112066,
"p90_views": 146128,
"engagement_rate": 0.0264,
"posts_per_week": 1.23,
"confidence": "high"
},
"videos": [
{
"id": "DfNOT9PA7jR",
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DfNOT9PA7jR/",
"posted_at": "2026-11-01T17:03:06.000Z",
"snapshot": { "views": 83411, "likes": 2017, "comments": 57 },
"scores": { "outlier": 0.74, "outlier_p90": 0.57, "percentile": 36.36, "velocity": { "window": "lifetime", "views_per_hour": 78198.28 } }
},
{
"id": "DezQh2YRFhJ",
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DezQh2YRFhJ/",
"posted_at": "2026-10-22T15:02:13.000Z",
"snapshot": { "views": 134871, "likes": 4890, "comments": 148 },
"scores": { "outlier": 1.3, "outlier_p90": 0.88, "percentile": 70, "velocity": { "window": "lifetime", "views_per_hour": 554.84 } }
},
{
"id": "DecyDjQvZBm",
"url": "https://www.instagram.com/p/DecyDjQvZBm/",
"posted_at": "2026-10-13T21:32:39.000Z",
"snapshot": { "views": 135771, "likes": 1698, "comments": 68 },
"scores": { "outlier": 1.31, "outlier_p90": 0.89, "percentile": 80, "velocity": { "window": "lifetime", "views_per_hour": 300 } }
},
...
],
"next_cursor": "eyJwIjoiSU5TVEFHUkFNIi..."
}
}
(12 Reels returned; avatar, bio, links, each Score's baseline copy and other fields trimmed)Instagram, via REST API
Research fitness coaching and workout program promo videos on Instagram Reels (Instagram only, up to 50 Videos)
{
"run": { "kind": "research", "status": "partial" },
"intent": "Fitness coaching and workout program promo videos",
"coverage": { "instagram": "partial" },
"digest": {
"summary": "Simple, highly structured workout routines and \"back-to-basics\" advice are dominating the fitness coaching space right now. Videos that provide screenshot-friendly workout splits or solve specific time constraints perform exceptionally well, while audiences actively seek clarity on training frequency and cardio placement in the comments.",
"hooks": [
{
"hook_type": "PROBLEM",
"text": "If you're trying to get in shape, stop overcomplicating it.",
"template": "If you're trying to [outcome], stop [mistake].",
"lift": { "views_lift": 1.48, "video_count": 11 }
},
{
"hook_type": "PROBLEM",
"text": "If I had to start my fitness journey from zero today, these are the five things I do.",
"template": "If I had to start my [product] from zero today, these are the [number] things I do.",
"lift": { "views_lift": 1.48, "video_count": 11 }
},
...
],
"formulas": [
{
"name": "The Problem-Solving Tutorial",
"structure": "problem → solution steps → demonstration → CTA",
"lift": { "views_lift": 3.26, "video_count": 4 }
},
...
],
"gaps": [
{
"ask": "Viewers are asking where arm and shoulder exercises fit into the provided workout splits.",
"angle": "A video breaking down exactly which days to train arms and shoulders in a standard Push/Pull/Legs or 4-day split."
},
...
]
}
}
(46 Reels analysed; themes, angles, sentiment, quoted comments and the ranked Videos trimmed)What it costs
There is no subscription and no seat fee. Each tool call that does work is a Run, paid from a prepaid Balance of Credits at 1,000 credits per US dollar. New accounts get 1,000 credits free, valid for 90 days. A failed Run costs nothing, and reading a finished Research again is free.
Every price is on the pricing page.
Connect your Assistant
Every Assistant uses the same server address, https://www.shortsintel.com/api/mcp. None of them needs an API key: you sign in to ShortsIntel and choose which organization's Balance pays.
Claude.ai
Web and desktop. No API key: Claude signs in to ShortsIntel for you.
- Open Claude's add connector page with ShortsIntel filled in, and choose Add. Or go to Settings, Connectors, Add custom connector, and paste the endpoint below.
https://www.shortsintel.com/api/mcp - Sign in to ShortsIntel, approve the connection and choose the organization whose Balance pays for Runs.
- In a chat, turn the ShortsIntel connector on and ask your question.
ChatGPT
Web and desktop, in Developer mode. No API key: ChatGPT signs in over OAuth.
- Open ChatGPT's connector settings and switch Developer mode on.
- Create a connector named ShortsIntel, paste the endpoint and choose OAuth.
https://www.shortsintel.com/api/mcp - Sign in to ShortsIntel and choose your organization.
- In a new chat, choose the + next to the message box, then Developer mode, and turn ShortsIntel on.
Claude Code
One command, then sign in from Claude Code.
- Add the server in your terminal.
claude mcp add --transport http --scope user shortsintel https://www.shortsintel.com/api/mcp - Run /mcp inside Claude Code, choose shortsintel and sign in.
Codex
One command; Codex signs in on first use.
- Add the server in your terminal.
codex mcp add shortsintel --url https://www.shortsintel.com/api/mcp - If no browser window opens to sign in, start it yourself.
codex mcp login shortsintel
Cursor and VS Code
One-click install links; each asks you to confirm.
- In Cursor, open the Cursor install link.
- In VS Code, open the VS Code install link.
- Sign in to ShortsIntel when the editor asks.
Instagram questions to try
Paste a link or name a handle, and say what you want back.
- Look up this Reel and give me its hook, on-screen text and call to action: (paste a link)
- Compare this Creator's last 12 Reels with their median views and tell me which ones beat it: (paste a profile link)
- Search Instagram Reels for protein pancakes and summarise the five most common hooks.
- Look up the Hashtag skincareroutine on Instagram and show me its top Videos.
- Research home workout Reels on Instagram and TikTok and give me three angles nobody is covering.
- Track this competitor's Instagram and tell me when a Reel takes off: (paste a profile link)
Questions
- Is there an Instagram MCP server?
- Yes. ShortsIntel runs one at https://www.shortsintel.com/api/mcp. It gives an Assistant tools to search Instagram Reels, look up Creators, Hashtags and Keywords, analyse a Reel and track accounts. The same server covers TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and the Meta and TikTok ad libraries.
- Do I need an Instagram account or API key?
- No. The server reads public Instagram data, so you do not connect your Instagram account. Claude.ai, ChatGPT, Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and VS Code sign in to ShortsIntel over OAuth, so they need no API key either.
- Can it get Instagram Sounds or Scores?
- Sounds, no: they are TikTok only. Scores, partly: get_creator returns an outlier multiple, percentile and velocity for each of a Creator's Reels from the past 30 days, but score_video, which scores a single Video on demand, is TikTok only. On Instagram you also get Reels, posts, Creators, Hashtags, Keywords, comments, transcripts and analysis.
- Can it read private accounts or Stories?
- No. It reads public Reels, posts and profiles only. Private accounts, Stories and anything behind a login are not available.
- How do I see Instagram Ads?
- Ask for Meta Ads. Ads that run on Instagram are in the Meta Ad Library, which the search_ads tool reads, with a placement filter for Instagram.
- Does it work on the free Claude plan?
- Yes. Claude.ai lets a free account add one custom connector, and ShortsIntel can be that connector.
Try it in your Assistant
Connect ShortsIntel to the Assistant you already use and ask the question this guide answers, or try the calls in the Playground first.