Free Instagram MCP: No-Code Setup

  • Free forever plan: unlimited connected accounts, up to 30 days of history (15 days in AI chats) and 100 automation credits a month.
  • Official Instagram API: a Business account or Creator account linked to a Facebook Page. No developer app, no password.
  • Run Instagram end to end: posts, Reels, Stories, followers, publishing and comments.
  • Safe by default: posts, replies and deletes wait for your approval.
Try free

By Kashmala Malik · Last updated November 4, 2026

Use cases

Run Instagram end to end from your favorite AI chat

Porter Metrics connects your Instagram account to Claude, ChatGPT and other AI clients through one Instagram MCP server. MCP is the Model Context Protocol, the open standard AI apps use to reach other tools. Ask which Reels earned saves, publish a carousel or answer comments, all from the chat.

Porter covers three Instagram jobs: analytics, publishing and comments, plus research on public accounts. The Claude-only setup has its own page, the Instagram connector for Claude.

Analytics

  • Top posts: ranked by Post reach, Post saves and shares, so you see what people kept, not only what they scrolled past.
  • Formats compared: Reels vs carousels vs single images, by reach and engagement.
  • Stories that hold attention: Story reach, Story exits, Stories taps (forward) and Stories replies for each Story.
  • Followers: Total followers and Profile new followers by day, plus Online followers by hour.
  • Audience: followers by city, country, age and gender, for accounts with 100+ followers.
  • Profile actions: Profile views and Taps on website link, next to the posts that drove them.

Every metric and dimension is in the Instagram fields list. For a ready-made view, open the free Instagram dashboard template for Claude.

Publishing

  • Posts, Reels and carousels: Claude prepares the post, and Porter publishes it once you approve.
  • Quota first: Porter checks how many posts Instagram still allows today before it publishes.
  • Captions from the chat: draft and rework the caption with Claude, then publish the version you pick.
  • Post settings: turn comments on or off and tag people on a published post.

Comments

  • Read: every top-level comment on a post, with replies on request.
  • Reply: answers drafted in the chat, posted after you say yes.
  • Hide or unhide: spam and off-topic comments, without deleting the thread.
  • Delete: comments your own account wrote.
  • Mentions and tags: posts and Stories where other accounts @mentioned or tagged you.

Research

  • Competitor profiles: followers, posts, likes and comments for any public Business or Creator account.
  • Hashtags: top and recent posts for a hashtag, up to 30 unique hashtags every 7 days.
  • Benchmarks: your posting rhythm and engagement next to the accounts you watch.

What stays in the Instagram app

  • DMs: you read and answer direct messages in Instagram as usual.
  • Scheduling for later: Porter publishes now, after approval; you schedule future posts in Instagram or your scheduler.
  • Stories publishing: you post Stories from the app. Porter still reads live Stories and their results.
  • Caption edits and post deletes: you make them in Instagram.
  • Boosts: you boost posts in Instagram. Paid campaigns have their own Meta Ads tools.
Reference

Instagram MCP server reference

One MCP server: Porter connects Instagram to the AI clients, fields, metrics and workflows social media marketers already use. The same server URL works in Claude, ChatGPT and any MCP client that supports remote servers. Porter refreshes Instagram data once a day, and posts go back years.

Instagram objects

Account objects: account · posts · Reels · carousels · Stories · comments · mentions · tags · hashtags

Instagram metrics

Reach: Profile reach · Post reach · Story reach

Engagement: Post saves · Post engagement · Reels plays · Reels shares · Post comments count

Followers: Total followers · Profile new followers · Online followers

Profile: Profile views · Taps on website link

Stories: Story exits · Stories taps (forward) · Stories replies

Porter has 90+ Instagram fields. Each one is in the full Instagram field reference.

Dimensions

Posts: Post type · Post date · Post caption · Post link · Post hour of day

Account and Stories: Account name · Story date

Time: Date · Week · Month

Other destinations

The same Instagram connection also sends data to Data Studio (formerly Looker Studio), BigQuery and Google Sheets, at no extra cost.

Meta retired impressions for new posts: Meta’s Instagram API changelog deprecated the metric in v22.0 and added views, so Porter reports reach and views instead. Meta’s Instagram insights docs say some metrics need 100+ followers and account metrics are stored for up to 90 days. Daily Profile reach in Porter starts in January 2025.

Security and trust

Safety and security

Porter’s Instagram MCP reads first, works through Meta’s official API and asks before anything appears on your account. Reporting, publishing and comment replies are separate actions. An AI client working through Porter never needs your Instagram password, and nothing posts until you approve it.

Read-only first

Analyze posts, Reels, Stories and followers without writing anything back. A report can’t publish a post or touch a comment.

Reporting priced per account

Reporting is billed per connected Instagram account. One more question about the same account adds nothing to the bill.

Official API, no password or cookies

Porter connects through Meta’s official Instagram API with Facebook Login. It never asks for your Instagram password and never logs in as you in a browser.

Facebook Login permissions you can see

You pick the Facebook Page and Instagram account on Meta’s consent screen. The permissions you grant there are the only ones Porter gets.

Posts and replies after you approve

Claude shows you the post, the caption or the reply first. Porter publishes it only after you say yes.

Publishing quota checked first

Meta’s Instagram content publishing limits allow 100 published posts in 24 hours, and a carousel counts as one. Porter checks what’s left before it publishes.

Permanent actions flagged

Publishing a post, posting a comment or reply and deleting a comment can’t be undone through the API. Claude asks before each one.

Revoke access anytime

Disconnect Porter from your connection settings whenever you want. Access lives in your approved Meta connection, never in a token file on someone’s laptop.

Setup

How to set up the Instagram MCP server

Porter’s Instagram MCP uses the same server URL in every AI client, and each client has its own place to paste it. Claude takes it as a plugin or a custom connector. ChatGPT takes it through the Porter Metrics app or developer mode, and both reach the same Instagram accounts.

https://mcp.portermetrics.com/mcp

What you need

How to install Instagram MCP in Claude

Use the Claude plugin for the guided setup. Claude keeps the Porter plugin synced when new tools ship.

  1. Open Claude Settings → Customize → Plugins.
  2. Click Add → Add marketplace → Add from a repository.
  3. Paste portermetrics/porter.
  4. Confirm Use portermetrics/porter.
  5. Keep Sync automatically turned on.
  6. Install the Porter Metrics card from the Directory.
  7. Connect the Porter connector and sign in with Facebook.
  8. Ask Claude for your top posts, a Reels comparison or a carousel draft.

Anthropic’s guide to custom connectors using remote MCP walks through the same path, and Free plans get one custom connector.

Watch the Claude plugin demo

Click-by-click Claude plugin demo:

Use manual MCP setup in Claude

Use manual setup when Claude asks for a custom connector instead of a plugin.

  1. Click + in the chat composer.
  2. Open Manage connectors.
  3. Click + to add a connector.
  4. Choose Add custom connector.
  5. Name the connector Porter.
  6. Paste https://mcp.portermetrics.com/mcp.
  7. Click Add, then return to the chat.
  8. Ask for your Instagram data and sign in with Facebook when prompted.

Instagram to Claude demo:

How to install Instagram MCP in ChatGPT

Use the Porter Metrics app for the fastest ChatGPT route.

  1. Open the Porter Metrics app in ChatGPT.
  2. Click + or Add files and more.
  3. Choose Add sources.
  4. Select Porter Metrics.
  5. Allow ChatGPT to use Porter Metrics.
  6. Connect Instagram with Facebook Login.
  7. Ask an Instagram question, like “Which of my posts got the most saves this month?”
  8. Click Allow when ChatGPT asks permission to publish or reply.

OpenAI documents connected apps in ChatGPT and custom MCP servers in ChatGPT developer mode. The Instagram connector for ChatGPT page covers the ChatGPT side in full.

Watch the ChatGPT app demo

Click-by-click Instagram to ChatGPT demo:

Use advanced MCP setup in ChatGPT

Use developer mode when you want the full Porter setup in ChatGPT: connector plus skill.

  1. Open ChatGPT Settings → Connectors → Advanced.
  2. Enable Developer mode.
  3. Create a new app.
  4. Name the app Porter Metrics.
  5. Paste https://mcp.portermetrics.com/mcp as the MCP Server URL.
  6. Download https://mcp.portermetrics.com/skill.zip.
  7. Upload skill.zip to your ChatGPT project.
  8. Ask ChatGPT for an Instagram report, a post or a comment round-up.

How to install Instagram MCP in Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code and Codex

Pick your coding agent. Each one uses the same server URL and a Google sign-in, so no API key or credentials file sits in a config.

  1. Run this in your terminal. Add --scope user to use Porter in every project.
    claude mcp add --transport http porter https://mcp.portermetrics.com/mcp
  2. Start Claude Code and type /mcp.
  3. Pick porter → Authenticate. Your browser opens: sign in with the Google account you use in Porter.
  4. Check: /mcp shows porter as connected. Ask: “Which Instagram accounts can you see?”
  1. Open Cursor Settings → Tools & Integrations and click New MCP Server. Cursor opens mcp.json.
  2. Paste this and save.
    { "mcpServers": { "porter": { "url": "https://mcp.portermetrics.com/mcp" } } }
  3. Click Connect next to porter and sign in with the Google account you use in Porter.
  4. Check: porter shows a green dot in Tools & Integrations. Open an Agent chat. Ask: “Which Instagram accounts can you see?”
  1. Open the Command Palette (Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+P) and run MCP: Add Server → HTTP.
  2. Paste https://mcp.portermetrics.com/mcp, name it porter and choose Global. Or add it to .vscode/mcp.json:
    { "servers": { "porter": { "type": "http", "url": "https://mcp.portermetrics.com/mcp" } } }
  3. Allow the sign-in prompt and sign in with the Google account you use in Porter.
  4. Check: open Copilot Chat in Agent mode; Porter’s tools appear under the tools icon. Ask: “Which Instagram accounts can you see?”
  1. Add Porter from your terminal.
    codex mcp add porter --url https://mcp.portermetrics.com/mcp
  2. Sign in. Your browser opens: sign in with the Google account you use in Porter.
    codex mcp login porter
  3. Check: codex mcp list shows porter as logged in. Start codex. Ask: “Which Instagram accounts can you see?”

The same URL works in Windsurf, Cline, Zed and any client that supports remote MCP servers over HTTP.

Guides and videos

How to connect Instagram to Claude (no code)VideoHow to connect Instagram to Claude (no code)Porter Metrics on YouTubeConnect Instagram to Claude and build an Instagram dashboard in minutesVideoConnect Instagram to Claude and build an Instagram dashboard in minutesPorter Metrics on YouTube
→TutorialHow to connect Instagram to Claude→TutorialHow to connect Instagram to ChatGPT

Porter’s walkthrough connects an Instagram Business account to Claude without code and asks for the first report. The same server URL works in ChatGPT.

Start with this question once you’re connected:

For my Instagram account, show Profile reach, Profile new followers and Total followers by Date for the last 14 days, then list my 5 posts with the highest Post reach in that period with Post date, Post type and Post link.
Prompts

Instagram MCP prompts

Each Instagram skill in Porter’s MCP is a ready-made prompt for one social media job. A skill turns live Instagram data into a report, a competitor read, a post ready for approval or a comment round-up. Copy a prompt into Claude or ChatGPT and change the dates, accounts or hashtags to match yours.

Reporting skills

Connection test

List the Instagram accounts I’ve connected, then show Total followers and Profile reach for each over the last 7 days.

Top posts

Rank my posts from the last 30 days by Post saves, then by Post reach. Show Post type, Post date and Post link for the top 10.

Reels vs carousels vs images

Compare Post reach, Post saves and Post engagement by Post type for the last 90 days. Tell me which format to post more of.

Follower growth

Show Profile new followers and Total followers by Date for the last 30 days, and point out the posts published on the best days.

Stories retention

For my Stories this week, show Story reach, Stories taps (forward), Story exits and Stories replies, and flag where people dropped off.

Weekly Instagram report

Write a weekly Instagram report in simple words: what we posted, what grew, what dropped and what to post next week.

Research skills

Competitor comparison

Compare my account with @brand1 and @brand2: followers, posts in the last 30 days, and average likes and comments per post.

Hashtag scan

Show the top posts for #skincareroutine right now, with post type, likes and comments, and what they have in common.

Instagram next to Meta Ads and GA4

Put my Instagram Post reach by week next to Meta Ads spend and GA4 sessions from Instagram for the last 90 days.

The cross-channel skill blends Instagram with the GA4 connector for Claude and your Meta Ads account.

Automation skills

Publish a carousel after review

Build a carousel from these 5 image URLs with the caption I paste next. Check my publishing quota, show me the preview and publish only after I say yes.

Reply to new comments

List comments on my last 3 posts that have no reply. Draft a reply for each and post them only after I approve.

Hide spam comments

Find comments on my last 10 posts that look like spam or links to other accounts. Show them, then hide the ones I confirm.

Weekly summary by email

Every Monday, email me a short Instagram summary: reach, new followers, top post and one idea for the week.
Who this is for

Who this is for

Social media marketers who report on Instagram and also post to it get the most from Porter’s Instagram MCP. Agencies, in-house social managers, small business founders and analysts use it to turn an Instagram question into a report, a post ready for approval or a cleaner comment section.

Social media teams who post as well as report.

Social media agencies

Your client isn’t asking about reach. They’re asking whether Instagram is worth the time.

  • Every client account: one prompt covers each Instagram account you manage.
  • Client reports: the monthly social report is ready before the call.
  • Comment rounds: replies drafted for every client, posted after review.
  • Competitor reads: the client’s rivals, compared on the same numbers.

In-house social media managers

  • Format decisions: Reels, carousels or images, chosen on saves and reach.
  • Posting from the chat: the carousel you planned goes live without switching apps.
  • Stories that work: you see where viewers tap away, Story by Story.
  • Leadership updates: one link that’s current when they open it.

Small business founders

  • Ten-minute check-in: what grew this week and what to post next.
  • Comments handled: spam hidden and questions answered after a quick review.
  • Hashtag ideas: the top posts for your niche, read in one answer.
  • One login: your Instagram next to your store, site and ads.

Analysts

  • Field-level access: 90+ Instagram fields, with Meta’s metric changes already handled.
  • Daily history: paid plans store Stories, total followers and new followers every day from the day you start paying.
  • Warehouse destinations: Instagram data in BigQuery as rows you can query.
  • Blends: organic Instagram next to Meta Ads and GA4 in one table.

When to use another tool instead

You need DM automation or a calendar that posts for you next week. A DM tool or a posting scheduler does that job, and Porter covers analytics, publishing now and comments.

Comparison

Instagram MCP options vs. Porter

Instagram MCP servers come in two shapes: a self-hosted server you run, or a hosted MCP like Porter’s. Both connect Instagram to Claude, ChatGPT and other AI clients through Meta’s API. Porter hosts the server, handles the Meta connection and adds your other channels, reporting and skills.

A self-hosted server gives your AI the Instagram API. Porter gives it Instagram plus the rest of your marketing, already set up.

Both read insights, publish posts and manage comments through Meta’s official API. Here is where they part.

PorterTypical self-hosted Instagram MCP
Same job, different reach
SetupPaste one hosted URL, sign in with FacebookInstall, configure and host it yourself
Meta developer appNot neededUsually your own
Access tokensHandled by PorterYou create and refresh them
ApprovalsClaude asks before every post, reply and deleteDepends on the server
Publishing quotaChecked before each postDepends on the server
Stories and follower historyStored daily on paid plansWhat Meta keeps
PriceIncluded in every Porter plan, the free plan tooFree to download; you host it
Only one side
Other channels30+ data sources: Meta Ads, GA4, TikTok and more—
Blending sources into one numberYes—
Live dashboards on your own brandingYes—
Scheduled reports and alertsYes—
Data Studio, Google Sheets, BigQueryYes—
Skills: whole social tasks, already writtenYes—

Use a self-hosted server if you want to own the code and run it on your own machine. Everything under Only one side is what happens when Instagram is one channel of several.

Is there an official Instagram MCP?

Meta’s official connector, Meta Ads AI connectors, covers ad accounts: Meta’s Ads MCP server docs describe a server that “lets you manage Meta ads directly from an AI agent.” For organic posts, Reels and comments, Porter’s Instagram MCP works on Meta’s official Instagram API. For paid campaigns, Porter has a separate Meta Ads MCP.

And the third-party Instagram MCPs?

Plenty of them rank for this search, and they split by job. Name the job first and the list gets short.

  • DM automation tools: they answer direct messages and run keyword replies.
  • Publishing schedulers: they queue posts for later dates.
  • Open-source servers: free and self-hosted, with your own Meta app and tokens.
  • Scrapers: they read public pages, and some ask for your password or browser cookies. Porter never does.

Porter covers analytics, publishing and comments from one hosted server, starting on the free plan.

Instagram MCP pricing

The Instagram MCP is included in every Porter plan, the free-forever plan too. Reporting is billed per connected account.

  • 14-day trial: everything unlimited, no credit card.
  • Free forever: unlimited connected accounts, 30 days of history (15 days in AI chats), 100 automation credits a month.
  • Paid Reporting: from $15 per account a month, or $12.50 billed annually.
  • Unlimited questions: AI chats, queries and dashboards are included. Reads are free; each completed change uses 1 automation credit.
5 accounts
Monthly billing
$40
Annual billing, per month
$33.33
Per account
$8.00

Reporting price for connected accounts, in USD. AI chats, queries and dashboards are unlimited. Annual billing is 10 months for 12.

The more accounts you connect, the lower the price per account. See the full calculator on Porter pricing.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an official Instagram MCP?

Meta's official connector, Meta Ads AI connectors, covers ad accounts. Porter's Instagram MCP runs at https://mcp.portermetrics.com/mcp on Meta's official Instagram API. It reads insights, publishes posts after approval and manages comments.

What is the Instagram MCP server URL?

Porter's Instagram MCP server URL is https://mcp.portermetrics.com/mcp. Paste it into Claude, ChatGPT or another AI client as a custom connector, then sign in with Facebook. The same URL also reaches your other Porter sources.

Is the Instagram MCP free?

Porter's Instagram MCP is included in every Porter plan, the free-forever plan too. The free plan covers unlimited connected accounts, up to 30 days of history, 15 days in AI chats and 100 automation credits a month. Paid Reporting starts at $12.50 a month per data source account, billed annually.

Do I need a Business or Creator account and a Facebook Page?

Yes. Porter connects Instagram Business and Creator accounts linked to a Facebook Page you manage, and you tick that Page when Meta asks for consent. Personal Instagram accounts can't connect through Meta's API.

Can it publish posts and Reels?

Yes. Porter publishes single images, Reels and carousels once you approve them in the chat. It checks your daily publishing quota first, and the post goes live straight away.

Can it schedule Instagram posts?

Porter publishes when you approve, not at a later date. You schedule future posts in Instagram or your scheduler as usual.

Can it read or send DMs?

Porter works with posts, Stories, comments and insights. You handle direct messages in Instagram as usual.

Can it look at competitors' accounts?

Yes. Porter reads public Business and Creator profiles, including followers, recent posts, likes and comments. Ask Claude to compare your account with two or three competitors on the same numbers.

How do I connect Claude to Instagram?

Install the Porter plugin from Claude Settings → Customize → Plugins. Add the portermetrics/porter marketplace, install Porter Metrics from the Directory, connect it and sign in with Facebook. Then ask Claude for your top posts.

What is MCP?

MCP is the Model Context Protocol, an open-source standard for connecting AI applications to external systems like Instagram. Claude and ChatGPT are the agents, and Porter's MCP is how they reach your Instagram account.

Troubleshooting

Why don't the numbers match Instagram Insights?

Porter refreshes Instagram data once a day, so today's numbers can trail the app. Meta also keeps account metrics for up to 90 days, and some need 100+ followers. Compare the same dates and the same metric, reach with reach and views with views.

Why does a metric come back as 0?

Meta returns no data for metrics it doesn't have for that post or date, such as audience breakdowns on accounts under 100 followers. Check the date range first, since the default is the last 30 days. Then ask Claude for a metric that applies to that post type.

What happened to impressions?

Meta deprecated impressions for new posts in API v22.0 and added views in its place. Porter reports reach and views for recent posts. Older posts can still show impressions where Meta keeps them.

Start free

Connect Instagram to Claude or ChatGPT and start with post reports, competitor reads and posts that wait for your approval.

Start free: unlimited connected accounts, no credit card. Or take the 14-day trial with everything unlimited.

Start free
  • Agencies: every client's Instagram answers to one prompt.
  • In-house social managers: the next carousel goes live from the chat, after your yes.
  • Small business founders: a weekly check-in that tells you what to post.
  • Analysts: Instagram next to Meta Ads and GA4, with Meta's metric changes handled.

Automate marketing reporting and analysis with AI like it's 2026.

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