InstaVision MCP is InstaVision's MCP server for enabling AI agents to perform Instagram niche discovery. It helps users find Instagram creators and potential leads by niche, city, follower count range, or similar accounts. Users can ask the agent questions in natural language (e.g., "Find forex coaching accounts in Nigeria, 2k–50k followers, up to 100 credits"), and the agent will select a playbook, estimate credits, start a run, and return results. Run records will appear in the InstaVision dashboard and consume account credits: 1 credit = scanning 1 profile.
There are two ways to connect:
- Remote connection: clients that can send request headers to an HTTP MCP server (Claude Code, Cursor, Codex) can connect directly to https://instavision.co/api/mcp/mcp，无需安装任何东西。
- Local bridge: npx instavision-mcp is a lightweight local bridge suitable for clients that run local (stdio) servers, such as Claude Desktop. It forwards MCP traffic (including server instructions) to the same hosted server. The bridge itself does not store anything on disk; the key is kept in the client configuration.
Setup instructions and limitations are at instavision.co/mcp.
To get an API key: log in to InstaVision (this takes you to Settings → API keys), create a key (it is shown only once, so copy it). Keys start with iv_sk_. Do not enter a real key on the command line, otherwise it will remain in shell history.
Connecting clients:
- Claude Code: in a terminal (bash or zsh), paste the command and press Enter, then wait for the key prompt; paste the key and press Enter. The key will not be displayed or saved to shell history; Claude Code will store it in ~/.claude.json and make the server available in every project.
- Cursor: the configuration file is ~/.cursor/mcp.json. Cursor and Codex read the key from the INSTAVISION_API_KEY environment variable, so that variable must be set in the environment from which they are started.
- Claude Desktop (via this package): the configuration file is claude_desktop_config.json. In Settings → Developer → Edit Config, add the configuration block, replace iv_sk_... with your key, and then restart Claude Desktop. Any client running a local MCP server can use the same command, args, and env.
- Windows: if npx fails to start, use "command": "cmd" and "args": ["/c", "npx", "-y", "instavision-mcp"].
After connecting, ask the agent to "list InstaVision playbooks" to confirm the connection succeeded.
The bridge can also start without INSTAVISION_API_KEY: it will connect without a key and print on stderrprompt. The client can then list tools and playbooks and estimate credits; calls that require an account (starting runs, reading results, seen accounts list, PDF export) will fail and prompt you to go to the API keys page.
What the agent can do: list playbooks, estimate credits, start discovery (consumes credits), check run status, get results, export PDF, manage accounts that have been viewed.
Environment variables (this package): the bridge sends the key only as an Authorization: Bearer header to that endpoint and checks the endpoint before sending anything. The key can be revoked on the API keys page.
InstaVision is an independent product and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Instagram or Meta.
