Instantly API

Instantly API

Use the Instantly API via direct curl calls to automate cold email outreach, manage campaigns, leads, and sending accounts.

Official docs: https://developer.instantly.ai/

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When to Use

Use this skill when you need to:

• Manage email campaigns - create, launch, pause campaigns
• Handle leads - add, update, list leads in campaigns
• Manage sending accounts - list and configure email accounts
• Automate outreach - schedule sends and manage lead lists

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Prerequisites

1. Sign up at Instantly.ai (Growth plan or above required for API)
2. Go to Settings > Integrations > API to create an API key
3. Select appropriate scopes for your use case

export INSTANTLY_API_KEY="your-api-key"

API Scopes

Create API keys with specific permissions:

• campaigns:read, campaigns:create, campaigns:update
• leads:read, leads:create, leads:update, leads:delete
• lead_lists:read, lead_lists:create
• analytics:read
• all:all (full access)

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Important: When using $VAR in a command that pipes to another command, wrap the command containing $VAR in bash -c '...'. Due to a Claude Code bug, environment variables are silently cleared when pipes are used directly.

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.example.com" -H "Authorization: Bearer $API_KEY"' | jq '.items[] | {id, name}'

How to Use

All examples below assume you have INSTANTLY_API_KEY set.

The base URL for API V2 is:

• https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2

Authentication uses Bearer token in the Authorization header.

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1. List Campaigns

Get all campaigns:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​campaigns" -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}"' | jq '.items[] | {id, name, status}'

With filters:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​campaigns?status=ACTIVE&limit=10" -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}"' | jq '.items[] | {id, name}'

Status values: ACTIVE, PAUSED, COMPLETED, DRAFTED

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2. Get Single Campaign

Get campaign details by ID. Replace <your-campaign-id> with the actual campaign ID:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​campaigns/<your-campaign-id>" -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}"' | jq '{id, name, status, daily_limit}'

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3. Create Campaign

Create a new campaign (requires campaign_schedule):

Write to /​tmp/​instantly_request.json:

{
  "name": "My New Campaign",
  "daily_limit": 50,
  "campaign_schedule": {
    "schedules": [
      {
        "name": "Weekday Schedule",
        "timezone": "America/​Chicago",
        "days": {
          "monday": true,
          "tuesday": true,
          "wednesday": true,
          "thursday": true,
          "friday": true,
          "saturday": false,
          "sunday": false
        },
        "timing": {
          "from": "09:00",
          "to": "17:00"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Then run:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​campaigns" -X POST -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/​json" -d @/​tmp/​instantly_request.json'

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4. Pause/​Activate Campaign

Control campaign status. Replace <your-campaign-id> with the actual campaign ID:

# Pause campaign
bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​campaigns/<your-campaign-id>/​pause" -X POST -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}"'

# Activate campaign
bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​campaigns/<your-campaign-id>/​activate" -X POST -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}"'

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5. List Leads

List leads (POST endpoint due to complex filters):

Write to /​tmp/​instantly_request.json:

{
  "limit": 10
}

Then run:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​leads/​list" -X POST -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/​json" -d @/​tmp/​instantly_request.json' | jq '.items[] | {id, email, first_name, last_name}'

Filter by campaign:

Write to /​tmp/​instantly_request.json:

{
  "campaign_id": "your-campaign-id",
  "limit": 20
}

Then run:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​leads/​list" -X POST -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/​json" -d @/​tmp/​instantly_request.json' | jq '.items[] | {email, status}'

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6. Create Lead

Add a single lead:

Write to /​tmp/​instantly_request.json:

{
  "email": "[email protected]",
  "first_name": "John",
  "last_name": "Doe",
  "company_name": "Acme Corp",
  "campaign_id": "your-campaign-id"
}

Then run:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​leads" -X POST -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/​json" -d @/​tmp/​instantly_request.json'

With custom variables:

Write to /​tmp/​instantly_request.json:

{
  "email": "[email protected]",
  "first_name": "Jane",
  "campaign_id": "your-campaign-id",
  "custom_variables": {
    "role": "CTO",
    "industry": "SaaS"
  }
}

Then run:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​leads" -X POST -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/​json" -d @/​tmp/​instantly_request.json'

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7. Get Single Lead

Get lead by ID. Replace <your-lead-id> with the actual lead ID:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​leads/<your-lead-id>" -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}"'

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8. Update Lead

Update lead information:

Write to /​tmp/​instantly_request.json:

{
  "first_name": "Updated Name",
  "custom_variables": {
    "notes": "High priority"
  }
}

Then run. Replace <your-lead-id> with the actual lead ID:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​leads/<your-lead-id>" -X PATCH -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/​json" -d @/​tmp/​instantly_request.json'

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9. List Lead Lists

Get all lead lists:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​lead-lists" -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}"' | jq '.items[] | {id, name}'

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10. Create Lead List

Create a new lead list:

Write to /​tmp/​instantly_request.json:

{
  "name": "Q1 Prospects"
}

Then run:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​lead-lists" -X POST -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}" -H "Content-Type: application/​json" -d @/​tmp/​instantly_request.json'

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11. List Email Accounts

Get connected sending accounts:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​accounts" -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}"' | jq '.items[] | {email, status, warmup_status}'

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12. Test API Key

Verify your API key is valid:

bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​api-keys" -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}"' | jq '.items[0] | {name, scopes}'

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Pagination

List endpoints support pagination:

# First page
bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​campaigns?limit=10" -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}"' | jq '{items: .items | length, next_starting_after: .next_starting_after}'

# Next page (replace <your-cursor> with the next_starting_after value from the previous response)
bash -c 'curl -s "https://api.instantly.ai/​api/​v2/​campaigns?limit=10&starting_after=<your-cursor>" -H "Authorization: Bearer ${INSTANTLY_API_KEY}"' | jq '.items[] | {id, name}'

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Guidelines

1. Use API V2: V1 is deprecated, use V2 endpoints only
2. Bearer token auth: Always use Authorization: Bearer header
3. Scope your keys: Create keys with minimal required permissions
4. Custom variables: Values must be string, number, boolean, or null (no objects/​arrays)
5. Leads list is POST: Due to complex filters, listing leads uses POST not GET
6. Rate limits: Respect rate limits based on your plan tier
7. Growth plan required: API access requires Growth plan or above