With a massive 1.35 billion users as of 2023, Instagram has become a great place to share photos and videos with people from all over the world. However, as more users joined, it became harder for businesses and marketers to use Instagram effectively. Also, some users have recently complained about it becoming too clogged with irrelevant promotions and campaigns. No doubt, Instagram is the most popular platform among teens. Around 674 million users on Instagram are between the ages of 18 and 34 years.
We all know how effective marketing strategies work online; websites like Facebook Pixel or Google Analytics help digital marketers gather information about website visitors such as age range, gender, etc. This helps companies reach their target customers and thus create a strong online presence.
However, with the introduction of these limitations on Instagram, it became almost impossible for marketers to find out who their audience is or what kind of product they wish to sell.
Going live on Instagram is something unique for such photo-oriented platforms. However, being tied up with Facebook, it is not surprising. If that isn’t enough to hold you back from switching away, then nothing will.
Reasons to switch away from Instagram
- Too many ads are annoying on Instagram.
- Because of the social media addiction.
- Your friends are on another social media platform.
- You just don’t like how it looks and feels.
- The personal chats aren’t as advanced as other platforms.
- You are looking for something more than just a photo-sharing platform.
How to choose an alternative for Instagram?
Instagram, while a relatively young social media platform, has seen exponential growth and has become the most popular social media network in the world. However, it isn’t without its faults. In fact, if you are looking for an alternative to Instagram, don’t worry, as you are not alone.
But still, the question remains. What should you actually look for in an Instagram alternative? How do you choose one?
Here, we will discuss some points that you can heed when choosing your Instagram alternative.
- First, you should make sure that the platform offers sufficient video and photo-sharing mechanisms.
- Then you might also want to consider a decently large user base, as an audience that likes and comments on your posts is one of the attractions of Instagram.
- If the supposed alternative has an engaging community, then all is well and good.
- You might also want to diversify your search by exploring different platforms based on the type of content you can share. Whether you favor short-form content or are happy spending time reading longer posts,
- If the platform comes with photo editing features and filters, then surely it is considered good.
- However, the platform should certainly have some kind of messaging or communication feature, allowing you to connect with your friends and family.
- If the app offers some degree of integration, then surely you can consider it, but more importantly, look for cross-platform support.
List of the Best Instagram Alternatives
| Software Name | Pricing | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Businesses, image sharing | |
| Twitter (X) | Free | Business Marketing |
| Snapchat | Free | Ephemeral content sharing |
| Bebee | Free | Image sharing, limited ads |
| Vero | Free | Image sharing, no ad tracking |
| VSCO | Free and paid versions | Photography enthusiasts |
| We Heart It | Free | Image sharing, inspiration |
| EyeEm | Free | Photography enthusiasts |
| Tumblr | Free | Simple image sharing |
| 500px | Free | Photography showcase |
| Imgur | Free | Image and meme sharing |
| Glass | Available behind a paywall for iOS, website access | Photography community |
It is annoying for businesses when users do not follow them back, and blocking some followers from following you again makes companies lose potential customers/clients, etc. Many other limitations make us think about an alternative. If you are thinking the same, these are the best Instagram alternatives –
1. Pinterest
As of December 2021, Pinterest has over 478 million users worldwide. It’s a great site that allows users to create personal profiles and pin images on their boards. You can use hashtags, follow other people, and like pins, which makes this website very similar to Instagram in terms of available features and functions.
If you want your business or brand to be known by more customers/clients, etc., it would be best if you start using social media platforms such as Pinterest, where many individuals regularly visit to share pictures, which helps marketers promote their products effectively. They offer brands an opportunity to advertise their ads on the website.
2. Twitter (X)
Twitter is also a great place to promote your business/products etc., using hashtags and following other users. Similar to Pinterest, if you have an account on Twitter, it would be best for marketing purposes because many individuals visit this website regularly, so there are better chances of getting noticed by more people if your content is good enough.
Various features make Twitter the best alternative to Instagram, but one major drawback that we found was that brands cannot run Facebook pixel code on their advertisements. However, they offer options such as running retargeting ads or adding Twitter links in the email footer section, etc.
3. Snapchat
Snapchat is the most popular social media platform that allows users to share pictures and send/receive disappearing messages. It is very similar to Instagram because you can edit your images using different filters, add text, etc.
If you want your business/brand name out there, then Snapchat would be the best option where individuals visit regularly but keep in mind all posts of Snapchat disappear after a few seconds, so unless people notice what you post immediately, chances are they will forget about it later. There are some benefits of using Snapchat over Instagram because you can also send/receive disappearing messages, which is very useful when communicating with your customers.
If video calling is your primary concern, it doesn’t make sense to stick with Instagram. You can delete your Instagram account and simply switch over to Snapchat.
4. Bebee
Beebee is a great alternative to Instagram, where you can share and like posts of other users. It’s very easy to use this website because it follows the same design as Instagram. Still, we found some limitations while using Bebe, such as brands cannot run Facebook pixel code on their ads, which makes targeting a specific audience difficult.
Moreover, not many individuals visit regularly, so chances of getting noticed by more people online become slim compared with the social media platforms mentioned above. There are also various features available on Bebee, which makes it similar to Instagram; however, since they do not allow businesses/brands to run Facebook pixel code, reaching out to target customers might take longer than expected.
5. Vero
Vero is also a great website compared to Instagram, where you can share and like other users’ photos. They do not allow businesses or brands to run Facebook pixel code on their ads. Plus, the chances of getting featured snippets for your brand name become slim since many individuals regularly visit, so unless people notice what you post immediately, all content will be forgotten later.
However, if you want an alternative to Instagram, then Vero would be the best option where you can easily follow/unfollow users, upload pictures, etc., however, keep in mind there are no targeting options available, so reaching out to a specific audience becomes difficult without using Facebook pixel code.
6. VSCO
VSCO is a suitable alternative for Instagram. When Instagram started, it was a photo-sharing platform well-liked by photographers. Over time, it grew into something larger. Today, VSCO is what Instagram was then. The platform allows users to take photos, edit them, and share them online with one another. Users can also use filters on their pics. VSCO is an online community of aspiring and accomplished photographers where users can follow each other and socialize.
What sets it apart from other social platforms is that the number of followers stays hidden from others and only to the account holder. It is mostly an app-based service. However, a website is also available with limited functionality. And the app also comes in both versions, paid and free.
7. We heart It
With a name that contains the word ‘heart,’ the California-based service has 45 million users. It’s another extremely popular site for sharing photos, and We Heart It may be classified as an Instagram rival for various reasons. “We Heart It” is made up of inspirational pictures and quotations to keep you interested. If you enjoy photograph-sharing on Instagram, then this platform will bring you great joy.
We Heart It, is a “home for your inspiration” and a place to “organize and share the things you love,” according to its About Us page. Users may collect (or “heart”) their favorite images and organize them into collections using the site’s web browser, or We Heart Its iOS and Android mobile applications.
8. EyeEm
The EyeEm app is a photo-sharing platform that allows users to share their photos and videos with others. In addition to using the #tags, you can add hashtags in your photo descriptions too. This way, people who are interested in specific content will find it easily on the hashtag system.
It’s also possible for photographers to monetize their images through this site, either by selling them or uploading some of their best work onto stock image websites like Shutterstock or 500px when they reach a certain level of followership. The community is active and thriving, idealizing ambitious photography enthusiasts looking to expand their portfolios outside Instagram.
9. Tumblr
Owned by Yahoo, Tumblr is among the top 20 most visited platforms globally. Tumblr is a microblogging platform that allows users to share photos, videos, links, and general thoughts with their followers in an easy-to-digest way. Tumblr works very well for photographers who are looking for something simple but effective.
The community on Tumblr consists of people from all over the world, which means there’s always someone you can talk to or ask questions to. It has more than 108 million blogs, so the chances are good that your niche will have plenty of other people in it already active on this site. Best part? It’s free to join and use with only one restriction: no nudity allowed, so if you want to see naked bodies everywhere, then go elsewhere.
10. 500px
500px is a social media site for photographers who want to share their best work and get constructive feedback from other professionals in the industry. If you’re starting with photography, then 500px is an ideal place because there’s no limit on how long your images can be, unlike Instagram, so it gives people plenty of time to look through them all.
However, if you’ve already built up a decent following elsewhere or have been working as a professional photographer for years, then, this might not necessarily be the most effective platform for promoting your work. Nonetheless, you should still sign up and connect with others here to build relationships that could lead somewhere down the road: who knows where.
11. Imgur
Imgur is a popular photo-sharing site on the internet. If you’re searching for an alternative to Instagram, Imgur does most of it well. Remember that Imgur is mostly a public platform, but you can keep your photos private, and they will not be searchable. The features include the ability to upload pictures, videos, and GIFs and the opportunity to connect with other people through tags.
Imgur is a great place to make money from meme creation. The explore tab on the service offers a fantastic way to discover viral content on the internet. Furthermore, Imgur now includes a messaging feature, ensuring that you are covered on this front. Overall, if you keep your account public, Imgur is an excellent alternative to Instagram.
12. Glass
Glass is another self-proclaimed photo-sharing platform and online community. It aims to keep users interested in photography rather than focusing on the social media aspect. Hence, it is a bit lackluster in the networking department.
However, Glass is a great platform for budding photographers to create and maintain a working portfolio. The absence of likes and followers gives it a fresh look. Instead, users are encouraged to build a relationship with other photographers.
Users will know when someone appreciates their work, but there are no public counts hence no data mining, resulting in the absence of advertisements. Sadly, Glass is only available as an app for iOS, and that too behind a paywall. Alternatively, you can access it through the website.
What do we recommend if you hate Instagram?
We also recommend a few Instagram alternatives, solely based on your usage. If you want something that closely resembles Instagram, then check out Snapchat. It is basically the same, minus posts. However, if you do have a genuine interest in sharing and viewing beautiful pictures and art, then Pinterest might be a more suitable choice. You can also look to Twitter if you want to keep up with what’s trending.
But those who basically want to stay close to photography and pictures in general might want to look for apps like Imgur, 500px, or We Heart It. All these platforms generally have little to do with the social interaction aspect but more with sharing photos.