Many people wonder if Instagram has reached its peak in popularity, what will replace Instagram, or will it ever die out, and how long it will last.
Instagram still has many fans. However, some people have stopped using Instagram and have been looking for alternatives for quite some time now. While some people think the company has been overstepping its boundaries, others are unsure since Facebook acquired it.
If you are curious about the next app to take Instagram’s place, check out our list of the most promising Instagram alternative apps available now.
How Popular Is Instagram
Facebook bought Instagram in 2012 for one billion dollars. Mark Zuckerberg understood the importance of social media and wanted to grow his company further with Instagram.
Facebook isn’t exactly the type of social media platform you might want to go to first at this moment in time, but it does have two other platforms, Instagram and Whatsapp, that make up for its loss. Because Instagram is a part of Facebook, it is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.
Why Instagram Has Copied Features From Other Apps
Platforms often copy the most popular features from their competitors, ultimately leading to innovation and growth. Instagram has added many new features that evolved from other platforms, and this is a strategy they used throughout their long journey toward becoming the dominant social media platform.
One example is how the Instagram Stories feature, which Snapchat initially introduced, was easily integrated into Instagram and has proved an enormous success.
Recently, the idea of shorter videos on TikTok was integrated into Instagram and Instagram Reels to provide a new, more diverse content stream for short-form videos. While this hasn’t always been a success, there are still some features that have.
Instagram is copying many features from other platforms because they want their users to stay hooked on their app, preventing them from switching to competitors. While some features of Instagram may have gotten more attention than others, the company will likely continue to pivot and try to keep up with other similar applications.
Why You Might Consider An Instagram Alternative
Instagram is not just a social media platform, but it’s also a giant in the social media industry, loved by many and disliked by others. What started as an ‘organic’ solution for sharing photos with friends and family back in 2010 has morphed into Facebook’s monopoly.
Some Instagram users have given up on the platform due to its algorithms prioritizing large, widespread accounts and sponsored posts. They say engagement is falling and community building more difficult.
Some users have said that Instagram has a creepy privacy policy and can record, track, and share personal information. Their access also includes your camera & microphone, and the platform has a nonexclusive right to any content you share.
What To Consider When Choosing Between Instagram Alternatives
These Instagram alternatives don’t mean you should invest your time and energy in them, and you need to consider various factors before committing to one Instagram alternative. The following are simple points to remember when choosing the perfect Instagram alternative.
Demographics
There are many factors to consider when assessing your social media audience. You may want to look at the platforms and apps they use, their content preferences, and What Instagram alternative best supports those types of content?
Finding specific demographics is a difficult task for these more diminutive platforms. Still, you can usually tell what an app will be like by the features & overall focus mentioned in the description.
Communication Opportunities
How do the Insta alternatives you’re reviewing focus on community? Are there comments? Private messages? Groups you can use to build a more cohesive community around your brand?
Your Goals
With all the new platforms providing an option for additional content, where does this fit within your overall goals for social media?
Apps That Are Likely To Replace Instagram
1. TikTok – Best Instagram Alternative App for Reels
Facebook has taken the concept of short-video Reels feature from TikTok and made it a new feature on its own platform. Many users have welcomed this update, but if you’re looking for something different from Instagram Reels, go ahead and install TikTok.
TikTok has a monthly active user count of 689 million, while Instagram has 1 billion active users. In terms of popularity, TikTok is ahead of Instagram Reels.
TikTok is an app that has created a lot of buzz in recent years. Everyone has heard about TikTok, and there’s no escaping the phenomenon that is it! If you’ve found yourself on this app, you probably know why. It’s a popular choice for quick videos and sharing interesting content with your friends & followers.
TikTok is a new, more casual social media app that has stolen Instagram’s popularity with its unique features. TikTok does not offer a feature for posting regular pictures, something Instagram used to be all about. Still, it offers so many other incredible features that have made it the talk of social media.
One area where TikTok does not reign supreme is that it currently lacks the option to publish standard posts, and that’s the one missing part. However, TikTok is a better alternative to Instagram Reels.
2. EyeEm
EyeEm has gained a lot of popularity over the past year, and it has become a social media platform & marketplace where people can connect and sell their work more efficiently. Such features fuel the app’s popularity – making it the go-to resource for artists & photographers everywhere.
EyeEm’s challenges are great because they require you to put your skills on the table and provide a means to compete with one another for exciting prizes.
Rewards for participating in these contests can range from having your images featured on specific commercial campaigns and exhibitions to actual cash prizes. Let us know if Instagram would let you do all that!
3. VSCO
VSCO is a photo-sharing app that offers users many new features and side benefits. The platform considers itself a “creative channel” and “expression matters most.” It could potentially replace Instagram as the application of choice among social media communities.
The app has already taken over the photography world and is used by many. It’s been gaining popularity through its “viral term of VSCO girls“, which refers to numerous filters you can use. Some other standout features are that followers aren’t visible, which eliminates social proof and judging by others.
More than just a camera & filter app, they have recently changed the app to become more social and compete with Instagram. VSCO shares many similarities to Instagram, the most notable being the feed. VSCO also uses hashtags and basic options similar to Explore pages. Of Instagram.
4. Pinterest
On some occasions, Pinterest might not be the best alternative for popular photo-sharing apps like Instagram. However, certain features make it a good option for niche users looking to share photos or designs with other people.
If you use Instagram to explore some new creative ideas or find ideas for your wedding theme, Pinterest can provide what you need. It doesn’t matter what type of content you are looking for; Pinterest has a lot to offer.
Pinterest is a vast social network that lets you share your ideas and organize them for others to see. It can help create a varied portfolio of design concepts, allowing the user to find just what they need.
5. 500px
500px is a social network for photographers. The network, which launched in 2009, has been around for a while, and it’s also a trendy choice due to the many photographers on the platform.
The main difference compared to other apps is that instead of following, 500px provides an easy way to search & browse photographers on the platform. People will see your content whether you have a lot of followers or not, as the app pushes your content to other users.
Unlike most other Instagram alternative apps, 500px has two different user tiers. The free version works great for most, but you can also get unlimited photo uploads at a monthly fee if you need more extensive photo storage space.
