# Instagram vs Hik

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Hik at none against Instagram's 12. Hik also leads on ads (none vs shown). Instagram's advantage is ratings volume (30M vs 172K) and chart position (#2 vs #86). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Instagram sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month. Hik asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Instagram against 4.7 for Hik. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Instagram has 30M ratings behind it against 172K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 31% of Instagram's written reviews are positive against 25% of Hik's.

Instagram ships an update weekly, Hik every 8 days. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Instagram | Hik |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (30M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instagram/id389801252/reviews) | **[4.7 (172K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hik-connect-for-end-user/id1087803190/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **30M** | 172K |
| Positive reviews | **31.5% of reviews** | 24.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 8 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#2** | #86 |
| Size | 641 MB | 599 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.3 | **16.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Instagram, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/389801255) | [Hangzhou Hikvision Digital Technology Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1257695602) |

## What reviewers say

### Instagram

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instagram/id389801252)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Free · Photo & Video, #3 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #6 Top Grossing, #30 Top Free (US App Store)

Connect with friends and discover new content through photos, videos, and short-form entertainment. Share your daily moments and life's highlights, or dive into personalized feeds based on your interests.

**Highlights:** Short-form video creation and discovery (Reels), Ephemeral content sharing (Stories & Notes), Private group chats (Close Friends), Personalized content feeds (Explore), Customizable posts with templates and filters, Discover brands and shop products

**Features:** Apple Wallet, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Meta Verified Standard | $14.99 | per month |
| Instagram Badge | $0.99 | one-time |
| Instagram Badge | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💕 Excellent way to connect with friends and family
- 🌍 Ability to discover new content and accounts
- 🎨 Great platform for artists and creators to showcase their work
- 🤝 Helps small businesses promote their products

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
- 🤖 Overly aggressive AI moderation leading to unfair account suspensions
- 🔒 Poor customer support and lack of transparency around account issues
- 📊 Declining organic reach and push towards paid advertising
- 🔀 Confusing layout changes that make the app less user-friendly

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to post or view videos due to app crashing
- Saved posts and drafts randomly disappearing
- Notifications not working or showing outdated information
- Inability to log in or switch between multiple accounts

**Requested features**

- Ability to edit/delete individual photos from a multi-photo post
- Option to view posts in chronological order instead of algorithmic feed
- Better tools for small businesses to manage and grow their presence
- Improved accessibility features for users with disabilities


### Hik

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hik-connect-for-end-user/id1087803190)

**Currently charting:** #86 Top Free · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Access live video streams from your security cameras and DVRs remotely. Review recorded footage and receive instant alerts for motion detection events. Connect to your devices globally with ease.

**Highlights:** Real-time monitoring, Video playback, Motion detection alarm notification, Remote camera access, Device management

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 🔒 Secure and reliable
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🤖 Excellent camera quality
- 💡 Useful notification features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes
- 🔍 Difficult to navigate and find cameras
- 🕰️ Slow playback and video loading
- 🔌 Unstable network connectivity
- 🤯 Confusing and unintuitive updates

**Reported bugs**

- Cameras randomly show as offline
- Playback function often fails to load
- Notifications disappear from the app
- App fails to open after recent updates
- Camera settings reset after app updates

**Requested features**

- Add support for portrait mode on tablets
- Improve playback controls with fast forward/rewind
- Allow custom naming and organization of cameras
- Provide better notification customization options
- Integrate with smart home automation platforms


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Instagram free?

Instagram is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hik free?

Hik is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Instagram or Hik?

Hik is rated higher. Instagram averages 4.7 out of 5 from 30M ratings, while Hik averages 4.7 from 172K ratings.

### Do Instagram or Hik have ads?

Instagram shows ads; Hik does not.

### Which is updated more often, Instagram or Hik?

Instagram ships an update weekly, and Hik every 8 days. Most recently, Instagram was updated on October 29, 2026 and Hik on October 29, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Instagram or Hik?

Instagram currently peaks at #2 in the App Store charts, and Hik at #86. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*