# Instagram vs Deep Fried

The clearest difference is ads: Deep Fried at none against Instagram's shown. Deep Fried also leads on review sentiment (48% vs 31%) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 16.3). Instagram's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (30M vs 3.9K). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Instagram sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Deep Fried sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Instagram holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Instagram has 30M ratings behind it against 3.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 31% of Instagram's written reviews are positive against 48% of Deep Fried's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Instagram ships an update weekly, Deep Fried every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and August 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Instagram | Deep Fried |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (30M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instagram/id389801252/reviews)** | [4.5 (3.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deep-fried/id1436647902/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **30M** | 3.9K |
| Positive reviews | 31.4% of reviews | **47.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | — |
| Size | 583 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.3 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Instagram, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/389801255) | [Super Trance Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1514157617) |

## What reviewers say

### Instagram

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

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #4 Top Free · Photo & Video, #7 Top Grossing, #29 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

**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


### Deep Fried

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/deep-fried/id1436647902)

Create, store, and share hilariously distorted memes. Apply intense fried filters, warp images with various tools, and add custom text and emojis to personalize your creations. Save your masterpieces and manage your subscription easily.

**Highlights:** Deep Fried Camera, Adjustable Fried Filters, Image Warping Tools, Add Emojis and Text, Save and Store Memes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP1 | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| VIP2 | $2.99 | per month |
| VIP3 | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app
- 👍 No watermark
- 👍 Intuitive UI
- 👍 Fun to use
- 👍 Effective for making memes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Mandatory $30 yearly subscription
- 💰 Paywall blocks access to features
- 🐛 Crashes and doesn't work
- 🚫 Can only make a limited number of edits without paying
- 🚫 Entire app is locked behind subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Subscription charges immediately instead of free trial
- Subscription doesn't work as advertised
- Constant crashing and freezing issues

**Requested features**

- Add video editing and deep frying capabilities
- More customization options for text and effects
- Bring back free version with ads instead of subscription


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Instagram free?

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

### Is Deep Fried free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Instagram or Deep Fried?

Instagram is rated higher. Instagram averages 4.7 out of 5 from 30M ratings, while Deep Fried averages 4.5 from 3.9K ratings.

### Do Instagram or Deep Fried have ads?

Instagram shows ads; Deep Fried does not.

### Which is updated more often, Instagram or Deep Fried?

Instagram ships an update weekly, and Deep Fried every 2 months. Most recently, Instagram was updated on September 26, 2026 and Deep Fried on August 23, 2026.

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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.*