# Instagram vs ArtPlay

The clearest difference is ads: ArtPlay at none against Instagram's shown. ArtPlay also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.3). Instagram's advantage is ratings volume (30M vs 55) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Instagram sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and ArtPlay sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Instagram against 4.8 for ArtPlay. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Instagram has 30M ratings behind it against 55, 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 ArtPlay's.

Instagram ships an update weekly, ArtPlay monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Instagram | ArtPlay |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (30M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instagram/id389801252/reviews) | **[4.8 (55 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artplay-video-editor/id1580716813/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **30M** | 55 |
| Positive reviews | **31.4% of reviews** | 25.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | — |
| Size | 583 MB | 268 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.3 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Instagram, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/389801255) | [High Mountain Electronic Commerce Development Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1580716815) |

## What reviewers say

### Instagram

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

**Currently charting:** #3 Top Free · Photo & Video, #3 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #6 Top Grossing, #34 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


### ArtPlay

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/artplay-video-editor/id1580716813)

Transform your photos and videos into animated 3D cartoons or nostalgic childhood memories. Easily create GIFs from various media formats and use pre-designed templates with background music to make stunning videos with just a few taps.

**Highlights:** 3D cartoon character creation, Nostalgic childhood photo effects, One-tap photo to video conversion, GIF creation from photos and videos, Video templates with background music, Automatic photo selection for videos

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ArtPlay Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| ArtPlay Subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| ArtPlay Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| ArtPlay Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| ArtPlay Subscription | $49.99 | per year |
| ArtPlay Subscription | $49.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Instagram free?

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

### Is ArtPlay free?

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

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

ArtPlay is rated higher. Instagram averages 4.7 out of 5 from 30M ratings, while ArtPlay averages 4.8 from 55 ratings.

### Do Instagram or ArtPlay have ads?

Instagram shows ads; ArtPlay does not.

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

Instagram ships an update weekly, and ArtPlay monthly. Most recently, Instagram was updated on September 30, 2026 and ArtPlay on September 28, 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.*