# Instagram vs Snapchat

The clearest difference is rating: Instagram at 4.7 against Snapchat's 4.5. Instagram also leads on ratings volume (30M vs 5.9M). Snapchat's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Instagram sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Snapchat sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Instagram holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 30M and 5.9M respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 31% and 30% positive.

Instagram ships an update weekly, Snapchat every 6 days. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Instagram | Snapchat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (30M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instagram/id389801252/reviews)** | [4.5 (5.9M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snapchat/id447188370/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **30M** | 5.9M |
| Positive reviews | **31.2% of reviews** | 30.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | **Every 6 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #3 | **#2** |
| Size | 583 MB | 399 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.3 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Instagram, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/389801255) | [Snap, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/446889612) |

## 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, #25 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


### Snapchat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snapchat/id447188370)

**Currently charting:** #2 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #6 Top Free · Photo & Video, #6 Top Grossing, #55 Top Free (US App Store)

Instantly share photos and videos with friends and family. Express yourself with creative tools, connect through live messaging and video calls, and discover content from the community. Save your favorite moments and explore shared memories.

**Highlights:** Camera with Lenses and Filters, Live Messaging and Video Chat, Friend and Group Stories, Spotlight for user-created content, Location Sharing Map, Memories for saving photos/videos, Friendship Profiles

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Memories Storage | $1.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ Monthly Plan | $3.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ Monthly Plan | $3.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ (Monthly Plan) | $3.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ (Monthly Plan) | $4.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ (Monthly Plan) | $4.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ Monthly Plan | $4.99 | per month |
| Snapchat+ (Annual Plan) | $29.99 | per year |
| Snapchat+ (12-Month Plan) | $39.99 | per year |
| Snapstreak Restore | $0.49 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $0.99 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $1.49 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $2.99 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $3.99 | one-time |
| Snapstreak Restore | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💬 Great way to communicate with friends
- 📷 Convenient for sharing photos and videos
- 🤳 Fun filters and customization options
- 🔒 Secure messaging with disappearing content
- 🗺️ Useful location-based features like Snap Map

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Forced AI assistant that can't be removed
- 🤢 Dislike for new 3D bitmoji design
- 🕰️ Frustration over Snapchat+ paywall for basic features
- 🔇 Inability to disable shutter sound
- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and glitches

**Reported bugs**

- Accounts being permanently locked for unclear reasons
- Inability to create new accounts on banned devices
- Disappearing Memories and lack of data retrieval
- Inconsistent video upload and playback issues
- Notifications and chat features not working properly

**Requested features**

- Allow permanent deletion of Memories
- Add multi-video upload to Stories
- Improve customer support and account recovery
- Provide option to disable AI assistant
- Bring back 2D bitmoji customization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Instagram free?

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

### Is Snapchat free?

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

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

Instagram is rated higher. Instagram averages 4.7 out of 5 from 30M ratings, while Snapchat averages 4.5 from 5.9M ratings.

### Do Instagram or Snapchat have ads?

Both Instagram and Snapchat show ads.

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

Instagram ships an update weekly, and Snapchat every 6 days. Most recently, Instagram was updated on September 24, 2026 and Snapchat on September 24, 2026.

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

Instagram currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and Snapchat at #2. 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.*