# Instagram vs Twitch

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Instagram at 30M against Twitch's 2.8M. Instagram also leads on chart position (#3 vs #9). 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 and Twitch sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. 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 4.7 for Twitch. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Instagram has 30M ratings behind it against 2.8M, 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 35% of Twitch's.

Instagram ships an update weekly, Twitch every 6 days. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Instagram | Twitch |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (30M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instagram/id389801252/reviews) | [4.7 (2.8M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/twitch-live-streaming/id460177396/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **30M** | 2.8M |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews | **34.7% 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** | #9 |
| Size | 583 MB | 459 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.3** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Instagram, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/389801255) | [Twitch Interactive, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/358612219) |

## 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, #32 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


### Twitch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/twitch-live-streaming/id460177396)

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #14 Top Free · Photo & Video, #57 Top Grossing (US App Store)

Discover and join live communities centered around games, music, sports, and more. Watch your favorite streamers, chat in real-time, and even start your own broadcast directly from your device. Explore a vast array of content, from popular games to unique IRL experiences.

**Highlights:** Watch live streams, Chat with communities, Discover new streamers, Subscribe to favorites, Stream directly from app, Dark mode

**Features:** iMessage stickers, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 95 Bits | $1.99 | one-time |
| 245 Bits | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1 Sub Token | $5.99 | one-time |
| 500 Bits | $6.99 | one-time |
| 510 Bits | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2 Sub Tokens | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1050 Bits | $19.99 | one-time |
| 5 Sub Tokens | $29.99 | one-time |
| 2750 Bits | $49.99 | one-time |
| 10 Sub Tokens | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Exceptional app features
- 🚀 Ease of function
- 💡 Integrated with Discord
- 🚀 Seamless viewing experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable app
- 🔋 Excessive battery drain
- 🔒 Frustrating login/account issues
- 🔍 Confusing and unintuitive UI
- 📺 Excessive and disruptive ads

**Reported bugs**

- Streams freezing, audio cutting out
- Inability to pause/rewind streams
- Inconsistent behavior when minimizing app
- Disappearing followed channels
- Inability to manage subscriptions on mobile

**Requested features**

- Add subscription/Prime support on mobile
- Improve customization options
- Implement better video quality controls
- Restore old, more user-friendly UI layout
- Add option to disable auto-play and ads


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Instagram free?

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

### Is Twitch free?

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

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

Instagram and Twitch are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 30M and 2.8M ratings respectively.

### Do Instagram or Twitch have ads?

Both Instagram and Twitch show ads.

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

Instagram ships an update weekly, and Twitch every 6 days. Most recently, Instagram was updated on September 25, 2026 and Twitch on September 25, 2026.

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

Instagram currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and Twitch at #9. 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.*