# Instagram vs YouTube

Instagram and YouTube both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 48% of YouTube's written reviews are positive against 31% of Instagram's. YouTube also leads on chart position (#1 vs #3). On price, rating, ratings volume 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 YouTube sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $11.99 per month. 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 YouTube. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 30M and 49M respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 31% of Instagram's written reviews are positive against 48% of YouTube's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Instagram | YouTube |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (30M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instagram/id389801252/reviews) | [4.7 (49M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/youtube/id544007664/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 30M | **49M** |
| Positive reviews | 31.2% of reviews | **48.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #3 | **#1** |
| Size | 583 MB | 375 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.3** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Instagram, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/389801255) | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## 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, #31 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


### YouTube

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/youtube/id544007664)

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #2 Top Grossing, #5 Top Free · Photo & Video, #52 Top Free (US App Store)

Watch and subscribe to a vast array of videos, from music and gaming to news and learning. Discover trending content, connect with creators, and even upload your own videos. Offers options for ad-free viewing and exclusive perks.

**Highlights:** Personalized video recommendations, Subscribe to favorite channels, Explore trending and popular content, Connect with creators via comments and posts, Create and upload videos, Ad-free viewing with Premium, Save videos for offline playback

**Features:** Siri integration, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Lite | $11.99 | per month |
| FOX One | $19.99 | per month |
| YouTube Premium | $20.99 | per month |
| YouTube Premium | $20.99 | per month |
| Youtube Premium Family | $34.99 | per month |
| YouTube Premium Family | $34.99 | per month |
| Super Chat | $1.99 | one-time |
| Movies & Shows | $2.99 | one-time |
| Movies & Shows | $3.99 | one-time |
| Super Chat | $4.99 | one-time |
| Movies & Shows | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐ Great app
- 🎨 Diverse content
- 🎓 Educational videos
- 🎶 Excellent music selection
- 🌐 Vast library of videos

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Too many ads
- 🤖 Biased algorithm recommendations
- 🔇 Inability to listen with screen off
- 🔍 Difficult to find relevant content
- 🔒 Censorship concerns

**Reported bugs**

- Video playback issues
- Subscription tab bugs
- Inconsistent UI changes
- Syncing problems across devices
- Unreliable video recommendations

**Requested features**

- Bring back dislike button
- Improve playlist management
- Add option to customize video quality
- Enhance background playback
- Improve comment section functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Instagram free?

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

### Is YouTube free?

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

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

Instagram and YouTube are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 30M and 49M ratings respectively.

### Do Instagram or YouTube have ads?

Both Instagram and YouTube show ads.

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

Instagram ships an update weekly, and YouTube weekly. Most recently, Instagram was updated on September 24, 2026 and YouTube on September 24, 2026.

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

Instagram currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and YouTube at #1. 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.*