# Instagram vs Google Photos

Instagram and Google Photos both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 64% of Google Photos's written reviews are positive against 31% of Instagram's. Instagram's advantage is ratings volume (30M vs 1.6M) and iOS requirement (16.3 vs 18.0). On price, rating, 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 Google Photos sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 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 4.8 for Google Photos. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Instagram has 30M ratings behind it against 1.6M, 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 64% of Google Photos's.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Instagram | Google Photos |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (30M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instagram/id389801252/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.6M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-photos-backup-and-edit/id962194608/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **30M** | 1.6M |
| Positive reviews | 31.2% of reviews | **63.8% 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** | #6 |
| Size | 583 MB | 422 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.3** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| 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, #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


### Google Photos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-photos-backup-and-edit/id962194608)

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Grossing · Photo & Video, #9 Top Free · Photo & Video, #29 Top Grossing, #114 Top Free (US App Store)

This app serves as a central hub for all your photos and videos, offering AI-powered editing, effortless organization, and secure cloud storage. It allows you to easily search, relive, and share your memories, while also freeing up space on your device.

**Highlights:** 15 GB cloud storage, AI-powered editing tools, Natural language search, Automatic organization, Secure backup, Free up device space, Print photo products

**Features:** Family Sharing, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 100 GB | $1.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| 200 GB | $2.99 | per month |
| Google AI Plus (2 TB) | $9.99 | per month |
| 100 GB of Storage (1 year) | $19.99 | per year |
| 200 GB | $29.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Unlimited storage
- 👍 Seamless backup and organization
- 🎨 Excellent photo editing features
- 💡 Automatic photo enhancements
- 🤖 Powerful search and facial recognition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches with scrolling and loading
- 🔒 Lack of privacy/security options
- 🔍 Difficulty managing and deleting photos
- 💰 Transition to paid storage model

**Reported bugs**

- Photos disappearing from library
- Syncing issues between devices
- Slow upload speeds for large libraries

**Requested features**

- Selective photo/video backup and deletion
- Duplicate photo detection and removal
- Offline access and editing capabilities
- More granular album and folder organization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Instagram free?

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

### Is Google Photos free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Instagram or Google Photos?

Google Photos is rated higher. Instagram averages 4.7 out of 5 from 30M ratings, while Google Photos averages 4.8 from 1.6M ratings.

### Do Instagram or Google Photos have ads?

Both Instagram and Google Photos show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Instagram or Google Photos?

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

### Which is more popular, Instagram or Google Photos?

Instagram currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and Google Photos at #6. 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.*