# Instagram vs InShot

Instagram and InShot both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 86% of InShot's written reviews are positive against 31% of Instagram's. Instagram's advantage is ratings volume (30M vs 2.5M) and chart position (#3 vs #29). 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 InShot sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 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 InShot. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Instagram has 30M ratings behind it against 2.5M, 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 86% of InShot's.

Instagram ships an update weekly, InShot fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Instagram | InShot |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (30M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/instagram/id389801252/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.5M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inshot-video-editor/id997362197/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **30M** | 2.5M |
| Positive reviews | 31.3% of reviews | **85.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#3** | #29 |
| Size | 583 MB | 252 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.3 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Instagram, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/389801255) | [SHANTANU PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1619465920) |

## 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, #23 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


### InShot

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inshot-video-editor/id997362197)

**Currently charting:** #29 Top Free · Photo & Video, #60 Top Grossing · Photo & Video (US App Store)

Effortlessly edit videos and photos with AI-powered tools. Create stunning collages, add text, music, and effects. Share your creations in high resolution to social media.

**Highlights:** AI Effects & Auto Captions, Background Removal, Smart Tracking & Smooth Slow-mo, Video Trimming & Merging, Filters, Effects & Transitions, Photo Collage Maker, High-Resolution Sharing

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

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| InShot Pro - Monthly | $4.99 | per month |
| InShot Pro - Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| InShot Pro - Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Filter pack - CREATE | $1.99 | one-time |
| Filter pack - CINEMA | $1.99 | one-time |
| Filter pack - SKIN | $1.99 | one-time |
| Video Effect - FORM Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove ads | $3.99 | one-time |
| Transition pack - Power | $3.99 | one-time |
| Transition pack - Glitch | $3.99 | one-time |
| InShot Pro - Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💎 Excellent editing features
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 💎 Comprehensive video editing capabilities
- 🤩 Impressive effects and transitions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Saving and conversion issues
- 🐛 Glitchy performance and crashes
- 🔒 Limited cloud/cross-device sync
- 🔒 Restricted access to local media files
- 🔒 Aggressive monetization tactics

**Reported bugs**

- Saved drafts randomly disappearing
- Video/audio desynchronization issues
- Crashes when editing long videos
- Difficulty accessing local media files

**Requested features**

- Green screen/chroma key support
- More advanced text animation options
- Improved audio editing tools
- Ability to save multiple projects/drafts
- Smoother integration with other apps/devices


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Instagram free?

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

### Is InShot free?

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

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

InShot is rated higher. Instagram averages 4.7 out of 5 from 30M ratings, while InShot averages 4.8 from 2.5M ratings.

### Do Instagram or InShot have ads?

Both Instagram and InShot show ads.

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

Instagram ships an update weekly, and InShot fortnightly. Most recently, Instagram was updated on September 25, 2026 and InShot on September 25, 2026.

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

Instagram currently peaks at #3 in the App Store charts, and InShot at #29. 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.*