Social Media · head to head
Instagram vs Metricool
Social Media
Bringing you closer to the people and things you love
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Metricool
Social Media & Content
All-in-one platform to plan, publish, and analyze social media content
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Instagram algorithm changes frequently affect content reach and organic visibility; Metricool full Twitter/X analytics and post approval workflows are locked behind the Advanced plan.
- They diverge on capability: Instagram covers Photo and video sharing, Metricool covers Content Planner.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Instagram and Metricool actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Instagram
- Photo and video sharing
- Stories
- Reels
- IGTV
- Direct messaging
- Live streaming
- Shopping
- Explore page
Only in Metricool
- Content Planner
- Analytics & Competitor Analysis
- Automated Reporting
- Unified Inbox
- Ads Management
- SmartLinks
- AI Assistant
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
- Social networkingnot Metricool
- Brand marketingnot Metricool
- Content creationnot Metricool
- E-commercenot Metricool
- Personal sharingnot Metricool
Metricool
- Scheduling posts across multiple social networksnot Instagram
- Tracking competitor social performancenot Instagram
- Automating client and team reportsnot Instagram
- Managing paid social ad campaignsnot Instagram
- Building a link-in-bio landing pagenot Instagram
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
- Algorithm changes frequently affect content reach and organic visibility
- Requires public account and 1000+ followers to access live streaming (as of August 2025)
- Increasingly focused on video content, reducing discoverability of photo-only posts
- Limited content creator earnings compared to YouTube
- Heavy emphasis on ads can make free experience cluttered
Metricool
- Full Twitter/X analytics and post approval workflows are locked behind the Advanced plan.
- Unlimited scheduling on paid plans is still capped by an undisclosed fair use policy.
- Free plan is limited to a single brand and 20 posts per month.
- API access is only available on the top Advanced tier.
Pricing, plan by plan
No published plan breakdown. See the Instagram review.
Metricool
Free- FreeFree
- 1 brand
- 20 posts/month
- 5 competitor profiles
- Starter$20/month
- Up to 10 brands
- Unlimited publishing (fair use)
- 100 competitor profiles
- Advanced$53/month
- Up to 50 brands
- Team management and post approval
- Full Twitter/X analytics
Which should you pick?
Choose Instagram if
- You need photo and video sharing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on iOS, Android, Web.
- You also want stories.
Choose Metricool if
- You need content planner.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on web, ios, android, api.
- You also want analytics & competitor analysis.
Questions people ask
- Is Instagram or Metricool better?
- Neither clearly leads. Instagram starts at Free and Metricool at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Instagram or Metricool?
- Instagram starts at Free and Metricool at Free.
- Does Instagram or Metricool run on more platforms?
- Instagram runs on iOS, Android, Web. Metricool runs on web, ios, android, api.
- Can I use Instagram for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is Instagram best used for?
- Instagram is most often used for social networking, brand marketing, content creation, e-commerce. Of those, social networking and brand marketing are not what Metricool is typically brought in for.
- What can Instagram do that Metricool cannot?
- Instagram covers Photo and video sharing, Stories, Reels, IGTV. Metricool covers Content Planner, Analytics & Competitor Analysis, Automated Reporting, Unified Inbox.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Instagram: Is Instagram free to use?
Yes. Instagram is free for all users. Meta monetizes through advertising rather than subscription fees.
SourceMetricool: Is there a free plan, and what are its limits?
Metricool's Free plan supports 1 brand, up to 20 posts per month, 5 competitor profiles, and 30 days of analytics history.
SourceInstagram: How many users does Instagram have?
As of September 2025, Instagram has more than three billion users, making it one of the world's largest social media platforms.
SourceMetricool: What does Metricool cost?
Starter runs from about $20/month and Advanced from about $53/month (billed annually, with monthly billing also available); a Custom tier is available on request.
SourceInstagram: What platforms does Instagram support?
Instagram is available on iOS, Android, and web browsers as the primary platforms.
SourceMetricool: How is usage metered?
Plans limit the number of connected brands and competitor profiles; scheduling is unlimited on paid plans but subject to a fair use policy.
SourceInstagram: Can you upload both photos and videos on Instagram?
Yes. Instagram supports photo sharing, video uploads, stories, reels (short-form videos), and lives streams.
SourceRelated pages
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