In the race to the best social platforms, Instagram marketing has become a strong contender in the last couple of years. That means there’s an Instagram tool for everything these days — but why do you need them?
With its billion+ users, Instagram is also the third-most-popular advertising and content platform behind Facebook and Google Ads.
To cash in on the 4.2 billion post likes per day, and the 60% of users who discover products on Instagram first, you need to be organized and use the right Instagram tools for every aspect of your business to stay ahead of the pack.
So, what’s the best Instagram tool to get started with?
We’ve put together this comprehensive best Instagram tool list that covers apps for scheduling Instagram posts (anything from an Instagram Story to an Instagram Reel), creating awesome content, selling on Instagram, growing IG followers and more.
Here are the chapters we will be covering:
Best Instagram Tools for eCommerce
- Selling Tools for Instagram
- Best Tools for Scheduling Instagram Posts
- Content Creation Tools for Instagram Marketing
- All-in-One Multi-Channel Management Tools
- Growth-Hacking Instagram Tools
- Instagram Hashtag Research Tools
- Linking Tools for Instagram
- Photo Editing Tools for Instagram
- Instagram Analytics Tools
Let’s dive in.
Selling Tools for Instagram
1. Foursixty
Perfect for: Selling with Instagram posts
Price: Starting at $50 per month
Type: Web integration and Shopify app
Foursixty is a comprehensive Instagram selling tool that allows you to display UGC in your checkout pages, use powerful customization tools, get rights to photos and Instagram videos, and schedule your posts. Its most important feature, though, is its shoppable gallery tool, which turns your UGC and content into shoppable galleries for your site, blog, emails, and Instagram ad campaigns.
2. Shopping on Instagram
Perfect for: Selling with Instagram
Price: Free
Type: Shopify app
Shopping for Instagram is a Shopify store feature that helps you link to Instagram Shopping to create shoppable Instagram Story, images, and video posts.
You need to be located in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Brazil, Germany, France, Spain, or Italy to use this feature; make sure you’ve got an approved Facebook shop and Instagram business account. It also offers marketers additional Instagram insights they can use for other channels and strategies.
3. Instagram Shoppable Feed
Perfect for: Adding shoppable Instagram feeds to your site
Price: $4.95 per month
Type: Shopify app
Like the previous Instagram post display apps we’ve discussed, the Instagram Shoppable Feed Shopify app allows you to display your posts on your site. However, unlike previously mentioned tools, this Instagram app enables you to make those Instagram images shoppable, designed to help push online sales.
4. Woobox
Perfect for: Running Instagram contests
Price: Free, with paid plans starting at $37 per month
Type: Web platform
Bonus Content: How to Run a Social Media Giveaway for Your eCommerce Store
If you’re looking for an Instagram app to help run Instagram (and Facebook) contests, then Woobox is a handy Instagram marketing tool to have. Used by big brands such as Spotify and Fossil, Woobox helps you create posts, landing pages, and forms. Collect hashtag submissions, etc., to launch Instagram competitions to drive sales and grow IG followers.
Bonus Tool: Traffic Booster for Instagram Ads
Perfect for: Instagram and Facebook eCommerce ads (along with Google Ads for eCommerce)
Price: Free trial, then $120+ per month (including actual ad spend!)
Type: SaaS tool, Shopify app, WP plugin, and more
Traffic Booster is an all-in-one PPC management tool designed by and for eCommerce brands. Our selling tool automates and optimizes your Instagram, Facebook, and Google ads using advanced AI technology. This tool is designed to ensure eCommerce brands are able to attract more of the right shoppers at the right time for the right cost — ultimately ensuring you get the best ROAS — and will take the manual management burden off your shoulders.
Get Traffic NowBest Tools for Scheduling Instagram Posts
5. Buffer
Perfect for: Social scheduling
Price: Free version, with pro upgrades starting at $15
Type: Web platform, iOS, and Android
In early 2022, social scheduling and management platform Buffer added Instagram to their list of platforms you can schedule to. Buffer users can schedule their single-image posts from their desktops or their Buffer mobile apps, making it easier to schedule all your social posts ahead of time with one platform. You can find it on any app store, or sign up through their web platform.
6. Hootsuite
Perfect for: Social scheduling and monitoring
Price: Plans start at $19 per month and include a 30-day free trial
Type: Web platform
Another popular multi-platform scheduler is Hootsuite. With this platform, you can schedule Instagram (and other social account posts) ahead of time, get post notifications, and track Instagram analytics in real-time. Whether it’s an Instagram Story, multi-product carousels or an Instagram Reel, Hootsuite offers one-click professional scheduling and is considered a top Instagram tool for running multiple Instagram accounts.
7. Hopper
Perfect for: Scheduling and stats
Price: Starting at $16 per month on the annual plan
Type: Web platform
If you’re looking for an Instagram scheduling tool that is exclusive to Instagram accounts, then Hopper could be it. It offers scheduling, Instagram content calendars, a phone preview to see how posts look on mobile before scheduling, and has space for draft posts.
8. Later
Perfect for: Scheduling
Price: Free, with paid plans starting at $9 per month
Type: Web platform
One of the most popular schedulers out there — according to a lot of eCommerce Facebook group member recommendations — is Later. Later is known for its visual calendar and easy scheduler, as well as its link.bio feature that turns bio links into shoppable URLs.
Bonus Content: 34+ Must-Join eCommerce Facebook Groups [2023 Edition]
9. Sked Social
Perfect for: Scheduling all post types
Price: Starting at $20 per month
Type: Web platform and iOS
A little pricier than the other scheduling tools we’ve mentioned, Sked Social is a little more than just a scheduler, as it also includes content creation features designed explicitly for Instagram.
Some highlighted features include their visual planner, built-in photo editing, drag and drop calendar, location, shopping, and mention tagging, and a variety of post type options such as carousels, Instagram videos, and stories.
Content Creation Tools for Instagram Marketing
10. Canva
Perfect for: Content creation
Price: Free, with free and paid template options
Type: Web platform, iOS, and Android
Canva is a great online content creation tool for designing anything from Instagram posts to email headers. There are tons of both free and paid templates and images to choose from, and you’re able to upload finished designs directly to your Instagram account.
11. Kapwing
Perfect for: Video and meme creation
Price: Free, with an additional $6 to remove the watermark
Type: Web platform
Kapwing is a free online Instagram content creation tool specializing in Instagram video creation and editing. With Kapwing you can make memes, add subtitles to your videos, create video collages, add music and text, trim and resize videos, create slow-motion videos, and much more.
12. Repost
Perfect for: Curating and sharing content
Price: $4.99 per month
Type: Web Platform
The Repost platform makes it possible for you to repost your favorite photos and videos on Instagram while giving credit to the original Instagrammer. The big advantage is that it’s easy to use, allowing you to share your UGC to your Instagram account while on the go.
13. VSCO
Perfect for: Editing photos and videos
Price: Free, with in-app purchases
If you’re looking for striking visual content for your Instagram campaigns, VSCO is waiting to help. With its powerful image and Instagram video editing capabilities, users can replicate settings to make their photos look like they’ve been professionally shot. They also have preset options that serious creators can use with Lightroom and Photoshop.
All-in-One Multi-Channel Management Tools
14. Sprout Social
Perfect for: Advanced social account management
Price: Paid plans starting at $249 per month on an annual plan
Type: Web platform
Best suited for larger online retailers, Sprout Social is a robust, full-suite social media management program. Trusted by 30,000 merchants, their features include advanced Instagram analytics and insights, engagement streamlining, publishing and scheduling, social listening to unlock Instagram trends, and more.
15. Crowdfire
Perfect for: Social account management
Price: Free, and paid plans starting at $7.48 per month on an annual plan
Type: Web platform
Crowdfire is an all-in-one social and blog content management tool that allows you to schedule and publish posts, curate content, track social mentions, and monitor account and post analytics. This includes your Instagram account, and is a good tool for those wanting an Instagram management tool that works with most platforms.
16. Sendible
Perfect for: Social account management
Price: Starting at $29 per month
Type: Web platform
Another all-in-one social media management tool to consider is Sendible. However, as it is designed for agencies or business owners who manage a host of social accounts, it can seem a little expensive for newbie small businesses, but it has robust features.
It includes post scheduling and social account management as well as CRM and team collaboration features. Plus, its easy Canva integration makes creating Instagram and other social posts a breeze.
17. Status Brew
Perfect for: Social account management
Price: $125 per month
Type: Web platform
Similar to Crowdfire and Sendible, Status Brew gives you 10 social profiles, 10 Twitter sources, three team members, 2,000 scheduled posts per Instagram profile, comprehensive reporting, and social listening. Another alternative with be the social media management platform Vista Social. You can find out about them here.
Tip: For those who aren’t familiar with the term, social listening features generally enable you to sync your social engagement to the platform, monitor and moderate comments, draft replies, and manage keywords.
Growth-Hacking Instagram Tools
18. Combin
Perfect for: Growing your Instagram following
Price: Free, with upgraded plans starting at $10 per month
Type: Windows, OS, and Linux
The Combin platform is marketed as the ideal tool for growing genuine IG followers and engagement — and getting comments and likes. It also helps you find Instagram influencers and engage back with followers in a user-friendly way.
Newbie Tip: Looking for an Instagram influencer but don’t know where to start? Head over to our How to Find the Best Influencers for Your eCommerce Brand and Beginners Guide to Instagram Influencer Marketing for Online Store Owners posts for Instagram influencer tips.
19. Coupon Pop
Perfect for: Converting web traffic to Instagram followers
Price: Starting at $10 per month
Type: Web platform and Shopify app
Coupon Pop is a web tool that enables you to create pop-ups that are designed to turn your website traffic into social followers by offering incentives.
20. Instagram Feed WP
Perfect for: Displaying Instagram posts on your site
Price: Free, with premium upgrades starting at $75 (once-off)
Type: WP plugin
Another way to turn your site traffic into Instagram followers is to integrate your Instagram content into your store. If you’re using WordPress, then 10Web Instagram Feed is a good Instagram growth tool solution. From displaying hashtag feeds to highlighting specific posts, this tool is an excellent way to introduce your web traffic to your Instagram content.
21. Juicer
Perfect for: Site integration and feed management
Price: Free, with upgraded plans starting at $19 per month
Type: Online platform and WP plugin
Juicer lets you display your Instagram posts on your website to help you turn your web traffic into engaged Instagram followers. Their single dashboard also allows you to view and delete your posts.
22. Social Network Elite
Perfect for: Increasing IG followers through auto-engagement
Price: $39 per week
Type: Web platform
If you’re looking for automated likes, comments, and follows to help you engage with Instagram users, then Social Network Elite’s algorithm can help. Based on specific parameters you set, it then learns the best times for engagement and acts accordingly.
Cautionary Tip: If you decide that this kind of tool is the way to go, use it strategically. There is nothing more annoying to an Instagram user than an engagement that is clearly a bot. Instead, make sure you use more segmented hashtags/permissions (to keep the chance of relevancy higher) and be extra cautious with your comment text.
23. Upleap
Perfect for: Increasing followers
Price: Starting at $39 per month with a free trial
Type: Web platform agency
Upleap takes over your Instagram engagement management to grow your Instagram following. It’s marketed as a tool to save you a ton of time by managing your search for engaged followers while helping your brand gain more social influence.
Instagram Hashtag Research Tools
24. AutoHash
Perfect for: Finding hashtags
Price: Free, with in-app purchases
Type: Android
AutoHash is an Android Intagram app that helps you find relevant Instagram hashtags more easily. It uses AI to review your images and the objects in them to suggest the most relevant hashtags for your Instagram content. It will also add your popular hashtags to your clipboard for future use.
25. Display Purposes
Perfect for: Finding hashtags
Price: Free
Type: Web platform
Display Purposes is a web-based platform that helps you research popular and relevant hashtags for your Instagram posts. You start by inputting a hashtag or keyword, and it will suggest more hashtags to choose from (in manual mode) or give you a list of hashtags to use (in automatic mode).
26. Websta
Perfect for: Hashtag ideas
Price: Free
Type: Web platform
Websta is a web platform tool that helps eCommerce brands curate hashtag ideas.
Linking Tools for Instagram
27. Linktree
Perfect for: Bio link strategies
Price: Free, or $6 per month for the pro version
Type: Web platform
Linktree is a tool that manages your Instagram bio link for you. As you know, you are able to put only one link in your Instagram bio, and changing it frequently, depending on specials, blog posts, or product promotions, can be tedious.
Linktree fixes that by providing you a link to use that leads clickers to a landing page with different sections they can select.
28. Soldsie
Perfect for: Bio link strategies
Price: Free to $300, depending on the number of clicks your link receives
Type: Web platform
Another bio link optimizing tool is Soldsie, catering to online stores and publications. Utilizing the link “have2have.it/brand,” it’s a favorite bio link tool for some of the biggest brands, including OPI, Dailylook, and Lulu Frost.
Photo Editing Tools for Instagram
29. Afterlight
Perfect for: Photo editing
Price: $2.99
Type: iOS (and Android for the previous version)
Afterlight is another favorite all-in-one photo editing tool. It includes a variety of frames, filters, typography options, and textures to help you visually optimize your Instagram images. Additionally, there is an option to create your own filters. Its older version is available for Android.
30. Enlight
Perfect for: Photo editing
Price: $3.99
Type: iOS
Another iOS photo editing tool is Enlight. Enlight is super creative and helps turn your images or Instagram ad creatives into original works of art.
31. Facetune
Perfect for: Retouching images
Price: Free, with in-app purchases
Type: iOS
Facetune is a retouching app that helps you do things like whiten teeth, widen eyes, cover blemishes, etc., without the need for fancy editing programs such as Photoshop. Good on a lower budget for your images with people or apparel product photos with models.
32. Photoshop Express
Perfect for: Image editing
Price: Free
Type: Windows, Android, and iOS
Photoshop has brought out a free photo editing app called Photoshop Express. It offers a host of photo editing features, including cropping, blemish removal, text tools, contrast and exposure corrections, filters, perspective corrections, and border additions.
33. Snapseed
Perfect for: Photo editing
Price: Free
Another free, popular photo editing app is Snapseed, which has comprehensive editing tools and allows you to upload images directly to certain platforms. Its “Stacks” feature allows you to group filters you have used to create a template that you can use for future Instagram images.
Instagram Analytics Tools
34. Growth Hero
Perfect for: Facebook and Instagram Ads auditing
Price: Free
Type: Web platform or Shopify app
If you’re looking for the best Instagram tool for market auditing, then try Growth Hero. Growth Hero is a free Facebook and Instagram analytics tool designed specifically for online retail brands. It enables you to audit your Meta Ads account (including Instagram) for free, and then offers actionable Facebook and Instagram insights to improve performance.
35. Analisa
Perfect for: Instagram analytics
Price: Free basic version, with paid plans starting at $69 per month
Type: Web platform
Analisa is an Instagram analytics tool that has also expanded to tracking your TikTok ad and Twitter data as well. Their Instagram analytics tool features include a host of follower demographic and authenticity analytics, Instagram profile and hashtag activity/performance, and campaign analysis — each giving comprehensive insights.
Bonus Content: Google Ads vs. Facebook Ads vs. TikTok Ads: Everything You Need to Know to Boost eCommerce Sales
Wrap Up
There you have it — all the Instagram tools you could need for anything from scheduling to marketing and selling that are available in app stores, on Shopify, or online. To recap:
Best Instagram Tools
- Foursixty
- Shopping on Instagram
- Instagram Shoppable Feed
- Woobox
- Buffer
- Hootsuite
- Hopper
- Later
- Sked Social
- Canva
- Kapwing
- Repost
- VSCO
- Sprout Social
- Crowdfire
- Sendible
- Status Brew
- Combin
- Coupon Pop
- Instagram Feed WP
- Juicer
- Social Network Elite
- Upleap
- AutoHash
- Display Purposes
- Websta
- Linktree
- Soldsie
- Afterlight
- Enlight
- Facetune
- Photoshop Express
- Snapseed
- Growth Hero
- Analisa
However, before investing in a new Instagram tool, we suggest that you make use of their free versions, trials, and plans first. Not just for your content, but your Instagram ads too.
This will ensure you’re not throwing away unnecessary budget on tools, apps, and plugins that won’t work for your brand, niche, or marketing objectives. Also, for new stores with a limited budget you can start with a free Instagram tool such as Growth Hero.
You also want to narrow down your most important Instagram marketing goals. For instance, the best Instagram tool for you would not be the same if your goal was either content marketing, ad optimization, or Instagram influencer marketing.
Have questions? Post them in the comments section below.
Nicole is a content writer with over sixteen years experience and flair for storytelling. She runs on a healthy dose of caffeine and enthusiasm. When she's not researching the next content trend or creating business content strategies, she's an avid beachgoer, coffee shop junkie and hangs out on LinkedIn.
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