Best Instagram Apps to Grow Your Account Faster in 2025

If you’re serious about growing on Instagram in 2025, just snapping a cute photo and throwing up a hashtag isn’t going to cut it.

Instagram is now a full-blown content engine, a shopping platform, a storytelling space, and for many businesses, one of the most important revenue drivers. But with over 2 billion monthly active users and an algorithm that changes more often than your favourite creator’s hair colour, how do you stand out?

You need the right tools.

From crafting jaw-dropping posts and editing high-performing Reels, to scheduling your content and tracking every like, tap, and click, the right Instagram apps will help you work smarter, not harder, as the old cliche goes!

And here’s the good news: you don’t need a massive budget or a social team the size of a football squad. Whether you’re running a small business, managing a brand, or building a personal presence, this guide will give you everything you need to find your ideal Instagram toolkit in 2025.

Instagram Content Creation Apps and Tools

Instagram is all about first impressions. If your content doesn’t look sharp, clean, and on-brand, it’s easy to get scrolled past. The good news? You don’t need a designer or a big budget! The right tools can help you create stunning posts, Reels covers, Stories, and more, all from your phone or laptop.

Let’s look at some of the best Instagram content creation applications & tools in 2025.

1. Canva

Image credit: Canva

Canva continues to be the first stop for creators and brands. It’s simple to use, packed with custom templates and works beautifully across desktop and mobile. You can build anything from Stories to carousels to Reel covers in minutes.

What really sets Canva apart now is its AI features, including auto-generated templates, captions, and even suggested hashtags. Set up your Brand Kit once and it keeps everything consistent, from colours to fonts.

Great for anyone who wants beautiful content fast, with zero design experience.

2. Adobe Express

Image credit: Adobe Express

If you want the polish of Adobe without the complexity of Photoshop, Adobe Express is a solid middle ground. It offers a more advanced level of control than Canva, while still maintaining a beginner-friendly approach.

You’ll get professional templates, access to Adobe Stock imagery, and tools for motion graphics. Plus, it syncs well with other Adobe apps if you’re already in that ecosystem.

Perfect if you’ve outgrown basic design tools and want a bit more creative freedom.

3. VistaCreate

Image credit: VistaCreate

VistaCreate is built for animated content. If you want to add motion to your Instagram posts or bring your Reels covers to life, it’s a strong pick.

The library is packed with video backgrounds, animated graphics, and modern templates that work well for Stories and short-form content. Think Canva with more movement.

Great for creators who want their content to stand out without needing video editing skills.

4. Picmaker

Image credit: Picmaker 

Picmaker is an underrated gem, especially for ecommerce and personal brands. It has tons of Instagram-specific templates, a great background remover, and AI-powered design suggestions (via the “MAD” button).

If you’re batch-creating content or managing multiple formats at once, Picmaker keeps things simple and fast.

Ideal for marketers and social media managers juggling multiple posts a week.

5. Desygner

Image credit: Desygner 

Desygner is geared towards teams, agencies, and anyone managing more than one brand. You can easily switch between brand kits, collaborate in real-time, and even import and edit PDFs, which most tools don’t support.

It also works well on mobile, which is handy for last-minute changes or on-the-go updates.

Best suited for marketers working across multiple clients or platforms.

Summary: Instagram Content Creation Apps and Tools

Instagram Video Editing Apps and Tools

Let’s be honest, video is where Instagram is heading. Reels are dominating reach, Stories still get tapped through daily, and even carousel posts are being animated to grab attention. If you want to stay visible, video needs to be part of your content mix.

These Instagram editing apps are built for creators, marketers, and social media teams that want pro-looking videos, fast.

1. InShot

Image credit: InShot

InShot is a firm favourite for editing Reels and Stories directly from your phone. You can trim clips, adjust speed, layer music, add captions, and create transitions without touching a laptop.

It’s ideal for repurposing video across different formats or giving static posts a bit of motion. The interface is super intuitive, so there’s no steep learning curve here.

Best for creators who want to edit on the go and publish quickly.

2. CapCut

Image credit: CapCut

CapCut, developed by the same parent company as TikTok, has exploded in popularity, and for good reason. It offers surprisingly powerful editing tools: effects, transitions, auto-captions, music syncing, and even trending templates.

Whether you’re creating short-form video or snappy brand ads, it’s one of the best apps for Instagram free of charge out there.

Great for making your content look like it was edited by a pro (even if it wasn’t).

3. Adobe Premiere Rush

Image credit: Adobe Premiere Rush

If you want something a little more powerful but still easy to use, Adobe Premiere Rush is a solid middle ground.

It’s lighter than Adobe Premiere Pro, built for social content, and perfect for editing on desktop or mobile. You can add multiple tracks, customise transitions, and sync across devices.

Best for creators who want creative control with minimal fuss.

4. VN Video Editor

Image credit: VN Video Editor

VN is one of the most underrated tools for Reels editing. It offers multi-layer timelines, advanced filters, motion effects, and even keyframe animation.

Despite its depth, the interface feels surprisingly light. It’s especially useful if you’re editing longer-form content or repurposing videos across platforms.

A smart pick for anyone pushing out consistent, high-quality video content.

Summary: Instagram Video Editing Apps and Tools

Instagram Scheduling Apps and Tools

Posting randomly and hoping for the best? Not the move! If you want to stay consistent, grow faster, and stop stressing about what to post next, you need a scheduling tool.

Here are a few that actually make your life easier (and your feed look good).

1. Later

Image credit: Later

Later is built for visual planning, which makes it especially popular with fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands.

You can drag and drop posts into your feed, preview how it’ll all look, and schedule everything from Reels to carousels. It also has a built-in Link in Bio feature and some surprisingly good analytics.

It’s the go-to for creators and brands who care about aesthetics and performance.

2. Buffer

Image credit: Buffer

Buffer’s been around forever, but don’t write it off because of that! It’s a simple, reliable scheduler that now supports Reels and Stories too.

It doesn’t try to do everything, but what it does, it nails: clean scheduling, analytics, and a really easy-to-use interface. It’s the best application for Instagram if you want no-fuss tool that just works.

A favourite among small teams or solo marketers juggling multiple platforms.

3. Planoly

Image credit: Planoly

Originally built for Instagram, Planoly makes it easy to schedule and manage content, especially if you post across Pinterest or TikTok too.

Its best features? A clean visual planner, hashtag manager, and product tagging if you’re using Instagram Shopping.

Good for brands balancing content with commerce.

Summary: Instagram Scheduling Apps and Tools

Instagram Analytics Tools and Apps

If you’re only looking at likes and follower counts, you’re missing the bigger picture. The best Instagram strategies are built on real insights. These tools help you figure out what’s working, what’s not, and where to focus your energy.

1. Iconosquare

Image credit: Iconosquare

Iconosquare is a solid all-in-one analytics platform trusted by many brands. It offers detailed performance tracking, from follower growth and engagement to Instagram Stories stats.

You can benchmark against competitors, track hashtags, and get in-depth reports that actually mean something.

Especially useful if you need custom reporting or manage multiple client accounts.

2. Later Analytics

Image credit: Later Analytics

If you’re already using Later to schedule posts, their analytics features are a bonus. You can track engagement, monitor click-throughs from your Link in Bio, and identify your best-performing content types.

It’s not as deep as some dedicated analytics platforms, but it gives you what you need in a very digestible way.

Great for solo creators or small brands that want to stay informed without feeling overwhelmed.

3. Minter.io

Image credit: Minter.io

Minter.io is focused purely on Instagram and offers beautifully designed reports, charts, and visual breakdowns.

You can track audience insights, top-performing filters, post reach over time, and benchmark performance by campaign. It’s perfect for agencies or brands who want to impress with visual data.

Also ideal if you like exporting clean PDFs or sharing progress with clients.

Summary: Instagram Analytics Tools and Apps

Instagram Research & Marketing Apps and Tools

Creating great content is only half the story. Knowing what to post, when to post it, and how your audience behaves? That’s where research and smart marketing tools step in.

These tools help you find what’s trending, understand your audience, and market more strategically.

1. Flick

Image credit: Flick

Flick is an all-in-one Instagram hashtag, scheduling, and analytics tool, but where it really shines is hashtag research. It helps you discover hashtags your audience is actually searching for, analyse how competitive they are, and even track how your posts perform across different tags.

Perfect if you want your content seen by the right people without spammy tactics.

2. SparkToro

Image credit: SparkToro

SparkToro isn’t Instagram-specific, but it’s a powerful audience research tool that tells you where your audience hangs out online, including what hashtags they use, who they follow, and what content they engage with.

Brilliant for understanding your niche and finding aligned creators, collabs, or content ideas.

3. ShortStack

Image credit: ShortStack

If you run giveaways or contests on Instagram, ShortStack is a must!

It collects user-generated content, helps manage entries, and gives you a clean way to display everything. Plus, it can track performance and even integrate with your email tools.

Ideal for brands that run regular promotions or campaigns.

Summary: Instagram Research & Marketing Apps and Tools

Instagram Reels & Stories Apps and Tools

Reels and Stories are where attention lives on Instagram. They’re fast, visual, and more immersive than ever. Whether you’re aiming for viral reach or building daily connections, having the right tools makes a massive difference.

Here are a few that really help creators stay sharp and consistent…

1. InShot

Image credit: InShot

Simple, slick, and mobile-friendly, InShot is a go-to for creators editing Reels on the fly.

You can trim, add music, apply filters, insert text, or stitch clips together without needing a computer. You can also adjust the canvas size to fit Reels perfectly (9:16 ratio), which saves loads of time.

Perfect if you’re filming and editing directly from your phone.

2. Mojo

Image credit: Mojo

Do you want to level up your Stories without spending hours in design apps? Mojo has ready-made animated templates built specifically for Stories.

Add music, mix in photos or video, and use stylish transitions to create polished, brand-consistent Stories in minutes.

Really useful for small teams or solo creators who want to look premium without hiring a designer.

3. CapCut

Image credit: CapCut

Made by the same people behind TikTok, CapCut is seriously good for editing Reels. Think transitions, effects, stickers, music… all with a really smooth mobile experience.

It’s free, powerful, and a strong pick if you want to create more stylised or trending content.

Especially good for creators jumping between TikTok and Instagram.

4. StoryArt

Image credit: StoryArt

Do you want your Stories to actually look like a cohesive brand experience? StoryArt helps you build them in sets, with branded colour palettes, stylish font pairings, and multi-slide designs.

Great for campaigns or promotions where you want your message to flow across several frames.

Perfect for those who use Stories for storytelling, not just casual updates.

5. Canva

Image credit: Canva

Yes, Canva again, but the mobile application for Instagram deserves a shout for Stories and Reels too. They’ve got loads of video-based templates, animated text, drag-and-drop design tools, and the ability to work across devices. Create on desktop, tweak on mobile, then publish in one tap.

Great if you want to start with a desktop design and finish on your phone.

Summary: Instagram Reels & Stories Apps and Tools

Instagram Hashtag Tools and Apps

Hashtags are how people discover new content, follow trends, and join conversations. These tools help to make sure your posts land in front of the right people, at the right time.

1. Flick

Image credit: Flick

Flick isn’t just a hashtag generator; it gives you real data. You can see which tags are working, how competitive they are, and how they perform over time.

It even offers a “collections” feature, so you can save different sets for campaigns or content types.

Perfect if you want to build a smart, repeatable hashtag strategy.

2. Hashtag Expert

Image credit: Hashtag Expert

Popular among creators, Hashtag Expert gives instant suggestions based on the keywords you enter. It also rates hashtags by reach potential and lets you create sets for different audiences.

Great for when you need ideas fast, but still want to stay relevant.

3. RiteTag (by RiteKit)

Image credit: RiteTag

RiteTag gives you real-time hashtag suggestions based on the image or text of your post. It categorises them by potential, like “trending now” or “long-term reach”, so you can mix and match accordingly.

Good for creators posting visual content who want a more tailored approach.

Summary: Instagram Hashtag Tools and Apps

Instagram Ecommerce Apps and Tools

Instagram isn’t purely a place to share anymore! It’s a place to sell. With features like shoppable posts, product tags, and Instagram Checkout, the platform has become a serious ecommerce channel, especially for fashion, lifestyle, and beauty brands.

These tools help bridge the gap between inspiration and purchase.

1. Shopify’s Instagram Integration

Image credit: Shopify

If you’re running a Shopify store, this one’s essential. It connects your product catalogue directly to Instagram, so you can tag products in posts, Reels, and Stories. Shoppers can tap, learn more, and check out without leaving the app for Instagram.

It keeps everything synced and shoppable, all the time.

2. Ecwid

Image credit: Ecwid

Ecwid offers a flexible ecommerce solution for smaller brands and creators. With the Instagram integration, you can sell products directly from your feed, even if you don’t have a full online store yet.

Bonus: It also connects with Facebook, TikTok, and Pinterest.

It’s a great starting point for social-first businesses.

3. Later + Link In Bio

Image credit: Later

Later is mostly known as a scheduling tool, but its Link In Bio feature deserves a mention here. It turns the link in your bio into a mini shop that mirrors your feed. Click a post, land on the product, done.

This is a handy workaround if you’re not using Instagram Shopping directly, or want to drive traffic to multiple product pages.

Great for creators, boutiques, and brands with diverse product lines who want flexibility without complex setup.

4. BigCommerce for Instagram

Image credit: BigCommerce

Like Shopify, BigCommerce has a native integration with Instagram Shopping. It allows you to manage your entire catalogue and track how products perform on social.

You can also sync with other marketplaces like Amazon and eBay.

A strong option for brands managing multiple sales channels at once.

Summary: Instagram Apps and Tools for eCommerce

Selling Smarter with the Best Apps for Instagram

Instagram has moved far beyond selfies and filters. For brands, it’s now one of the most powerful platforms for storytelling, community building, and yes, selling.

Whether you’re a creator launching your first product or a business scaling up your social commerce game, the apps for Instagram are there. The trick is knowing which ones to use, when to use them, and how to make them work for your goals.

From content creation and video editing to analytics, ecommerce, and everything in between, there’s a tool for every job. But don’t get caught up in using all of them. Start small, test what clicks with your audience, and build from there.

And remember: Instagram is supposed to be fun. If your content feels fresh, looks good, and makes it easy to shop or engage, you’re already ahead of most!