Are you looking to get more out of Instagram? Trying to figure out how to get your photos just right, without spending time and money on expensive editing software?
With this guide to the best apps for posting on Instagram, you can find out which apps are right for you!
We’ve compiled a list of the best, least expensive apps that will help you enhance your photos and add some extra polish to your posts, so you can impress all your followers.
Best Apps For Posting On Instagram
With 500 million daily active users on Instagram, it’s not enough to just rely on the 24 standard filters and tools available within the app anymore. To truly set yourself apart from the other brands competing for attention, you’ve got to supplement your Instagram game with some extra apps.
Lucky for you, there are plenty of apps and tools available to help you edit Instagram photos, gain followers, attract likes, and analyze your performance. Unfortunately, a lot of these tools aren’t as helpful as they seem.
Access Now: 22 Free Business Instagram Templates
To help you take your Instagram posts to the next level, we’ve compiled a list of all the best apps and tools that will help you at any stage of your Insta journey. These tools will make your Instagram content distinguishable, memorable, and impactful. You might not be able to reach all 500 million potential customers, but you’ll be able to reach the ones that matter most to your brand.
Best Instagram Apps
VSCO
Priime
Snapseed
Pixlr
Litely
Followers for Instagram
Social Rocket
Crowdfire
Tracker for Instagram
Followers & Likes on Instagram
InstaTag
Get Instant Likes and Hashtags
Magic Liker for Like Tags
Instagram Insights
Hootsuite Analytics
Iconosquare
Union Metrics
Squarelovin
Instagram Photo Editing Apps
Instagram’s in-app filters leave something to be desired. If you’re looking for an easy way to make your photos look more professional and unique, try out one of these alternative photo-editing apps. Whether you’re looking for a wider selection of filters developed by professional photographers, or just want to remove blemishes from selfies, these will do the trick.
- VSCO
Price: Free
Available on: Android and iOS
VSCO provides free filters that often beat Instagram’s in-app options in terms of quality and professionalism. VSCO also offers plenty of editing tools (like customized sharpen, brightness/contrast, and skintone correction), so you can fully tweak your photo before exporting to Instagram. Plus, like Instagram, VSCO offers its own social capabilities: you can follow people directly on VSCO, and post and share photos from within the app. - Priime
Price: $2.99
Available on: iOS
Priime offers a selection of over 100 filters created in collaboration with professional photographers. If you aren’t sure which filter will look best, you can even receive recommendations from Priime’s Smart Suggestions.
Images via App Store
- Snapseed
Price: Free
Available on: Android and iOS
Sometimes, your photo has varying degrees of darkness and brightness and you don’t want to auto-enhance all of it. Snapseed’s brush tool allows you to selectively adjust for exposure, saturation, and color temperature, which is ideal for situations where you’d rather selectively edit. Snapseed also gives you plenty of control and fine-tuning, and even provides tools to remove small blemishes or unwanted objects. - Pixlr
Price: Free
Available on: Android and iOS
With Pixlr, you can build your own filters with effects, overlays, and textures. When you’re happy with a filter you’ve created, you can save that filter and use it again. This can be particularly useful if you’re trying to build a unique brand image. Pixlr also lets you selectively adjust your brightness and sharpness. It includes a red-eye fixer and an array of photo-editing tools. - Litely
Price: Free
Available on: iOS
If you’re frustrated by photos that look overly filtered and edited, Litely is the tool for you. Litely offers uniquely subtle filters with the intent of enhancing the natural beauty of a photo. You can drag your finger anywhere on the image to make adjustments, and tap your finger to compare “before” and “after” versions. You can also choose different variations of the same filter (like “argyle,” “argyle high,” or “argyle faded”) to ensure the filter looks natural with your photo.
Instagram Apps for Followers
There aren’t many automated ways to gain followers, which makes the task a tedious challenge for any social media manager. Fortunately, the following tools can combat this challenge. Although the apps won’t let you buy followers, they offer legitimate options to gain and manage followers organically. You can decipher why people unfollow you, how to improve your social media visibility, and how to keep your followers long-term. With the help of these tools, you can attract a larger following and ensure your current followers are happy.
- Followers for Instagram
Price: Free
Available on: Android and iOS
Followers for Instagram shows you accounts that unfollowed you, accounts that haven’t followed you back, and accounts you should be following based on similar accounts you already follow. You can use this data to strengthen weak relationships, make your followers happier, and understand the reasons an account might unfollow you. You might find that accounts are unfollowing you for simple, fixable reasons — like posting infrequently. Hopefully, fixing these issues improves your relationship to your Instagram audience longterm.
Images via App Store
- Social Rocket
Price: Free
Available on: iOS
Social Rocket is a “likes/followers” marketplace: every time you like someone else’s post, you gain points to exchange for followers or likes on your own posts. Although this is probably an inefficient long-term solution, it can be helpful in the beginning when you’re trying to build an initial following and want your content to spread.
Images via App Store
- Crowdfire
Price: Free
Available on: iOS
Crowdfire identifies your inactive followers. If you know your inactive followers, you can delete them from your followers pool and fix your ratio to get better analytics. Crowdfire also provides automated DM messaging, recognizes when people unfollow you, and helps you find new followers.
Screen Shot 2018-03-16 at 11.40.46 AM-1.png
Images via App Store
- Tracker for Instagram
Price: Free
Available on: iOS
Instagram doesn’t offer any efficient tools for unfollowing or following accounts in bulk. Tracker for Instagram allows you to do this directly from the app. It also shows you your overall post performance, and analyzes how followers engage with your account, so you can discover your most active users.
Screen Shot 2018-03-16 at 12.04.19 PM.png
Images via App Store
- Followers & Likes on Instagram
Price: Free
Available on: iOS
Followers & Likes on Instagram creates lists of your most engaged and least engaged followers, which is helpful because it gives you a better understanding of your target audience. It also shows you which posts attract the most likes and comments from your best followers. Knowing your most popular posts helps you evaluate and modify your future content strategy.
Images via App Store
Instagram Apps for Likes
On Instagram, likes are the strongest indicator we have when evaluating whether our audience is happy. Plus, the more likes your post gets, the higher it’ll appear on people’s feeds, and the more popular it’ll become. While there are no apps that allow you to buy likes, there are apps that help you attract more likes by offering suggestions, popular hashtags, and favorable captions.
- InstaTag
Price: Free
Available on: Android
InstaTag allows you to discover the highest trending hashtags, which is valuable since popular hashtags change daily. By knowing the trending hashtags, your posts are more likely to show up ahead of the less relevant competition. There are dozens of categories and hundreds of tags, and you’re even able to search tags across categories.
Images via Android Apps on Google Play
- Get Instant Likes and Hashtags
Price: Free
Available on: Android
Get Instant Likes and Hashtags gathers the top tags for each category and shows you the most popular ones, making it easy to make hashtag decisions quickly. You can also add, edit, and remove categories, and create custom hashtags, so you can copy all your hashtags at once and paste them into your post.
Images via Android Apps on Google Play
- Magic Liker for Like Tags
Price: Free
Available on: iOS
Magic Liker helps you search multiple tags at the same time, find popular tags suggested by the app, search through daily suggested tags, or search posts by category like, “only videos,” or “only photos.” It also provides captions that are currently popular, for additional caption-writing inspiration.
Images via TopAppsLike.com
Instagram Analytics Apps
Regardless of where you are in your Instagram strategy (i.e. still creating it, or have been implementing it for years), it’s important to gather analytics to figure out how well you’re doing, and where you could be doing better. With the right Instagram analytics tools, you’ll be able to improve your strategy, attract a larger audience, and make your existing followers happier than ever.
- Instagram Insights
Price: Free
Available on: Android and iOS
Instagram actually does offer its own native analytics tool. Instagram Insights does require you to have a Facebook Business profile, but if you don’t have one, it’s a simple four-step process to get set up. The tool offers powerful insights, including how many times people use the Send Message option on your Instagram story, how many people have saved your posts, and how well your Instagram advertisements are doing.
instagraminsights.png
Image via Buffer Blog
- Hootsuite Analytics
Price:Free 30-Day Trial, Professional Version is $30/month
Available on: Android and iOS
Along with metrics like audience growth and traffic, Hootsuite gathers insights like how people react to your posts according to language or gender, and what types of action your followers are taking. You can also customize the insights you collect, which is particularly helpful if you’re testing out unique engagement factors or collecting specific data.
hootsuite.png
Image via Hootsuite
- Iconosquare
Price: Free 30-Day Trial, Professional Version is $30/month
Available on: Android and iOS
While the above two tools focus on your business alone, Iconosquare also examines the community (and competition) by identifying the most important Instagram influencers in your industry. This is great if you’re interested in hiring influencers to promote your brand, but aren’t sure where to find them. It’s also helpful if you’re just starting to build your Instagram strategy, and want to see what other brands are doing for inspiration. Iconosquare also provides analytics on engagement, and analyzes hashtag growth and popularity.
Images via App Store
- Union Metrics
Price:Free Account Checkup, Lite Version is $23/month
Available on: Android and iOS
Union Metrics’ free Instagram Account Checkup shows you the best time to post for your network, your most loyal followers, your top hashtags, and your best-performing posts. The paid version gathers more specific information including a profile analysis, analytics, and hashtag monitoring. If you’re unsure about paying for it, test out the free Checkup Tool and see what you think.
unionmetrics.png
Image via Union Metrics
- Squarelovin
Price:Free
Available on: Android and iOS
Squarelovin provides analytics regarding growth, engagement, number of followers, best and worst times to post, and top hashtags. Best of all, the analytics are delivered daily, weekly, and monthly, allowing you to narrow or broaden your focus and your analytics as you see fit. This is especially helpful if you want to A/B test a few different Instagram strategies throughout the month, and want to compare weeks or even days.
apps to create instagram text posts
When you come across a beautiful sight — be it a beach, a mountain, or your pet’s face — sometimes, it inspires you to think bigger about what certain sights and experiences mean.
For those moments, you might consider posting a photo on Instagram with an equally inspiring quote as the caption. But you could take it even further — and save characters — by posting the photo with the quote.
Access Now: 9 Free Instagram Quote Templates
You’ve likely seen quotes on Instagram posts before, but you may never have created one for your brand’s account. Here’s a recent Instagram quote we shared here at HubSpot:
Posting quote images on Instagram can diversify your content on the platform and humanize your brand a little, too. Everyone could use a motivational quote during a busy Monday morning or a slow Tuesday afternoon, so try out an Instagram quote for your next post with the help of these free apps.
FREE TEMPLATES
9 Free Instagram Quote Templates
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Last Name
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Hi null, what’s your email address?
Email Address
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Get Your Free Templates
Instagram Text Apps to Make Inspiring Quotes
Featured Resource: 9 Instagram Quote Templates
Instagram Quote Templates from HubSpotHubSpot created a collection of 9 Instagram quote templates for posts and stories – in addition to 13 more free Instagram posts for business. Download the collection of templates today to make Instagram quotes right in Google Slides for free.
- Canva
iOS, Android, Mac, or Web App
instagram quote using template from canva
Canva’s many features extend beyond text-based pictures and, for that matter, social media. But the mobile app and its gorgeous pre-made templates make it perfect for Instagram quotes.
Using the Canva’s social media post setting, you can draft banners, flyers, cards, and posts of all shapes and sizes using one of millions of pro-level photos for your quote background. Of course, feel free to snap a photo on the go, as well. One you select your image, you can choose from more than 100 fonts, adjust the size and color, and publish.
- Pablo by Buffer
Web App or Chrome Extension
instagram quote using pablo by buffer
Pablo is a simple app that allows you to make quotes for Instagram (as well as Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest). You have the option of choosing among 600,000 images or uploading one of your own; adding header, body, and caption text; uploading logos or graphics; and customizing with a filter.
The options are limited, but the interface is extremely streamlined, making it a great choice for beginners. In addition, you can share directly to the social platform of your choosing or use Buffer to schedule the post for a later date.
- Stencil
Web App, Chrome Extension, Firefox Add-On, Safari Extension, or WordPress
instagram quote using stencil instagram quote maker template
Depending on the plan you choose, Stencil allows you to create quote images with their 140+ common presets, more than 5 million high-resolution photos (all royalty-free), and more than 1275 templates. Even better, Stencil has partnered with Google Fonts and some of the top icon providers to customize your designs even further.
It also helps you determine if you’re within Facebook’s recommended text limits and whether any of your content might be cut off by common social media platforms.
To make sharing easy, you can send your images straight to Instagram, using their in-app social sharing options, or through their native Buffer integration.
- VanillaPen
Android or iOS
instagram quote using vanillapen quote maker
Image Source
VanillaPen brands itself as a “powerful tool that will transform your regular posts into creative posters within seconds.” It includes more than 200 templates (with presets to make the design process easier), 86 fonts, and 360 decorative elements. You’ll also have the ability to perform basic design functions such as resizing, rotating, and more. From there, you can export and share to the social media platform of your choice.
- Fotor
Web App, Mac, Windows, Android, or iOS
instagram quote using fotor instagram quote maker
Fotor is an excellent tool that offers a wide range of templates, fonts, photos, and stickers to rival any of the apps on this list. However, what makes it stand out is its photo editing and retouching capabilities, making its feature set similar to that of Adobe Photoshop’s but simpler. From background removers to blur effects, Fotor can help you create stunning graphics for Instagram.
- Snappa
Web App
instagram quote templates on snappa
Image Source
With Snappa, you’ll have access to more than 6000 templates and 5 million photos and graphics to use for your designs. It also has basic photo editing capabilities such as background removal, brightness/lightness adjustment, and blurring functionality. You can also repurpose your designs into the ideal image dimensions for multiple social platforms without manually resizing and redesigning for each one. The only downside is that you only get 3 downloads per month on Snappa’s free plan, but there are premium plans available.
- QuotesCover
Web App
image created using quotescover instagram quote maker
What’s interesting about QuotesCover is that it integrates with a large database of quotes so that you don’t have to supply the text for the image you create. Simply search the database, find a quote, and load it into the QuotesCover editor. From there, it will generate an automatic design, which you can edit with their background options, text formatting tool, stickers, and other design assets. In theory, you can go from zero ideas to full-fledged professional design in just a couple clicks.
- PicMonkey
Web App, iPhone, Android
editing quote and image for instagram using picmonkey
Image Source
PicMonkey is another one of those tools that can do it all: photo editing (including background removals), graphics, and templates created with the best practices for each social platform in mind. You’ll be able to draw from their library of millions of stock photos, videos, and animations. The big downside to this tool is that you’ll need a subscription to download or share the images you create. However, the plus is that the subscription comes with 1GB of cloud storage (or unlimited storage if you choose one of the premium plans). This allows you to edit on the go, save to the cloud, and access designs on other devices.
- Word Swag
iOS
word swag instagram quote templates
Image Source
Word Swag helps you create text images that are as edgy as the app’s name sounds. The app uses a special typing engine to create fresh quote designs based on the background picture you’re working with.
Just select (or shoot) your picture, type your quote into the app’s plain text editor, select one of +80 styles, and shuffle through the diverse choices that appear. Word Swag has literally thousands of quote and image options to choose from through a handy integration from Pixabay, a free image gallery.
Keep in mind that the free version places a watermark on the image.
- Quotes Creator
iOS or Android
quotes creator interface
Image Source
Quotes Creator has a neat feature that suggests quotes to use — including their attributions — to take the work out of creating an inspirational post for you. We also like how subtly transparent the watermark is to make it as distraction-free as possible. This is another easy-to-use app that creates quotes for Instagram in just a few simple steps — with an easy tap to upload to the platform.
Quotes Creator’s stock background options are a little cheesy, so we recommend finding your own and uploading them or using their library of photos.
- Quote Maker
iOS
quote maker app for instagram quotes
Image Source
Quote Maker is another free app that requires a Pro version to unlock more background and style options, but you can always upload your own background if you feel too limited. You can add neat decals to your brand’s name or a stamp-like effect to a company motto or mission statement.
We recommend exploring the app, but another warning — it can be glitchy if your design and editing actions get more complex. It’s best for simple images, like the one above.
Using an Instagram Post Template for Quotes
The apps above help make quotes for Instagram quickly using templates instead of starting from scratch. When you’re creating content at scale, this can help you reduce the amount of time spent on design and more time focusing on the tasks that matter to you.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in April 2021 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
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