15 Instagram Tools To Manage and Grow Your Brand in 2025

Not every Instagram tool is built to do the same job. Some platforms help you plan and schedule content, others dig into analytics to measure what’s working and some are solely designed to boost engagement. If you jump into using a tool without a clear sense of what you want to achieve, you risk wasting time, budget and effort.

Before you commit to any tool, take a step back. Are you trying to grow your following? Drive traffic? Make your workflow more efficient? Improve performance reporting? Your goals should drive your tech stack, not the other way around. The best Instagram tools are purpose-built solutions for specific needs and objectives. Understanding these goals gives you the basis needed to select the right Instagram tool for your strategy. 

To help you find the best tool for all your Instagram-related needs, we’ve analyzed over 20 Instagram tools and read hundreds of reviews to drill this list down to the top 15 most popular tools. We looked at available features, G2 ratings and other online reviews to determine which tools to include. 

Disclaimer: The information below was accurate at the time of publishing. Please note that platforms frequently update and evolve over time. As a result, user reviews may become outdated and pricing details may be subject to change.

When it comes to reaching the right people, achieving your social media KPIs and making your brand known on Instagram, the right tools make all the difference. Today’s top Instagram management platforms help brands and creators work smarter, not harder. 

1. Dash Social

Did you know Dash Social was originally built with Instagram at its core? Although the platform has expanded to support a range of social channels, Instagram remains a key focus — and it shows. Brands can tap into Instagram marketing tools like AI-powered content suggestions that use past performance to identify trends from your own content library, Instagram Product Tagging and other social commerce solutions, Instagram Story Studio to perfect your Stories every time and more. 

Dash Social’s customer support team is tapped into the latest Instagram updates and always ready to help, making it easy to stay ahead of trend shifts and best practices. With a suite of Instagram-specific tools, like visual content scheduling, in-depth performance analytics and workflows to collaborate with creators, Dash provides a centralized platform to manage your entire Instagram presence. 

Dash Social also offers a complete suite of Instagram management tools, including visual scheduling, performance analytics, creator management and sourcing and competitive benchmarking. Users applaud its ability to save time and centralize Instagram social media management tools.

‍Key Features: 

• Visual IQ identifies visual trends among competitors’ content, your own content library and categorized content segments, providing a comprehensive view of what’s resonating. 
• UGC Tools to easily source user-generated content (UGC).
• Visual scheduling with calendar-based planning and automated publishing for posts, Instagram Stories and Instagram Reels.
• Access to Instagram Story Studio equipped with custom templates, fonts and colors to enhance your owned and earned content.

Pros and cons:

✓ Sleek, easy-to-navigate interface

✓ Robust analytics for post performance and audience insights

✓ Excellent, communicative and dedicated customer support

✘ Pricing could be prohibitive for small businesses

✘ Meta API limitations around tagged Instagram Stories

What users say: 

“Not only is Dash Social incredibly user friendly, the customer service is fantastic! The team is very receptive to new ideas or new things to add to the platform. Everything that is available on the platform is very helpful and easy to use! There is every type of analytics to use in reporting and it's super digestible for those who aren't big numbers or stat people.” Source

“I wish the tool were more affordable, but I also look at it as replacing a human to post, so in this way, it is!“ Source

Pricing: Starting at $499 with a 14-day free trial available for unlimited seats for one brand, free demo available *Pricing information last updated on May 9, 2025

Manually posting to Instagram often requires extra steps and takes up more time than necessary, and who wants that? Instagram scheduling tools simplify the posting process, allowing your team to better manage what's being shared while freeing up time to focus on planning future content. 

2. Buffer 

Buffer is a great option for small brands seeking a simple scheduling solution. A larger package offers more capabilities; however, the free version lets users connect up to three accounts and schedule up to 30 posts across all connected social channels. 

‍Key Features: 

• MailChimp, Google Drive, Canva, Google Analytics and OneDrive integrations 
• Centralized posting
• Buffer AI assistant that produces content suggestions and writes captions 

Pros and cons:

✓ Efficient multi-platform posting and management

✓ Features like link unshortening and post scheduling enhance usability

✓ User-friendly interface simplifies social media management

✘ Occasional delays in post publishing

✘ Limited advanced analytics compared to some competitors

‍What users say: 

“I've been using Buffer for 5 years, and it has helped me the way I manage my main social media profiles. In particular, the platform's scheduling feature has simplified my life but also the simply way to repost published content. I'm able to get more done throughout the day since I can pre-schedule my social media updates in advance.” Source

“The software is a good-to-go software and quite easy to understand but initially while using and implementing all the tools and functions of the software. It confused our team regarding how to go further with the advanced scheduling and post-queuing but gradually we learned the process and worked on it flawlessly.“ Source

Pricing: Free to $10 monthly for one social channel *Pricing information last updated on May 9, 2025

3. Sked Social 

Sked Social specializes in Instagram-first publishing with automatic posting for Reels, Stories and carousels. Its drag-and-drop calendar, bulk upload capabilities and built-in approvals make it useful for social teams to manage high content volume. It also offers asset tagging, Instagram hashtag templates and post previews, simplifying collaborative posting. 

‍Key Features: 

• Advanced scheduling
• Visual content calendar 
• Collaboration tools like approval workflows, unlimited seats and real-time comments 

Pros and cons:

✓ Intuitive user interface for easy navigation

✓ Customizable posting times and post previews

✓ Responsive customer support and regular feature updates

✘ Some users report occasional glitches in the scheduling feature

✘ Learning curve for advanced features

What users say: 

“Sked is a super convenient tool for social scheduling and approvals. I love the calendar and planner features which make organic social planning easier and more aesthetically pleasing. I also love that the sked team is always there and ready to help me with any problems, they are so easy to reach out to and are always able to solve my problems.” Source

“One issue I've found - and this happens very infrequently - is that sometimes, posts won't go out at the scheduled times. From what I understand, this company utilizes real people who post your content in real time. If you're trying to schedule a post for a busier time, it can take them a while to get the content on your account as they're trying to do so for all their users. Most of our posts aren't time sensitive; if they are, I'll try to accommodate this lag by scheduling "out of office" posts or the like for earlier than I need.“ Source

Pricing: 7-day free trial, $59-399 monthly, demo available upon request *Pricing information last updated on May 9, 2025

Creating content that catches a user’s eye while scrolling through their Instagram feed is half the battle. The following tools help brands and creators design standout creative assets, edit videos and ensure consistent branding when you need to publish something in a flash. These popular platforms are trusted by brands of all sizes. 

4. Snapseed 

Snapseed is a professional-grade photo editing app, owned by Google, that allows users to fine-tune Instagram content, and is used by both creators and brands. They offer selective editing, support for RAW files and high-quality filters, making it a popular choice for brands who want to hone in on and perfect visual details like white balance and more. 

‍Key Features: 

• RAW file support to produce high-quality images regardless of file type 
• Selective editing to adjust specific parts of an image 

Pros and cons:

✓ Ability to save custom filters as templates for consistent branding 

✓ Comprehensive suite of editing tools

✓ Supports non-destructive editing

✗ Lacks batch editing capabilities

✗ Interface may be overwhelming for beginners

‍What users say: 

“I'll often edit images in one app, save it or send it to another one, & again to another for it's particular strengths. Snapseed is one I choose often. There's a good selection of ready made editing tools plus a greater set of more sophisticated tweaking tools. The app does what it does quite well & once you get the hang of it, the process becomes intuitive and easy.“ Source

“Helpful but while recently using the app I realized that when you crop and save your imported pictures they don't go into their own folder anymore. Maybe it's just mine, but they've had their own file automatically for any photos you crop but suddenly stopped going into it and I even tried deleting a good few thinking it was a space issue. Nope, just confused...“ Source

Pricing: Free *Pricing information last updated on May 9, 2025

5. Afterlight 

Afterlight is equipped with easy-to-use editing tools and unique features that help users create visually cohesive feeds. It’s known for its extensive filter collection, custom presets and filters that ensure organic-feeling yet consistent branding on the go. The app also includes texture overlays like dust and light leaks, giving brands and creators the ability to add subtle touches. 

‍Key Features: 

• Extensive filter library
• Creative textures and overlays 
• Ability to remember editing steps for consistent visual branding 

Pros and cons:

✓ Extensive filter library and textures

✓ User-friendly interface

✓ Supports RAW image editing

✗ Some features require in-app purchases

✗ Limited advanced editing tools compared to professional software

‍What users say: 

“...This app overall is amazing. most editing apps was disgusting destructive filters that looks horrible, but afterlight’s are actually pretty good. the interface is really easy to use, and is very user-friendly. This is a great app for both beginners and advanced editors. definitely recommend.“ Source 

“The app is now free with a series of in app features that are accessible through expensive memberships (for apps). Although it’s a change that was probably better for the team I was surprised to see how much it was. Despite the price I truly appreciate the app and its utility.“ Source

Pricing: Free, Afterlight PRO starting at $3.99 monthly, $23.99 annually with a free trial available *Pricing information last updated on May 9, 2025

Creating standout content is only one piece of the Instagram puzzle. To grow your presence, it's essential to understand what actually drives engagement and attracts users. These analytics platforms break down key metrics, making it easy to spot opportunities and take action. 

6. Iconosquare 

Iconosquare delivers in-depth advanced Instagram analytics like engagement tracking, follower insights and content performance reports. Its platform offers competitive benchmarking and custom dashboards so marketers can monitor progress and easily share results with others. 

‍Key Features: 

• Track metrics like engagement rates, follower growth and post performance 
• Ability to monitor competitor Instagram activities and benchmark against them 
• Can schedule reports to be sent automatically to stakeholders 

Pros and cons:

✓ Detailed analytics and reporting features

✓ User-friendly dashboard

✓ Supports multiple social media platforms

✗ Higher pricing tier may not suit small businesses

✗ Limited customization in reports

What users say: 

“The insights available made monthly reporting a breeze at our agency. The format of everything was super intuitive and it not only saved our team time but gave deeper insights than most platforms allow.” Source

“Iconosquare goes so DEEP into analytics and they're so obsessed with what they do that sometimes it's difficult to select what's important and what translates across multiple platforms (beyond IG for reporting purposes). Their app is also not fully functional-- only for scheduling.“ Source

Pricing: From $39-139 monthly or $33-116 annually for five social media profiles, demo available upon request *Pricing information last updated on May 9, 2025

 7.  Hootsuite 

Hootsuite’s Instagram analytics tools offer actionable insights across various metrics to help teams track performance and measure ROI. With customizable reports, it's easy to share results with clients and stakeholders. Users appreciate the platform’s ability to centralize data, though some have noted occasional issues with inflated metrics that may require manual verification.

Key Features: 

• Comprehensive analytics to measure performance across different metrics
• Generate customized reports tailored to your specific needs and goals
• Multi-platform integration that lets teams analyze data across multiple social media channels 

Pros and cons:

✓ Comprehensive analytics and reporting tools

✓ Supports a wide range of social media platforms

✓ Robust scheduling and publishing features

✗ Steeper learning curve for new users

✗ Some features locked behind higher pricing tiers

What users say: 

“...The analytics are also really helpful. It’s nice being able to track how our posts are doing in one place. Plus, the recommendations for the best times to post have definitely helped improve engagement.” Source

“Sometimes it takes extra clicks to get where I need to be, especially when editing scheduled posts. Also, some valuable features like advanced analytics and team collaboration tools are only available on more expensive plans. That part can be limiting if you're a freelancer or managing a smaller business.” Source

Pricing: From $149-399+ monthly and $99-249 annually with free 30-day trial, demo available upon request *Pricing information last updated on May 9, 2025

Running ads on Instagram is one of the most effective ways to reach new audiences and drive results, but doing it well takes the right tools. Instagram ad tools streamline paid workflows, sharpen targeting and help maximize ROI. Below, we highlight two popular ad measurement tools that marketers can use to deploy and manage paid campaigns. 

8. Meta Ads Manager

Meta Ads Manager is Instagram’s native platform for creating and managing paid campaigns. With robust targeting, A/B testing and performance tracking, it’s a go-to ad tool for advertisers looking to maximize their ad spend on the native platform.

Key Features: 

• Audience segmentation based on demographics, interests and behaviors
• Can create a variety of ad formats, including carousels, video and Story ads
• Advanced targeting capabilities available based on demographics, interests and behaviors

Pros and cons:

✓ Advanced targeting options

✓ Comprehensive analytics and reporting

✓ Facebook and Instagram Integrations

✗ Complex interface for beginners or casual users

✗ Occasional glitches and bugs

What users say: 

“My favorite aspect of this product is the ability to precisely target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors is a significant advantage. This allows advertisers to reach the most relevant audience for their campaigns, maximizing their ROI.” Source

“Meta makes frequent changes and they are not well announced. The platform interface is also not user friendly.“ Source

Pricing: Pricing depends on creator's following size, ad spend and other factors. *Pricing information last updated on May 9, 2025

9. AdEspresso by Hootsuite

AdEspresso by Hootsuite is a user-friendly ad management tool designed to streamline Instagram and Facebook advertising for brands and agencies alike. Its platform removes complexities that can come with native platforms, along with centralizing your paid workflows to save time jumping from tool to tool. It offers bulk editing tools that speed up campaign adjustments, and smart optimization algorithms that automatically refine performance based on real-time results. 

Here are some of the highlight features from Hootsuite’s AdEspresso:

Key Features:

• Built-in analytics dashboard for real-time performance tracking 
• UTM builder to simplify campaign URLs
• Approval workflows to manage collaboration 

✓ Intuitive interface makes campaign setup easy 

✓ Manages multiple ad accounts in one place

✓ Fast A/B testing for better performance insights 

✗ Free trial is too short to fully test 

✗ Limited integrations available 

What users say: “The best thing about AdEspresso is that it allows you to create ads from different platforms in one place. The creation of ads from this tool is simple and it is relatively easy to get used to each function it offers. Monitoring the ads is easy since they are organized in a single panel and visually it is easy to see the performance of each ad.” Source

Pricing: Starts at $49 per month with a $1K spending limit, Plus plans start at $99 monthly *Pricing information last updated on May 20, 2025

Your bio link is valuable digital real estate — a compact space with the power to guide followers to your most important content. The following tools turn that single link into a branded, clickable hub that directs traffic to products, articles, other social profiles and more.

10. Dash Social’s LikeShop 

LikeShop turns your link in bio into a high-converting destination. With customizable landing pages that reflect your feed’s aesthetic, you can guide followers seamlessly to any online content or product. Every image can link directly to a product page, making your content instantly shoppable. Plus, built-in performance tracking helps you measure and optimize what drives clicks and conversions.

Key Features: 

• Trackable attribution across your digital marketing ecosystem
• Custom UTM codes for campaign-specific performance insights
• Integrates with your broader Dash Social reporting for holistic measurement

Pros and cons:

✓ Customizable landing pages

✓ Seamless integration with Instagram

✓ Offers analytics on link performance

✗ Pricing could be prohibitive to smaller businesses

What users say: 

“Likeshop was an important tool that our team was interested in. Likeshop is very easy to use and overall a great asset to have. The library and search bar is always accurate. Love that the dash team always responds within hours…” Source

“This isn't so much a 'dislike' as it is a wishlist feature. It would be great to see more granular data within Likeshop, such as any potential purchases or revenue generated. Potential pixel tracking would be great if that's even possible for this type of feature.” Source

Pricing: Starting at $499 with a 14-day free trial available, demo available *Pricing information last updated on May 9, 2025

11. Linktree

Linktree’s link in bio tool helps social media managers build customizable landing pages that live right in their social profiles. It offers essential analytics and design options to help guide audiences to multiple destinations from a single link. Users can highlight products, content or campaigns in one simple, branded hub that updates in real time.

Key features

• Offers unlimited links for landing page
• Specific sections to draw attention to priority content, product launches or limited-time offers 
• Built-in analytics to real time track clicks, traffic sources and user engagement  

Pros and cons:

✓ Simple to set up 

✓ Basic analytics included with a free plan

✓ E-commerce integrations for Shopify, Apple Music and more 

✗ Limited customization on the free plan

✗ Key features locked behind paid tiers

What users say: 

"...With just one single click, we can create a dedicated page displaying all social media links, brand story, offers. We can even integrate our Shopify store directly. There is a QR code feature also. Personally we have printed out the QR code and added it to our business card. Now customers can simply scan the QR code and get access to everything about our brand - from our online store, to all our social media, to media mentions - everything in one place!" Source

"I've been using Linktree, and one thing that's been on my mind is its heavy reliance on external links. It would be awesome if they could integrate features for more direct interaction, like the ability to post daily updates or short descriptions—kind of like status updates. Also, it would be great if we could highlight featured posts on the Linktree page itself, using preview thumbnails to give visitors a sneak peek." Source

Hashtags help extend your reach, but picking the right ones can be tricky. These hashtag tools help you determine which tags to use to boost visibility with the right audiences. 

12. Inflact 

Inflact is designed specifically for Instagram and helps brands grow, manage client interactions and streamline content workflows. Its hashtag tools use AI to generate relevant, high-performing hashtags tailored to content. Users can also track hashtag performance over time to refine their social media marketing strategy and boost discoverability. 

Key Features: 

• AI-powered hashtag suggestions
• Analyzes hashtag performance to optimize reach
• Save and organize hashtag groups

Pros and cons:

✓ Provides analytics on hashtag performance

✓ Supports multiple languages

✓ Easy to set up

✗ Limited free features

✗ Occasional inaccuracies

What users say: 

“...A pretty cool tool that allows you to search hashtags based on keywords. Not only that, it also suggests you the combination that guarantees the best engagement and reach. When searching for a keyword, it shows you a number of hashtags in three categories - frequent, average, and rare. You can use a combination suggested by them that maximizes your post's reach…” Source

“Most of the time, this tool works great for me. It is only a little less helpful when my keyword is too specific. When it is unable to suggest popular hashtags for that specific keyword, the related hashtags generated by it are not up to the mark.“ Source

Pricing: No free trial available, public pricing unavailable. *Pricing information last updated on May 9, 2025

13. Awario

Awario offers real-time hashtag tracking, which can also inform brands of incoming trends, sentiment and engagement. This makes it useful for tracking brand mentions and even uncovering content opportunities. It has an intuitive interface and robust sentiment analysis, which helps teams understand audience perception and tailor strategy. However, some users mention occasional issues with data accuracy and note that customer support can be slow to respond to technical concerns.

Key Features: 

• Ability to track hashtag mentions across Instagram
• Can track competitors’ hashtag use and performance
• Detailed reports available for hashtag performance 

Pros and cons:

✓ Real-time hashtag tracking

✓ Comprehensive analytics and reporting

✓ Supports multiple social media platforms

✗ Higher pricing tier may not suit small businesses

✗ Interface may be complex for new users

What users say: 

“The way that Awario works (ie hunting down mentions of our product across social media) means that we can find out with almost no effort (just the initial search setup) who is talking about us, what they are saying, and where they are saying it. While some may use this as a "brand management" tool, for us its become a way to determine who to prioritize in out 'reach out' program.” Source

“One of the first things to note about delving into Awario is its learning curve. There is a TON for you to go over and monitor. It'll take you a few weeks to get a good handle of things and all the 360 monitoring that you need to keep track of!“ Source

Pricing: $4-399 monthly or $29-249 monthly, billed annually *Pricing information last updated on May 9, 2025

Curious how your content measures up? These competitive analysis tools let you track competitors' posting strategies, engagement metrics and growth trends — so you can benchmark your own performance, spot content gaps and uncover opportunities to stand out in your niche.

14. Sprout Social 

Sprout Social offers competitive benchmarking tools to compare Instagram performance against key rivals, using metrics like engagement rates and content trends to inform strategy. Its competitor analysis features help brands uncover posting patterns, audience interactions and engagement benchmarks, which are valuable insights to help refine content strategy and identify opportunities for growth.

Key Features: 

• Ability to compare performance against competitors
• Can assess competitors’ engagement rates and content strategies
• Identifies top-performing posts from competitors

Pros and cons:

✓ Robust competitor benchmarking features

✓ Comprehensive analytics and reporting

✓ User-friendly interface

✗ Some features locked behind premium plans

✗ Higher pricing tier may not suit small businesses

What users say: 

“We mainly use it for social media reporting and tracking competitors. I think the reporting function is pretty comprehensive, giving us visibility on a wide range of data that we need to provide for our client on a monthly/quarterly/annual basis. You can build out what data you want to see in your report and take away anything you don't want to include, which is very helpful.” Source 

“A few things are missing, such as the ability to monitor competitors through LinkedIn, an important platform for us as a B2B company. Currently, Sprout only allows us to track via Instagram or Facebook, which limits our landscape understanding.“ Source

Pricing: Starting at $199 per seat monthly *Pricing information last updated on May 9, 2025

15. HypeAuditor

HypeAuditor offers robust competitor analysis tools, with a particular focus on agencies. The platform helps identify which creators competitors are working with and how their content performs. Users find its influencer benchmarks useful for refining outreach and collaboration strategies. However, some note that data accuracy can vary, particularly for smaller or less active accounts. 

Key Features: 

• Identify influencers your competitors collaborate with. 
• Can examine competitors’ ad strategy and performance.
• Provides market trends within your industry niche. 

Pros and cons:

✓ Detailed influencer analytics

✓ Provides audience quality scores

✓ Supports competitor analysis

✗ Limited free features

✗ Data not always up to date

What users say:

“What I like most is their Market Analysis tools. Especially very useful is Competitor Analysis for Instagram. It is a detailed report that allows to spy on competitors and see how they are promoting themselves on Instagram with the help of influencers. It's also easy to use and interpret.” Source

“HypeAuditor could be improved by adding a feature that allows users to search for influencers based on specific categories, making it easier to build curated lists for review. Additionally, a download option with customizable data selection would enhance usability, enabling users to tailor the final report to their specific needs.” Source

Pricing: Public pricing unavailable *Pricing information last updated on May 9, 2025

Dash Social’s Instagram Management Tools give social teams the clarity and control they need. With streamlined publishing, real-time performance data and intuitive scheduling features, brands can move quickly, stay organized and optimize their content for real results.

What are Instagram’s branded content tools?

Instagram’s branded content tools allow creators and brands to disclose paid partnerships by tagging business partners in posts and Stories. These tools provide transparency and enable both parties to access performance insights.

How do you get creator tools on Instagram? 

To access creator tools, switch your account to a Creator profile in Instagram settings. This unlocks features like detailed analytics, branded content tagging and messaging filters tailored for creators.

How to use monetization tools on Instagram? 

You can use Instagram’s monetization tools like Subscriptions, Bonuses and Badges if you have an Instagram Creator or Business account and meet Instagram’s eligibility requirements. From there, you can activate these features in the Professional Dashboard. 

To access Instagram's paid ad tools, you can use Meta Ads Manager to create, manage and track Instagram ad campaigns with different targeting and budgeting options.