Instagram remains one of the most engaging social platforms, with 91% of users saying they use it to follow interests and hobbies. As an effective marketing channel, Instagram drives conversions as well – 54% of users say they‘ve purchased a product after seeing it on Instagram.
But growing an audience organically on Instagram requires a substantial time investment in content creation, community engagement, and audience analysis. Fortunately, a number of tools exist to streamline Instagram marketing and help brands expand their reach efficiently.
In this post, we‘ll explore the top 31 Instagram tools for organic growth in 2024, grouping them into key capabilities:
| Category | Top Tools |
|---|---|
| Content Creation | Canva, Over, Adobe Creative Suite |
| Hashtag Research | Flick, Iconosquare, Tailwind |
| Analytics & Insights | Iconosquare, SocialBlade, Instagram Insights |
| Influencer Marketing | trendHERO, Keyhole, Hypeauditor |
| Follower Growth | Kicksta, Combin, Seek Socially |
| Scheduling & Planning | Later, Planoly, Preview |
| Contests & UGC | Shortstack, Milkshake |
For each tool, we’ll overview the core features, pricing options, and best use cases so you can determine what‘s right for your brand. Let‘s dive in!
Content Creation Tools
High-quality, consistent content remains essential for organic Instagram growth. The right tools can make creating standout content much easier.
1. Canva
Canva makes graphic design simple, even for non-designers. The platform offers templates and easy editing tools to create Instagram posts, stories, reels and more.
Key Features
- Posts and story templates
- Photo editor and library
- Collaboration tools
- Mobile app
Pricing
- Free version
- Paid plans from $9.99/month
Best For
- Users new to design
- Creating branded Instagram content
2. Over
Over provides a library of templates and editing tools specifically for vertical mobile content. It‘s geared towards employers, small businesses, startups and more.
Key Features
- Vertical templates
- Photo editor
- Asset library
- Collaborative editing
Pricing
- Free version
- Premium plans from $7.99/month
Best For
- Businesses on a budget
- Creating vertical content
3. Adobe Creative Cloud
For advanced design needs, Adobe Creative Cloud remains an industry leader. Its apps like Photoshop, Illustrator and Premiere Pro offer professional editing tools.
Key Features
- Industry leader in design/editing
- Advanced photograph capabilities
- Video production suite
- Integrates with other Adobe tools
Pricing
- Starts at $52.99/month for full Creative Cloud
Best For
- Professional designers/editors
- Producing high-end visual content
Hashtag Research Tools
Keywords and hashtags are critical for discovery on Instagram. These tools analyze performance to suggest relevant options that will get your content seen.
4. Flick
Flick offers advanced Instagram analytics around hashtags and captions. You can research performance stats for different tags and caption styles to refine your approach.
Key Features
- Hashtag and caption analysis
- Content analysis for similar accounts
- Exports data directly into Instagram
Pricing
- Free or premium plans from $9.99/mo
Best For
- Conducting hashtag research
- Optimizing Instagram captions
5. Iconosquare
In addition to analytics, Iconosquare provides robust listening and research capabilities around hashtags and keywords. These insights help guide content creation.
Key Features
- Hashtag and keyword research
- Tracking brand mentions/keywords
- Competitor analysis
Pricing
- Starts at $29.99/month
Best For
- Informing content strategy
- Benchmarking against competitors
6. Tailwind
Tailwind helps you identify the best hashtags to reach your audience and boost engagement. It tracks historical performance data and suggests relevant options.
Key Features
- Hashtag research
- Campaign tracking
- Integration with IG scheduler
Pricing
- Starts at $9.99/month
Best For
- Optimizing hashtags
- Planning/scheduling content
Analytics & Insights Tools
Analytics provide crucial insights into your audience and performance. These tools give enhanced metrics beyond Instagram‘s built-in options.
7. Iconosquare
Iconosquare is a robust analytics platform with an easy-to-use dashboard for key Instagram metrics. It tracks followers, engagement, keywords and more.
Key Features
- Follower analysis & tracking growth
- Post/story performance
- Audience demographics
- Notifications & tracking
Pricing
- Starts at $29.99/month
Best For
- Detailed analytics needs
- Monitoring broad metrics
8. SocialBlade
SocialBlade offers Instagram stats as well public ranking data benchmarked against competitors. This helps provide context around an account‘s size and growth.
Key Features
- Follower count & growth tracking
- Public ranking data
- Compare with similar accounts
Pricing
- Free version with limited data
- Paid subscriptions from $15/month
Best For
- Benchmarking yourself
- Competitor analysis
9. Instagram Insights
Instagram’s built-in analytics provide helpful business metrics like reach, impressions, profile visits and more. It comes standard for business profiles.
Key Features
- Content reach & engagement
- Audience demographics
- Traffic sources
- Built directly into Instagram
Pricing
- Free with business profiles
Best For
- Reviewing core metrics
- Easy access to data
Influencer Marketing Tools
Working with relevant influencers provides a major opportunity for brands to expand their reach. These tools help connect with and manage collaborations.
10. trendHERO
trendHERO helps you discover influencers within your niche. Filter by engagement metrics, topic tags, audience interests and more to ensure alignment.
Key Features
- Influencer database
- Provides audience demographic data
- Reporting on ROI
- Campaign management features
Pricing
- Custom quotes
Best For
- Identifying relevant influencers
- Managing partnerships & reporting
11. Keyhole
Keyhole offers robust analytics to vet influencers and track campaign performance. Dashboard visualizations showcase metrics to optimize efforts.
Key Features
- In-depth influencer vetting
- Real-time campaign analytics
- Visualized reporting
- Calculates earned media value
Pricing
- Custom quotes
Best For
- Selecting top influencers
- Optimizing partnerships
12. Hypeauditor
Hypeauditor runs in-depth audits on influencer profiles to detect fraud, ensure transparency and benchmark reach. This protects brand safety.
Key Features
- Influencer & audience audit
- Fraud & bot detection
- Reach/engagement analysis
- Instagram partnership safety certifications
Pricing
- Basic reports start at $99
Best For
- Vetting influencers
- Ensuring audience authenticity
Follower Growth Tools
While quality content drives some organic growth, these services provide targeted manual engagements to accelerate follower acquisition.
13. Kicksta
Kicksta offers managed Instagram growth services, manually engaging relevant audiences to drive followers. A dedicated account manager handles onboarding and strategy.
Key Features
- Manual audience targeting
- Produces authentic, real followers
- Dedicated account manager
- No bots/automation
Pricing
- Custom monthly plans
Best For
- Hands-off organic growth
- Expanding real followers
14. Combin
Combin offers an easy-to-use growth dashboard to target relevant accounts, schedule posts and track analytics. This streamlines expanding reach efficiently.
Key Features
- Targets relevant accounts
- Scheduling & analytics
- Available on iOS & Android
- No automation/fake engagement
Pricing
- Free trial, then custom subscriptions
Best For
- Self-service organic growth
- Scheduling & planning
15. SeekSocially
SeekSocially delivers custom Instagram growth campaigns driven by manual targeting of relevant profiles and high-quality engagements. This produces authentic followers.
Key Features
- Manual audience targeting
- Custom monthly growth plans
- Get started in under 5 minutes
- International growth options
Pricing
- Custom monthly subscriptions
Best For
- Hands-off professional growth
- International expansion
Scheduling & Planning Tools
Consistency remains key for organic growth. Scheduling streamlines posting workflows so content goes out reliably.
16. Later
Later centralizes an intuitive visual planner to schedule Instagram posts, stories and reels in advance. This supports consistency across networks.
Key Features
- Visual planner for IG grid/stories
- Creates optimal publishing schedule
- Provides real-time analytics
- Supports LinkedIn, FB, Twitter, Pinterest
Pricing
- Free for basic features
- Custom subscriptions starting at $10/mo
Best For
- Scheduling posts in advance
- Planning cross-platform content
17. Planoly
Planoly makes scheduling easy with drag-and-drop functionality across platforms like Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Its collaboration features also simplify team workflows.
Key Features
- Cross-platform scheduling
- Team task/approval workflows
- Post drafts and templates
- Performance analytics
Pricing
- $9/month basic plan
- Custom enterprise quotes
Best For
- Coordinating team schedules
- Scheduling for multiple platforms
18. Preview
Preview offers schedule planning combined with real-time post analytics. This allows for data-informed optimization of timing and messaging as part of an overall strategy.
Key Features
- Schedules and analyzes posts
- A/B testing for images and captions
- Benchmarks metrics against past
- Available across social platforms
Pricing
- 14-day free trial
- Pro plans start at $29/month
Best For
- Optimizing post performance
- Iterating based on data
Contests & UGC Tools
User-generated content and contests tap into audiences‘ natural creativity while showcasing products. These tools simplify running engaging campaigns.
19. Shortstack
Shortstack empowers you to easily launch contests, sweepstakes and UGC campaigns on Instagram. This engages audiences while showcasing products creatively.
Key Features
- Customizable campaign templates
- Hassle-free contest management
- Built-in moderation tools
- Analyze campaign performance
Pricing
- Starts at $49/month
Best For
- Turnkey contest creation
- Community building
20. Milkshake
Milkshake creates visually engaging "link in bio" landing pages that help direct Instagram traffic, showcase products and collect leads.
Key Features
- Build optimized link in bios
- Showcase products
- Embed video, images,GIFs
- Lead capture forms
Pricing
- Starts at $9/month
Best For
- Link clicks/lead gen
- Showcasing products
Additional Notable Tools
A few other helpful Instagram growth tools to consider:
- Agorapulse: Social media management for multiple platforms and accounts
- Boomerang: Creates mini looping videos perfect for Instagram stories
- InVideo: Enables easy video creation/editing with custom templates
- WordSwag: Stylish text effects and graphics to overlay on images
Key Takeaways
The right tools allow you to streamline efforts and maximize results when it comes to organic Instagram growth. Choose solutions tailored to your end goals, whether those center on content creation, audience expansion or overall branding.
Within each category, look for options suited to your budget and resources. Many provide free tiers or trials to showcase their value before committing.
As you evaluate tools, ensure you have the basics like high-quality content, engagement with others, and analytics tracking already solidified. Software should supplement a smart Instagram strategy, not serve as a substitute.
Utilize these solutions as allies on your Instagram journey. But also take the time to regularly reassess performance and iterate your approaches over time. Consistency, creativity and adaptability remain foundational to Instagram success.
