In case you haven’t heard, Instagram is a pretty big deal. The photo sharing platform is the fastest-growing social site globally and sees over 400 million visitors every month – and it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Instagram isn’t just good for posting pictures of your brunch, though; visual storytelling can be a great way for businesses to connect with their fans. Like with any form of social media, using analytic tools with Instagram can provide your business with some incredibly valuable and interesting insight. Let’s explore some tools that can take your Instagram game to the next level:

Iconosquare

Iconosquare, previously known at Statigram, is one of the most popular Instagram analytics tools out there. With over 260k brands using Iconosquare, this site has it all; you can measure engagement over time, gather community info, get optimization tips and much more. Beyond just having a free account (which only allows you to get basic stats on your followers), a basic account will run you $199/month and features a great set of advanced analytic tools that can help you analyze your best performing hashtags, track up to 5 of your closest competitors, or even identify potential brand advocates. For those of you who take your Instagram game seriously, Iconosquare is a great all-in-one platform that can help you cover all your bases.

Squarelovin

If you like the type of feedback Iconosquare gives you but don’t want to pay the price, Squarelovin is a great option. It provides a lot of the same features as the more popular platform, including information on your followers and how to optimize your Instagram perfomance with filters and hashtags, but the site is completely free. Squarelovin is missing some of Iconosquares swankier features, like the competitor comparison tool, but smaller businesses might prefer Squarelovin’s more straightforward features. Squarelovin is also currently working on coming out with a new set of more business-friendly features, so keep an eye on this platform if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative.

Union Metrics

Union Metrics is, in a word, intense. In addition to having a bunch of awesome features that will help you analyze your Instagram account, Union Metrics actually gives you in-depth insight and analysis into the numbers and stats it provides. The site also has the capacity to analyze your Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr accounts and can do cross-channel comparisons for your company. All these snazzy features don’t come cheap, though; the site charges $525/month for their most basic plan. For bigger companies that want to have it all, this might be a good fit. Too intense for you? Keep scrolling.

SimplyMeasured

If you’re looking for a great high-level summary of your brand’s Instagram account for free, SimplyMeasured is the way to go. Their free report, a one-time download, is the most insightful free option out there, offering info like average engagement per photo, keyword analysis for comments, best time to post to receive the most engagement and much more. Their paid options are also pretty comprehensive, but most Insta-lovers agree that their free report is more than enough.

Locowise

If you’re interested in stacking your Instagram account up against the competition, Locowise is a great tool for you. This site lets you compare your Instagram account to 2,500 other accounts based on location, popularity and more – pretty wild, right? The free service is ridiculously thorough and can give users who are new to Instagram a good idea of where they should be and what goals to set for the future.

Bonus: Chronogram

Chronogram definitely deserves a special mention on this list because the site allows you to schedule Instagram posts from your desktop (cue Hallelujah chorus). Their free plan is pretty comprehensive, although you will have to deal with that pesky “#chronogramapp via @chronogram_” tagline at the end of your caption as long as you want to go fee-free.
Do you have a favorite tool to manage your Instagram account? Share yours in the comments below or on our Instagram account!