20 Essential Instagram Marketing Tools You‘ll Need in 2022

Instagram has emerged as one of the most powerful social media platforms for businesses, with over 1.4 billion monthly active users (Source: Instagram). To take full advantage of this immense opportunity, your brand needs the right toolbox.

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In this in-depth guide, we‘ll cover 20 indispensable Instagram marketing tools to help you create stunning content, grow your following, drive engagement, and measure your success. We‘ve sorted them into key categories so you can find the best fit for your needs. Let‘s dive in!

Content Creation Tools

Visual content reigns supreme on Instagram. These tools will help you craft high-quality, on-brand posts and stories that stop the scroll:

1. Canva

Canva is a graphic design platform beloved by social media marketers for its user-friendly interface and gorgeous templates. Key features include:

420,000+ free templates for posts, stories, reels, ads, and highlights
75+ million premium stock photos, videos, audio and graphics
Drag-and-drop editor (no design skills needed!)
Brand Kit to save your logos, fonts and colors
Magic Resize to instantly adapt designs for different formats

Over 55 million people now use Canva, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. The free plan is generous, while Canva Pro unlocks even more assets and features for just $12.99/month.

2. Adobe Spark

Adobe Spark is a suite of graphic design tools that let you easily create stunning social media visuals. Top features for Instagram include:

Professionally-designed templates for feed posts, stories, and ads
Extensive royalty-free photo and icon library
Animation tool to create eye-catching videos in minutes
Branding feature to instantly apply brand colors and logos
Integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps

Plans start at just $9.99/month, and it‘s included for Creative Cloud subscribers.

3. Instasize

Instasize is a powerful photo and video editing app built with Instagram creators in mind. Stand-out features include:

130+ filters and effects
Advanced editing tools like HSL and curves
Extensive collection of borders, fonts, and templates
Grid post and story maker
Beauty tools for selfie retouching

With 4.8 stars and over 1 million downloads on iOS, Instasize is a creator favorite. There‘s a free version with basic features, while Premium starts at $4.99/month.

Scheduling & Publishing Tools

Consistency is key on Instagram, but that doesn‘t mean you have to be glued to your phone 24/7. These tools help you plan, schedule, and auto-post your content:

4. Later

Later is a leading Instagram marketing platform used by over 7 million people. Their visual content calendar and scheduler is a highlight, along with these features:

Drag and drop calendar interface
Best time to post recommendations
Saved captions and hashtags
Multi-profile support
User-generated content curation

Later offers a generous free plan, while paid plans with more profiles and features start at $18/month.

5. Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a comprehensive social media management platform trusted by over 30,000 organizations. For Instagram, key features include:

Visual calendar to plan and schedule feed and stories content
ViralPost technology to determine optimal posting times
Message management to track and respond to comments/DMs
Asset library to store on-brand visual content
Post tagging and team collaboration tools

Plans start at $89/user/month, with a 30-day free trial available.

6. Agorapulse

Agorapulse is another full-featured social media management tool with robust Instagram marketing features like:

Intuitive publishing calendar with queues and scheduling
Social inbox to manage comments and DMs in one place
Shared calendars for easy team collaboration
Tags and labels to organize your content
Automated publishing to Instagram (no notifications needed)

Plans start at $79/month for 3 users and 10 social profiles, with a free trial available.

Analytics & Reporting Tools

To improve your Instagram strategy, you need insights into what‘s working (and what‘s not). Here are some top analytics and reporting tools:

7. Iconosquare

Iconosquare is a leading analytics and reporting platform built specifically for Instagram. Key features include:

In-depth analytics for feed posts, stories, and IGTV
Industry and competitor benchmarks
Easy-to-understand report cards
Comment sentiment analysis
Follower growth and engagement insights

Plans start at $59/month, with a 14-day free trial available.

8. HypeAuditor

HypeAuditor is an AI-powered Instagram analytics tool focused on helping you measure and grow your real audience. Top features include:

Audience quality and authenticity scores
Detailed follower analysis
Engagement rate benchmarks
Optimal posting times based on your audience
Competitor analysis and influencer discovery

Plans start at $299/month, with a limited free version available.

9. Squarelovin

Squarelovin is a free Instagram analytics tool that provides insights to help you grow your account. Noteworthy features include:

Content performance analytics
Best posting time recommendations
Recent follower/unfollower tracking
Follower growth and interactions over time
Stories and hashtag analytics

It‘s an accessible option for solopreneurs and small teams on a budget.

Audience Growth Tools

Growing a highly engaged Instagram following takes time and effort. These tools can help accelerate the process:

10. Kicksta

Kicksta is an Instagram growth service that helps you attract real, targeted followers. Here‘s how it works:

You define your ideal audience (target accounts, hashtags, etc.)
Kicksta‘s AI engine finds and interacts with those users
Genuine followers start coming to your account

Other key features include:

Automated liking and story viewing
Spam, bot, and private account filters
Growth and engagement analytics
Dedicated account manager

Pricing starts at $99/month for moderate growth. While Kicksta used to also offer a comment tool, this feature has now been discontinued to comply with Instagram‘s terms of service.

11. Combin Growth

Combin Growth, previously Combin Scheduler, is an Instagram automation tool focused on organic audience growth. Top features include:

AI-powered hashtag generator
Smart targeting options
Automated likes, follows, and unfollows
Built-in analytics and reporting
DM marketing campaigns

Plans start at $15/month. However, be cautious with any tool that automates direct interactions like comments and DMs, as this can violate Instagram‘s terms of service.

12. Tailwind

Tailwind is a smart Instagram assistant designed to help you grow your following by making the most of your content. It offers features like:

Drag-and-drop grid planner
Smart Schedule to auto-post at optimal times
Hashtag finder
Profile performance tracking
SmartLoop to automatically re-share top posts

Plans for Instagram start at $14.99/month, with a free trial available.

UGC & Influencer Marketing Tools

User-generated content (UGC) and influencer partnerships are powerful ways to build brand trust and reach new audiences on Instagram. These tools can help:

13. TINT

TINT is a leading UGC platform that makes it easy to discover, curate, and display Instagram content from your fans and customers. Key features include:

Automated content aggregation from hashtags and mentions
AI-powered content moderation and ranking
Secure rights management and permissions
Customizable, responsive embeds and displays
Ecommerce integrations to drive sales

Plans start at $500/month, with a free demo available.

14. AspireIQ

AspireIQ, formerly Revfluence, is an end-to-end influencer marketing platform used by top brands like Puma, Kroger, and MVMT. For Instagram, it offers:

Extensive influencer database with 100K+ verified profiles
Advanced search filters and AI-based recommendations
Automated outreach and collaboration tools
Content review and approval workflows
In-depth campaign reporting

Plans are customized based on your needs, with pricing available upon request.

15. Keyhole

Keyhole is a real-time social media monitoring and analytics platform that can help you find and manage Instagram influencer partnerships. Standout features include:

Influencer discovery based on keywords, hashtags, and accounts
Influencer metrics like engagement rate, reach, and sentiment
Campaign and ROI measurement
Automated reporting
API access for custom integrations

Plans start at $179/month for the Starter plan, which includes influencer tracking and management.

Instagram Advertising Tools

Organic reach on Instagram can be limited, so many businesses turn to paid ads to drive results. Here are some tools to optimize your Instagram advertising:

16. AdEspresso

AdEspresso by Hootsuite is a leading platform for creating, managing, and optimizing Instagram ad campaigns. Key features include:

Intuitive campaign setup and ad creation
Extensive ad template library
Automatic A/B testing
Real-time performance monitoring and optimization tips
Unlimited team members and dedicated account manager

Plans start at $49/month, with a 14-day free trial available.

17. Revealbot

Revealbot is an AI-powered advertising platform that helps you automate and scale your Instagram ad campaigns. Top features include:

Automated ad creation and scheduling
AI-optimized audience targeting
1-click ad boosting
Customizable rules and alerts
Predictive analytics and pacing insights

Plans start at $99/month for the Starter plan, which includes all core features.

18. Madgicx

Madgicx is an AI-powered platform that optimizes your Instagram ads for maximum ROI. Noteworthy features include:

Fully autonomous ad creation and management
Creative and audience insights
Real-time bid and budget optimization
1-click lead generation setup
Multi-account management

Plans start at $49/month for the Starter plan, with a 7-day free trial available.

Instagram Link in Bio Tools

The "link in bio" is valuable real estate on Instagram. Make the most of it with these tools:

19. Linkin.bio by Later

Linkin.bio is a customizable landing page that lets you share multiple links from your Instagram bio. Standout features include:

Drag-and-drop page builder with customizable layouts
Shoppable Instagram feed
Embedded videos, products, and newsletter signup
Trackable link analytics
Canva integration for easy design

Linkin.bio comes included with all Later paid plans, starting at $18/month.

20. Linktree

Linktree is a popular link in bio tool used by over 25M people worldwide. Key features include:

Custom colors and button styles
Unlimited links (paid plans only)
Built-in social icons
Timed links and leap links
Basic clicks and views analytics

Linktree offers a limited free plan, while Pro starts at $6/month.

How to Choose the Best Instagram Tools for Your Business

With so many great options out there, how do you find the right Instagram tools for your unique needs and goals? Here are some factors to consider:

Your Instagram Marketing Goals

Are you mainly focused on awareness, engagement, conversions, or all three? Different tools specialize in different areas. For example:

For awareness and reach, consider growth tools like Kicksta or influencer platforms like AspireIQ.
For engagement, look for social inbox tools like Sprout Social or Later that help you stay on top of interactions.
For conversions, try Instagram shopping tools like Shoppable UGC from TINT or the Linkin.bio landing page from Later.

Your Team Structure and Budget

If you‘re a solopreneur or small team, all-in-one platforms that combine scheduling, publishing, and analytics like Later or Agorapulse could be a good fit. For larger organizations with separate content and analytics teams, more specialized tools may work better.

Of course, budget is also a factor. Luckily, many of the tools on this list have free plans or trials, so you can test them out before committing.

Ease of Use and Integration

The best Instagram tools should make your life easier, not harder. Look for user-friendly interfaces and features that will help streamline your workflow, like content calendars, post templates, and automation.

It‘s also important that your tools integrate well with each other and your existing systems. For instance, some tools offer direct publishing to Instagram, while others may require a push notification workflow.

Mastering Instagram Marketing in 2022

As Instagram continues to evolve, staying ahead of the curve is crucial. By leveraging these 20 powerful tools for content creation, publishing, analytics, audience growth, and more, you‘ll be well on your way to Instagram marketing success.

Remember, the key is to experiment and find what works best for your unique brand and audience. Don‘t be afraid to try new things, measure your results, and continually optimize your approach.

With the right strategy and toolkit, you can unlock the full potential of Instagram to build brand awareness, drive engagement, and boost conversions in 2022 and beyond.

20 Essential Instagram Marketing Tools You‘ll Need in 2022 - Marketing Scoop (2024)