15 of the Best Instagram Stories Apps to Level Up Your Content
Stickers, filters, animations—today’s Instagram Stories look better than ever. That might be because there are tons of amazing Instagram Story apps available.
With so many tools at your fingertips, creating stellar content has never been easier.
It’s also never been more important—especially for brands.
Stories are growing 15 times faster than other content. They’re reaching more than 500 million active users every day on Instagram alone. It’s no surprise Stories are one of the top social media trends for 2019.
But simply pushing out a Story isn’t enough. Creating Instagram Stories that actually convert takes time, energy, and creativity. It also takes the right tools.
Here are 15 of the best Instagram Story apps to explore.
Download your free pack of 20 customizable Instagram Stories templates now. Save time and look professional while promoting your brand in style.
15 Instagram Story apps marketers should know
1. Unfold
Price: Free, with some paid features
Download: iOS or Android
What to use it for: Unfold helps you design beautiful collages for Instagram Stories. Use one of its many free templates to give your images a smooth, branded feel. Mix text, photos, videos, and more within the same story.
Key features:
- 25 free templates
- 90 premium (paid) templates
- Advanced text options, including multiple typefaces
- Compatible with photo and video
2. InShot
Price: Free, with some paid features
Download: iOS or Android
What to use it for: Almost everything! InShot is one of the highest-rated apps for Android and iPhone. It’s also one of our favorite Instagram apps for business.
InShot comes with tons of advanced features for both photo and video. You can edit images, enhance photos, add music, and more. Just make sure to set your canvas ratio to 9:16 before you start editing.
Key features:
- Extensive video and photo editing tools, including filters, icons, and speed-control
- Pre-made templates for photo collages
- Options for adding music to videos and background to photos
Curious? Check out InShot’s promotional video to see it in action.
3. Hype-Type
Price: Free, with some paid features
Download: iOS or Android
What to use it for: Hype-Type is one of the best Instagram Story apps for text. Play around with different fonts and styles. Add fun, animated typography to your Instagram Stories.
Special features:
- Wide range of text animations and fonts
- Compatible with photo and video
- Simple to use: just upload your image and add text
4. Adobe Spark (App Family)
Price: Free, with paid subscription options
Download Adobe Spark Post: iOS, Android, or Desktop
Download Adobe Spark Video: iOS or Desktop
What to use it for: Adobe Spark is a versatile family of apps that’s easy to use. Together, they let you create professional-looking content without a professional design background.
- Spark Video lets you combine videos into compelling Stories. You can add effects, sounds, animations, and more.
- Spark Post helps you create appealing graphics for any social platform. You can edit images, add typography, and find stock photos.
Key features:
- Add animation to video posts
- Multiple text style, cutout, and effect options
- Extensive library of stock photos
- Easy synching with cloud backup
- Add sound from Adobe’s collection or your own phone
See for yourself with Adobe Spark’s introductory video.
5. Canva
Price: Free, with some paid features
Download: iOS or Android
What to use it for: Need to revamp a Story in a pinch? Canva has you covered. This is one of the quickest and easiest of all Instagram Story apps. Upload your videos and add stickers, icons, or text. Try one of several premade templates. Download, and you’re done.
Key Features:
- 60,000+ templates
- 1 million+ background photos
- Includes grids, photo vignette, and other design tools
- Multiple stickers, icons, badges, textures, and frames to choose from
6. Clipomatic
Price: $4.99 US
Download: iOS only
What to use it for: More and more social videos are viewed without sound. That’s why captions are so important. They ensure your Stories work well for silent viewing. The also make them more accessible for people with hearing issues.
Clipomatic streamlines the process. The app transforms spoken words into live captions with the click of a button. It also offers some visual tools to make your videos pop.
Key features:
- Automatic captioning with Smart Video Editor
- Available in 40 different languages
- Selection of typography options available
- Works on multiple platforms (not just Instagram)
- Visual filters available
7. Over
Price: Free, with paid subscription options
Download: iOS or Android
What to use it for: Over is one of the highest rated Instagram Story apps for editing. Use one of many premade templates or create your own. Add stickers, fonts, texts and more.
Over is a more advanced app, so it can take some time to learn. But once you’ve got the basics covered, it can open lots of possibilities.
Key features:
- Includes a range of backgrounds, fonts, stickers, and more
- Vast library of templates
- Add unlimited photos to a single canvas
- Create content for social media posts, ads, posters, and more
For inspiration, check out Over’s promotional video. Browse their #bestofover community to see how others are using the app.
8. CutStory
Price: Free, with some paid features
Download: iOS only
What to use it for: The 15-second maximum is one of the best and worst things about Instagram. Sure, short content is fun and engaging. But it’s also super limiting.
For Stories you can’t express in under 15 seconds, there’s CutStory. This app lets you divide long videos into a series of shorter clips. You’ll end up with a continuous stream of videos that you can post as Instagram Stories.
Key features:
- Cut long videos into Instagram-length clips
- Export videos without compressing them
- Post videos filmed more than 24 hours ago
- Works for all video formats
9. Lifelapse
Price: Free, with some paid features
Download: iOS or Android
What to use it for: Want to make your Story stand out? Try stop motion animation. Lifelapse lets you create professional-looking animations right from your phone. It also includes a range of editing tools. You can add stock music and filters, adjust the play speed, and more.
Key features:
- High-production value
- Explore stop motion animation without any editing skills
- Helpful tutorials to help you master the basics
- Includes an interval timer to help you time your video just right
Want to learn more? Lifelapse’s demo video gives you a taste of what’s possible.
10. A Design Kit
Price: Free, with some paid features
Download: iOS only
What to use it for: This Instagram Story app helps you bring colour to your content. Add vibrant stickers, backgrounds, and text. Get creative with one of A Design Kit’s many brushes. You might be more of an artist than you expected.
Key features:
- Realistic brushes for drawing colour or textures
- Tons of stickers and backgrounds
- 30+ font options
- 120+ designs and templates
To see what A Design Kit can do, browse their free tutorials. Follow the #adesignkit community on Instagram to spark more ideas.
11. PhotoGrid
Price: Free, with some paid features
Download: iOS or Android
What to use it for: PhotoGrid’s versatility may be its greatest strength. Use it to create GIFs, slideshows, and memes. Add AR face filters and stickers to your Stories. Plus, beautify your profile photos by smoothing out imperfections.
Key features:
- 300+ templates for photo collage
- 60+ filters
- 90+ backgrounds
- Compatible with different aspect ratios
- Includes a meme and GIF generator, scrapbook feature, smart face filter, and more
12. 8mm
Price: $4.49 US
Download: iOS only
What to use it for: #ThrowbackThursday, anyone? 8mm is one of the top Instagram Story apps for creating vintage-looking content. It lets you experiment with old-style grains, lenses, and video effects. And because you can use its filters live, you can edit as you record.
Download your free pack of 20 customizable Instagram Stories templates now. Save time and look professional while promoting your brand in style.
Download the templates now!Fun fact: Malik Bendjelloul used 8mm in his Oscar-winning film Searching for Sugar Man.
Key features:
- Supports up to 4K HD recording
- 8 unique lenses
- 13 retro film styles
- Live edit or apply effects to existing footage
Check out this sample video to get a sense of what 8mm can offer.
13. Microsoft Hyperlapse
Price: Free
Download: Android or Desktop
What to use it for: Want to create a timelapse from an old video? Hyperlapse has got you covered. This app lets you adjust video speeds up to 32x.
You can import existing videos or record new ones. Choose a speed that will work well for your Story. Then, download and save for easy sharing.
Key features:
- Choose from 1x to 32x the normal speed
- Save in HD: 720 and 1080 px are both supported
- Create a hyperlapse of any video you’ve ever shot
Want to see how it works? Check out Hyperlapse’s brief intro video.
14. Jumprope
Price: Free
Download: iOS only
What to use it for: Jumprope is our favourite Instagram Story app for creating “how to” style content. This app lets you share fitness routines, beauty tutorials, recipes, and more.
Play with text overlays, animations, and colours. Export your content to any social platform, including Instagram.
Key features:
- Step-by-step, personalizable templates
- Easy editing tools like filters, voiceover, and time-lapse
- Add music, animations, colors, and patterns
- Highlight any products you use in a shoppable format
15. VSCO
Price: Free, but video editing is only included with paid membership
Download: iOS or Android
What to use it for: VSCO is a crowd favourite when it comes to photo editing. But did you know that it’s also available for video?
VSCO’s video tools come at an added cost, but they’re worth it. The paid plan lets you adjust brightness, contrast, temperature, and more. Plus, it lets you apply your favourite photo filters to your videos. That means you can build a more cohesive brand aesthetic across all content.
Key features:
- 10 free editing presets
- 170+ paid presets
- Advanced editing tools, including video
- Film X feature for creating Polaroid-style vintage content
- Plenty of helpful tips and tutorials to explore
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