In 2020, Instagram introduced Reels as an alternative to TikTok. Is one better than the other, or are they equally useful, and which one should you pick? Or can we declare a victor between Reels and TikTok? Find out by reading on!
What sets TikTok apart from Instagram Reels?
There are numerous similarities between TikTok and Instagram Reels. Both let users to watch and share short, vertical videos and engage in social interactions with one another.
Videos side by side
One of the most striking similarities between TikTok and Reels is their support for side-by-side video. This allows you to film your reaction to, or extension of, another user’s content while simultaneously recording your own video. TikTok has the immensely popular Duets feature, and Instagram Reels has a similar function they call Remixes.
However, TikTok Duets has the upper hand because it was the first of its kind and has more robust interaction and editing features. Not that I think all Reels Remixes are horrible, mind you. With Instagram’s live video feature, you may still do the following:
- You may upload your own audio or choose from a selection on Instagram.
- You may use already edited video by just adding your own local files.
- A kind of filter-processed film
- Transform the original video’s tempo, structure, loudness, and duration.
- Keep tabs on who is re-using your material.
In a fair fight between Instagram Reels and TikTok, Duets would come out on top, but you should definitely check out Remixes. Remixing on Instagram Reels is a great alternative to the Chinese social media juggernaut TikTok if you’re looking for a platform with a similar buzzy, collaborative vibe. In January 2022, Instagram introduced the ability to Remix any public video, not only Reels.
Instagram Reels don’t allow for music
If a user is searching for a song but cannot locate it in Instagram’s library, it is likely inaccessible owing to licencing or rights concerns. Instagram’s search feature is fantastic, but it doesn’t index every music. You may manually insert a music into a clip before adding it to your Reel if you want to use a song that isn’t featured in the app. There won’t be any takedowns, copyright claims, or legal issues if you utilise it in your material, as long as you have the proper licence and/or permissions to include it.
Video duration
Instagram Reels are concise video clips that are shared on the platform. Originally released with a 15-second time constraint, they’ve been upgraded to a full 60 seconds of playtime. which I’ve heard before.
In the past, videos on TikTok were limited to 15 seconds. The first 60-second format was followed by three-minute videos. Ten minutes of lip-syncing, baking, awful dancing, or whatever else you want to do may now be squeezed into your TikTok videos.
When it comes to short-form viral videos, TikTok has the upper hand only due to the platform’s shareability. You may upload films up to an hour in length to Instagram’s primary video feature, though, if that’s what you’re want. But there’s just one minute left on the clock for Reels.
Mend by stitching together
When comparing TikTok to Reels, TikTok does have one advantage: stitching. Only on TikTok is it possible to take small segments of other users’ videos and incorporate them into your own.
TikTok duets and Instagram reel remixes enable side-by-side video playback. TikTok’s Stitch feature is unique in that it allows you to replace your own video with the first five seconds of another user’s video. Instagram does not yet support this feature, but you may always use a third-party video editing programme to make a Reel if you have permission to use someone else’s footage.
Sponsored content
TikTok has sponsored content and paid adverts tailored to each user’s feed. The lack of advertisements on Instagram Reels is generally viewed as a positive by users. Adding a’sponsored’ tag to an Instagram Reel, however, is simple when working on a brand collaboration.
Wellbeing
TikTok and Reels have both been praised for their user-activated digital wellness features. The TikTok app has a dedicated Wellness Hub where users can get information on physical and mental wellness. Instagram, and by extension Reels, has a feature called “Take a Break,” which serves as a reminder to put down your phone, take a breather, and go on to something else after you’ve used it for a predetermined length of time.
Similar to Take a Break, the Screen Time Management feature was in development for years on TikTok. Users in the year 2020 were accosted (apparently at random) with films that said “Hold on, you’ve been scrolling for way too long now.” While TikTok’s focus has not always been on its users’ health, it is evident that the company has made this a priority.
Are Reels Going to Succeed TikTok?
It’s really unlikely. While Instagram has solidified its place in the industry and on Meta, TikTok excels in what it does. TikTok’s integrated, streamlined interface is a hit with many tastemakers, while the app’s lightning-fast, endless scrolling is a hit with casual users. Because of this, it’s quite doubtful that Reels will ever completely replace TikTok. After all, the two services need to coexist.
The reason why TikTok has surpassed Instagram Reels in popularity
TikTok’s more organic vibe is hard to describe, but many people appreciate it. The integration of Shopify makes for seamless in-app purchases on the platform.
You can’t have as much creative control or opportunity on Reels as you do on the rest of Instagram. While Instagram as a whole is fantastic, Reels simply can’t keep up with TikTok in terms of ease of use.
There are more over a billion monthly active users on Instagram and TikTok, but Instagram is used for more than simply Reels. TikTok thrives on this type of short-form, snappy material, while Instagram’s Reels is really a supplementary tool. That’s why that genre of video does better on TikTok.