Instagram vs. X (Formerly Twitter) – Detailed Comparison

Quick Verdict

Instagram is generally better suited for businesses focused on visual marketing and e-commerce, given its larger user base and higher engagement. X remains relevant for news dissemination and quick updates, but faces challenges regarding user sentiment and engagement rates.

Instagram boasts a significantly larger user base and higher engagement rates compared to X.
Instagram is heavily integrated with e-commerce, making it a strong platform for businesses, while X is used more for news consumption.
X has faced challenges with engagement rates and user sentiment, while Instagram continues to be a popular platform for entertainment and brand discovery.

Key Specs – Side-by-Side

Metric	Instagram	X (Formerly Twitter)
Active Users (Monthly)	2 billion	Estimates vary between 335 million and 600 million (May 2024)
User Demographics (Age)	18-24 years old: ~32%; Over 60% are within the 18-34 age bracket; Teenagers (13-17): 8.1%	Largest age group is 25-34 (36.6%), followed by 18-24 year olds. Majority of users are under 35.
User Demographics (Gender)	49.4% female, 50.6% male	Majority are male (60.9%), with 39.1% female.
Average Daily Time Spent	33.1 minutes	11 minutes
Advertising Reach	Nearly 2 billion potential customers each month	Not available
E-commerce Integration	44% of users use the app for shopping each week; 58% of users use the platform to find information about brands or products	Not available
News Consumption	Not available	59% of users regularly use the platform to get news.
Popularity Among Influencers	Instagram influencer marketing spending reached $2.2 billion in 2024	Not available
Price	Not available	Not available
Rating	Not available	Not available

Overall Comparison

Instagram: 2 billion monthly active users, strong e-commerce integration, and high influencer marketing spending.
X (Formerly Twitter): Between 335 and 600 million monthly active users, primarily male demographic, and 59% use it for news.

Pros and Cons

Advantages

Instagram: Large user base
Instagram: High engagement rates on Reels
Instagram: Popular among marketers
Instagram: Significant e-commerce integration
X (Formerly Twitter): Vital to online strategy for 85% of small- and medium-sized businesses that use X for marketing.
X (Formerly Twitter): Users spend 26% more time viewing ads on X than on other social media platforms.

Disadvantages

Instagram: Some users find it challenging to develop conversations and find genuine engagement
X (Formerly Twitter): Engagement rates on X posts have seen a decrease.
X (Formerly Twitter): Median engagement rate on X decreased from 0.029% in 2024 to 0.015% in 2025.
X (Formerly Twitter): Some users believe the platform favors conservative views.
X (Formerly Twitter): There are concerns about the platform's direction and potential demise.

User Experiences and Feedback

Overall User Sentiment

What Users Love

Instagram: Users primarily use the app for entertainment and to connect with friends and family
Instagram: Many users check product reviews and recommendations on the platform

Common Complaints

Instagram: Some users find it challenging to develop conversations and find genuine engagement
X (Formerly Twitter): Opinions on X's impact on American democracy are divided along political lines.
X (Formerly Twitter): Some users still refer to the platform as "Twitter".

Value Perception

Instagram: A large percentage of Gen Z users exchange Instagram handles over phone numbers when meeting someone new