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How to Track Instagram Hashtags in 2026?

Updated: March 5, 2026

8 min read

Tracking Instagram hashtags helps you see what people are saying about topics, trends, and brands in real time. By monitoring the right hashtags, you can quickly spot conversations, measure reach, and discover new opportunities to engage.

So, how to track trending Instagram hashtags in 2026?

How to track hashtags on Instagram? 

Instagram used to let users follow hashtags the same way they follow accounts.

However, the platform removed this feature in 2024 to reduce spam and improve the quality of content shown in feeds.

As a result, Instagram no longer offers a built-in way to track hashtags automatically, which means that today the only reliable way to monitor hashtag performance and conversations is by using external social media monitoring tools.

Post source: Matt Navarra

Instagram Hashtags Tracking Tools 

Since Instagram no longer allows users to follow hashtags directly, tracking them manually has become much harder.

That’s why many marketers, creators, and brands rely on external tools to monitor hashtag performance, discover trending tags, and analyze conversations around specific topics.

Below you’ll find a comparison of popular tools that can help you track, discover, and analyze Instagram hashtags.

Each tool offers slightly different capabilities, from social listening and hashtag analytics to audience behavior insights

Instagram hashtag tracking tools: Comparison

01 Brand24

Short description:

Brand24 is a social media monitoring tool that tracks online conversations across social media, news sites, blogs, forums, and other public sources.

It helps brands monitor hashtags, keywords, and brand mentions in real time, and it also detects when your brand or hashtag appears in LLM-generated answers (AI assistants and search experiences).

Key features:

• Real-time hashtag and keyword monitoring
• AI-powered sentiment analysis
• AI Insights and reports
• Influencer and source identification
• LLM monitoring

Best for:

Agencies, mid-to-large businesses

Strengths:

• Tracks hashtags and keywords across many sources, not just Instagram
• Advanced analytics including sentiment and reach
• Unique LLM monitoring capability for AI visibility

What could be better:

• Not focused exclusively on Instagram analytics
• Limited access to historical data

02 BrandMentions

Short description:

BrandMentions is a social listening platform designed to track brand mentions, keywords, and hashtags across the web and social media. It helps businesses monitor online discussions and analyze how hashtags contribute to brand visibility.

Key features:

• Real-time mention tracking
• Social media and web monitoring
• Sentiment analysis
• Competitor monitoring

Best for:

Small and medium businesses

Strengths:

• Wide coverage across social media and web sources
• Useful competitor tracking features
• Clear mention analytics and reporting

What could be better:

• Interface can feel complex for beginners

03 Sprout Social

Short description:

Sprout Social is a well-known social media management platform that combines publishing, analytics, and social listening tools. It allows teams to monitor hashtag performance and track conversations across major social platforms.

Key features:

• Social listening and hashtag monitoring
• Engagement and publishing tools
• Performance analytics and reporting
• Team collaboration features

Best for:
Marketing teams managing multiple social media accounts who want hashtag tracking combined with scheduling and engagement tools.

Strengths:

• All-in-one social media management platform
• Advanced analytics and reporting dashboards
• Strong collaboration features for teams

What could be better:

• Expensive compared with single-purpose tools
• Listening features may require higher-tier plans

04 RapidTags

Short description:

RapidTags is a specialized hashtag discovery tool designed for social media creators (specifically for YouTube, but many people recommend it for Instagram too). It analyzes real search data to suggest hashtags that are currently trending and relevant for specific topics.

Key features:

• Real-time hashtag generation
• Keyword-based hashtag suggestions
• Data-driven tag recommendations
• Quick copy-and-use hashtag lists

Best for:

Creators and marketers looking for quick hashtag ideas based on real search trends and popular content.

Strengths:

• Simple and fast hashtag generation
• Based on real search data and trends
• Free and easy to use

What could be better:

• Limited analytics and tracking features
• Not specifically designed for Instagram monitoring

05 Snoopreport

Short description:

Snoopreport is an Instagram activity monitoring tool that shows what public accounts like, follow, and engage with. Instead of directly tracking hashtags, it helps identify which hashtags and content are popular among a specific audience or competitor’s followers.

Key features:

• Instagram user activity tracking
• Insights into liked posts and hashtags
• Audience behavior analysis
• Competitor audience research

Best for:

Marketers who want to understand which hashtags and content resonate with a specific audience or niche.

Strengths:

• Unique insight into real user behavior on Instagram
• Useful for discovering niche hashtags and content trends
• Helpful for competitor audience analysis

What could be better:

• Does not track hashtags directly across the platform
• Works only with public Instagram accounts

It’s a more niche tool, but often mentioned as a good solution for tracking Instagram hashtags.

Review from Reddit:

source: Reddit

FAQ 

What are Instagram hashtag tracking tools?

Instagram hashtag tracking tools are platforms that help you monitor how specific hashtags perform across Instagram and other online sources.

They collect data on posts, conversations, and engagement connected to selected hashtags.

This makes it easier to understand trends, discover relevant content, and measure the impact of hashtag campaigns.

What metrics do Instagram hashtag tracking tools measure?

Most hashtag tracking tools measure hashtag metrics such as post volume, reach, engagement, sentiment, and trending activity around a hashtag.

Some platforms also identify top influencers, popular posts, and audience demographics interacting with the hashtag.

More advanced tools can track how hashtag discussions spread across different platforms and communities.

Can I track a competitor’s Instagram hashtag?

Yes. Many social listening and hashtag monitoring tools allow you to track hashtags used by competitors or their audiences.

This can help you see how popular their campaigns are, which content performs best, and what topics resonate with their followers.

Why track hashtags on Instagram in 2026?

Tracking hashtags helps marketers understand what people are talking about and how trends evolve on Instagram.

Since the platform removed the ability to follow hashtags in the feed, external tools have become the easiest way to monitor conversations and measure hashtag performance.

It also helps brands discover new audiences and optimize their content strategy.

How do I find trending hashtags on Instagram?

Trending hashtags can be discovered by analyzing popular posts, monitoring niche conversations, or using hashtag research tools.

Many platforms suggest hashtags based on current engagement, search activity, and topic relevance, making it easier to find tags that are gaining traction.

Are Instagram hashtags still important in 2026?

Yes. Even though Instagram’s algorithm now relies more on recommendations and user behavior, hashtags still help categorize content and improve discoverability.

When used strategically, they can help posts reach audiences interested in specific topics or communities.

How many hashtags should I use on Instagram?

Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but most marketers recommend using 3–10 highly relevant hashtags instead of filling the entire limit.

Can I track hashtags on Instagram without a tool?

Yes, but only manually. You can search for a hashtag on Instagram and review the Top and Recent posts sections to see how it’s being used.