The 10 Best Instagram Monitoring Tools to Use in 2024

Over 2.4 billion people are Instagram users, and the number keeps growing. It means almost half of the Internet is on Instagram. Crazy huh? As marketers, we shouldn’t pass by such numbers and pretend we didn’t see them.

However, this vast user base isn’t just a blessing. It creates many possibilities but also raises its challenges. 

That’s why Instagram analytics tools are so important. They provide insights into what content resonates with your audience, allowing for data-driven strategies. 

In a nutshell, these tools transform your Instagram game from wild guesses to a winning strategy. 

How? And which tool should you choose?

This article will guide you through the 10 top Instagram analytics tools to improve your online presence. 

So, ready to grow your brand on Instagram?

Top Instagram Monitoring Tools:

1. Brand24
2. Instagram Insights
3. Meltwater
4. eClincher
5. Sprout Social
6. Hootsuite
7. Sociality.io
8. Keyhole
9. Iconosquare
10. Union Metrics

01 Brand24

Start Brand24 free trial.

Brand24 offers a unique approach to social media analytics. The main focus in terms of Instagram analytics is on gathering mentions about your brand. Thus, it provides insight into your brand perception across various Instagram users. 

How it works?

This tool can smoothly complement your Instagram strategy by providing a detailed yet approachable look at user discussions about your brand. I know it sounds kind of like a spell… but let me show it with an example.

Here’s a mention Brand24 tool detected as positive. You can check any details to find out what the customer says about the product.

In this case, the client highlights the shoe’s thick upper and outsole and a nice grip. 

The tool also enables checking an overall sentiment about a specific phrase, or as below – the “pegasus” shoe model.

Such information can be valuable for identifying potential product improvements and future developments. It essentially acts as a direct line to customer feedback, helping to pinpoint areas for improvement and guide strategic updates.

Additionally, Brand24 can be your guide in managing potential PR issues. How? Thanks to its capability to rapidly identify and address negative mentions from Instagram posts.

On Instagram, it opens up a fantastic opportunity to connect deeply with your audience, fostering a strong sense of community. 

Whether it’s a positive shoutout or a critical comment, the tool allows you to access the post and engage with the publisher directly. 

This direct interaction is invaluable – showing gratitude for positive reviews and swiftly addressing concerns demonstrates your commitment to customer satisfaction.

Ah, and a new feature you’ll love in Brand24 is its Anomaly Detector. It’s an AI-powered solution and your guide in any unusual spikes in your brand’s mentions. 

You suddenly got 450 mentions and you can’t find the “why”? The anomaly detector will do that within seconds. Just as it recently did for Barbie:

It makes it easier to quickly react to significant changes or potential crises.

Brand4 also offers a complex understanding of your brand’s social media performance. Plus, you (the user) won’t be bothered with dull data. 

Thanks to advanced AI technology, this Instagram analytics tool will transform and interpret numbers for you. What you work on are those ready-to-use reports, just like the one for the most popular emojis among discussions about your brand rapport. 

Take a look below:

It’s super clear, isn’t it?

These reports are so much more than just numbers and words. 

They offer a unique window into the emotions and attitudes of your audience, enabling you to tailor your strategies and content more effectively to resonate with your followers.

Ah, and beyond Instagram, it also tracks mentions from other sources, including social media posts on other platforms, news, blogs, videos, forums, podcasts, and reviews, so you get a holistic view of your audience demographics. However, just like for other analytics tools – you’ll need business accounts.

Key features:

• Mentions and hashtags tracking
• Instagram hashtag analytics 
• Identification of trending hashtags
• Identification of the top relevant Instagram profiles (potential influencers)
• Sentiment analysis
• Online Presence & Reputation Score
• Competitor analysis
• Quick reaction to mentions
• Instagram analytics

02 Instagram Insights

If your budget is low, and you’re looking for some free Instagram analytics tools – that’s the one. It is quite a complex feature that Meta provides in the Instagram app panel. Whether you’re craving insights into your (I hope so) growing audience or want to find out about a specific post’s performance – Instagram Insights is your go-to.

But hold your horses – to unlock this treasure trove, you’ll have to switch to an Instagram business account. And it’s probably not a surprise for you, but… switching to a business account will most likely cut your organic reach.

But no worries, it’s normal. Keep in mind that it’s going to pay off later with better-tailored campaigns and marketing efforts. Unfortunately, you’ll only start seeing the insights after the switch.

Once you’re set-up, navigating to Insights is a breeze. You just tap the menu icon at the top right of your Instagram profile, hit “Insights,” and voilà – an analytics dashboard is here for you.

And here’s a pro tip: Fancy a quick peek at a post’s performance? Just tap “View Insights” on any Instagram post. It’s like having a mini Instagram metrics analyst for each piece of content. 

Key features:

• Audience engagement rate
• Instagram performance tracking
• Instagram account reach and engagement metrics
• Follower growth analysis
• Instagram story analytics
• Instagram content analysis feature
• Activity Overview
• Specific Instagram post insights

Sailing through metrics like accounts reached, engagement rate, and follower fluctuations is key to determining an effective marketing strategy. While Instagram Insights is a powerful Instagram analytics tool – it may be hard to leverage its data.

If you’re not used to operating in numbers and stats, consider adding a tool that would transform your Instagram metrics into actionable insights, like Brand24.

03 Meltwater

Meltwater stands out in Instagram monitoring for its brand mentions, hashtags, and trends data directly related to Instagram. It’s especially powerful in providing analytics that discerns audience sentiment and engagement levels on your Instagram content. 

Key features:

• Brand mentions tracking
• Analysis of Instagram-specific market trends
• Insight into the sentiments of the Instagram audience
• Instagram analytics 

It’s a valuable tool for those seeking a thorough understanding of their Instagram impact and strategically enhance their presence.

However, a heads-up for those starting out: Meltwater’s extensive features could be a bit complex initially. You need some knowledge of operating on data to make the tool useful.

04 eClincher

eClincher is a comprehensive Instagram analytics tool. Social media managers value it for its effectiveness in Instagram analytics and, most importantly – social media management.

It offers a range of features tailored for businesses and professionals to streamline their Instagram marketing strategy.

Key Features:

• Multiple accounts management
• Scheduling and publishing Instagram content
• Instagram analytics
• Engagement metrics
• Content Curation
• Messages and comments centralization
• Team Collaboration

But remember that just like many other Instagram analytics tools, eClincher may have a learning curve for new users. Plus, some users find it a bit too pricey for small businesses or individuals. If your social media marketing strategy is very complex – eClincher is your place to be.

05 Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a dynamic Instagram analytics tool, highly regarded for its depth in market and audience insights. 

It’s the tool of choice for social media managers who crave more than just data – they want a comprehensive toolkit for managing their digital presence. This isn’t just about numbers. It’s about shaping strategies.

Key Features:

• Comparative analysis of follower and engagement stats across brands
• Detailed audience analytics
• Insight into competitors’ strategies
• Instagram audit
• Follower growth metrics
• Integration with multiple social media platforms
• Streamlined workflow and approval processes
• Instagram Analytics app

Ok, but how do I know if this is the go-to out of so many social media analytics tools for me? It’s important to note that this is a very complex social media management platform. And with its many features, it can present a learning curve for newcomers. 

Additionally, its pricing may be on the higher end compared to other tools. Yet, Sprout Social is an excellent choice for businesses aiming to sharpen their Instagram marketing performance by utilizing in-depth metrics.

06 Hootsuite

Hootsuite is more than just basic analytics – it’s a complete command center. Marketers love it for its user-friendly dashboard with engagement and sales metrics. It lets you manage and analyze multiple social media accounts, including Instagram, from one place. 

With Hootsuite, scheduling posts, tracking social conversations, and measuring performance are all in a day’s work.

Key Features:

• Multi-platform management
• Posts scheduling and calendar view
• Social media analytics and reporting
• Team collaboration tools
• Social media listening capabilities

However, Hootsuite’s broad range of features might be overwhelming for beginners, and its pricing plans, especially for small businesses, can be a bit steep. But for those needing an all-in-one solution, it’s a solid pick.

07 Sociality.io

Sociality.io shines as a versatile tool that simplifies Instagram monitoring and management. It’s a hit with marketers who value efficiency and work in teams. It offers detailed reporting, competitive analysis, and streamlined post scheduling.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive social media reporting
• Competitor analysis and benchmarking
• Efficient posts scheduling and publishing
• Social media engagement tools

While Sociality.io offers a breadth of features, some users find the user interface a bit clunky and the reporting tools can be initially complex to navigate. Nevertheless, for in-depth social media insights, it’s a robust option.

08 Keyhole

Keyhole is an efficient Instagram analytics tool known for its real-time tracking and easy-to-use hashtag analytics. 

It’s kind of like having a backstage pass to the Instagram show, giving you insights into audience engagement and competitive trends. 

The tool is straightforward and perfect for both beginners and experienced marketers alike.

Key Features:

• Real-Time hashtag tracking
• Audience engagement metrics
• Competitive analysis
• Influencer identification and monitoring

While Keyhole is great for immediate insights, especially with hashtags and engagement, it may lack the depth in long-term data analytics that some more comprehensive tools provide. 

Its primary strength is in offering quick and straightforward insights, which makes it highly accessible but possibly less suited for in-depth, historical data analysis.

09 Iconosquare

Iconosquare specializes in providing detailed analytics and management tools specifically for Instagram and Facebook. 

It’s a hit with social media marketers looking to dive deep into data and optimize their content. Plus, it is ideal for agencies or brands with multiple accounts.

Key Features:

• In-depth analytics for Instagram and Facebook
• Customizable reporting
• Competitor analysis and benchmarking
• Instagram posts scheduling and calendar

Iconosquare’s focus on specific platforms might be a limitation for those managing a broader online presence. Also, its in-depth analytics features require a bit of a learning curve. 

However, for Instagram-centric analytics and management, it’s a powerhouse.

10 Union Metrics

Union Metrics offers a unique angle on Instagram analytics, focusing on real-time data and trend analysis. This tool is ideal for marketers who need up-to-the-minute insights to stay ahead in a fast-paced digital marketing landscape.

Key Features:

• Real-time Instagram analytics
• Trend tracking and hashtag analysis
• Competitor insights
• Engagement metrics
• The best time to post identification

While the focus on real-time data is a big plus for many – it might not suit you if you’re looking for historical data analysis. 

Additionally, it’s better for larger businesses with the resources to leverage real-time data effectively.

What are the Most Important Features of a Great Instagram Monitoring Tool?

When hunting for the perfect Instagram monitoring tool, think of it as finding your social media strategy’s new best friend. 

What should this BFF be able to do? Here’s a list of key Instagram analytics features to look for:

• Mention monitoring (including Reels)

The tool should track your brand mentions and performance on Instagram Reels. The platform pushes short video format, so it’s crucial to keep an eye on these posts.

• Engagement and reach metrics

It should help you measure reach and engagement for a thorough understanding of your audience interaction.

• Sentiment Analysis

Identify positive and negative mentions, helping you gauge audience mood.

• Hashtag tracking and analysis

Monitor and analyze hashtags relevant to your brand, uncovering trending topics.

• Influencer identification

Find influencers with a high relevance for your brand. An ‘Influencer Score’ feature can make looking for people who align with your brand values so much easier.

• Trending hashtag suggestions

Suggest hashtags that are currently trending and relevant to your brand.

• Emoji and emotion analysis

Delve into the emotional tone of posts and comments.

• Anomaly Detection

Identify unusual spikes in mentions or engagement, alerting you to potential opportunities or crises.

• Insightful conclusions

Provide not just data, but actionable insights and conclusions to inform your strategy.

• Post Scheduling 

The ability to schedule posts is a valuable addition in a comprehensive Instagram tool.

After all, it’s about finding a tool that doesn’t just throw data at you but also helps you make sense of it, turning insights into actionable strategies.

Elevate your Instagram marketing with a tool that does more than monitor – it analyzes, interprets, and guides. Try Brand24 free trial for a comprehensive Instagram experience!

How to Choose an Instagram Monitoring Tool?

Choosing the right Instagram monitoring tool doesn’t have to be daunting. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

1. Assess your needs

Determine what you need most from a monitoring tool – is it analytics, competitor analysis, or user engagement?

2. Do your research

Look at different tools, compare their features, and read user reviews.

3. Test for the best

Many tools offer free trials. Take advantage of this to see if the tool fits your needs. Start with Brand24 free trial to check how such tools can improve your Instagram marketing..

4. Check Integration

Ensure the tool integrates well with other platforms you use.

5. Consider ease of use

A tool can have all the bells and whistles, but it’s useless if it’s too complex for you.

Conclusion

Diving into the Instagram ocean with over 2.4 billion users, it’s clear that just swimming with the current is the easy way to sink.

Instagram Insights, provided by Meta, is a great starting block. And yes, it does offer valuable analytics right within the app. It’s handy for keeping tabs on your growing audience and checking up on specific posts or Instagram stories.

But let’s face it: to truly ride the waves of Instagram marketing, this tool won’t cut it. 

Moreover, to truly understand your audience, you need more. 

You need the power of external Instagram analytics tools that can track mentions or hashtags, analyze your competitors, or dive deep into other key metrics that can elevate your marketing strategy.

And which should you pick from the patchwork of possibilities? Here are three types of Instagram analytics tools you should consider:

1. Social media monitoring tools: Brand24, for instance, is a lifesaver for monitoring what your Instagram audience thinks about your brand. It helps in understanding sentiment, addressing concerns, identifying pain points, and reacting to potential crises. Plus, it tracks hashtags, campaigns, and mentions and offers a peek into your competitors’ strategies.
2. Social media management tools: Tools like Sprout Social are vital when your brand dances across various social platforms. They support a holistic marketing strategy, crucial in today’s diverse content landscape.
3. Conversion tracking tools: Understand the role of Instagram in your business funnel. Tools that help track the conversion impact of your Instagram efforts, like Google Analytics, are indispensable.

So, why wait? Start exploring these Instagram analytics tools now. Unleash their potential to supercharge your Instagram marketing campaigns. 

Ready to take the plunge? Start with a Brand24 trial!