Short answer: Iconosquare is the best dedicated Instagram analytics tool, with deep metrics, competitor tracking and scheduled reports. Meta Business Suite covers the basics free. Sprout Social offers the most polished analytics inside a full social suite. SEO Runway shows Facebook and Instagram analytics in the same client reports as SEO and local results.
Disclosure: SEO Runway is our product. We ranked it using the same criteria as every other tool, and noted where others do better.
Quick picks
- Best Instagram specialist: Iconosquare
- Best free: Meta Business Suite
- Best in a full suite: Sprout Social
- Best competitor benchmarks: Socialinsider
- Best Instagram + SEO reports: SEO Runway
Instagram analytics tools compared
| Tool | Metrics depth | Competitors | Reports | History | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iconosquare | Deep | Yes | Scheduled | Long | See site* |
| Meta Business Suite | Core | Limited | Export | Limited | Free |
| Sprout Social | Deep | Yes | Premium | Long | ~$199* |
| Later | Good | No | Yes | By plan | ~$25* |
| Metricool | Good | Yes | Yes | By plan | Free / ~$22* |
| SEO Runway | [verify] | No | White-label, with SEO | [verify] | $39 |
| Hootsuite | Good | Yes | Yes | By plan | ~$99* |
| Socialinsider | Deep | Strong | Yes | Long | See site* |
| Keyhole | Hashtags, campaigns | Yes | Yes | Yes | See site* |
| Phlanx | Engagement, audits | Partial | Basic | Check | See site* |
*Approximate; verify.
How we chose these tools
We compared each tool's published features, plans and documentation on five criteria: metrics depth, competitor benchmarks, reporting, history, and price.
1. Iconosquare: best Instagram specialist
Verdict: deep Instagram analytics with competitor tracking and reports.
Pros: depth; history.
Cons: price for multiple profiles.
2. Meta Business Suite: best free
Verdict: Instagram and Facebook Insights in one free place.
Pros: free; official data.
Cons: limited history and competitors.
3. Sprout Social: best in a full suite
Verdict: polished analytics and premium reports.
Pros: reporting.
Cons: cost.
4. Later: best for visual creators
Verdict: analytics tied to visual planning.
Pros: ease.
Cons: no competitors.
5. Metricool: best value
Verdict: solid analytics and competitors at a low price.
Pros: value.
Cons: limits.
6. SEO Runway: best Instagram analytics in marketing reports
Verdict: Facebook and Instagram analytics in the same project and white-label reports as SEO, local and Google Ads.
Pricing: Social from $39/month; 14-day free trial. See plans.
Pros: one report for all channels.
Cons: no competitor benchmarks; less depth than Iconosquare.
7. Hootsuite: best multi-network analytics
Verdict: analytics across many networks.
Pros: breadth.
Cons: price.
8. Socialinsider: best competitor benchmarks
Verdict: benchmarking against competitors and industries.
Pros: benchmarks.
Cons: no scheduling.
9. Keyhole: best for hashtags and campaigns
Verdict: hashtag and campaign tracking.
Pros: campaigns.
Cons: price.
10. Phlanx: best quick engagement checks
Verdict: engagement rate and audience checks.
Pros: quick checks.
Cons: basic.
The Instagram metrics that matter
- Reach: unique accounts that saw your content.
- Engagement rate: interactions divided by reach (or followers), per post.
- Saves and shares: strong signals that content is valuable.
- Profile actions: website taps, calls and directions, which tie to business results.
- Follower growth: net new followers over time.
- Reels plays and watch time for video.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
How do I see Instagram analytics?
Switch to a professional account, then use Insights in the app or Meta Business Suite. Third-party tools add longer history, competitors and reports.
What is a good engagement rate?
It varies by account size and industry; smaller accounts usually have higher rates. Compare yourself with similar accounts in your niche rather than a fixed number.
Can I see competitors' Instagram analytics?
Only public data (posts, likes, comments, followers). Tools like Iconosquare and Socialinsider benchmark those.
The bottom line
- Instagram specialists: Iconosquare.
- Free: Meta Business Suite.
- Full suite: Sprout Social.
- Instagram results in reports with SEO and local: SEO Runway.
Start a 14-day free trial of SEO Runway, or see the social media workspace.
