As a social media marketer, you know that compelling visuals are key to capturing attention and driving engagement on Instagram. With over 1.28 billion monthly active users as of January 2023 (Statista), competition for views and likes is fierce. Standing out in the never-ending scroll requires eye-catching content that pops.
One tactic that continues to generate up to 5X more engagement than regular posts (SocialInsider, 2022) is the Instagram collage. By combining multiple images into a single post or story, you can:
- Showcase different angles or details of a product
- Tell a multi-part story or narrative
- Share user-generated content from fans and customers
- Create step-by-step photo tutorials
- Design unique, branded graphics with text and other elements
Collages are also an effective way to maintain a consistent look and feel on your feed. By using the same layout, color scheme, or style, you can strengthen your brand identity and make your posts instantly recognizable – a key factor for building a loyal Instagram following.
Ready to level-up your collage game? These 10 apps make it easy to create professional-quality visuals that will stop the scroll and rack up the double-taps.
1. Instagram Layout
Instagram‘s built-in Layout feature within Stories is the most convenient way to build a collage in a snap. Simply tap the Layout icon (the grid symbol) after opening the Stories camera to combine up to 6 photos or videos from your camera roll or capture new ones on the spot.
Instagram Layout provides 6 different grid options:
- 2 photos side-by-side
- 2 photos stacked vertically
- 3 or 4 square photos in a grid
- 6 photos in a 3×2 grid
- 6 photos in a 3×3 grid with the middle section split into thirds
Once you‘ve selected your layout and added your images, you can easily resize and rearrange them to your liking. Then add text, stickers, music and any other Stories features before sharing to your Story or sending to friends.
While Instagram Layout is convenient and easy to use within Stories, the layout and editing options are fairly basic compared to other standalone apps. But it‘s a great place to start if you‘re new to making collages.
2. Unfold
Unfold has become a go-to collage app for many Instagrammers thanks to its extensive library of 400+ beautifully-designed templates. Created by graphic designers and photographers, the templates are organized into themed collections like:
- Film Frames
- Digital Wave
- Ripped Paper
- Clasico
- Moodboard
In addition to stylized templates, Unfold allows you to build your own brand identity with customized fonts, colors, stickers and more. Their brand kit is ideal for businesses and influencers who want to maintain a consistent aesthetic across their collages and posts.
Other standout Unfold features include:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Grid Planner | Preview how your collages will look in your Instagram grid before posting |
| Story Links | Add links to websites, products, or other content within your Story collages |
| Video Support | Trim, split and combine video clips into your collages |
Unfold packs loads of value into its app, but many of the templates and features are only available with a paid Unfold+ subscription, which starts at $3/month. You can test out the app with a limited selection of free templates before deciding to upgrade.
3. PicMonkey
PicMonkey is a robust design and photo editing platform that offers a wide array of collage templates and tools. Their dedicated Instagram collection contains hundreds of pre-sized, professional-grade templates that you can easily customize with your own images, text, and graphics.
One of PicMonkey‘s most useful tools for collages is the background remover, which allows you to erase the background from any photo and create interesting layered compositions, add texture or solid color backgrounds, and more.
Additional PicMonkey features worth noting for Instagram collages:
- Photo retouching tools like blemish fix and teeth whitening
- Brand kit for adding logos, brand fonts/colors to templates
- Animation effects to make your images and text stand out
- Smart resize to instantly adapt collages for feed posts and Stories
According to SensorTower data, PicMonkey ranks as the #5 most downloaded photo and video app in the U.S. App Store as of May 2023. The app offers a 7-day free trial so you can test out all the premium features before committing to a paid plan (starting at $7.99/month for individuals).
4. Collage Maker – Photo Editor
Collage Maker – Photo Editor by InShot is a user-friendly app that delivers all the essential tools for creating collages on the go. It offers over 100 templates and grids in various styles and aspect ratios designed for Instagram feed posts and Stories.
With the Freestyles mode, you can let your creativity run wild by freely resizing and positioning images, graphics and text to build wholly unique layouts from scratch. The app also provides a solid assortment of backgrounds, stickers, fonts, and basic photo editing tools (filters, adjust brightness/saturation, etc.) to customize your collages.
Collage Maker shines in the flexibility it provides for the number of images in your design. While many apps max out around 8-10 photos, this app allows you to include up to 15 images in a single collage. This is ideal for showcasing multiple products, before/after sequences, or social proof via user-generated content.
Collage Maker is free to download and use, though you‘ll have to contend with ads unless you upgrade to the pro version ($3.99/month or $14.99/year). Fortunately, the ads aren‘t overly intrusive and the core collage tools work well in the free version.
5. Pic Jointer
Pic Jointer offers an intuitive interface for building both gridded and freeform collages, but what sets it apart is the unique selection of pre-made templates optimized for Instagram feed posts and Stories. The templates feature edgy, artistic borders and graphic elements in a variety of styles:
- Polaroid frames
- Torn paper edges
- Holiday themes
- Neon signs
- Retro filmstrips
- Abstract designs
In addition to the curated templates, Pic Jointer allows you to:
- Arrange up to 15 photos in customizable grids and freestyle layouts
- Add text with 200+ fonts
- Apply stickers and overlays to images
- Edit and enhance photos with filters, focus, brushes, etc.
- Combine videos and Live Photos with images in collages
Like many freemium apps, certain Pic Jointer templates and features require a pro subscription to access. The full version costs $35.99/year after a 3-day free trial (a monthly option is also available for $4.99). With a 4.7-star rating and over 1.2 million reviews, Pic Jointer is clearly a fan favorite for collage creation.
6. Photoblend: Mix Pictures
For truly one-of-a-kind visuals, Photoblend goes beyond the standard grid by allowing you to layer and blend multiple photos together using artistic effects. With tools like double exposure, gradients, and image masking, you can experiment with storytelling techniques that grab attention with their originality.
Photoblend provides a variety of preset "blends" in different styles like urban, nature, and pop art that you can use as a starting point, then customize by:
- Adjusting the opacity of each layer to create a surreal effect
- Erasing parts of an image to partially reveal the photo(s) beneath
- Applying filters, light leaks, glitches, and color washes
Some interesting use cases for Photoblend collages:
- Blending product photos into lifestyle images
- Creating dream-like visuals for travel or aspirational content
- Combining portraits with patterns or nature elements
- Making unique announcement graphics (pregnancy reveals, product launches, etc.)
While Photoblend provides more advanced layering and blending capabilities than your typical collage app, it also offers video tutorials to help you learn techniques. The app is free to download with the option to pay a one-time fee of $3.99 to remove ads and watermarks.
7. SCRL – Story Art Maker
SCRL has carved out a niche as "the leading app for panoramic and tall visual storytelling" on Instagram. The app allows you to stitch together multiple photos (and videos) into a seamless vertical collage that reveals more of the narrative as the viewer taps through or scrolls down.
This format is ideal for:
- Recapping events or travel adventures in a series of snaps
- Sharing step-by-step photo/video tutorials
- Documenting DIY or home improvement projects
- Showcasing multiple products in a single post
- Building suspense with "before and after" reveals
- Storytelling photo challenges and trends
Along with its signature scrolling format, SCRL offers a range of modern, modular templates, 100+ fonts, image filters, animations, and advanced text tools to take your collages to the next level.
According to SensorTower, SCRL ranks as the #47 top Photo & Video app in the U.S. App Store as of May 2023, with a 4.8-star rating. A pro subscription ($4.99/month) unlocks all templates and effects, and removes the SCRL watermark from published collages.
8. StoryChic
StoryChic is an all-in-one design app that offers an impressive array of 5000+ templates for Instagram Stories and posts. In addition to multi-photo collage layouts, you‘ll find templates for product promotions, testimonials, user-generated content, and more – all designed to drive conversions and engagement.
Some of StoryChic‘s key features for creating share-worthy collages:
- Animated collage templates to make your images pop
- 500+ fonts and text effects
- Millions of free background images via Unsplash integration
- Customize templates with brand colors and fonts
- Add links and CTA buttons to drive traffic
- Trim and splice videos into animated collages
Another useful feature is StoryChic‘s hashtag tool, which provides data-driven suggestions for relevant hashtags to use in your post to increase discoverability with your target audience. The app will auto-generate related tags based on your photo and caption text.
StoryChic pricing starts at $4.99/month for individuals. The app also offers brand and agency plans with additional features like reseller rights, collaborative workspaces, and the ability to upload custom fonts and assets.
9. PicCollage
Rounding out our list of the best collage apps is the aptly-named PicCollage. Don‘t let the simplicity of the name fool you though – this app is loaded with creative tools and possibilities.
PicCollage provides access to an ever-growing library of templates, grids, backgrounds, stickers, and fonts – many of which are free to use with no paid subscription required. You can choose from themed template packs for holidays, seasons, special occasions, and more, or start from scratch with a blank canvas.
The app‘s freestyle editing capabilities really allow you to flex your creative muscles and design completely original layouts. Some of the neat things you can do with PicCollage:
- "Cut out" people or objects from photos to create custom stickers
- Add photo and video clips to your collages
- Draw and doodle on photos with marker and glitter brush
- Curve and customize text with shadows and outlines
- Duplicate and edit collages to quickly create alternate versions or color ways
Collage creation isn‘t limited to the mobile app either. PicCollage offers a fully-featured web editor so you can design and share collages right from your computer – a handy option for social media managers working on larger screens.
PicCollage has an impressive 4.8-star rating on the App Store with over 1.6 million reviews. It‘s free to download and use, with a premium plan ($4.99/month) available to unlock additional templates, stickers, and fonts and remove watermarks.
Tips for Creating Engaging Instagram Collages
Crafting scroll-stopping collages is equal parts art and science. Here are some key strategies to ensure your creative efforts generate max engagement:
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Establish a consistent brand aesthetic. Choose colors, fonts, and design elements that align with and reinforce your visual brand identity. Consistency breeds familiarity and trust with your audience.
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Keep it simple and balanced. Avoid overcrowding your collages with too many images or busy backgrounds that distract from your core message. Arrange photos thoughtfully, using lines and frames to lead the eye through your design.
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Focus on storytelling. The most engaging collages don‘t just look pretty – they communicate something about your brand, product, or mission. Use captivating images and interesting layouts to draw viewers into your narrative.
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Prioritize high-quality visuals. Even the best layout can‘t compensate for lackluster images. Use high-resolution, well-composed photos that will pop on screen. Edit images as needed to ensure consistent lighting, color, and style.
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Incorporate video and animations. Adding motion to your collages is an effective way to capture attention and increase average engagement by 63% compared to still images (Socialinsider). Trim together short video clips or incorporate animated text and graphics.
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Optimize for the platform. Different collage dimensions work better for specific placements, such as feed posts vs. Stories. Tailor your layouts for the format and always preview before publishing to check how your collage will appear to followers.
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Use relevant hashtags. Hashtags are key for discoverability on Instagram, especially for new accounts. Include a mix of trending and niche hashtags in your collage posts to connect with users interested in your content themes.
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Encourage interaction. Turn your collage into a conversation-starter by asking a question, prompting followers to tag a friend, or inviting them to share their own photos in the comments or via DM. The more interaction a post receives, the more favorably the algorithm will treat it.
Get Creative with Instagram Collages
Instagram collages provide a dynamic, visually-compelling way to interact with your audience. Whether you use them to showcase products from multiple angles, share user-generated content, or create unique branded designs, collages are a powerful tool in your social media arsenal.
The 10 apps featured here make it easy to craft professional-looking layouts that will elevate your Instagram presence, even without formal design skills. With customizable templates, graphics, and editing tools at your fingertips, you can let your creativity run wild.
The key is to focus on creating authentic, relevant content that resonates with your target audience and compels them to engage. Prioritize quality over quantity, and always consider how your collage fits into your overarching social media strategy and goals.
Now that you‘re equipped with the tools and tips to become an Instagram collage pro, it‘s time to get out there and start designing! Experiment with different apps, templates, and formats to see what works best for your brand and audience. Most importantly, have fun with it – your enthusiasm will shine through and attract others to your page.
Happy collaging!
