Instagram Stories have exploded in popularity, with over 500 million daily active users as of 2023. That number is only expected to grow, making mastery of the format essential for any social media marketer.
But with so much competition in the Story space, how can you make your content stand out and achieve your marketing goals? The answer lies in using the right apps to level up your Story visuals and take advantage of all the creative possibilities the format offers.
In this in-depth guide, we‘ll walk you through the 15 absolute best apps for Instagram Stories in 2024. You‘ll learn:
- 🌟 The top features and benefits of each app
- 💰 Pricing information to help you choose the best tool for your budget
- 🎯 Specific use cases and content ideas for each app
- 📈 Real brand examples and case studies
- 📝 Expert tips for developing a high-performing Instagram Stories strategy
Whether you‘re a social media manager, influencer, or small business owner, these apps will give you the firepower you need to create scroll-stopping Stories that get results. Let‘s dive in!
Why Use Apps for Instagram Stories?
Before we get into the apps, let‘s talk about why you should be using them in the first place. After all, Instagram has its own built-in Story creation tools. Can‘t you just use those?
Sure, the native Instagram Story features like stickers and drawing tools are great for quick and easy content. But if you want your Stories to really pop 🎉, third-party apps offer a wider range of features and creative possibilities. Here are some compelling reasons to add Story apps to your toolkit:
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Stand out in a crowded feed: People tap through Stories fast. Eye-catching visuals created with app templates and effects will help your content grab attention.
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Save time on design: Instead of starting from scratch, apps provide customizable templates so you can create professional-looking Stories in a snap.
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Establish a unique brand style: Using apps to apply a consistent aesthetic to your Stories strengthens your visual branding.
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Add advanced features: Many apps offer effects, fonts, graphics, and editing tools not available on Instagram.
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Streamline your process: Planning and scheduling apps make it easy to storyboard and create Stories in batches for a more efficient workflow.
In fact, a Socialinsider study found that 60% of brands use Instagram Stories at least once a week. To compete, you need all the advantages you can get.
The 15 Best Instagram Story Apps
Now that you know the why, let‘s talk about the how. Here are the 15 best Instagram Story apps available in 2024, broken down by category:
Best All-in-One Story Apps
If you‘re looking for a one-stop-shop to handle all your Instagram Story needs, these comprehensive apps have got you covered.
1. Mojo
With over 1M+ downloads, Mojo is a powerhouse app that offers everything you need to create show-stopping Stories:
- 📁 Access to 500+ professionally designed templates
- ✏️ Customizable fonts, colors, and animations
- 🖼️ Extensive stock photo and video library
- 👥 Team sharing and collaboration features
Pricing: Free version available. Mojo Pro starts at $14/month.
Best for: Design-challenged marketers who want the guesswork taken out of creating visually compelling Stories.
2. Unfold
Unfold has made a name for itself as the app that gives your Stories a chic, minimalist aesthetic. It‘s hugely popular with influencers and lifestyle brands.
- 🎨 200+ sleek and stylish templates
- 📸 Advanced photo and video editing tools
- ⚙️ Precise font/color customization options
- ✅ Compatibility with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and more
Pricing: Free version available. Unfold+ starts at $3/month.
Best for: Creators who want an editorial, high-fashion look for their Stories.
3. Over
Over is a full-featured graphic design app that empowers you to create stunning, on-brand Stories with ease.
- 🖌️ 100K+ customizable graphics and templates
- 🎥 Ability to add your own fonts, logos, and branded assets
- 👀 Preview how your Story will look before publishing
- 🙌 Collaboration tools for team planning
Pricing: Limited free version. Over Pro starts at $14.99/month.
Best for: Businesses that want to maintain strong brand identity across their Stories.
Top Apps for Special Effects & Animations
To really wow your audience, you need Stories that stand out visually. These apps offer eye-catching effects and animations to level up your content.
1. Mojo
Yes, Mojo is so good we‘re mentioning it twice. In addition to its design features, the app also boasts an impressive library of special effects:
- 🎬 100+ dynamic motion graphics
- 🌈 Exclusive filters inspired by top cinematographers
- 🔥 Trendy effects like VHS glitch and 3D zooms
- 👑 Brand-specific effects for popular franchises
Pricing: Included with Mojo subscription plans.
2. Videoleap
Videoleap is a powerful video editing app that lets you enhance your Stories with Hollywood-level special effects.
- ✨ Chroma key green screen for immersive backgrounds
- 📹 Keyframe animations for fluid movement
- 🎞️ Cinematic filters and LUTs
- 🔊 Audio effects and royalty-free music
Pricing: Free version available. Unlimited access starts at $7.99/month.
Best for: Creators and brands who want to add a big-budget polish to their Story videos.
3. Beatleap
Beatleap makes it incredibly easy to edit your Story video clips to music, creating an impactful audio/visual experience.
- 🎶 Intelligent beat detection technology
- ✂️ Automatic editing to trim clips on tempo
- 🎤 Library of royalty-free tracks in multiple genres
- ➕ Ability to add timed text and effects that sync to music
Pricing: Starts at $4.99/month.
Best for: Musicians and artists promoting their work, or any brand that wants to create a strong vibe with their Stories.
Top Apps for Engagement
Getting more views, reactions, and DMs on your Stories is the name of the game. These apps can help boost your engagement rate.
1. Poll for Stories
The Poll for Stories app is a must-have for social media managers who want to encourage audience interaction and gather valuable feedback.
- 📊 Customizable poll templates for any use case
- 🤔 "This or That" comparison polls
- 📝 Open-ended question templates
- 💡 Unique prompts to spark conversation
Pricing: Free version available. Premium starts at $4.99/month.
Best for: Brands that want to create a two-way dialogue with their audience and glean useful insights.
2. DM Me
Want to turn your Story views into conversations and relationships? DM Me makes it super simple for your audience to message you directly from your Stories.
- 💌 Customizable, attention-grabbing DM stickers
- 📍 Link stickers for specific landing pages
- 🎨 Design templates that complement your brand style
- 📈 Analytics to track DM sources
Pricing: Free version available. Paid plans start at $10/month.
Best for: Service providers, coaches, and personal brands who want to build deeper connections with their Story audience.
3. Storrito
Storrito is a web-based app that lets you create, schedule, and publish Stories from your computer. But it really shines in its ability to add engagement-driving features.
- 🔗 Clickable hashtags, @mentions, and links
- 🛍️ Product tags and stickers for shopping
- 📱 "Swipe up" CTA buttons
- ⏰ Post scheduling and auto-publishing
Pricing: Starts at $15/month.
Best for: Businesses and online stores that want to drive measurable actions from their Stories.
Honorable Mentions
We couldn‘t cover every terrific Story app out there. Here are a few more great options to check out:
- Storyluxe: Gorgeous animated templates for a luxe, editorial vibe
- Canva: User-friendly design app with tons of Story templates
- Inshot: Powerful video editing tools to make your Stories look pro
- Quik: Generate Stories automatically from your camera roll
- Moodelizer: Add themed music and effects based on your mood
How to Develop a Winning Instagram Stories Strategy
Now that you‘re armed with an arsenal of Story creation apps, you need a battle plan. Whipping up the occasional pretty Story is nice, but to harness the full potential of the format, you have to be strategic.
Here‘s a framework for developing Stories that support your marketing goals, with examples from brands who are killing it:
1. Know your objectives
What do you want to accomplish with your Stories? Is it brand awareness, engagement, traffic, sales, or something else? Knowing your goals will guide your content strategy.
Example: Sephora‘s Story Highlights are organized by objective, like "Tutorials," "New," and "Offers" to segment their content by goal.
2. Understand your audience
Do some research to uncover your audience demographics, psychographics, and behavior on Stories. What types of content do they prefer? What gets them to engage?
Example: Bustle, a women‘s news publisher, uses interactive poll and question stickers in nearly every Story to learn about their audience and encourage participation.
3. Showcase your personality
Stories are the perfect place to humanize your brand and show some personality. Don‘t be afraid to have fun, take risks, and experiment with humor and informal content.
Example: The Washington Post has perfected the art of taking a playful, meme-savvy approach to serious news topics in their Stories.
4. Create a content mix
Combine video, images, text, GIFs, and interactive features to keep your Stories fresh and engaging. Alternate between post types to serially tell a larger story.
Example: Tastemade seamlessly mixes recipe videos, food photos, polls, quizzes, and user-generated content in their Stories to keep people tapping.
5. Design for sound on and off
Many users watch Stories without sound, so make sure your content makes sense visually. When you do add audio, make it count with music and voiceovers.
Example: Fitness influencer Kayla Itsines uses large text overlays and closed captions so her workout tutorials are easy to follow with or without sound.
6. Add CTAs
Don‘t forget the most important part: telling your audience what action you want them to take after watching your Story. Use verbal calls, link stickers, and DM prompts to make it crystal clear.
Example: Warby Parker ends every product Story with a "Shop Now" CTA that links directly to the featured product page.
7. Plan and schedule
Maintain a regular posting schedule and plan your Stories in advance around key marketing dates, campaigns, and events. Use a scheduling app like Later to stay consistent.
Example: HubSpot plans a week‘s worth of educational how-to Stories in advance, then publishes them throughout the week to build anticipation.
Tips for Measuring Story Performance
Of course, to refine your Stories strategy over time, you have to know what‘s working. Here are some key metrics to track:
- Story completion rate: The percent of people who watch your Story all the way through. Aim for 50-85%.
- Reach: The unique number of accounts who saw your Story at least once.
- Link clicks: Total clicks on any links/CTAs in your Story.
- Replies & reactions: How many users responded to your Story with a DM or emoji reaction.
- Screenshots: How many people took a screenshot of your Story (a good proxy for usefulness or engagement).
By monitoring these metrics, you can continually optimize your Stories to improve performance.
Stories Are the Future (And These Apps Are Your Secret Weapons)
With the latest apps and a solid strategy, you‘re well on your way to crushing your Instagram Story goals in 2024 and beyond.
Remember, Stories aren‘t going anywhere. They‘re only getting more popular and more important for brands. In fact:
- 🚀 Story engagement is growing 15x faster than feed post engagement
- 📈 58% of brands say Stories have been "somewhat effective" or "very effective" as a part of their social media strategy
- 🛒 1 in 4 Millennials and Gen Z-ers look for Stories of the products they want to buy
But also remember that your audience‘s expectations for Story quality are rising too. Luckily, with the apps on this list, you‘ll have no trouble rising to meet them.
The only thing left to do? Get creating! We can‘t wait to see what Story magic ✨ you make.
