Remember Vine? Despite its huge initial growth, the six-second looping video app was discontinued by Twitter in 2016 — only four years after its launch. Since then, we've seen apps like Snapchat, Instagram’s Reels feature, and TikTok fill its void. They allow users to express their creativity with short mobile videos while attracting Gen Z and millennial audiences. They also feel more niche and non-traditional than older platforms, like Facebook or Twitter. Snapchat, which launched in 2011, allows users to create video-based stories about their lives and send video or image-based messages to their friends. Unlike most other apps, Snapchat content expires either immediately or after 24 hours. This platform leads to users creating content that is more lighthearted on uncensored than other more public-facing platforms. Meanwhile, TikTok, which launched in just 2017, is similar to Vine in that it allows users to create 10 to 60-second looping videos that can be seen on their profiles or can be algorithmically placed on feeds of users with similar interests or demographics. Instagram Reels, launched in late 2020, is the platform's answer to TikTok. The similarities between the two are many — they both allow users to quickly create short-form videos and add filters, effects, and music. However, the most noticeable difference between the two is the length of videos. A Reel is capped at 60 seconds, whereas a TikTok video can reach 3 minutes. At the moment, all three apps continue to grow. Instagram has 500 million daily users globally, closely followed by Snapchat with 306 million. Not to be outshined, TikTok hit a big milestone towards the end of 2021 — 1 billion daily users. Despite each platform's growth, marketers in the social media realm are wondering, "Are any of these worth the hype? Or will they just become another Vine?" It's no secret that short-form videos are dominating the social media landscape, and it doesn't appear to be slowing down. 31% of marketers currently leverage short-form video and 29% plan to leverage it for the first time in 2022. But where, exactly, do they plan to invest? To learn more about the strength of these three apps, the HubSpot Blog surveyed 1,000+ marketers to find out where they're investing their time and money. When asked which platforms marketers plan to increase their investment in this year, TikTok came out on top (62%), with Instagram following closely behind (54%). But how do these apps fair for ROI? When asked which platform resulted in the biggest ROI in 2021, 18% of marketers responded with Instagram, earning a second place spot. Meanwhile, TikTok landed in fourth place at 12%. As for Snapchat, it didn't make the top five — but you shouldn't cross it off your list just yet (more on that later).
Below, I'll walk you through the ins and outs of TikTok, Reels, and Snapchat, their distinct differences, and the marketing opportunities that each app could provide you now and in the future.
Snapchat vs. TikTok: A Head-to-Head Comparison
User Base
Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok claim to have predominantly Gen-Z and millennial audiences. In fact, a recent study found that Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok were the platforms of choice for Gen Zer's.
According to 2019 data from Snapchat, 90% of 13 to 24-year-olds use Snapchat. Similarly, more than half of TikTok's global audience is under 34. Meanwhile, Instagram holds nearly equal sway with both Gen-Z and millennial audiences.
The three platforms also have incredibly global audiences. While Snapchat has a large number of users from India, TikTok has such a large user base in China that it has a Chinese version of its app called Douyin. As for Instagram, India and the United States hold the top spots as the countries with the highest number of Instagram users.
Platform and Features
Snapchat's format includes three main pages: a Friends page, the camera, and Discover. The Friends page shows a list of the user's friends where it allows them to open Snaps or see each user's Story. The other two pages are its camera and Snapchat Discover.
While the camera is pretty straightforward to visualize, here are screenshots of the Friends Page, Camera, and Discover:
Discover is specifically for brands and publishers to post Stories. While the Friends page allows you to access Stories that have been filmed or created by friends natively in the app, Stories published by brands on the Discover page are often high quality and include graphic designs, edited imagery, animation, or production quality video. Here's a detailed post about how brands are leveraging Snapchat Discover.
TikTok also has a few central pages. One is a feed that allows people to see videos from their followers or that TikTok algorithms will think a user is interested in.
Aside from the feed, users can click on the Search page to see both a search box and highlights of all the trending topics on TikTok. The other two major pages are the app's camera and the user's profile page.
Here's where Instagram Reels is different — while TikTok and Snapchat are standalone platforms, Instagram Reels is just one feature within the app.
Instagram Reels has a few central pages — the camera, the feed, and the Explore page. When users record a Reel, they can share it with their friends on their private feed or, if they have a public account, make it available to the broader Instagram community through the Explore page.
Regardless, your Reels will live in a designated tab under your profile. You can also share your reel to your Story, close friends, or in a direct message.
Want to learn more about how to navigate and create posts on each app? Check out our guides on how to use Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram Reels.
Content on Each Platform
Snapchat is primarily an app for friend-to-friend content which includes text and video-based messages that people post to their daily Stories or send specifically to friends.
However, on the Discover area of the platform, marketers can create advertisements and Story editions with videos and graphics to promote their own products or services. Here's an example of a Story from Snapchat Discover that highlights a Los Angeles-based manicurist:
Since TikTok allows you to instantly publish public videos, the platform is great for both branded and non-branded content. Much of the content you see on TikTok is short, looping skits, mini-music videos, or vlog-styled clips.
Like Snapchat, Instagram Reels can be shared amongst friends or made public to the larger community. But in order for your Reel to go viral, you need to be picked for the Explore page. When this happens, you’ll receive a notification letting you know that your video has been selected. This can happen anywhere from immediately after posting to a few days after publishing.
Plus, with the integration of Shopping and Branded Content features, we’re seeing businesses use Reels as a tool to promote products and partner with influencers to create branded content.
Which platform is better for content marketing?
Each platform has its pros and cons for content marketers. Here's what you should keep in mind about each.
TikTok
If you're aiming to target Gen-Z and on an incredibly limited budget, TikTok's app might be worth experimenting on. Because of the way the app is formatted, users can more easily find your company page, follow you, or search for your content than they can on Snapchat. You can also further optimize videos with hashtags and keywords.
However, if you're looking for website traffic, or don't have time to experiment with TikTok, you'll want to hold off for now. The platform is still highly experimental and only allows certain brands to link their videos to web content.
Snapchat
On Snapchat, marketers will mainly thrive on the Discover page. While partnering with Snapchat to become an official Discover publisher might be inaccessible at the moment, you can still purchase ads on the platform that similarly allow you to tell users a visual Story about your product. These ads can even get high placement within Discover feeds.
One thing to note is that Snapchat Discover-based ads are much shorter than the Stories of Discover publishers. This means that if you want to create long-form Story content to highlight a product, service, or brand, you might want to try Instagram Reels or consider TikTok experimentation.
Aside from Discover, creating an individual account has not proven to be hugely beneficial for brands because users still have to friend them to see their content. Brands also can't add links to this content like they do with ads.
However, if you're looking to create short, bite-sized content for web traffic, conversions, or high placement on a social app that's popular with Gen Z or millennials, Snapchat's ad program still might be right for you because although the Stories you're allotted are shorter, you can still flex your creative muscles to quickly promote a product.
Instagram Reels
We like where Instagram Reels is going when it comes to branded content. With Branded Content Tags, influencers can disclose when they're creating branded content which increases transparency and makes it easier to create and share branded content.
Further, as Reels continue to earn its place on the app, we expect to see more video editing tools and insights.
User Behavior
Each of these apps have one primary goal: to keep users entertained on their respective platforms as long as possible. And, based on stats below, these applications do successfully keep users engaged.
Snapchat users spend an average of 26 minutes daily on the app and users create an average of 2.1 million Snaps per minute. Meanwhile, TikTok users spend an average of 52 minutes on the app daily as 90% of its user base logs in more than once a day. On average, Instagram users spend 53 minutes per day on the app — although we don't know how much of this time is spent on Reels specifically.
Although Snapchat is an app that encourages connecting with friends, more and more users are beginning to use it as a part of their shopping process. According to a 2019 Snapchat report, Snapchat users involve Snapchat in their buyer's journey 35% more than Twitter and 58% more than Facebook.
Instagram Reels is also involved in the buyer's journey. By integrating Shopping features, businesses and creators can tag products when they create a Reel, making them fully shoppable. When a viewer taps the “View Products” button, they can either buy, save, or learn more about the products.
Instagram Reels also integrates with Instagram Checkout — a feature that allows users to purchase products without leaving the app.
When it comes to TikTok, there aren't many public stats related to advertising engagement just yet. However, brands have gone viral on the app, especially when creating hashtag challenges related to new product offerings. One example of this was Guess' #InMyDemin challenge. During the challenge, people posted videos of themselves in Guess' new denim clothing line. These TikTok videos then reportedly racked up a total of 3.8 million views.
As TikTok aims to gain more advertisers, you can probably expect to see more information coming soon about how users interact with advertisers.
Which user base is better for marketers?
While Gen Z is flocking to TikTok, there's a broader age group of both Gen Z and millennials on Snapchat and Instagram Reels.
Although users spend more time on TikTok and Instagram, they also use Snapchat as a utility app to connect with friends and log into it multiple times per day. This might mean that people see value in the app, other than entertainment, which is the pure mission of TikTok's platform.
Marketing Opportunities
Instagram Reels, Snapchat, and TikTok are trying to make their applications more enticing to advertisers. Here's a breakdown of each.
Snapchat
At this very moment, there are only two marketing options for brands on Snapchat and they're both more accessible to mid-sized or large companies than smaller businesses. The first, and seemingly most profitable, is advertising. Snapchat advertising has been seen to provide ROI related to both in-store and online store purchases.
Snapchat ads also allow you to present your ads in Snapchat's Discover, similarly to branded publishers. However, unlike Snapchat Discover publishers, you can link ads or paid mini-Stories to your website, which could be beneficial to your traffic or online conversions.
Posting Stories as a publisher on Snapchat Discover is the other option. However, to become a publisher, you need to have a specific contract with Snapchat rather than simply signing up online. You also need to create Story-styled, original content that really engages with users. Discover publishing is also meant to keep users in the app, meaning that you won't be able to place links into this type of content.
To learn more about how brands are leveraging both ads and Stories on Snapchat Discover, check out this blog post for a detailed list of examples and takeaways.
TikTok
TikTok only launched in 2017, but it's already expanding its advertising options. It's become a viable option for brands willing to get creative with their digital marketing. So much so, it launched TikTok for Business in 2021, allowing marketers to create and manage ad campaigns on the platform.
That said, TikTok ads come at a premium cost compared to other platforms. Reports from AdAge in late 2019 show that TikTok’s cost of advertising can be between $50,000 to $120,000 depending on the ad format and duration.
Although these costs are steep for small businesses, the good news is that there are many different ways to advertise on the platform besides its native paid advertising program.
Instagram Reels
Instagram Reels earns a gold star when it comes to marketing opportunities. Despite being criticized as a “TikTok copycat,” its rolled out numerous Shopping features that separate it from the pack.
Further, it may be more cost effective than TikTok. Creatopy, an ad design platform, published a case study comparing the performance between TikTok and Instagram Reels. It ran identical campaigns on both platforms — both had a total spend of $1,000 on each, the same video, ad copy, and landing page. They also targeted similar audiences.
The results were staggering — reach on Instagram Reels was almost double than on TikTok and impressions were almost triple. It cost them $2.60 to reach 1,000 people on Reels, compared to $5.03 on TikTok.
Of course, there are a lot of factors to consider when comparing two platforms, even when you use the same ad. It's also important to remember these apps are continuously updating their algorithms and features. This study could have very different results a few months from now.
Weighing Snapchat, TikTok, and Instagram Reels
Although Snapchat is more mature, TikTok's newness makes it a great place for side experiments — especially when targeting Gen Z. Not only is content creation free on the app, but the platform is so new that nearly everything is experimental.
If your goal is to increase conversions and work with influencers, Instagram Reels is your best bet. Instagram is the platform of choice for influencer marketing, and its shopping and branded content features enable visitors to engage and convert without leaving the app.
That said, if you're more interested in marketing to professionals or those in B2B industries, table these platforms and focus on the more traditional social media networks.
Topics: Social Media Publishing
FAQs
What uses more data TikTok or Instagram reels? ›
...
How much data do Instagram Reels use?
5 minutes | 1 hour | |
---|---|---|
Default | 100MB | 1.2GB |
Data Saving | 20MB | 240MB |
Instagram is better for polished content, while TikTok is better for raw, authentic content. If you want to reach a younger audience, consider TikTok. If you're looking to partner with influencers, both platforms can be effective but Instagram may give you more polished options.
Is TikTok or reels better for business? ›Compared to Reels, TikTok records an average engagement rate that's six times bigger. Depending on the audiences they're trying to reach and their targeted marketing objectives aiming to accomplish, some brands might get a higher ROI from their TikTok marketing efforts.
Is TikTok or Snapchat better for business? ›TikTok Marketing. Both TikTok and Snapchat utilize branded filters as marketing tools to assist businesses in promoting their brands. TikTok's users can also leverage top view ads and in-feed video ads, while Snapchat has shoppable ads and Snap Ads, among others.
What uses more data TikTok or Snapchat? ›New research shows that video-heavy platform TikTok used the most data compared to its social media rivals, draining a whopping 840MB per hour.
Which social media uses the most data? ›...
Facebook vs Twitter — Social media apps that use the most data.
Social media app data usage after 30-minutes | ||
---|---|---|
Application | Standard | Data saving |
123MB | 119MB | |
175MB | 83MB |
TikTok advertising costs are generally lower than Instagram. TikTok has a younger demographic, with the 13-24-year-old segments representing 69% of the app's user base. Videos audio play, so it is easier for brands to get seen when users are scrolling through content.
Do companies use TikTok for marketing? ›TikTok is being used by marketers daily to connect with new audiences. For more visibility and interest, most of them favor organic content strategies. User-generated content, which results from encouraging your audience to make and share films, is among the best organic techniques most businesses utilize on TikTok.
What are the disadvantages of TikTok for marketing? ›- It might break the bank. TikTok Ads Manager is an effective platform, but the minimum spends are pricey. ...
- Only videos can make the cut. ...
- You'll hear crickets if your audience isn't on TikTok. ...
- Safety concerns for child-focused brands and content creators. ...
- You'll lose control of your brand messaging.
With the Instagram algorithm now favoring Reels, brands can't rely on only using static images to build and captivate audiences. Many content creators, influencers and brands have found that they earn more views and higher engagement rates when they post Reels.
Can businesses use Instagram reels? ›
Today, we're announcing that businesses can now boost their reels within the Instagram app to turn them into ads for the opportunity to reach new audiences and drive more engagement.
Why your business needs Instagram reels? ›The primary benefit of Reels is brand awareness. It will enable your content to be seen on the Explore page and an endless feed of Reels. When your content can be seen on the Explore and Reels page, you reach people you would otherwise not have your brand in front of.
Is Snapchat good for promoting business? ›Since Snap Ads have a swipe-up rate 5x higher than the average click-through rate on other social media platforms, it's a great way to promote your brand. If you want to create a Snap Ad, Snapchat will help, but you'll need to start the process at least 14 days before your target launch date.
Why should businesses use Snapchat? ›Build brand awareness
Plenty of big-name brands use Snapchat to promote their business because it's a proven method. Whether it's through humorous ads, unmissable filters or engaging stories, using Snapchat can help you reach a huge audience - especially since the app has over 265 million daily active users.
Major brands like Vans, Coca-Cola, and JPMorgan Chase & Co. have used Snapchat for marketing campaigns. Key takeaway: Snapchat allows you to send photos, create Stories, interact with other users and even create ads.
Which uses more data Snapchat or Instagram? ›Short answer: no. (In the US on iOS at least.) As the graph shows, Snapchat users still spend more minutes each day on the app than people spend on Instagram and that trend doesn't appear to have been directly impacted after the Stories launch.
What social media uses the least data? ›WhatsApp. Generally consuming 310KB, and 204KB in low data usage mode, WhatsApp is the second messenger which has the least data usage. Consuming around 1.5 – 2 times more data compared to Zangi. WhatsApp is truly impressive with its daily user size and its quality messenger service.
Does Snapchat use lots of data? ›Snapchat has not publicly released any figures relating to the app's data usage, but online estimates indicate that the app uses around 1MB per single snapchat. However, this is estimated for a simple image without any filters, so snaps with filters and videos are likely to use more data.
What apps take up the most data? ›- Streaming apps such as Netflix, Stan, Disney+ and BINGE.
- Social media apps such as Tik Tok, Facebook and Instagram.
- GPS and ridseharing apps such as Uber, DiDi and Maps.
So how much data does TikTok use? On average, TikTok uses approximately 840MB (or just under 1GB) of data every hour. * This is when TikTok is in its default data usage mode. So if you do the math (or if we do), that means you can use 4GB of data in less than five hours just watching TikTok.
Is TikTok an effective marketing strategy? ›
Is TikTok good for marketing? Yes, TikTok is good for marketing as it is now one of the most popular social media channels. The platform is growing rapidly with 1 billion monthly active users as of September 2021 making it a good place for engagement and reaching out to a large audience.
What makes TikTok unique for marketing? ›Unlike other platforms, TikTok uses a unique discovery algorithm that gives every video an equal chance to go viral, regardless of how popular the content creator is. This allows for the rapid scaling of a social media presence, fast growth, and virtually unlimited marketing experimentation.
Why is Instagram the best platform for marketing? ›Using Instagram for business can drive brand awareness, boost sales, and build and track audience engagement. It's an excellent way to find customers where they're already spending time. It can also provide valuable audience insights to use with all your marketing plan strategies.
Is TikTok the future of marketing? ›TikTok will shape the future of content marketing
Gone are the days when it was just a “dancing” app, it's evolving as a marketing platform that addresses the latest trends and consumer behaviour.
With its focus on short-form videos and its unique take on social media, TikTok offers a way for B2B brands to breathe new life into their social media strategy. It serves as the perfect place to engage and connect with your audience with fun, creative, and relatable content.
How has TikTok changed the marketing industry? ›TikTok has made digital marketing more accessible to businesses of all sizes. TikTok does not have the same barriers to entry as other social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram, which require businesses to have a certain number of followers before they can run ads.
Why is TikTok good for digital marketing? ›Digital marketers can use TikTok to build awareness by maximizing the reach of branded content on the platform, which is typically measured by video views. If used correctly, TikTok can help drive traffic to brand sites, social media or the landing page of a brand's latest campaign.
How often should a business post reels on Instagram? ›As Reels become increasingly important, marketers are asking themselves “How many Reels should I post in a day?” The industry standard is to post 4 to 7 Reels per week to increase your follower count as much as possible.
How do you leverage Instagram reels to grow your business? ›- Maintain brand consistency. Yes, even on Reels. ...
- Make high-quality content. ...
- Repurpose your content for Reels. ...
- Get people excited with sneak peeks. ...
- Post behind-the-scenes content. ...
- Publish: Collaborate from one place. ...
- Engage: React fast. ...
- Measure: Track and tweak.
- Step 1: Click the plus icon.
- Step 2: Choose your media.
- Step 3: Edit your footage.
- Step 4: Add an audio clip, voiceover and visual effects.
- Step 5: Add a caption and tag users.
- Step 6: Tag a paid partnership (if applicable)
- Step 7: Publish your Reel.
- Follow Instagram Reels trends.
Can professional accounts use reels? ›
In place of using music from popular culture, Instagram has provided a library of royalty-free tracks for business accounts to use on Reels.
Can Instagram business accounts get paid for reels? ›As long as you have a business or creator account (and access to the program) all you have to do is share Reels to Facebook and Instagram. Instagram will pay out on Reels that get at least 1,000 views over a 30-day period.
Do business accounts get paid for reels? ›Instagram pays out Play Bonuses based on the views you get on your Reels. Eligible creators with a business or creator account can earn money on Reels that generated at least 1,000 views within a 30-day period.
How long do reels stay on Instagram business account? ›Whether you have a public or private account, you can share your reel to your Story, close friends, or in a direct message. If you do so, your reel will behave like a regular Story — it will not be shared to Reels in Explore, it will not appear on your profile, and it will disappear after 24 hours.
What makes reels successful? ›- #1: Use On-screen Text and Captions. ...
- #2: Use Trends as Inspiration. ...
- #3: Drive Traffic by Encouraging Viewers to Head to Your Link in Bio. ...
- #4: Find Your Niche and Post Consistently. ...
- #5: Include 3-5 Hashtags.
- Snap Ads. Snap Ads are fullscreen, mobile ads that appear in between or after content on Snapchat, such as Stories. ...
- Lenses. Brands can also sponsor Lenses to create an experience for Snapchatters. ...
- Story Ads. ...
- Product Ads. ...
- Filters.
- From YMG – The Award-Winning Digital Marketing Agency in Chelmsford, Essex. ...
- Younger Demographic. ...
- One on One Interaction. ...
- Great Way to Show Company Culture. ...
- Great for Influencer Marketing. ...
- Poor Analytics. ...
- Short Image Lifespans. ...
- Content Heavy.
Snapchatters are 63% more likely than non-Snapchatters to have purchased a product in the last month via a mobile device. If you're selling a product on Snapchat, your audience is likely less hesitant to make purchases on social media apps and may be ready to do so again.
How did Snapchat change the marketing industry? ›Marketing was traditionally a one-way presentation of calculated, branded information. Snapchat has renovated digital marketing to a more genuine, organic, and interactive conversation between brand and user. According to Snapchat reports, there are nearly 173 million active users on Snapchat daily.
Who is Snapchat target audience? ›123.6 million users aged 13 to 17 (20.0% of Snapchat's total ad audience) 240.1 million users aged 18 to 24 (38.9% of Snapchat's total ad audience) 140.3 million users aged 25 to 34 (22.8% of Snapchat's total ad audience) 84.6 million users aged 35 to 49 (13.8% of Snapchat's total ad audience)
Who is Snapchat mostly used by? ›
Snapchat is Most Popular With Younger Generations
In the United States, the most popular age group on Snapchat is those ages 15-25, as they make up 48% of users. Those ages 26-35 make up 30% of users, ages 36-45 are 18%, ages 46-55 are 11%, and those 56 and older make up just 5% of the platform.
The ideal amount of snaps to post is four to seven posts per day. Since posts (not ads) disappear within 24 hours, Snapchat gives you more leeway for frequent posting compared to other platforms. For maximum engagement, post when your desired audience is most likely to be on — night times and weekends.
Does Instagram reels use a lot of data? ›You should expect to use about 2 to 4 MB for every photo you post on Instagram. And since the quality is constantly improving, the quantity of mobile data you need for this in the future will only increase.
How much data does Instagram reels use? ›Minutes on Instagram | Mobile Data Used |
---|---|
5 | 33.5MB |
30 | 201MB |
60 | 402MB |
90 | 603MB |
The reason this app and others like it can use so much data is that the app caches all of the user's friends' stories and the Discover/advertised content, whether the user views these items or not.
How do I reduce data usage on a reel? ›- Always connect to Wi-Fi. Whenever and wherever a secure wireless network is available, connect. ...
- Update apps and stream video on Wi-Fi. ...
- Manage notifications. ...
- Download music. ...
- Close your apps when you're not using them. ...
- Monitor your data usage.
Here's what we found: 5 minutes = 60MB. 15 minutes = 180MB.
What are the demographics of Instagram reels? ›The majority of Instagram's audience (31.5%) is from the 25 to 34 years age group. Users ages 18 to 24 years are behind marginally (30.1%). According to Meta's report, 53.9% of Instagram reels Advertisement Audience are males. Females are at 46.1%.
What kind of reels get the most views? ›Use Popular Audio Tracks in Your Reels
Because of Instagram's advanced algorithm, you'll see relevant reels based on your activity. And the best part? These reels will all have high numbers of views already because Instagram's featuring them.
The cache stores data about the pictures so they can load faster in the future. So as you might expect, Instagram's cache can grow incredibly large over time. And if your phone is running low on space, this can make Instagram a data hog. Luckily, you can clear Instagram's cache on both iPhone and Android.
What type of data does TikTok collect? ›
Among other data, TikTok collects the IP address; a unique number; the page a user is on; and what they're clicking, typing, or searching for.
Why does TikTok need so much data? ›Your profile data, user data, website data, and the TikTok profiles you've viewed over time are all stored in the cached data files. On top of that, TikTok stores all the videos you've seen within the past week as downloads, which is a big reason why the software takes up so much space.
How long will 1gb of data last on Instagram? ›So, if you spend an hour a day on Instagram, you'll have used up 4.2GB of data (600 x 7) by the end of the week. Do that across a month and you'll rack up around 16GB.
How much data does TikTok require? ›So, how much data does TikTok use per minute or hour? It can consume an average of 16MB per minute or 960MB per hour. However, under the default settings of TikTok, you can realistically expect to use an average of 70MB per 5 minutes or around 840 MB per hour on cellular data.