Pinterest is better for businesses that want to generate traffic to a website and promote products or sales. At the same time, Instagram is better for businesses that want to build brand awareness and connect with a younger audience.
This article compares their features, audiences, advertising, and usage to help you determine which is better for your social media strategy.
Pinterest vs Instagram
Here is an overview of the key differences between Pinterest and Instagram:
| Feature | ||
|---|---|---|
| Primary Content Format | Images, videos, Pins | Photos, short videos |
| Content Organization | Boards and Pins | Grid Feed, Stories, Reels |
| Audience Demographics | Mostly women 25-54 | Very broad, skews younger |
| Ad Types | Promoted Pins, video ads | Photo ads, Stories ads, Reels ads |
| Shopping Features | Strong, “pinnable products” | Instagram Shop, in-app checkout |
Analytics and Insights
| Metric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Active Users | Over 400 million | Over 1 billion |
| International Reach | Lower, more U.S. focused | Massive worldwide reach |
Pricing for Advertising
| Ad Type | Cost per Click | Cost per Impression |
|---|---|---|
| $0.50 Average | $0.10 – $0.30+ | |
| $1.00+ average | $0.60+ |
Advantages of Pinterest
- Inspirational browsing experience
- Highly engaged, loyal user base
- Strong commerce and shopping features
Advantages of Instagram
- Larger overall audience
- Popular with younger users
- Powerful visual branding
Which App is better?
For product inspiration and digital shopping, Pinterest is best. Instagram is superior for visual branding and reaching a broad, youthful audience.
This table shows which app is preferable for different needs:
| Need | ||
|---|---|---|
| Shoppable content | Yes | Yes |
| Growing capability | Limited | Growing |
| Brand visual storytelling | Yes | Yes |
| Reach women 25-54 | Moderate | Limited |
| Reach under 25 | Limited | Moderate |
Additional Considerations
- Pinterest launched TikTok-style short video features recently
- Instagram has more ad placement options and detailed targeting
- Both platforms provide robust analytics on posts and ads
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