TikTok Vs. Instagram Reels: The Similarities And Differences You Must Know

TikTok’s popularity skyrocketed in 2020, with 800 million active users every month and the most incredible social media interaction rate for each post. Instagram replied in August with their short-term feature, ‘Reels.’

Early indications suggested that Instagram’s endeavor to win over users was successful. Given that Reels is essentially the same thing as TikTok,” 61 percent of users on TikTok who have experienced it believe they will spend much more time on Instagram. According to Social Media Today, both have similar average video views. Reels attract an average of 1.2 million views, while TikTok videos get 1.92 million.

However, TikTok’s engagement gets priority over Reels’. The average number of likes and comments on TikTok videos is 231,936 likes and 2,142 comments. Reels, on the other hand, have an average of 110,676 likes and 812 comments.

Both have advantages and disadvantages. So, which one will you spend your time and resources on? Find out what TikTok and Reels have in common and what they don’t.

Similarities in TikTok Videos and Instagram Reels

They’re both for footage that’s only a few seconds long. Both allow authors to use music from their own libraries as well as filters from their editing toolkits. Their feeds are similar in that there is an infinite number of videos for viewers to browse and discover. There is no auto-scroll enabled either, so users must manually scroll to see the next video.

Users may find fresh content from authors they aren’t already following on both of their primary feeds. On both, you’ll find the same popular themes and challenges. However, they generally begin on TikTok and then go on to Reels later.

Both are available for shoppable. TikTok has collaborated with Shopify to let companies market their products, while Instagram has expanded its shoppable capabilities to Reels. They both provide video metrics, such as likes, views, shares, comments, and reach. Both enable users to submit movies up to a minute long, although Reels is currently testing this feature with a small group of users.

TikTok and Reels are found all over the world. TikTok has a Duet function that lets you make a reaction video with the original source and your new video content playing side by side. This content type on TikTok helps to grab vast TikTok likes to expose your profile quickly. Reels are also experimenting with its version, Remix.

Differences Between Instagram Reels and TikTok Videos

Since Instagram is a medium for highly polished and curated media, this same expectation is carried over to Reels. TikTok, on the other hand, is a network that encourages more spontaneous, raw content.

Average watch time, Total playtime, audience geography, and traffic source types are all available in TikTok’s analytics. Reels’ additional insights, on the other hand, only contain total saves and plays.

Business account holders do not have access to their complete music catalog on Reels. Due to copyright violation, business profile holders can only utilize Reels’ royalty-free music collection or submit their sounds. Whereas, regardless of their professional account, all TikTok users get access to any song TikTok has to offer.

Before recording, the user must choose a filter or effect for their Reel. TikTok users, on the other hand, may add effects and filters to their videos after they’ve been recorded. TikTok also has a variety of video editing features, such as voiceover effects. Something that Reels does not provide.

Although their feeds scroll in the same way, the formatting is different. The FYP(For You page) is TikTok’s principal feed, while the Following feed is its secondary feed. On the other hand, Reels has only one feed that displays original stuff from content creators who the user may or may not follow. Reels from content creators they like will appear on their regular Instagram feed.

TikTok offers interactive features like Stitch and Duet, which allow users to combine other people’s video clips with their own. These are ideal for skits and response videos. At the time, Reels did not have something comparable.

The FYP algorithm at TikTok is based on user interactions, video data, and account settings. The Reels algorithm, on the other hand, prioritizes stuff from the accounts you connect with the most and also the kind of content you usually engage with, like beauty tips and food recipes.

In comparison to Reels, the FYP algorithm of TikTok makes it easier for your work to go viral. It does not evaluate how well your previous video did or how many fans you had.

TikTok has a function that lets viewers ask questions that producers may respond to with a video. These questions are listed on the creator’s profile, and other members can vote on the ones they want to be answered. It is a fantastic tool for growing your audience and interacting with your fans. Reels do not have something comparable.

The caption limit on Reels is 2,200 characters, but the caption limit on TikTok is 100 characters. Unlike TikTok, which shows the whole text and covers a section of the video, Reels offers a preview of the caption and lets users read more texts if they choose.