Since they launched on the platform in Summer 2020 to rival TikTok, our monthly update videos have been constantly filled with new features added to Instagram’s Reels and we’re getting more and more questions asking what the difference between Instagram Stories and Reels is.
From first glance they may appear very similar, however there are some key differences as we explain in our blog through the following nine points:
1. Format
Firstly, Reels are video only whereas Stories can include still images, videos or shared posts from your main grid.
2. Length
Reels are between 15 to 30 seconds long, allowing users to share a “snippet” or quick idea.
Stories are 15 seconds in length; however, accounts can share multiple 15 second clips throughout the day – to tell a longer, more detailed “Story” (hence the name!)
3. Lifespan
Reels are a permanent fixture and are housed in a dedicated ‘Reels’ tab on your profile. Stories disappear after 24 hours, unless you choose to archive them in your ‘Highlights”.
4. Captions & Hashtags
With Reels you can add a full caption, just like you would on a post that was going on your main grid, this can include up to 30 hashtags. On Stories there is no caption and hashtags are limited to 10 per Story (although these can look quite messy if you use too many on one Story).
5. Drafts
Users can create and save draft Reels to publish when they choose, which is fantastic news if you like to batch your video content. Although you can create Stories and save them to your phone for future use, any features like polls or questions don’t save properly, therefore they need to be added ‘live’ when the Story is about to be published.
6. Editing
The Reels editor has additional features for filming and editing videos including the ability to slow down or speed up clips, trim content and align or “stitch” videos together for smoother transitions. New features are being added to Stories on a regular basis as they evolve.
7. Audio
Reels are very much based around music or audio with users able to select a music track to use from the library or record their own audio. What’s more, there is the ability to feature someone else’s audio in your Reel. With Stories you can post them with or without audio or music
8. Placement
Reels can be shared in three locations: on your own Reels feed, on the main Instagram feed and they may also appear on the Explore tab (public accounts only). Reels can also be shared to the Instagram Stories feed and will expire after 24 hours like any other Story. Stories feature in one place only – on your profile image at the top left of the screen.
9. Engagement
Like posts on your grid, users can publicly like and comment on Reels, which is great for engagement. With Stories, engagement comes in the form of users reacting to stories through direct messaging, responding to questions or voting on polls etc.
So, there you have it, the key differences between Reels and Stories!
If you haven’t yet had a chance to create your own Reels or if you’re not sure where to start, tune into our next blog when we’ll be taking you through how to create a basic Reel!
