How Instagram Reels Is Similar & Different To TikTok?
Instagram recently launched its short video feature which has an uncanny resemblance to TikTok. For example, the feature allows a user to create videos while adding music, filters and transitions, resulting in short and entertaining content. In many ways, it is not just similar to TikTok, but an actual replica and that might be useful if the upcoming U.S. ban on TikTok takes effect.
While similar overall, one of the clear and fundamental differences between the two is that TikTok is a separate application while Reels is an additional feature and part of the wider Instagram experience, similar to Stories, Live, IGTV, and so on. Another has been the availability as up until recently Instagram has officially only been available in select countries. Although the gap in availability narrowed recently when Facebook announced a wider launch of Reels.
Instagram Reels allow a user to create a fifteen-second video while also enabling videos to be set to different soundtracks. In this sense, it is very similar to TikTok overall. However, the duration is also an area where the two differ a little, considering TikTok now offers users an option to create videos longer than the default fifteen seconds. Regardless, Reels has an undeniably TikTok-ish feel to the experience, with a vertical scroll bar that also appears to have been inspired by how users navigate on TikTok.
Instagram Reels has been successful in adding many basic TikTok features, but it has missed a couple of them. The popular Duet/React feature on TikTok does not seem to have an alternate feature set in Reels. This is where Reels will feel different from a TikTok user's perspective. Additionally, Reels does not have an explicit search page that allows users to scroll through the reels of their favorite creators. The results shown on Instagram are a mixed Posts and Reels bag which seems to be designed for a more integrated experience. As for editing videos on Reels, the features appear to be more basic when compared to the editing features that TikTok has on offer. For example, Reels does not come with any background templates, beauty tools, and so on.
While comparing the features offered by both Instagram Reels and TikTok, the former may be very similar to the latter, but they both have their own set of differences as well. Overall, Instagram Reels can be said to have all the basic features that TikTok has, but lacks standalone and advanced video editing features offered by TikTok.
Source: Instagram Reels