Getting more followers on Instagram used to be easy. Not long ago you could build a following by liking and commenting on other content. But it’s 2021, and over a year of staying at home has changed the game. If you are ready to break out and begin quickly building your Instagram influencer media empire, this article will get you moving in the right direction.
We tested the Instagram boosting services used by top influencers to grow their following, and ranked them by total effectiveness including engagement, adhering to the rules of Instagram, and overall customer support and service levels. This content is updated monthly to ensure the ratings and reviews are on point.
PodSquad: Editor’s pick for best Instagram account growth and engagement service – Plans begin at $25.00 at GetPodSquad.com
PodSquad Review: How the service performed
One of the biggest secrets used by influencers to consistently grow their accounts are the use of private pods. These exclusive private groups are usually organized on WhatsApp or Discord and may contain tens of thousands of Instagram influencers.
Members of the pod strike an agreement to like and comment on each others’ posts as they happen, and anyone in the group can request authentic likes, comments, follows, and shares. This results in massive algorithm boosts, all while following the rules of Instagram, and not risking an account suspension.
PodSquad has quite smartly created a system to tap into these pods, and made deals to bring their client base into the world of pro influencers. PodSquad promises an instant and lasting uptick in followers, and even engagement on a specific post. It’s a smart solution to a big problem, and is a perfect fit for new and experienced influencers alike.
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Editor’s Note: PodSquad now offers TikTok and Facebook services. We are testing these services as part of a future review, and will release new updates on this page. Bookmark and return each month for updates and new reviews.
Why PodSquad wins Editor’s Choice for Instagram excellence
In our test, we purchased the Dreamer plan and chose 2,000 new followers for $40. PodSquad is careful to set expectations noting that the exact number of followers will depend on your profile and number of times you post, but after measuring we actually achieved slightly more than 2,000 followers. We also chose slower submission for natural growth, so we wouldn’t be overrun with new followers in the first day.
After about two days we noticed significantly more engagement and follower activity on our test Instagram account. In fact, each post received more impressions and engagement than before, demonstrating Instagram’s algorithm was now working in our favor.
Over the course of the next four weeks the momentum continued, earning us just over 4,000 new followers in that time period. It was obvious that the followers and engagement was real, and we confirmed this with analytics. Once the pod submission had ended we continued observing for follower drop off. After posting 10 times over the course of a week, we noticed about a 7% drop in followers before leveling out. After evaluating for another week, the drop off slowed to under 1%, which places PodSquad at the top of the pack for value.
SocialMonk: A virtual assistant service with some flaws, and one glaring risk – Starting at $25.00/week at SocialMonk.net
SocialMonk Review: Decent service with one major risk factor
The concept behind SocialMonk is easy to understand. An offshore virtual assistant operates your Instagram account by liking and commenting on popular posts. The idea is that over time people see your content and choose to follow you, thus boosting your following and engagement.
SocialMonk has created a simple monthly billing option at three levels. The fees are listed in Euros, and begin at roughly $25.00 per week.
This technique is as old as Instagram, and many influencers got their start grinding out new follows over months and years of time spent on engagement. So in theory, it sounds pretty good. But using an offshore VA in this way opens your Instagram account to risk of suspension and potentially a permanent ban. More on this below.
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The big risk in using SocialMonk to boost your Instagram following
During our test, we purchased the Starter plan at $25.00 per week for four weeks. Onboarding was relatively simple and took 2 days and a little back and forth to get moving. Once this process was complete, the virtual assistant began using our account to like, comment, and follow other accounts based on the type of followers we said we wanted.
Progress was slow, and after 2 weeks we had earned about 100 new followers. The pace quickened in week 3, and that’s when the risk factor mentioned earlier reared its head. Facebook, which owns Instagram, has recently implemented more rigorous requirements for identity verification. The idea is that trolls and troublemakers will have a harder time creating throwaway accounts, and thus the entire network will feel safer.
Unfortunately location is one way that Instagram’s algorithms verify identity, and using a virtual assistant in another country triggered an identity review. Our Instagram account was temporarily suspended and we were required to provide evidence in the form of ID. We were also warned to keep tight control over our account, which leads us to the big problem with SocialMonk.
Does SocialMonk work? It seems so. But by giving access to another person, even through app connection, Upwork, or other similar service, you are risking account suspension. Instagram has advanced fraud detection that knows who is logging in with what device, and if those individuals are at risk of violating Instagram’s terms of use. While it didn’t matter for our test account, it would sting to spend months paying for offshore help only to have an account suspended or banned.
Nitreo: Simple to use Instagram follower service that could be more effective for the price – Starting at $49.00 per month at Nitreo.com
Nitreo Review: An API for Instagram that could be helpful, if you already have momentum
Nitreo is the only company in this roundup that uses an application protocol interface (API) to connect directly to your Instagram account and perform actions on your behalf. It also provides a comprehensive measurement platform on their own website which lets you monitor progress and see what you are paying for as it happens.
There are only two plans to choose: Essential at $49.00 per month and Speed at $79.00 per month. The real difference that might tempt you to choose Speed is the pace of the gains in followers and engagement. The platform is smart and easy to understand, but yields low to no results for accounts that don’t have much momentum.
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Nitreo works, but you may not see value in minor gains for the large monthly fee
Our test Instagram account purchased the Essential plan at $49.00 per month, and ran the test for 4 weeks. Onboarding was quick and automated, and requires you to provide your Instagram login and password. This is a major risk factor when using Nitreo.
During this time we saw about 75 new followers, and a small amount of added engagement. For the price, this number comes in well below other services, and makes it tough to justify recommending Nitreo as a go to Instagram account booster.
Furthermore, giving a company access to your Instagram poses a risk. With Nitreo, the risk factor is nowhere near as big as SocialMonk, but the risk is there. Nitreo claims to use advanced encryption to store your password safely, but that is no guarantee that bad actors can’t compromise your account.
Nitreo did provide opportunities to grow faster, but their recommendations require manual work. Many influencers don’t have the time to put in to follow up on Nitreo’s recommendations, and so those insights go unused. Our takeaway: The platform may be best used by already large brands with teams behind them, and not individual influencers.
Mr. Insta: Bot-powered followers that don’t deliver – Starting at $10.00 at MrInsta.com
Mr. Insta Review: Instagram bot followers for temporary but obvious gains
To its credit, Mr. Insta promises followers in exchange for money. Yes, they are fake bot followers that will be easily detected and removed later by Instagram, but bots will indeed follow you. There are many similar services that promote quick follower boosts on almost any social platform. If that’s what you want then look no further, but if you are looking for real followers and meaningful engagement, skip Mr. Insta.
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What’s the point of bot followers? Mr. Insta doesn’t offer an answer
Bot followers won’t get you much in this world. Brands can easily detect unnatural gains through bots, and Instagram now readily bans for their use. If you’re thinking short term then services like Mr. Insta could make sense, but you are better served using any of the other services on this list to create a more permanent value.
Our test focused on purchasing 1,000 Instagram followers for one time fee of $40.00. Mr. Insta does not require you to provide a password, just a valid Instagram handle. 24 hours later, we checked and found our test account had gained over 200 followers.
Upon closer inspection, each account was an obvious bot, with a network of fake followers, stolen images, and generally unsavory profile data. Over the next two weeks, an additional 600 followers appeared, all bots as well. By week 4, 70% of these followers had been removed automatically by Instagram.
The Instagram algorithm is adept at spotting and removing fake accounts, and so we can only assume that any quantity added will produce a similar result. Our advice: Avoid services like Mr. Insta and stick with more hands on services that play within the bounds of Instagram’s terms of service.