With the release of Shorts, YouTube is now competing with Instagram’s Reels and the market leader in short videos, TikTok, just like Instagram’s Reels does. Even though TikTok seems to have a lock on the market, Instagram and YouTube are also very popular social media and video platforms. The question is how well each of them can use the users they already have to get in on the action.
The first one to come out was Instagram Reels, which came out in August 2020. Like TikTok, it lets users make and post short videos and scroll through a feed of other users’ Reels that is based on what they do on the app. Because it is so similar to TikTok, Instagram has told users not to republish content that “is clearly recycled from other apps” if they want their content to be as easy to find as possible. This means that Instagram didn’t want TikTok’s watermark all over its platform.
Both YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels can do a lot of the same things. Both apps let users add text to videos, change the speed of videos before they are posted, use music from the apps’ song libraries or audio from other Reels and Shorts, and start recording with a countdown timer. But there are also some things that are different between the two.
The YouTube app can only record short videos up to 15 seconds long, but users can upload videos up to 60 seconds long. Instagram Reels, on the other hand, only lets you record or upload videos that are no longer than 30 seconds. Shorts doesn’t let you use augmented reality filters while you are recording, but Instagram Reels does. YouTube also wants to let users add the sound from other YouTube videos in the future, which is something that Instagram can’t do.
YouTube Shorts vs Instagram Reels: Comparison Table
| Platform | YouTube Shorts | Instagram Reels |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Short-form video sharing, entertainment | Short-form video sharing, entertainment |
| User Base | Over 2 billion monthly active users | Over 1 billion monthly active users |
| Demographics | Popular among younger users and diverse age groups | Popular among younger users and females |
| Content Types | Short-form videos, built-in creation tools and effects | Short-form videos, editing tools, integration with other Instagram features |
| Algorithm | Emphasizes engagement and viewer satisfaction | Emphasizes engagement, relevance, and recency |
| Advertising | Offers opportunities for businesses to advertise | Offers various ad formats and targeting options |
| Official link | Visit Website | Visit Website |
YouTube Shorts vs Instagram Reels Organic traffic and reach
Both types of content on social media started out as beta versions that could be tested to see how well they worked. Here, the reach of Instagram Reels vs YouTube Shorts depends on the hashtags that the creators choose. YouTube shorts work with trending hashtags that help the content stay on the trending list and niche hashtags that help the creator find a specific audience.
A YouTube channel’s reach and organic traffic are more likely to get more views if it’s regularly shown on the channel’s shorts. Instagram Reels, on the other hand, became more and more full of videos over time, depending on the user’s preferences and the kind of content they watched most. Instagram works based on how followers use it and what kind of content they like to see. Because of this, there may be less organic traffic compared to other sites.
YouTube Shorts vs Instagram Reels Engagement and interaction
Both YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels are places where people can watch short videos and interact with them in fun and creative ways. There are some similarities between the two platforms, but there are also some big differences in how people interact and engage with each other.
Engagement on YouTube Shorts:
- Like regular YouTube videos, YouTube Shorts lets users interact with videos through likes, comments, and shares.
- Videos with a lot of views are more likely to show up on the Shorts shelf, which is a place on the YouTube app just for Shorts.
- YouTube Shorts also has a feature called “create with this audio” that lets users use the audio from another Short to make their own video. This can encourage users to work together and get more involved.
Engagement on Instagram Reels:
- Like with regular Instagram posts, Instagram Reels lets users interact with videos by liking and commenting on them.
- Reels can also be shared with others through direct messages or the user’s story, which can increase engagement and reach.
- Instagram has more users than YouTube, which could mean that Reels could get more people to interact with it.
YouTube Shorts vs Instagram Reels Time frame
Instagram Reels can be 15 to 30 seconds long, while YouTube Shorts are 60 seconds long. This means that YouTube creators have more space and time than Instagram influencers to keep the attention of their viewers.
As we’ve already talked about, YouTube is more professional, so the growth of its audience is slower. However, with time and the right promotion of longer shorts in shorter videos, the number of views can increase. This will slowly bring in more people, making it possible to make money off of the content.
Most of our friends and family who follow us on Instagram are the ones who watch our Instagram reels. It might not get any new views or reach, but it could suddenly get a lot of views and become famous overnight.
Instagram Reels vs. YouTube Shorts is a battle between the two most popular social media sites. Here, the first is more of a short-term, quick-fame, casual entertainment-focused site, while the second is a long-term, patient, profitable, and professional platform. Users must make their choice based on their goals and interests in creating content and having fun.
YouTube Shorts: Pros and Cons
Pros
- YouTube has a huge audience that could be reached.
- Easy to make short videos and share them. Includes tools and effects for making videos.
- Potential to go viral quickly
Cons
- Some places don’t have many options.
- Compared to competitors, not yet fully grown.
- Changes to the algorithm can affect how visible and accessible content is. It can be hard to make money off of compared to traditional YouTube content.
Instagram Reels: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Instagram platform has a large number of active users
- The chance to reach more people
- Integration with other Instagram features, such as “stories” and “explore.”
Cons
- Can be hard to stand out from other content on Reels
- Compared to competitors, it has fewer ways to edit.
- Concerns about the security and privacy of data on the Instagram platform
Which one should you consider?
Different kinds of people can use both YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. I like Instagram Reels better than YouTube Shorts because I like what Instagram suggests I watch and it often shows me new content that hasn’t been seen before.
On the other hand, YouTube Shorts seems like an addition to regular YouTube, which shows you content based on what you’ve watched before. Because of this, it takes time for it to learn, and you also need to keep showing it new content. Many people like this approach better than Reels’, which is why YouTube Shorts are great for them.
FAQs
Instagram Reels can be between 15 and 30 seconds long, while YouTube Shorts are 60 seconds long.
When compared to your regular YouTube videos, a strong YouTube Shorts strategy can help you get a lot more subscribers in a short amount of time. Why? Short videos are popular because YouTube Shorts is new, and the algorithm is also helping to spread the word about YouTube Shorts.
