Instagram Reels and Story: What are the Differences?

Instagram’s journey was predictable. The company started as a photo sharing service and quickly adopted the latest trends in the core app. First it brought video upload support, then the Instagram direct message came. Later, Instagram took a page from the Snapchat book and put Instagram Stories on the app. Now, the Facebook-owned company is getting on the TikTok train with Instagram Reels, a 15-second video function with music, live filters, and all the fun stuff. At times, it gets confusing for users to choose between Instagram Story and Reels.

Both Instagram Story and Reels are integrated into the same interface. From the main interface you can swipe right and open the viewfinder menu with Story, Live and Reels options.

At first glance, Story and Reels may seem the same, but they both serve different purposes to users. In this article, we will talk about the major differences between Instagram Reels and Story. Lets start.

Where is Instagram Story and Reels

Both Instagram Reels and Story are in the same interface. You can swipe right or tap on the story option in the upper left corner to open the camera interface on Instagram.

By default, Instagram opens the Story interface and encourages users to choose Instagram Story. Swipe left to open Instagram Live and Swipe Right to go to Instagram Reels.

Key Differences

Instagram defines Stories as something that lets you ‘share all the moments of your day, not just what you want to keep on your profile’. This feature allows you to share multiple photos and videos, and they appear together in a slideshow format, which means a reel like Snapchat. And of course these photos and videos will disappear after 24 hours.

Instagram Reels is a content format that lets you create and share 15-second videos with others in a new custom Feed on the Discover page. Much like TikTok, Instagram Reels gives you a set of creative tools to create fun, engaging short videos on Instagram. Record and edit 15-second multi-clip Reels videos with audio, text, special effects and stickers, then share them with your followers.

Instagram Story videos overlap with Instagram Reels in many ways. The company has added various functions to smooth out the differences between the two.

Content Creation Tools

Since the Instagram Stories feature has been around for a while, you’ll find better and feature-rich options for creating the perfect story. Instagram Reels is the relatively new kid around the block. While the company has added the most relevant features for Reels, it’s nowhere near Story for content creation.

Below are the main tools for creating a beautiful looking Instagram Story.

Text: You can add text to your Instagram Story with loads of gradient backgrounds.

Boomerang: With Boomerang, you can create captivating mini-videos that bounce back and forth and then share them with your friends.

Order: As the name suggests, Instagram Layout lets you fit up to 6 photos in a single Story. You can choose from a range of frame sizes and shapes.

Super zoom: It allows you to zoom the content using various effects such as Superzoom, Heart, Fire, Dramatic, Beat. It is popular among the younger generation.

Hands free: The new hands-free feature allows you to record video with a single tap.

On top of that, you can always add loads of effects, stickers, doodles, and even add fancy fonts, text with space and time to the Story.

Instagram has nailed the Stories experience. Moreover, you will not have any difficulty in finding the vehicle you are looking for. Everything is nicely laid out to keep it as simple as it is for the end user.

The reels feel more engaging, lively and fun with the music and playback speed. Unlike Story, Reels is all about using the perfect music with matching video and creating Reels with effects and stickers. Take a look at all the Reel features and you’ll see how it’s more geared towards different creators.

Music: Music is an essential part of making a remarkable Reel. Instagram offers tons of ready-made music clips to choose from.

Set Recording Speed: Many users will love it. You can slow down the video by 5x or speed up the Reel by 3x. It’s different from Story Boomerang.

Effects: Effects are the heart of the Instagram experience. You can add Stupid face, Party Lights, Green Screen according to your mood and choose from dozens of other effects for a perfect Instagram Reel.

Video Duration: Instagram Reels allow us to create videos of up to 15 seconds. But it is not necessary to stretch the video to 15 seconds each time. You can also create a 5 second or 10 second video.

Add Timer: This is something that Instagram Story is missing. You can set a three-second timer to capture the right moments at the right time.

Align Captured Video: If the captured video is shaky or blurry, you can use the Align option to correct the situation.

Looking at the list of features, you can see that the Instagram Story tools are more geared towards improving the final image. Instagram Reels features aim to create a nice and attractive video.

Experience Sharing

There is a notable difference when it comes to sharing an Instagram Story and a Reel. With Story, you can share it among your followers via direct message or publish it on your profile. However, the Instagram story is not added to your feed. And it will disappear after 24 hours.

You can share Instagram Reels anywhere. Instagram allows you to share Reels as Stories, use Direct Message to send to followers and even post to your feed. You’ll also find a dedicated Reels tab in the Explore menu.

In short, Instagram Reels has a chance to reach a wider audience than Story.

Story or Reels: Your Choice

It all depends on the type of content you create for followers. Stories are a more personal way to share memories with friends and family. Reels take the experience even further with music, playback and other options. Marketers, publishers and influencers will love it. What about you? Which feature do you use most to share these beautiful moments on Instagram? Share your views in the comments section below.

Next: Want to master the Instagram Story? Read the post below to learn the fifteen best tips and tricks for it.