Today, do you get a better conversion rate on Instagram or on Threads?
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Threads is crushing Instagram when it comes to engagement rates, but Instagram still dominates direct sales conversions.
Data from 2025 shows Threads delivering 4.5-6.25% engagement rates compared to Instagram's 0.5-2%, yet Instagram maintains stronger conversion funnels for e-commerce and mature monetization tools.
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Summary
Threads outperforms Instagram in engagement metrics but Instagram leads in conversion infrastructure and direct sales capabilities.
| Metric | Instagram (2025) | Threads (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Average Engagement Rate | 0.5-2% (declining from previous years) | 4.5-6.25% (consistently higher across niches) |
| Conversion Rate (Digital Products) | 2-4% (mature ad infrastructure) | 3-5% (early but promising community-driven sales) |
| Bot Activity Impact | Up to 40% fake engagement on large accounts | Lower incidence due to newer infrastructure |
| Best for Brand Building | Superior reach and visual impact | Better for authentic community engagement |
| Time Spent per Session | 32 minutes daily average | 1-4 minutes but higher engagement depth |
| Content Performance | Reels, carousels, visual storytelling | Text posts, polls, conversations, news |
| Recommended Focus | Visibility, sales, influencer partnerships | Community building, early-mover advantage |
What's the average engagement rate per post on Instagram versus Threads in 2025?
Threads delivers engagement rates that are 3-4 times higher than Instagram across all account sizes and niches.
Instagram's median engagement rate has dropped to 0.5-2% in 2025, with some industry-specific analyses showing rates up to 3.4% depending on methodology and niche focus. This represents a significant decline from previous years due to algorithm changes and platform saturation.
Threads consistently shows engagement rates between 4.5-6.25%, making it one of the highest-performing platforms among major social networks. The platform's conversational nature and less saturated environment contribute to these superior metrics, with users more likely to reply and interact meaningfully with content.
The gap becomes even more pronounced when examining authentic engagement versus total interactions. While Instagram struggles with bot activity affecting up to 40% of engagement on larger accounts, Threads maintains cleaner metrics due to its newer infrastructure and tighter integration with verified Instagram accounts.
How does the average engagement rate vary by niche on both platforms?
Education and fitness content performs exceptionally well on both platforms, but Threads amplifies engagement across all niches due to its discussion-focused format.
| Niche | Instagram Average ER | Threads Average ER (Estimated) |
|---|---|---|
| Education | 2.43-4.2% | 7-8% (Q&A format thrives in text-based discussions) |
| Fitness | 1.98% | 5-7% (community focus drives high interaction rates) |
| Tech | 0.59-3.3% | 5-7% (tech news and discussions perform well) |
| Fashion | 0.36% | 4-6% (less visual but strong for trend discussions) |
| Business/Finance | 1.2-2.1% | 6-8% (professional discussions and insights) |
| Entertainment | 1.8-2.5% | 5-6% (memes and pop culture commentary) |
| Food/Lifestyle | 1.5-2.8% | 4-6% (recipe discussions and lifestyle tips) |
What's the breakdown of engagement by account size on Instagram vs Threads?
Smaller accounts consistently outperform larger ones on both platforms, but Threads amplifies this advantage significantly.
Nano-influencers (under 10k followers) see engagement rates of 4-8% on Instagram and 8-10% on Threads. This represents the sweet spot where audience intimacy meets algorithmic favor, particularly on Threads where early adopters benefit from less competition and more organic reach.
Micro-influencers (10k-100k followers) maintain 2-4% engagement on Instagram but jump to 6-8% on Threads. The platform's conversational nature rewards accounts that can consistently spark discussions and build genuine community connections rather than relying purely on follower count.
Macro-influencers and celebrities (100k+ followers) face the steepest engagement decline, dropping to 1-2% on Instagram and 4-6% on Threads. However, Threads still provides better engagement rates even for large accounts due to its chronological feed elements and reduced algorithmic filtering.
If you're struggling to identify what content works in your niche, we can help you figure it out.
How many likes and comments per post does an average account get on Instagram and Threads in 2025?
Instagram averages around 460 total engagements per post globally, while Threads delivers 2-3 times higher engagement for similar account sizes.
On Instagram, engagement distribution heavily favors Reels and carousel posts, which generate significantly more comments and saves compared to static images. Stories maintain high view rates but lower direct engagement, while Lives can spike interaction during broadcast but don't maintain long-term engagement metrics.
Threads engagement patterns differ fundamentally, with replies weighted more heavily than simple likes. Posts that ask questions, share news, or start discussions consistently generate 20-50 replies compared to Instagram's average of 5-15 comments per post. The platform's threading format encourages longer conversations, creating deeper engagement even if total like counts appear lower.
Account size dramatically impacts these numbers, with nano-accounts often seeing higher engagement per follower ratios due to stronger community connections and algorithmic preferences for accounts with higher engagement rates.
What's the average conversion rate when promoting products on Instagram vs Threads by revenue type?
Digital products show the highest conversion rates on both platforms, with Threads slightly outperforming Instagram due to community-driven purchasing behavior.
| Revenue Type | Instagram Average CVR | Threads Average CVR (Early Data) |
|---|---|---|
| Digital Products | 2-4% | 3-5% (community trust drives higher conversions) |
| Physical Goods | 1.8-2.8% | 2-3% (less shopping infrastructure but growing) |
| Affiliate Marketing | 1.5-2.5% | 2-3% (authentic recommendations perform well) |
| Services | 1-2% | 2-3% (depends heavily on niche authority and trust) |
| Courses/Education | 3-5% | 4-6% (educational discussions convert well) |
| Subscriptions | 2-3% | 3-4% (community building supports recurring revenue) |
| Consulting | 1.5-2% | 3-4% (thought leadership content drives inquiries) |
How have conversion rates changed from 2024 to 2025, and what's forecasted for 2026?
Instagram conversion rates have plateaued or declined slightly due to increased competition and algorithm changes, while Threads shows consistent growth as the platform matures.
Instagram faced challenges in 2024-2025 with algorithm updates favoring entertainment over commercial content, leading to a 10-15% decline in organic reach for business accounts. Conversion rates remained stable for established e-commerce brands but dropped for newer accounts struggling to gain visibility without paid promotion.
Threads experienced steady growth throughout 2024-2025 as brands learned to leverage conversational selling techniques. Early adopters who built communities saw conversion rates increase by 20-30% as the platform developed better commerce integration and users became more comfortable making purchases through social recommendations.
2026 forecasts suggest Instagram will stabilize around current rates unless major algorithm changes occur, while Threads is expected to see continued growth until it reaches market maturity around late 2026. Brands focusing on authentic community building rather than follower count are positioned best for both platforms.
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What are the latest numbers on bot activity and fake engagement on Instagram vs Threads?
Instagram continues to struggle with significant bot activity, while Threads maintains cleaner engagement metrics due to its newer infrastructure and verification requirements.
Recent analysis suggests up to 40% of engagement on large Instagram accounts could be artificial, including purchased likes, comments from bot networks, and engagement pods. Celebrity and mega-influencer accounts face the highest rates of fake engagement, with some studies showing bot activity rates exceeding 50% for accounts over 1 million followers.
Meta has increased enforcement efforts throughout 2024-2025, implementing more sophisticated bot detection and removing billions of fake accounts quarterly. However, bot networks have also evolved, using more sophisticated tactics like AI-generated comments and coordinated human-bot hybrid networks that are harder to detect.
Threads benefits from requiring Instagram account verification for signup, creating a barrier that reduces initial bot creation. The platform's engagement patterns also favor meaningful conversations over simple likes, making it less attractive for traditional bot networks focused on inflating vanity metrics. Current estimates suggest bot activity on Threads remains below 15% across all account sizes.
What are the behavioral differences in each audience and what content drives the most interaction?
Instagram users prefer visual storytelling and aspirational content, while Threads users engage more with real-time discussions and authentic conversations.
Instagram's audience gravitates toward polished visual content, trending audio in Reels, behind-the-scenes stories, and interactive features like polls and quizzes. Users expect high production value and often engage with content that provides entertainment, inspiration, or shopping opportunities. Successful content typically includes trending hashtags, aesthetic visuals, and clear calls-to-action.
Threads users demonstrate preference for timely news commentary, industry insights, personal anecdotes, and discussion-starting questions. The platform rewards authenticity over polish, with simple text posts often outperforming complex multimedia content. Users engage more deeply through replies and shares rather than passive likes, creating longer conversation threads.
Content that performs well on Instagram includes Reels with trending audio, carousel posts with valuable information, user-generated content featuring products, and Stories with interactive elements. Threads favors posts that ask questions, share breaking news, provide industry commentary, offer controversial but thoughtful opinions, and create community discussion around shared interests.
Where do users spend more time interacting with posts - Instagram or Threads?
Instagram users spend more total time on the platform daily, but Threads users engage more deeply per post despite shorter session durations.
Instagram users average 32 minutes daily across the platform, primarily consuming Reels, Stories, and scrolling through feeds. However, most interactions are passive scrolling with brief attention spans per post. Users typically engage quickly with likes and brief comments before moving to the next piece of content.
Threads users have shorter average sessions of 1-4 minutes but check the platform multiple times throughout the day. When they do engage, it's typically more meaningful - reading full threads, composing thoughtful replies, and participating in extended conversations. This creates higher quality engagement despite lower total time spent.
The interaction depth differs significantly between platforms. Instagram engagement often consists of quick likes and emoji reactions, while Threads users write longer responses, share posts with commentary, and create discussion chains that can continue for hours or days after the original post.
Which platform performs best for brand building, community engagement, and direct sales?
Instagram dominates brand building and direct sales, while Threads excels at authentic community engagement and thought leadership development.
For brand building, Instagram's massive reach, visual impact, and influencer ecosystem make it unmatched for building brand awareness and visual identity. The platform's shopping features, ad targeting capabilities, and integration with Facebook's commerce tools provide superior infrastructure for direct sales conversions.
Threads outperforms in community engagement through its conversation-first design that encourages meaningful interactions between brands and audiences. Companies using Threads for customer service, thought leadership, and community building report higher satisfaction rates and stronger brand loyalty, even with smaller follower counts.
Direct sales remain Instagram's strength due to mature advertising tools, shopping tags, and checkout features. However, Threads shows promise for service-based businesses and digital products where community trust and recommendations drive purchasing decisions more than visual appeal or impulse buying.
If you feel like your content isn't getting enough engagement, we can help improve that.
What's the full conversion funnel from impressions to purchase on both platforms?
Instagram maintains a more efficient direct sales funnel, while Threads creates higher initial engagement but faces challenges in final conversion steps.
| Funnel Stage | Instagram (2025) | Threads (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Impressions to Reach | 70-80% (algorithmic filtering) | 80-90% (less filtering, more chronological) |
| Reach to Engagement | 0.5-2% (varies by content/account size) | 4-6% (higher reply and interaction rates) |
| Engagement to Click | 1-3% (link in bio, swipe-up features) | 2-5% (less friction for discussion-driven CTAs) |
| Click to Purchase | 1.5-3.5% (varies by product/niche) | 2-4% (higher for digital/community products) |
| Overall Conversion | 0.003-0.024% (impression to purchase) | 0.013-0.072% (higher due to engagement) |
| Best for | Visual products, impulse purchases, e-commerce | Services, digital products, community-driven sales |
| Optimization Focus | Visual appeal, trending content, ad spend | Conversation starters, community building, trust |
Based on specific business goals, how should someone decide whether to focus more on Instagram or Threads today?
Choose Instagram for immediate sales and broad reach, or Threads for long-term community building and early-mover advantages in your niche.
For follower growth and visibility, Threads offers significant advantages due to higher organic engagement rates and less competition for attention. Early adopters can establish thought leadership positions before their niches become saturated, similar to early Instagram and TikTok adopters who built massive followings with less polished content.
Instagram remains superior for businesses requiring immediate revenue generation, visual product showcasing, or access to mature advertising and analytics tools. E-commerce brands, fashion companies, food businesses, and lifestyle products still find Instagram's shopping features and visual format more effective for driving direct sales.
A hybrid approach works best for most businesses: use Instagram for reach and sales while building authentic community on Threads. This strategy allows brands to maximize current revenue opportunities while positioning for future growth as Threads continues developing its monetization features.
Decision factors should include your content creation capabilities (visual vs. conversational), audience demographics (Instagram skews younger, Threads attracts Twitter migrants), and business model (visual products favor Instagram, services and digital products may perform better on Threads).
Conclusion
Threads currently delivers superior engagement rates and authentic community building opportunities, while Instagram maintains its dominance in direct sales and brand reach.
The optimal strategy for most businesses in 2025 involves leveraging Instagram's mature monetization infrastructure while building early community advantages on Threads before the platform becomes oversaturated.
Sources
- Social Insider Instagram Benchmarks
- Hootsuite Average Engagement Rate Guide
- PopularPays Instagram Engagement Rate 2025
- Buffer Average Engagement Rate Resources
- Buffer Threads vs Twitter Analysis
- Agency Analytics Social Media Benchmarks
- DriftLead Instagram Ads Conversion Rates
- Sprout Social Instagram Engagement Rate Insights
- Metricool Important Instagram Statistics
- Sprout Social New Social Media Demographics
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