Today, do you make more money on Instagram or on Pinterest?

This article has been written by our Instagram expert who will tell you what are the most efficient strategies in your niche

How much revenue do creators typically make on Instagram vs Pinterest, broken down by follower count?

Instagram creators earn significantly more per sponsored post across all follower tiers, with micro-influencers (10K followers) averaging $200-$1,000 per post compared to Pinterest's $50-$350.

Follower Count	Instagram Earnings Per Post	Pinterest Earnings Per Post
10K (Micro)	$200-$1,000 from brand deals and sponsorships	$50-$350 (limited direct brand deals)
50K (Mid-Tier)	$1,000-$3,000 with higher engagement premiums	$100-$500 (mostly affiliate-driven)
100K+ (Macro)	$1,500-$7,000+ depending on niche and engagement	$250-$1,000 (rare, traffic-based monetization)
Primary Revenue Source	Direct brand partnerships and sponsored content	Affiliate marketing and e-commerce traffic
Payment Structure	Per post or campaign basis	Commission or traffic-based revenue
Niche Impact	Fashion, beauty, lifestyle command highest rates	Home decor, DIY, crafts perform best
Revenue Consistency	Variable, depends on ongoing partnerships	More stable, evergreen content drives long-term income

What's the average engagement rate per post on Instagram vs Pinterest, and how does it vary by niche?

Instagram engagement rates decline dramatically as follower count increases, while Pinterest maintains more consistent rates that vary primarily by content niche rather than follower size.

Niche	Instagram Engagement Rate	Pinterest Engagement Rate
Fitness	1.55% (highest performing Instagram niche)	0.25-0.3% (measured by saves/clicks)
Home Decor	0.45% (moderate Instagram performance)	1-2% (top Pinterest niche)
Fashion	0.36% (competitive, saturated market)	0.25-0.3% (steady Pinterest performance)
Food/Beverage	0.63% (visual content performs well)	0.25-0.3% (recipe content drives saves)
Beauty	0.32% (highly competitive space)	0.25-0.3% (tutorial content popular)
Overall Average	0.50-0.67% (declining trend with growth)	0.25-0.3% (consistent across follower counts)
Micro vs Macro	Micro: 3.12-3.45%, Macro: 1.93-2.37%	Remains stable regardless of follower size

How many likes and comments does an average post get on both platforms for accounts with 10K, 50K, and 100K followers?

Instagram engagement scales predictably with follower count, but the ratio heavily favors likes over comments, while Pinterest focuses on saves and clicks rather than traditional social engagement metrics.

Follower Count	Instagram Likes	Instagram Comments	Pinterest Engagement (Saves/Clicks)
10K	25-60 likes per post	1-3 comments per post	23 saves, 155 total engagements median
50K	~244 likes per post	~10 comments per post	23-50 saves, 200-300 engagements estimated
100K	244-2,451 likes per post	10-30 comments per post	50+ saves, 300+ engagements estimated
Like-to-Comment Ratio	20:1 or higher (likes dominate)	N/A (comments rare on Pinterest)	N/A (saves and clicks are primary metrics)
Engagement Type	Real-time social interaction	Planning and discovery-focused behavior	Planning and discovery-focused behavior
Content Lifespan Impact	Peak engagement in first 24-48 hours	Sustained engagement over months/years	Sustained engagement over months/years
Measurement Focus	Immediate social validation metrics	Long-term discovery and referral traffic	Long-term discovery and referral traffic

What are the average conversion rates for selling products or services directly from Instagram vs Pinterest, by revenue stream?

Pinterest consistently outperforms Instagram in direct sales conversion across all revenue streams, with users showing significantly higher purchase intent and completing transactions at nearly double the rate.

Pinterest's visual discovery format naturally leads users through a shopping mindset, while Instagram's social-first approach creates more friction in the purchase journey. Pinterest users typically arrive with specific project or purchase intent, whereas Instagram users are primarily seeking entertainment and social connection.

Affiliate marketing performs exceptionally well on Pinterest with conversion rates reaching 1.16-1.5% compared to Instagram's 0.5-1% range. Product sales follow similar patterns, with Pinterest's e-commerce integration and shopping-focused user behavior driving higher completion rates.

If you're struggling to identify what content works for your affiliate marketing strategy, we can help you figure it out.

Which platform brings in more money via affiliate marketing, and what are the typical click-through and conversion rates?

Pinterest dominates affiliate marketing revenue generation with superior click-through rates of 1.68% and conversion rates reaching 1.5%, significantly outperforming Instagram's 0.5-1% metrics across both categories.

Pinterest's visual search functionality and evergreen content nature create multiple touchpoints for affiliate links over extended periods. Users often save pins for future reference, returning to make purchases weeks or months later, extending the earning window far beyond Instagram's typical 24-48 hour engagement lifecycle.

The platform's demographics also favor affiliate success, with 70% female users in the 25-54 age range representing peak spending power. These users actively seek product recommendations and shopping inspiration, making them ideal targets for affiliate campaigns in niches like home decor, fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products.

Instagram's affiliate performance varies dramatically by follower count and niche, with micro-influencers often achieving better conversion rates than macro accounts due to higher trust levels and audience engagement quality.

Not sure why your affiliate posts aren't converting? Let us take a look for you.

How do audiences differ between Instagram and Pinterest in terms of behavior, interests, and what content they engage with most?

Instagram users seek real-time entertainment and social connection, while Pinterest users approach the platform with specific planning and purchasing intent, creating fundamentally different engagement patterns and monetization opportunities.

Behavior Aspect	Instagram User Behavior	Pinterest User Behavior
Primary Intent	Entertainment, social connection, trend discovery	Planning, shopping research, project inspiration
Demographics	18-34 years, balanced gender, global reach	25-54 years, 70% female, higher income US-centric
Content Consumption	Fast scrolling, immediate likes, story interaction	Deliberate saving, organized boards, return visits
Engagement Style	Real-time comments, DMs, social sharing	Saves, clicks, long-term reference behavior
Purchase Journey	Impulse buying from influencer recommendations	Research-driven, planned purchases over time
Content Preferences	Behind-scenes, lifestyle, personalities, trends	Tutorials, inspiration boards, how-to guides
Session Behavior	Frequent short sessions, passive consumption	Longer focused sessions, active curation

Where is fake traffic and bot activity more prevalent today, and how does that affect monetization potential?

Both platforms face significant bot activity challenges, but Instagram suffers more from engagement manipulation while Pinterest deals primarily with automated pinning and click fraud affecting paid campaigns.

Instagram's fake follower economy remains robust, with bot accounts inflating likes, comments, and follower counts across creator profiles. This artificial inflation makes it difficult for brands to assess true reach and engagement quality, often leading to overvalued sponsorship deals and poor campaign ROI.

Pinterest's bot issues center on automated content scraping and fake click generation, particularly affecting paid advertising campaigns. However, the platform's save-based engagement model makes it harder to artificially inflate core metrics compared to Instagram's like-heavy system.

The monetization impact varies significantly between platforms. Instagram creators may benefit short-term from inflated metrics when negotiating brand deals, but face long-term credibility issues and reduced actual conversion performance. Pinterest's fake traffic primarily wastes advertiser budgets rather than benefiting individual creators.

Smart brands now use third-party analytics tools to verify authentic engagement before partnerships, making genuine audience building more valuable than ever on both platforms.

What's the full breakdown of the conversion funnel for each platform, from impression to sale, and what are the average drop-off rates at each stage?

Instagram's conversion funnel faces significant friction due to limited link placement options, while Pinterest's click-optimized design creates smoother transitions from discovery to purchase.

Instagram's restriction on clickable links in posts forces users through additional steps via Stories or bio links, creating multiple exit points. The typical Instagram funnel flows: Impression → Engagement (like/comment/save) → Link Click (bio/story) → Landing Page → Purchase, with massive drop-off rates between engagement and link clicks.

Pinterest's streamlined approach allows direct linking from pins to product pages, reducing friction significantly. The funnel progression: Impression → Save/Click → Website Visit → Purchase shows consistently higher progression rates at each stage.

Pinterest pins maintain discovery potential for months or years, creating multiple conversion opportunities from single content pieces. Instagram content peaks in the first 24-48 hours, requiring constant fresh content to maintain funnel flow.

If you feel like your content isn't getting enough conversions through your funnel, we can help improve that.

What platform is clearly outperforming in 2025 in terms of ROI, creator payouts, and brand deals—based on data?

Instagram maintains dominance in direct creator payouts and brand deal volume, but Pinterest delivers superior ROI for e-commerce and affiliate marketing campaigns, making the "winner" dependent on monetization strategy.

Instagram continues leading in sponsored content rates, with macro-influencers earning $1,500-$7,000+ per post compared to Pinterest's limited direct sponsorship opportunities. The platform's real-time engagement and personality-driven content makes it ideal for brand storytelling and influencer partnerships.

Pinterest's strength lies in conversion-focused metrics, with ROAS (return on ad spend) often doubling that of Instagram in lifestyle and home decor verticals. The platform's shopping-intent users and evergreen content create sustainable revenue streams that compound over time.

Brand budget allocation increasingly favors Instagram for awareness campaigns and Pinterest for performance marketing, with many companies using both platforms in complementary strategies rather than choosing one over the other.

When in doubt about which platform fits your monetization goals, we've got your back.

Where does the average user spend more time and money—Instagram or Pinterest—and how has that changed in 2025?

Instagram users spend more total daily time on the platform through frequent short sessions, while Pinterest users spend more money per transaction and demonstrate higher purchase completion rates.

Instagram's addictive scroll-based design generates higher daily time-on-platform metrics, but this engagement doesn't necessarily translate to immediate purchasing behavior. Users primarily consume content for entertainment and social connection rather than shopping research.

Pinterest users exhibit more intentional platform usage with longer focused sessions dedicated to project planning and product research. The average order value on Pinterest ($50+) significantly exceeds Instagram's $30-40 range, reflecting the platform's role in considered purchases rather than impulse buying.

The spending behavior shift in 2025 shows Pinterest users making fewer but higher-value purchases, while Instagram drives more frequent smaller transactions through influencer recommendations and story-based shopping features.

60% of weekly Pinterest users have made platform-driven purchases, compared to Instagram's lower conversion rate but higher overall transaction volume due to its larger active user base.

How should someone decide which platform to focus on first, based on their niche, content format, and growth goals?

Your platform choice should align with your content's natural lifespan and your audience's decision-making process—choose Instagram for personality-driven brands and real-time engagement, Pinterest for evergreen educational content and purchase-intent traffic.

Instagram works best for creators who can consistently produce fresh video content, behind-the-scenes material, and personality-driven posts. The platform rewards frequent posting and real-time interaction, making it ideal for lifestyle influencers, fitness coaches, and fashion creators who can maintain daily content schedules.

Pinterest favors creators with expertise in visual tutorials, project inspiration, and how-to content that remains relevant over time. Home decor, DIY, recipes, and craft niches perform exceptionally well because users save and reference this content repeatedly for future projects.

Consider your audience's buying behavior: if they make quick decisions based on social proof and influencer recommendations, prioritize Instagram. If they research extensively before purchasing and prefer detailed information, Pinterest will serve you better.

Budget and time constraints also matter significantly. Instagram requires consistent daily engagement and video production, while Pinterest allows for batch content creation and longer-term organic growth strategies.

What are the key trends to expect in 2026 for monetization on both platforms, and where is the biggest opportunity projected to be?

Pinterest's AI-powered shopping features and expanded video pin functionality will drive the platform's evolution into a primary e-commerce destination, while Instagram's monetization will increasingly favor micro-influencers and niche communities over mega-influencer partnerships.

Pinterest is developing advanced visual search capabilities and automated product tagging that will make every pin shoppable, creating massive opportunities for affiliate marketers and e-commerce brands. The platform's investment in video pins will compete directly with Instagram Reels while maintaining Pinterest's shopping-focused user behavior.

Instagram's algorithm changes will continue favoring authentic engagement over follower count, making micro-influencers with 10-50K highly engaged followers more valuable than macro accounts with lower engagement rates. Brand partnerships will shift toward longer-term ambassador programs rather than one-off sponsored posts.

The biggest opportunity lies in cross-platform content strategies that leverage Instagram for community building and Pinterest for conversion optimization. Creators who master this dual approach will capture both immediate engagement revenue and long-term affiliate income streams.

If you're unsure which trends will impact your specific niche, let's take a look together.

Conclusion

Sources

1. Later - Instagram Influencer Costs
2. EmbedSocial - How Much Do Instagram Influencers Make
3. Shopify - Pinterest Affiliate Marketing
4. Colorlib - Instagram Engagement Rate
5. Red Website Design - Social Engagement Trends
6. Metricool - Pinterest Engagement
7. Traffic Cardinal - Pinterest vs Instagram Affiliate Marketing
8. Invesp - Conversion Rate by Industry
9. Live Positively - Instagram vs Pinterest Visual Marketing
10. Sprout Social - Pinterest Statistics

Who is the author of this content?

NAPOLIFY

A team specialized in data-driven growth strategies for social media

We offer data-driven, battle-tested approach to growing online profiles, especially on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. Unlike traditional agencies or consultants who often recycle generic advice,we go on the field and we keep analyzing real-world social content—breaking down hundreds of viral posts to identify what formats, hooks, and strategies actually drive engagement, conversions, and growth. If you'd like to learn more about us, you can check our website.

How this content was created 🔎📝

At Napolify, we analyze social media trends and viral content every day. Our team doesn't just observe from a distance—we're actively studying platform-specific patterns, breaking down viral posts, and maintaining a constantly updated database of trends, tactics, and strategies. This hands-on approach allows us to understand what actually drives engagement and growth.

These observations are originally based on what we've learned through analyzing hundreds of viral posts and real-world performance data. But it was not enough. To back them up, we also needed to rely on trusted resources and case studies from major brands.

We prioritize accuracy and authority. Trends lacking solid data or performance metrics were excluded.

Trustworthiness is central to our work. Every source and citation is clearly listed, ensuring transparency. A writing AI-powered tool was used solely to refine readability and engagement.

To make the information accessible, our team designed custom infographics that clarify key points. We hope you will like them! All illustrations and media were created in-house and added manually.