TikTok Vs. Instagram Reels: Which One Is Better?

Creating social media content means you want to reach the widest possible audience. Marketers and content creators typically use most platforms, including TikTok and Instagram.

They create both 'TikToks' and Instagram Reels on these platforms, popular with most demographics.

If you create TikTok videos and reels as part of your content creation strategy, you may have noticed a difference in engagement. It is not necessarily bad, but it may mean that one content form works better than the other.

But how do you choose between TikToks and Reels?

How TikToks Work

TikToks are another name for TikTok videos. These videos are usually short and in a vertical format. However, you can create videos up to 10 minutes long in 2025. You can also use TikToks to create online events to draw more people to your profile.

It is not only content creators and marketers that love TikTok. You will find some of the biggest brands in the world on this platform because they know they have an audience there.

How Instagram Reels Work

Essentially, an Instagram Reel is also a short video. You can create a Reel that consists of different images or clips. Like TikToks, you can add special effects and music.

The Instagram algorithm promotes Reels in users' feeds and on their Explore pages. However, you must get enough engagement on your Reels for them to appear on an Explore page.

Reels also have more potential to go viral on Instagram than regular, static posts.

How Do Reels and TikToks Differ?

Even though Reels and TikToks are short-form videos, they differ in many ways. These differences could help you decide which works best for you and your social media following.

Demographics

When content creators think of TikTok, they almost always think of Gen Z. The platform is very popular within this age group, especially between 10 and 19.

On the other hand, Instagram is most popular with audiences between the ages of 25 and 34, a marked difference from TikTok.

If you have specific content for specific social media users, the difference in age groups can already guide you towards a decision between TikToks and Reels.

Type of Content

TikTok is less polished than Instagram when it comes to content.

TikTok content creators often run around in the snow or on the beach, filming as they go along (as an example).

With TikTok, it is more about the story behind the story, if that makes sense. You use TikTok videos to show what is happening behind the scenes or in real time.

Furthermore, you use TikToks to emulate trends, which means you must be ready to create new content quickly. As such, TikTok works well for sole content creators or influencers.

Instagram works better for brands that have wanted to build a social media presence for months and years. Instagram is a platform where you can build a brand identity with the help of Reels.

When you create a Reel, you can polish it to fit any brand's look and feel. This is in stark contrast to the informal nature of TikToks.

Ad Costs

When it comes to advertising on Instagram and TikTok, Reel Ads still outpace TikTok ads. This is mainly because advertising on Instagram is much more affordable than on TikTok.

TikTok advertising options also tend to be confusing because there are so many of them. You have Instagram Reel Ads on Instagram, and you can easily find the option on the menu tab.

Features

Content creators use in-app features on both Instagram and TikTok. The music libraries on these platforms are particularly valuable. Here, TikTok has one up on Instagram. The TikTok music library is far more extensive than the Instagram audio library.

TikTok is also less strict when it comes to copyrighted music, but that does not mean you can just use anyone's song.

Other notable features include analytics functions. You will find an analytics feature on both platforms, which is regularly updated.

On Instagram, you get insights available through a dedicated dashboard. This dashboard lets you track how many Reel plays you get, how many users you reach, and the engagement your content generates.

You will also learn more about your audience's demographics and where they access your content from.

TikTok offers similar data but not as detailed. You will find information on how many followers you have, TikTok views, and other types of engagement (likes, shares, etc.).

Level of Engagement

TikTok makes up for rather bland analytics by offering high engagement. The For You feed presents content to users based on what they want to see, not the accounts they follow.

You can get good engagement levels with Instagram Reels, but the platform is less focused on user-generated content. This means it will inevitably lag when comparing engagement between Reels and TikToks.

Which Platform Is Best For You?

You must consider all the information mentioned to see which video format will work best for you.

You should also consider that TikTok is geared towards ''hot'’ content and fast growth. If you want to grow your following in the shortest time, TikTok can help you.

If you love trends and challenges, TikTok is the platform for you. However, remember that Instagram is less '‘busy'’ than TikTok. There is more opportunity on Instagram to reach users than on the saturated TikTok platform.

That said, your content preference will also depend on who your audience is. You will inevitably find Gen Z audiences on TikTok and Millennials on Instagram, though they do cross over.

In 2025, big and small businesses use both social media platforms to reach wider audiences. You can get engagement on TikTok and Instagram if you know how to create Reels and TikToks that draw attention.

So maybe you don't have to choose between these platforms after all. Instead, you can work on a strategy for each one and make the most of what Reels and TikTok offer. When you do this, you can reach a target audience on both platforms and so expand your content and brand reach.