Instagram business account vs personal account ultimate guide

Instagram is a place where people and brands connect, share stories, and build their presence. Whether you run a small business, create content, or simply want to keep up with friends and family, Instagram offers different account types to fit your needs.

As Instagram is growing into one of the most successful social media platforms on the planet, it’s important to understand the best way for your business to use it. And choosing between a business Instagram account vs personal account can be confusing, especially as your goals change. If you’re growing your business or want to reach a wider audience, understanding the difference between business vs personal Instagram accounts is important. Each account type comes with its features and benefits, so knowing what works best for you will help you get the most out of Instagram.

In this guide, we’ll look at:

• What is an Instagram Business account?
• Instagram Business account features
• What is a personal account on Instagram?
• What to pick: an Instagram business account vs. personal account
• Key differences between creator, business, and personal Instagram Accounts
• Pros and cons of using your personal Instagram business account
• Pros of cons of an Instagram Business Account
• How to switch Instagram accounts from one type to another
• Can we keep switching back and forth between Instagram account types?

By the end, you’ll know which Instagram account is right for you and how to make the switch if needed.

What is an Instagram Business account?

An Instagram business account is designed for companies and organisations that want to do more than share personal updates. It gives you extra tools to help you reach new customers, understand your audience, and make it easier for people to contact or buy from you.

Many business owners wonder if it’s worth switching from a personal profile. The main difference between business Instagram account vs personal account is the set of features you get. With a business account, you can:

• See detailed insights about your followers and how your posts are doing, so you know what works and when to post.
• Add contact buttons to your profile, making it simple for people to call, email, or find your location.
• Set up an Instagram Shop, so customers can browse and buy your products without leaving the app.
• Run ads to reach more people, with options to target the right audience and track your results.
• Schedule posts ahead of time to keep your content consistent and save time.

A business account also gives your profile a more professional look. You can add your business category, address, and other details that help build trust with potential customers.

Switching to a business account is free and only takes a few steps. If you’re deciding between business vs personal Instagram, think about your goals. If you want to grow your brand, connect with more people, and use Instagram’s full range of business tools, a business account is the way to go.

Instagram Business account features

Switching to a business Instagram account unlocks a range of features designed to help you connect with customers, understand your audience, and grow your brand. Here’s what you can expect from a business account compared to a personal one:

Contact information and action buttons

Business profiles can display contact details, such as email, phone number, or address, right on their profile. You can also add action buttons like “Book Now” or “Order Food,” making it simple for customers to get in touch or take action directly from your Instagram page.

Instagram shop and shoppable posts

If you sell products, you can set up an Instagram Shop. This lets people browse and buy items without leaving the app. You can also tag products in your posts and stories, so users can tap to see more details or make a purchase.

Instagram insights

With a business account, you get access to Instagram Insights. This tool shows you how your posts and stories are performing, who your followers are, and when they’re most active. You can see details like reach, impressions, and engagement, making it easier to decide what to post and when.

Post scheduling

A business account lets you schedule posts in advance using third-party tools. This helps you keep your feed active and consistent, even when you’re busy.

Advertising and promotions

You can create and manage ads directly from your Instagram business account. This includes running targeted campaigns, boosting posts to reach more people, and tracking the results with detailed reports.

Quick replies and inbox organisation

Business accounts can set up quick replies for common questions, saving you time in direct messages. You can also organise your inbox by sorting messages into different tabs, helping you keep track of important conversations.

Links in Stories

With a business account, you can add links to your Instagram Stories, directing followers to your website or a specific product page. This feature is especially useful for driving traffic and sales.

Professional profile and description label

Your business account can show a category label (like “Coffee Shop” or “Digital Marketing Agency”) under your name, so visitors instantly know what your business does.

Integrations and Meta Business Suite

You can connect your Instagram business account to other tools, such as the Meta Business Suite, to manage your content, schedule posts, reply to messages, and review analytics across both Instagram and Facebook.

These features give you more control and insight than a personal account, making it easier to build trust, reach new customers, and manage your brand’s presence on Instagram. If you’re weighing up business Instagram account vs personal, these tools can make a real difference in how you connect with your audience and grow your business.

What is a personal account on Instagram?

A personal Instagram account is the default option for anyone who wants to use the platform to share moments with friends and family. It’s best for people who want to post about their daily life, hobbies, or interests without the need for business tools or analytics.

With a personal account, you have more control over your privacy. You can set your profile to private, which means only approved followers can see your posts and stories. This makes it easier to keep your content within your own circle and decide who gets to interact with you.

• Personal accounts are simple to use. You can:
• Share photos, videos, and stories
• Like and comment on posts
• Send and receive direct messages
• Follow other accounts and explore content at your own pace

Unlike business accounts, personal profiles don’t have access to features like insights, advanced messaging, or shopping tools. This keeps things straightforward and focused on genuine connections rather than growing a brand or selling products.

What to pick: an Instagram business account vs. personal account

Instagram has two types of accounts — a personal account and professional account. The personal account is for individual use. The professional account can be either a business account or a creator account. A business account is for those who have a product or service to sell. With an astounding 90% of its users actively choosing to follow business accounts, Instagram has solidified its status as the preferred platform for commercial engagement. The creator account is for high-profile content creators, so they can use their Instagram account data to grow and connect with their audience.

Key differences between creator, business, and personal Instagram Accounts

Choosing between a business Instagram account vs personal or even a creator account comes down to what you want from Instagram. Here’s a clear look at how each type works and what makes them unique.

Business and creator accounts: Tools to grow and understand your audience

Business and creator accounts—sometimes called professional accounts—are designed for people and brands who want more than just sharing photos with friends. Here’s what sets them apart:

• Audience insights: Both business and creator accounts offer detailed data about who follows you and how they interact with your posts. You can see which content works best and when your audience is most active. This helps you make better decisions about what to post next.
• Contact and action tools: Business and creator accounts let you add contact buttons, making it easy for people to call, email, or get directions. You can also use quick replies to save time on common questions.
• Advertising and promotions: Only business and creator accounts can run ads and promote posts. This is key if you want to reach more people or target specific groups.
• Public profiles: Professional accounts are always public. This means anyone can see your content, which is great for reaching new audiences but offers less privacy.
• Advanced features: Business accounts unlock shopping tools, scheduling, and integrations with third-party apps. Creator accounts offer extra insights and inbox controls, making them a good fit for influencers, freelancers, and artists who want to build a personal brand.

Personal accounts: privacy and simplicity

A personal Instagram account is best if you want to keep things private and simple:

• Privacy controls: You can set your account to private, so only approved followers see your posts and stories. This is ideal if you want to share updates just with friends and family.
• Basic features: Personal accounts let you post, like, comment, and message, but you won’t see analytics or run ads. You also miss out on shopping and advanced messaging tools.
• Less management: There’s no pressure to post regularly or track performance. You can use Instagram at your own pace.

Which account should you choose?

• If you want to grow a brand, reach new customers, or need data to guide your content, a business Instagram account is the way to go.
• If you’re an influencer or content creator focused on personal branding and engagement, a creator account gives you more control and insights.
• If you just want to share moments with people you know and keep things private, stick with a personal account.

If you’re using Instagram for marketing, sales, or building a public profile, a business or creator account is the best fit. For private sharing and a simpler experience, a personal account is enough.

Pros and cons of using your personal Instagram business account

The main pros of having a personal setup are:

Pros

• Privacy controls: You can set your account to private, so only approved followers see your posts.
• Full music library: Access the complete Instagram music library for Reels and Stories.
• Multiple Facebook links: Connect your Instagram to several Facebook pages.
• Personal touch: Share personal updates, opinions, and shop as you like.

Cons

Pros sound pretty good, yeah? However, there are some things you miss out on when you promote your business through your personal Instagram. These cons include:

• No analytics: You won’t see data on your audience or post performance.
• No scheduling: You can’t schedule posts in advance.
• No business tools: Features like contact buttons, action buttons, and link stickers in Stories aren’t available.
• No Creator Studio: You miss out on Facebook Creator Studio resources and post-testing.
• Limited calls to action: You can’t add direct options for followers to contact you or shop from your profile.

A personal account keeps things simple and private, but you miss out on the tools that help businesses grow and connect with customers.

Pros of cons of an Instagram Business Account

The main pros of an Instagram business account are:

Pros

• Analytics: See data on your posts and followers to understand what works.
• Contact options: Add buttons for calls, emails, or directions on your profile.
• Shopping: Tag products and set up a shop for direct purchases.
• Ad tools: Run ads and boost posts to reach more people.
• Profile features: Show your business type and apply for verification.
• Content planning: Schedule posts and manage content through Meta tools.
• Collaboration: Tag partners and work with other brands easily.

Cons

• No private posts: All content is public; you can’t set posts to private.
• Limited music: Only royalty-free music is available for posts and stories.
• One Facebook link: You can only connect to one Facebook business page.
• More work: Managing a business account takes extra time and effort.
• Possible lower reach: Business posts may not always appear as often in followers’ feeds.

Pros and cons of an Instagram Business Account

The main pros of an Instagram business account are:

Pros

• Analytics: See data on your posts and followers to understand what works.
• Contact Options: Add buttons for calls, emails, or directions on your profile.
• Shopping: Tag products and set up a shop for direct purchases.
• Ad Tools: Run ads and boost posts to reach more people.
• Profile Features: Show your business type and apply for verification.
• Content Planning: Schedule posts and manage content through Meta tools.
• Collaboration: Tag partners and work with other brands easily.

Cons

• No Private Posts: All content is public; you can’t set posts to private.
• Limited Music: Only royalty-free music is available for posts and stories.
• One Facebook Link: You can only connect to one Facebook business page.
• More Work: Managing a business account takes extra time and effort.
• Possible Lower Reach: Business posts may not always appear as often in followers’ feeds.

How to switch Instagram accounts from one type to another

If you’ve decided that you’d be better off using a different type of account to promote your business, you don’t necessarily need to start a whole new account – especially if your existing content and follower base aligns with your business goals. Instead, you can just switch account types and carry on with more tools or more privacy, whichever approach works best for your business.

How do you make the switch? After logging into your Instagram account, select the Profile icon at the bottom right corner of your screen. Then:

• Select the menu icon at the top right of your screen.
• On the drop-down menu that appears, select Settings > Account > Switch Account Type.
• Select the new account type you want.

Now you have successfully switched accounts.

Can we keep switching back and forth between Instagram account types?

We get it – it can be hard to decide which approach is best for your business until you’ve tried them both. And that’s OK; it’s why Instagram makes it easy to switch. But don’t get too carried away. Switching accounts frequently can potentially delay certain features from functioning on your Instagram account. For example:

• If you switch from a personal account to a professional account, Instagram may temporarily hide access to Insights – the analytics you need to optimize your Instagram marketing.
• If you switch from a business account to a personal account, you may have delayed access to the full music library.
• Finally, too much switching back and forth between accounts can cause Instagram to flag your account as having spam-like behavior, and they may clamp down on your ability to use your account.

Now that you’ve read about the advantages and disadvantages of the different account types, you should be able to decide with ease the account that best fits you. Still not sure which one to choose and want our opinion? Here it is:

Whether you choose an Instagram business account or a personal account depends on your primary purpose for being an account holder. If your primary purpose for having an Instagram account is to socialise with family and friends and have access to the latest retail products, then go with a personal account. However, if your intent is to sell your products or services, connect with customers and grow your business, then you’ll want to go with a professional account.

Ready for a business Instagram account?

Now that you’ve read about the advantages and disadvantages of the different account types, you should be able to decide with ease which account best fits you. Still not sure which one to choose and want our opinion? Here it is:

Whether you choose an Instagram business account or a personal account depends on your primary purpose for being an account holder. If your primary purpose for having an Instagram account is to socialise with family and friends and have access to the latest retail products, then go with a personal account. However, if you intend to sell your products or services, connect with customers, and grow your business, then you’ll want to go with a professional account.

Ready to take your Instagram presence to the next level?

‍‍Try Trengo for free or book a personalised demo today and discover how seamless customer communication can boost your business growth.