Should you open an Instagram Creator Account or switch to a Business Account? That’s the real dilemma for creators and businesses today.
It may surprise you, but only some influencers or content creators on Instagram need a Business Profile. The Creator Account offers features tailored to managing promotions, messages, and your personal brand—without the extra layers that come with a Business Account.
All you need to get started is a personal profile.
If you’re still unsure which type of account fits you best, this guide is for you. We’ll walk you through the key differences and how to choose the right one for your goals.
Who is the Instagram Creator Account for?
Before you pick an Instagram business account or Creator Account, let’s go over more about an Instagram Creator Account. Instagram introduced the Creator Accounts for creators who don’t yet have a business. It bridges the gap between personal profiles and business accounts and helps creators with large Instagram followers.
Instagram has evolved since then, and today, creators of all sizes — from micro-influencers to major celebrities — can leverage these accounts. No more follower minimums and the tools keep getting better.
Instagram Creators typically include:
- Public figures
- Artists
- Influencers
- Bloggers
- Content producers
The best part? Anyone can easily switch to a Creator Account in just a few steps.
Instagram Creator Account features
Converting your Personal Profile into a Creator Account still unlocks unique tools for managing your growth, but Instagram has added even more value to its features in recent years.
Organized messaging
You’ll likely receive more DMs as you grow your following, ranging from strangers to fellow brands or Instagram influencers. Depending on your industry, these messages could range from “Where did you buy those shoes?” to “Are you interested in a brand collaboration?”
If you have hundreds of thousands of followers, managing and replying to all of these messages can be challenging. Switching to a Creator Account means you can access DM filtering options, including Primary, General, and Requests tabs.
Using the Primary Inbox, you can prioritize messages from friends and brands and organize them according to time or relevance to avoid missing any important messages. You can also manually mark messages as unread or flagged so you don’t forget to reply to important DMs.
Creators can also hide their contact information by removing their phone number and email from their profile. This is particularly helpful feature if you develop a large following and don’t want hundreds of people contacting you.
Publishing tools and scheduling
Gone are the days when creators couldn’t schedule their posts! Instagram finally updated its API to support post scheduling for Creator Accounts — no need for third-party apps. You can plan content directly through Instagram’s Creator Studio or sync with new, built-in scheduling tools.
Profile categories
Instagram business and creator profiles let you add a category label to your bio. Creator account holders could include labels like blogger, writer, photographer, or chef.
An Instagram business profile could include labels like restaurant, beauty salon, or consulting agency. Both account types allow you to hide this information if you prefer.
Insights and data
Creator Studio has ramped up its analytics, making it easier than ever to see who’s following, unfollowing, and engaging with your content. You can now break down engagement metrics by demographic, track content performance in real time, and even see advanced insights like ‘audience retention’ for Reels and videos.
And with new AI-powered tools, Instagram offers automated suggestions for optimizing your content to reach more followers.
CTA buttons
CTA buttons encourage users to take action and convert to customers. These call-to-action buttons are in your profile under your bio and above your Story Highlights. Creator accounts can choose from “book now” or “reserve” CTA buttons.
Enhanced shopping features
Instagram Shopping is no longer just for Business Accounts. In 2024, creators with small or large followings can integrate product tagging in posts, Reels, and Stories — and even set up Instagram Checkout in select regions. This feature helps creators monetize their content without directing users to external sites.
Creator versus business account: which is best for you?
Business and creator Instagram accounts share many features, but before you take steps to convert your personal account into a creator or business account, look closely at how Creator Accounts differ from business profiles.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what creator and business accounts include.
Instagram Creator profiles include:
- Access to the Instagram Creator Studio on desktop
- Filters and multiple tabs for your Direct Message inbox
- Swipe-up links in Instagram Stories (over 10,000 followers or via Link Stickers)
- Shoppable posts with product tags from brands
- Detailed creator analytics, including follower growth and unfollow tracking
- Ability to promote organic content posts as Instagram ads from Ads Manager
- Optional CTA buttons
- Profile categories like blogger, writer, chef, or entrepreneur
- Ability to hide contact details
Business accounts include:
- Full integration with Instagram Shopping and advanced CTA buttons (Order Food, Shop Now, etc.)
- Access to Instagram and Facebook ads, enabling cross-platform marketing
- Advanced Instagram Insights tailored for e-commerce and customer behavior tracking
- Ability to link to third-party scheduling tools
- DM filters similar to Creator Accounts
- Swipe-up links in Instagram Stories
You can also link your business account to Manychat and take advantage of Instagram Automation features like:
- Automated responses and conversations in Instagram Messenger
- Automated replies and reactions to post comments
- Live chat capabilities
- Conversation starters to help followers get information quickly and easily on your Instagram business account
- Ability to collect phone numbers and emails to run omnichannel marketing campaigns for your Instagram business account
How to make an Instagram Creator Account
Ready to make the switch to an Instagram Creator Account? Follow these simple steps and easily convert your profile in-app.
- Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner of your profile.
- Select Settings.
- Tap on Account.
- Select Switch to Professional account.
- Click Continue.
- Choose the category that best describes what you do.
- Next, choose whether to display your category on your profile and tap Done.
Now you’re all set to start posting on your new Creator Account and use your Instagram Creator profile!
Is an Instagram Creator Account right for you?
Marketers can benefit from using either Instagram business or creator profile types on social media and an Instagram account. Choosing the right account for you will ultimately depend on what you aim to achieve with your Instagram marketing strategy and gain positive Instagram insights.
If you’re a creator or an influencer aiming to monetize more content and increase partnerships with other brands and influencers, a creator profile could help you achieve these goals.
But if you’re a business that plans on selling more products and wants to schedule your posts via a 3rd-party app, a business account makes more sense when deciding between an Instagram business account or a Creator Account.
