Instagram is easily one of the most popular social media platforms out there. Even though Instagram is steadily growing and adding new users everyday, it's not the most accessible app in less connected areas. That's where Instagram Lite comes in.
Instagram Lite recently rolled out for the second time in March 2021, but what's different this time around? And how does it compare to the original Instagram app? We'll cover everything you need to know about both of these mobile apps and help you decide which one is best for you.
What Is Instagram Lite?
Instagram Lite is an alternative to Instagram that won't take up as much space on your phone and doesn't demand as much data. You won't have to create a new account with Instagram Lite because it's still the same Instagram platform, just in a much smaller app.
Instagram Lite originally launched in 2018, but was pulled from the Google Play Store in May of 2020. To everyone's surprise, Instagram Lite showed up back on the Play Store less than a year later. This time, it comes with major improvements that make the app much more appealing.
With Instagram Lite having a significantly smaller download size, it won't have all the same functionality as the original Instagram app. But for some users, Instagram Lite will make using the social media platform a lot easier and less intensive for their smartphones.
Overall, Instagram Lite makes the social media platform more inclusive to users who have older smartphones, smartphones with less storage, or who live in an area with a slow internet connection or expensive data.
Where Is Instagram Lite Available?
As of March 2021, Instagram Lite is rolling out to over 170 countries, most of which have emerging economies or regions with poor internet connectivity. The biggest country that has access to the app right now is India.
The app's team has plans to roll out the app in more countries in the future, including the US, the UK, and many other European countries. However, the initial focus is on emerging economies.
Also, Instagram Lite is currently only available for Android devices. There has not been any announcement yet on when or if Instagram Lite will come to iOS devices.
The base Instagram app is much larger on iOS than on Android, so it may be a while before the Instagram Lite app pops up in the Apple Store.
Download: Instagram Lite for Android (Free)
How Is Instagram Lite Different From Instagram?
You won't notice any huge differences between Instagram Lite and Instagram. For the most part, the apps look and function the same. The biggest difference you'll notice will be in performance simply because Instagram Lite is not as large and powerful as Instagram is.
App Size
The main driving factor behind establishing a Lite version of Instagram is because of how demanding the app can be on your phone, especially if you don't have a strong data connection or ample storage space.
The download size for the Instagram base app is 30-80MB, depending on your phone. When you tack on the storage the app uses for data and cache, that number gets significantly larger. When we took a look at one of our devices, the Instagram app was taking up 550MB on a phone for the app itself, data used, and the cache.
The Instagram Lite app, on the other hand, is only a 2MB download. Although this is a larger app than the original Instagram Lite that launched at a 573KB download, the added features make it worth it. Plus, Instagram Lite will be running off of code saved to the cloud, whereas Instagram saves data straight to your phone.
This difference in app size is significant, especially for those users who have less storage space on their phones.
App Features
When Instagram Lite first launched in 2018, it was a little lackluster. It didn't allow users to send Direct Messages or record and post videos, taking away a huge part of what users love about Instagram.
The new version has a lot more to offer users. You can now send Direct Messages to personal or group chats with text, images, GIFS, stickers, and videos. Although you can't customize your chat theme and won't be able to use swipe controls to type, the simple fact that Direct Messages are supported on Instagram Lite is a big win.
Instagram Lite does not have Live capabilities, but that's to be expected in an app like this. It does, however, support Reels, IGTV, autoplay for videos, and the ability to upload videos to your story. Of course, if you're in an area with slow or poor internet connectivity, you'll probably notice lag in videos.
With Instagram Lite, you also won't be able to use AR filters and you won't see the fancy cube transitions when watching Stories.
Also, as of the March 2021 relaunch, Instagram Lite was ad-free—but don't expect this feature to stick around. Ad revenue is easy money for social media companies to make, so Instagram Lite is surely going to take advantage of this; it's just not clear when that will be.
Supported Languages
As mentioned before, one of the biggest countries that has access to Instagram Lite is India. This is because it's an area where Instagram noticed users were struggling with older smartphones with less storage space and limited data.
Because of this, Instagram Lite also added a ton of local languages, including Bengali, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, and Telegu. The original Instagram app only offers Hindi.
Should You Switch to Instagram Lite?
If you have a smartphone that has plenty of storage and you frequently have a good internet connection or an awesome data plan, there's no reason to switch to Instagram Lite and miss out on all the awesome features the original Instagram app has to offer.
If you find that you're constantly running out of storage space and you're not ready to upgrade to a newer phone, you might consider swapping out your Instagram app for Instagram Lite. Although the app isn't available in every country right now, it will roll out in more countries as time goes on.
You might also consider switching to Instagram Lite if you have a bad data plan or you're in a place that doesn't get very good internet connectivity. Instagram Lite will demand less data overall.
