Is Instagram still worth it in 2025?

Your Content Seems to be Worth Nothing to Instagram

I have million-view Reels on Instagram. My total earnings? $0.

Monetization on Instagram is notoriously difficult. Sure, Instagram offers some options:

• Instagram Subscriptions – Available to select creators, but limited reach.
• Instagram Gifts – Requires thousands of engaged followers to generate real income.
• Reels Play Bonus – Invite-only and no longer widely available in 2025.

So, what’s left?

• You could do affiliate marketing—and risk alienating your audience.
• You could try for paid brand deals—but not too many, or you’ll annoy your followers.

Instagram sent me motivational and how-to emails and messages.
Well, dear Instagram, that’s not enough anymore.

Creators fuel Instagram. They need us. So why aren’t they paying us?

The Hidden Cost: Countless Hours of Engagement

I spent countless hours engaging on Instagram –
Liking (the really good content of my fellow AI artists), commenting, viewing, supporting.

I thought that kind of active participation would pay off, not just for me but for my fellow AI Art creators.
It didn’t.

I would definitely not invest that amount of time (and content) again on Instagram at the expense of other platforms.

TikTok, YouTube, X, and Facebook Get It

Other platforms understand this:
Their product is content—our content

That’s why creators like me can get paid well—just not on Instagram.

Here’s how the competition does it:

• TikTok: Monetization starts at 10,000 followers.
• X (Twitter): Subscriptions, ad revenue share, and better payouts.
• YouTube & Facebook: Both offer Ad Revenue Sharing and Creator Funds.

I have no issue proving my worth or building a community before getting paid.
What I do mind?

Instagram makes money from the engagement my content drives—while creators like me see nothing in return.

But…What About Pinterest?

What about this wonderful platform that also doesn’t pay creators?

Well—Pinterest is prime SEO real estate.

With just 450 followers, I get 1.6 million monthly views on Pinterest.
Why? Google loves Pinterest.

• Pinterest’s domain authority: 84 → High trust, indexed daily.
• Google does not crawl Instagram → SEO dead end. In search results your profile may appear. But your posts aren’t crawled.

So while Pinterest doesn’t pay me directly, I profit indirectly through Google search traffic.
Instagram? Zero SEO benefit.

Pinterest > Instagram for SEO

Would I Make Instagram My MAIN Platform Again?

Absolutely not.

• It’s a monetary dead end. The constant hustle for sponsorships and brand deals can ultimately alienate your followers.
• Creators generate value for Instagram without fair compensation. While programs like the Reels Play Bonusor Gifts exist, they are either invite-only or not available in all regions—for example, EU-based creators are excluded from certain monetization programs.
• It offers limited SEO benefits. Unlike Pinterest or YouTube, Instagram does not allow Google to index posts, making it harder to drive external traffic.

So, where should creators focus instead?

🚀 Pinterest – Organic reach + Google SEO boost.
🎥 YouTube – Ad revenue + long-term content value.
📱 TikTok – Creator-friendly payouts & virality.
🐦 X (Twitter) – Growing monetization opportunities.

For me, Instagram as my main platform is over. But not the wonderful AI art community or the amazing work my fellow creators publish.

💡 A Creator’s Advice: If you want to be fairly compensated for your content, compare platforms and choose the one that values your work.

Right now, Instagram is not one of them.