There’s no doubt that short-form videos have revolutionized the way we consume and share content. Hello TikTok! Instagram and YouTube have their own versions of short videos, namely Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. If you’ve ever wondered which is best, let’s look at the two.

Instagram Reels, which launched before YouTube Shorts, allows users to create short-form videos of up to 90 seconds with features like audio clips, text, stickers, and filters to enhance the videos. Reels have been widely successful mainly due to creative content creators seeking to entertain and make the Reels feed on Instagram a popular place for users to visit and engage.

Since Reels had a head start, YouTube hasn’t caught up in popularity, but Shorts have unique advantages. Shorts allow users to create videos up to 60 seconds in length in portrait orientation, making them optimal for mobile viewing. YouTube has a vast library of songs, sound effects, and editing tools creators can use for their Shorts. Plus, YouTube’s massive user base makes it an excellent platform to reach a broader audience.

Speaking of reach, how does it work with Instagram and YouTube? YouTube Shorts utilize trending hashtags to keep content on the trending list and niche hashtags to reach a specific audience. This increases the likelihood of a channel receiving more views and organic traffic as its Shorts are regularly featured. In contrast, Instagram Reels has become a pretty saturated space where videos depend on individual preferences and the type of content a user typically watches. Reels are based on followers and their chosen content, resulting in potentially less organic traffic.