To spruce up our Public Blog section, we will begin a series of helpful articles to help you understand the value ranges of Instagram accounts. So, if you are wondering how much your Instagram account is worth, take a few moments to read this article. But first, let’s jump into the few basic categories people look at while evaluating Instagram accounts:
Demographics. Who’s to say US/UK/CA/AU followers are worth the most? Yes, we agree, those countries are associated with the highest price tags, as the ad revenue from those countries is the highest in the world. But, the world doesn’t stop at those four countries. There are plenty of people from other, less-popular countries who are willing to pay premium prices for audiences from their area. So, while demographics do play a significant role, you can’t exactly use this as a golden rule for all accounts.
Activity. Activity is a very subjective thing, so opinions will always vary. To some administrators, 3000 likes per post is fantastic. While to others, it’s not worth the trouble. With that in mind, it’s common sense that higher engagement numbers mean better price tags.
Topic. How do you measure value based on topic? The only thing you can do is look at what’s in abundance. For example, humor-related accounts are the most popular. There are so many humor/meme-related Instagrams that due to their abundance, their value naturally drops. Another factor can be the topic monetization ability (can you monetize meme pages in any meaningful way?) and the size of the accounts. On the other hand, less popular niches which require expertise (technology, art, politics) can often drastically increase the interest of prospective purchasers, thus increasing their value.
Size. Bigger accounts = better payday? Not always. We have personally seen 50K accounts sell for 5000 USD, while 1M accounts for 2000 USD. The “it’s not the size of the boat, it’s the motion of the ocean” saying applies here. A small, super dedicated group of incredibly active followers will trump any ungodly mega-account that has mediocre activity.
Handle. Just like domains, the @handle plays a significant role in the value. Short, one-word Instagram accounts in desirable categories can sell for as much as a mid-size luxury sedan, even if they don’t feature any active followers. We’re talking 20-50K USD per account. As of 2019, we’re seeing an influx of such transactions. Companies are shelling out huge amounts of money for these easy to remember Instagram handles.
As you see, most of the primary metrics people look for are very, very subjective. This is why it’s so difficult to estimate the value of Instagram accounts. With this in mind, it is why most gimmicky online estimators will never show you the actual value of an account. However, like in any marketplace, the ultimate factor that will significantly influence the final price tag will be buyer demand. You could have the most fabulous Instagram account in the world, but if no one needs your particular audience/niche, you will simply not sell it at a premium.
So, how much are Instagram accounts worth?
We have personally seen an Instagram account sell for a six-digit offer. However, the buyer himself admitted he was overpaying, but money wasn’t a problem, and he needed that particular niche. But don’t get all riled up; this was on par with winning a lottery and happened only once in our eight years of being in this business. The ultimate downfall to the value of Instagram accounts is that no one truly owns them. Unlike domains/websites, Instagram may delete/suspend your account for any given reason, without any given notice. This risk is what brings the value down considerably, and for that reason, most accounts sell between 500-1500 USD.
Just so our readers can get a general ballpark value, here are the latest sale prices of Instagram accounts sold on SWAPD. To protect buyer/seller privacy, we will not reveal names/URLs.
Size: 56,000
Niche: Nature Photos
Demographics: US/Brazil
Activity: 3/10
Sale price: 380 USD
Size: 167,000
Niche: Comics
Demographics: Mostly the US
Activity: 8/10
Sale price: 1100 USD
Size: 30,000
Niche: Fashion
Demographics: US/Mix
Activity: 2/10
Sale price: 410
Size: 92,000
Niche: Luxury/Lifestyle
Demographics: US/INDIA/Brazil
Activity: 4/10
Sale price: 500 USD
Size: 20,000
Niche: Fitness
Demographics: India/UK
Activity: 3/10
Sale price: 225 USD
Size: 68,000
Niche: Animals
Demographics: US/Mix
Activity: 5/10
Sale price: 550 USD
Size: 850,000
Niche: Humor
Demographics: US/UK
Activity: 5/10
Sale price: 4600 USD
Size: 122,000
Niche: Meme
Demographics: US/UK
Activity: 6/10
Sale price: 790 USD
This data is taken from random transactions taken from SWAPD.co and ViralAccounts.com, and it’s not in any particular order.
Conclusion…
We know, we didn’t answer the original question, which is how much Instagram accounts are worth. But as you see, there are too many variables to consider, so we cannot present you with concrete numbers. Even if you take all the data we’ve provided to create a formula that estimates Instagram accounts, you must remember that these prices aren’t set in stone. Just like the stock market, the prices of these accounts rise and fall. And ever since we wrote this article, prices have dipped 35% (in general) only to shoot up again (20%+)—all in a span of a year. The best tactic to evaluate your accounts is to talk to someone experienced and do your research. We also invite you to join our conversation and ask us anything related to this topic, we may be able to help.
So, how much do you think your Instagram is worth? To have some fun, let’s grab any random @handle, and we all post what we would pay for it. This should be an excellent representation of how broad the price tags are, and just how difficult it is to estimate an Instagram account.
SWAPD, how much would you pay for this account?
Disclaimer:
The account in the example is just an example. SWAPD does not own, endorse, or claim that the account used in the example is for sale. We’re not associated with the account owner, and we are sure that the account isn’t for sale. We’re merely using it as an example to ask our members a question.
2023 Update!
The Instagram market has seen significant changes over the years. Prices peaked in 2019 at $18.80 per 1K followers, driven by a booming online business environment and the popularity of cryptocurrencies. However, the outbreak of COVID-19, the cryptocurrency crash, and the War in Ukraine contributed to industry stagnation. Currently, Instagram account prices have returned to 2018 levels. While top-quality accounts can still command high prices, average accounts with mediocre activity are harder to sell.
