What's the difference between Instagram posts, carousels, Stories, and Reels?

Stories are temporary content that disappears after 24 hours—use them for quick updates like showing your morning coffee before you start painting. Posts are single images with descriptions. Carousels are multiple images in a slideshow format (up to 20 images); the platform will re-show images from the carousel to users who scroll past, increasing visibility. Reels are videos and are the most powerful content type because the algorithm can understand what’s being discussed and show it to interested audiences. Reels should be your priority for reaching new people.

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Asked by an artist new to Instagram · Answered by Juan · Office Hours · 2026-05-28