Photo sharing app Instagram hits one billion users

Rebecca Appleton • 22 June 2018

If you were looking for an app success story to kickstart your day, look no further than Instagram. The photo sharing app announced that it had reached one billion users earlier this week – making it one of the most successful apps of all time.

The perfect inspiration for anyone about to get started building a successful app business, the Facebook-owned app has soared above its rivals to pack in millions of active new users.

In September last year, the app had 800 million active users so it has picked up 200 million more in the last nine months – a growth rate which leaves Facebook and Snapchat’s own user acquisition in the shade. Snapchat says its daily user growth rate was just 2.13% in Q1 of 2018, giving it a total user base of 191 million. Facebook has a 3.14% monthly growth rate and 2.19 billion users. In comparison, Instagram is growing at a mighty 5% per quarter.

A person is holding a cell phone in their hand and taking a picture of a bridge in the woods.


Instagram TV

After taking on Snapchat with its own Stories, Instagram now has its sights set on YouTube – a few days ago it said users would be able to upload videos of up to one hour in length compared with the current one minute restriction. IGTV will have a standalone app and be accessible with a single button click from the Instagram home screen – giving it yet another way to pull in new users.

With its one billion monthly active user milestone, expect to see Instagram finding new ways to monetise that user base. As with any savvy app developer, owner Facebook is thought to be looking at ways to grow its advertising revenue with in-app advertising. The new IGTV app is sure to offer new video advertising opportunities but there’s also plenty of options for sponsored posts and stories too.

Having grown by 200 million users since last September, there are a lot of questions as to how Instagram has managed to keep its user base while Snapchat and Facebook have both struggled. The launch of its Stories is sure to have played a strong part in winning over new users and, with brands and influencers flocking to use the tool, a likely reason that Snapchat has been unable to provide more competition over the last couple of quarters.

One thing is for sure – Instagram’s continuous push to generate new features (it’s also provided a slew of new in app tools such as those for creating emojis and gifs) should see it see rocketing past that one billion mark in the next six months of the year.


Back to Blog

Share this post:

Popular Posts

A man is sitting on a couch with his head in his hands.
by Eazi Business 21 September 2021
Starting a new business is not easy. There are a lot of things to consider and decisions to make. It’s also important to avoid investing your hard earned money in a business that does not give you a great return. Small mistakes in the early stages can manifest themselves into bigger problems further down the road.
Vienna 2019 silver stevie winner international business awards logo
by Rebecca Appleton 16 August 2019
We are incredibly proud to announce that Eazi-Apps have been named a Silver Stevie® award winner for International Company of the Year 2019. It is an honour and a delight to accept this award from the 16th Annual International Business Awards® which will be celebrated in Vienna later this year.
A person is taking a survey with a pen.
by Zakir Daud 4 July 2019
We asked you to rate us in several other areas from 1 to 10 (10 being excellent). Some of the highlights include: The professionalism of our people: 9.4/10. Our level of knowledge: 9.3/10. The approachability of our staff: 9.5/10.
A man is sitting at a desk in front of a laptop computer.
by Eazi Business 31 December 2018
Starting a new business can be time-consuming and difficult. The first challenge is to find or build a great product or service that your customers need. You will also need to create a brand, develop marketing collateral, design a website, find customers, and develop a range of new skills. You will most likely have to hire a team of experts to help you get started.
A man and a woman are looking at a computer screen
by Zakir Daud 31 December 2018
One of the most frequent questions we hear is “How can I build mobile apps without any coding skills?” Most people think developing software is extremely difficult and requires extensive training.

Recent Posts

by Eazi Business 23 September 2025
The way people interact with websites has changed dramatically over the past few years. Traditional websites are no longer enough to meet modern user expectations. Today’s consumers demand faster load times, app-like experiences, and seamless functionality across devices. That’s why Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are quickly becoming the go-to solution for forward-thinking businesses
Man leaning back in office chair, hands behind head, smiling.
by Eazi Business 16 September 2025
Running your own business is exciting, but doing it all on your own? That’s a different story. For solo entrepreneurs, juggling everything from sales and marketing to service delivery and customer support can quickly lead to overwhelm. And as your client base grows, so does the demand for time, energy, and expertise. That’s why more and more entrepreneurs are seeking business models that offer done-for-you fulfilment , systems that let them scale without sacrificing quality or burning out.
by Eazi Business 11 September 2025
We’re thrilled to announce that Eazi-Apps will be exhibiting at The National Franchise Exhibition at the NEC Birmingham on 3–4 October 2025. This is your opportunity to meet our team in person and discover how you can launch a successful technology business with no technical experience required. You’ll find us at Stand LC30.