Best for sharing with friends
Instagram vs TikTok vs Likee: which social video app should you choose?
Choose Instagram for sharing with an established social circle, TikTok for discovering and making trend-led videos, or Likee for short clips mixed with live chat and party games.
At a glance
| App | Google Play rating | Price | In-app purchases | Platforms | Age rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| InstagramInstagram | 4.0 out of 5169,501,223 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.19 - $10,000.00 per item) | Android, iOS | Teen |
 TikTok - Videos, Shop & LIVETikTok Pte. Ltd. | 4.0 out of 570,312,544 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.05 - $9,999.90 per item) | Android, iOS | Teen |
 Likee-Live, Chat & Party GamesLikeme Pte. Ltd. | 4.4 out of 511,374,159 ratings | Free | Yes ($0.11 - $120.00 per item) | Android, iOS | Teen |
Ratings, prices and age ratings come from the Google Play listings, read on Nov 7, 2026. Listings change over time.
How we compared them
Instagram, TikTok, and Likee are free social apps built around photos or videos, creative tools, and community interaction. All contain ads and are rated Teen, but their emphasis differs: Instagram blends posts and Reels with social connections, TikTok centers discovery and trends, and Likee adds live rooms and party games.
This comparison looks at their Google Play ratings and reach, creative and social features, costs, trade-offs, and declared data safety practices to help you choose the fit for your habits.
How we compared them
We compared Google Play ratings and install counts, along with price, ads, and in-app purchase ranges. We also considered each app’s stated purpose and the strengths and drawbacks relevant to choosing between photo sharing, trend-focused video, live chat, and games.
For privacy context, we included only the data safety practices each app declares on Google Play, including the kinds of information it shares or collects and its encryption and deletion options. Store figures were read on November 7, 2026; ratings and installs can change.
Instagram4.0 out of 5 on Google Play
Best for sharing photos and videos with an established social circle
Instagram is the strongest all-round choice for people who want photo sharing, Stories, and Reels in one familiar social network. Its intuitive interface, broad range of filters and effects, and Facebook integration give it an edge for keeping up with friends as well as exploring trends. Google Play shows a 4.0 rating from 169,501,223 ratings and 5,000,000,000+ installs.
That breadth comes with trade-offs: ads can interrupt browsing, algorithm-driven visibility affects what people see, and privacy is a consideration. Instagram declares that it shares identifiers and contact details, among other information, and collects photos, videos, browsing history, and app activity. The app is free with ads, and in-app purchases range from $0.19 to $10,000.00 per item.
- Price
- Free, with ads
What we like
- Photos, Stories, and Reels in one app
- Broad filters and effects
- Facebook integration and a very large audience
What to know
- Ads and algorithmic feeds can frustrate users
- Declares collection of photos, videos, and browsing history
TikTok - Videos, Shop & LIVE
TikTok Pte. Ltd.4.0 out of 5 on Google Play
Best for discovering trends and creating short-form videos
TikTok puts video discovery and creative expression at the center, making it the clearest pick for people who want a stream of trending clips and tools for making their own. Its format and strong trend-driven community set it apart from Instagram’s broader social mix and Likee’s live rooms and games. Google Play shows a 4.0 rating from 70,312,544 ratings and 1,000,000,000+ installs.
The highly engaging format can make it easy to spend a long time watching, while content moderation and regional availability can be drawbacks. TikTok declares sharing user-generated content and personal identifiers, and collecting information that includes location, contacts, browsing history, and device identifiers. It is free with ads; in-app purchases range from $0.05 to $9,999.90 per item.
- Price
- Free, with ads
What we like
- Video-first discovery built around trends
- A wide set of creative tools
- Large global audience and active community
What to know
- Highly engaging feed can be time-consuming
- Declares collection of location and contact information
Likee-Live, Chat & Party Games
Likeme Pte. Ltd.4.4 out of 5 on Google Play
Best for combining short videos with live chat and party games
Likee combines short videos and editing tools with live streaming, voice chat rooms, and party games such as Ludo, Domino, and Uno. That mix gives it a more varied social and entertainment focus than Instagram or TikTok. It also has the highest Google Play rating of these three, at 4.4 from 11,374,159 ratings, with 1,000,000,000+ installs.
Its broader mix may appeal to people who want more than a video feed, but ads and in-app purchases are part of the experience, and a stable internet connection is needed. Privacy and limited parental controls are also considerations. Likee is free with ads, and its in-app purchases range from $0.11 to $120.00 per item.
- Price
- Free, with ads
What we like
- Short videos, live rooms, and party games together
- Highest Google Play rating among these three
- Video editing tools and support for multiple languages
What to know
- Ads and in-app purchases
- Limited parental controls and privacy concerns
Which one should you pick?
Instagram
Best for trend-led video discovery
TikTok - Videos, Shop & LIVE
Best for live chat and party games
Likee-Live, Chat & Party Games
Frequently Asked Questions
Which app has the highest Google Play rating?
Likee has the highest rating of the three at 4.4, compared with 4.0 for Instagram and 4.0 for TikTok. Instagram has the most ratings and installs in this comparison.
Which app is best for short videos?
TikTok is the most focused choice for discovering and creating trend-led short videos. Likee also offers short clips, while Instagram combines Reels with photos, Stories, and other social features.
Which app includes live chat and games?
Likee combines live streaming and voice chat rooms with party games including Ludo, Domino, and Uno.
Are Instagram, TikTok, and Likee free?
All three are free to download and contain ads. Each also offers in-app purchases; the stated per-item ranges are $0.19–$10,000.00 for Instagram, $0.05–$9,999.90 for TikTok, and $0.11–$120.00 for Likee.