Access to Instagram from Metricool: connection types and differences
Updated last week
You can connect Instagram to Metricool in two ways: through Facebook, or with Instagram login (your Instagram username and password). Both let you schedule and publish content, but they give you different features and keep separate data history, so choose the one that fits what you need before you connect.
Which connection should you choose?
Both methods require a professional Instagram account (Business or Creator). The difference is what you need on the Facebook side and which features you get.
Through Facebook (recommended)
Choose it if you want full analytics, competitor analysis, comment-to-DM Flows, product tagging or boosted posts.
Your Instagram account must be linked to a Facebook Page, and you need the admin role (Classic Pages) or full control (new Pages experience) on that Page.
If the Page is managed in Meta Business Manager, you also need permissions there.
The most stable connection, with every Instagram feature in Metricool.
Instagram login (username and password)
Choose it if you only need to schedule and publish content.
No Facebook Page or Facebook permissions required.
Basic metrics only. Several features are not available, including competitor analysis and Collabs analytics.
If you're not sure, connect through Facebook. Switching methods later affects the data history you can see.
To prepare a Facebook connection, check these guides:
Features available with each connection
The Facebook connection gives you every Instagram feature in Metricool. Instagram login covers scheduling, publishing and basic metrics; the features marked ✗ are not available with it.
Feature | Through Facebook | Instagram login |
|---|---|---|
✓ | ✓ | |
✓ | ✓ | |
Inbox (comments and messages) | ✓ | ✓ |
✓ | ✓ Limited | |
✓ Full analytics, including Stories metrics | Basic metrics only. | |
Paid metrics for posts and Reels | ✓ Also requires connecting your Meta Ads account | ✗ |
✓ Based on your own audience | ✓ General estimate based on overall behavior | |
✓ | ✗ | |
✓ | ✗ | |
✓ | ✗ | |
✓ Also requires connecting your Meta Ads account | ✗ |
* With both connections, auto publishing Stories requires an Instagram Business account. See Instagram account type to check or switch yours.
How to check which connection you have
Open the Analytics tab for your Instagram account and scroll to the bottom. If your account is connected with Instagram login, you see a banner about limitations due to Meta's restrictions, with a Connect a Facebook account button. If there is no banner, your account is connected through Facebook.
To move to the Facebook connection:
Link your Instagram account to a Facebook Page, following Linking Facebook to Instagram.
In the banner at the bottom of the Analytics tab, click Connect a Facebook account.
What happens to your data if you switch
Each connection method keeps its own data history, and the two histories are not shared. If you switch from one method to the other, you won't see the history stored with your previous connection.
Your previous history is not deleted. If you reconnect with the method you used before, you see that history again.
Followers and Stories data are only recorded while the account is connected with a given method. The period your account spent on the other connection can't be recovered later.
This happens because Meta gives us two separate ways to access Instagram data, and each one returns its own data. We also show you a warning with this information before you switch. For more details, see Available data history.
If your metrics history matters to you, choose your connection method before you start and keep using it. Switching back and forth leaves gaps in your follower and Stories data.
How to connect with each method
The full steps for both methods are in How to connect Instagram to Metricool.