Access to Instagram from Metricool: connection types and differences
Two ways to access your Instagram account from Metricool
When connecting Instagram to Metricool, you can do it in two different ways. Although both allow you to schedule content and access some metrics, they use different APIs provided by Meta, which means they offer different features and don’t share data.
Available connection options
You have two ways to connect your Instagram account:
- Through Facebook
Uses the Instagram Graph API, which is more mature and stable, with access to a greater number of features and more accurate data. You connect your Instagram account as a professional account (business or creator) through a linked Facebook Page.
👉 This is the recommended option to make the most of all Metricool features.
- Instagram login only
Uses the Instagram Basic Display API —also known as the standalone connection—, a newer API in its availability for professional accounts and still in development, which may cause some instability and limitations. You log in directly with your Instagram username and password.
👉 This is a more limited option, valid only for certain basic features.
⚠️ What happens if you change the connection method?
If you switch the way your account is connected (e.g., from Instagram login to Facebook, or vice versa), you’ll lose access to your previous historical data.
This is because Meta offers two different APIs for Instagram, and data collected through one is not shared with the other.
What features do you get depending on how you connect Instagram?
Feature | Facebook connection (recommended) | Instagram login only |
|---|---|---|
✅ | ❌ Basic metrics only | |
✅ | ❌ | |
✅ | ✅ | |
Schedule Stories [2] | ✅ | ✅ |
✅ | ❌ | |
✅ | ❌ | |
Boost posts [3] | ✅ | ❌ |
✅ | ❌ |
[1] Best time data depends on the connection type: with Facebook, you get audience-specific stats; without Facebook, a general behavior-based estimate.
[2] Auto-publishing for Stories is only available for Business Instagram accounts.
[3] To boost posts, you also need to connect your Meta Ads account.
What option should you choose?
Now that you know there are two ways to connect your Instagram account to Metricool, and that each offers different features, you can choose the one that best suits your needs.
If you just need to schedule basic content or check some metrics, Instagram login may work for you.
But if you want access to all available features —like Inbox, Stories, product tagging, or advanced analytics— we recommend connecting your account via Facebook.
👉 Choose the option that fits your needs best.
Updated on: 08/08/2025
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