Should my business use an Instagram business or creator account?
For a shop, brand, clinic, restaurant or service, use a business account — Instagram's Help Center says business accounts are best for retailers, local businesses, brands, organisations and service providers. Creator accounts are aimed at public figures, content producers, artists and influencers.
ShoaibUpdated 3 min read
What do both account types get?
Business and creator accounts are both "professional accounts". Instagram's Help Center says both give you tools to grow, monetise, create ads, understand your growth and manage messages, including:
- a professional dashboard and insights on followers and each post
- the ability to run ads on Instagram and Facebook with Meta's tools
- a contact button for directions, phone number and email
- access for third-party apps that use Instagram's APIs
So what's actually different?
| Business account | Creator account | |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram says it's best for | Retailers, local businesses, brands, service providers | Public figures, content producers, artists, influencers |
| Profile controls | Business contact details and category | Category label and contact info can be shown or hidden |
| Connecting a Facebook Page | Makes ads and shopping tools easier to use | Also possible |
The creator account's main extra is flexibility over what appears on your profile. For most businesses selling something, the business account matches how Instagram positions it.
When might a creator account make sense?
If you're building a personal brand — a coach, chef or designer whose face is the business — a creator account can fit better. You can switch any time, so it isn't a permanent decision.
Either way, a professional account is what unlocks sponsored ads on Instagram.
Want your Instagram set up properly as part of your digital marketing? See our Meta Ads service.