Instagram growth tools
Every Instagram growth tool we've tested, ranked.
INDEPENDENT TOOL TESTING
We test online tools so you don't have to
Real accounts, real money, real results. Then we tell you what we found, in plain English.
We pay for every plan. No free "review accounts".
We test on real accounts. For at least 30 days.
We update our reviews. When a tool changes, so does our score.
Pick a category
We've tested 88 tools so far, across 3 categories. Pick one and see how they stack up.
LinkedIn automation tools
Outreach and lead tools we ran on real LinkedIn accounts.
Social media management
Schedulers and all-in-one tools we used day to day.
Fresh from the lab
Our newest tests. Every score comes from our own account, our own money, and our own notes.
CASE FILE · LINKEDIN AUTOMATION
Expandi
Powerful but pricey, with risky limit-stretching extras.
Reviewed October 2026
CASE FILE · LINKEDIN AUTOMATION
Dripify
Easy and well supported, if you keep volumes low.
Reviewed October 2026
CASE FILE · LINKEDIN AUTOMATION
Waalaxy
The cheapest easy start in LinkedIn prospecting.
Reviewed October 2026
CASE FILE · LINKEDIN AUTOMATION
lemlist
Superb for cold email, merely good for LinkedIn.
Reviewed October 2026
CASE FILE · LINKEDIN AUTOMATION
TexAu
A lead-data and enrichment platform now, not a LinkedIn bot.
Reviewed October 2026
Our top lists
Short on time? Start here. We ranked the tools we tested, from best to "please don't".
Best free Instagram follower apps
5 tools tested · Updated October 2026
Our #1: SocialFollow
Not happy with your tool?
Too expensive? Slow support? Results dried up? Here's what we'd use instead.
How we test every tool
Every review follows the same 4 steps. No shortcuts, no free passes.
We sign up and pay. We buy a plan with our own card, just like you would.
We use it on a real account. For at least 30 days, on accounts we actually run.
We measure what happened. Results, setup time, support replies, and what it really cost.
We score it out of 5. Then we tell you who it's for and who should skip it.
| Score | What it means |
|---|---|
| We'd recommend it to a friend without a second thought. | |
| Good. A few things bugged us, but it does the job. | |
| It works, with real downsides. Read the review before you buy. | |
| We had more problems than wins. | |
| Skip it. |
The people behind the platypus
We're a small team that got tired of fake reviews. So we started testing tools ourselves.
Guides that skip the fluff
Plain answers to the questions we get asked most.
How to grow on Instagram without buying followers
Instagram ads for beginners
Where to get free Instagram followers safely
Questions people ask us
Do tools pay you for reviews?
No. Nobody can pay for a review or a better score, and that never changes what we write. Read our editorial policy.
How do you test a tool?
We buy a plan, use it on a real account for at least 30 days, and write down what happened. Then we score it out of 5. See our method.
What kinds of tools do you review?
Any online tool people pay for. We started with Instagram, LinkedIn, and social media tools, and we're adding new categories all the time.
Do you update old reviews?
Yes. Tools change, so we retest and update the score when they do. Every review shows the date we last checked it.
Can I ask you to test a tool?
Please do. Suggest a tool and we'll add it to our list.
Know a tool we should test?
Tell us and we'll put it on the list. Our platypus is always looking for a new case.