What INSSIST does well
INSSIST is a big, well-rated extension: about 600,000 users and a 4.66 rating from 8,333 ratings on the Chrome Web Store (checked October 2026). Most of its users come for desktop Instagram: posting, scheduling, DMs, downloads and anonymous story viewing, in 53 languages. Alternative lists that show Buffer or Hootsuite are comparing it as a posting tool.
Its Growth Assist is a separate, paid feature, and its engine is well designed. In our hands-on test it:
- likes a set number of recent posts (we saw 2) of followers of accounts you name, or of accounts it picks;
- offers Auto, 100, 300 or 500 likes a day, or a custom number, inside a time window (08:00–23:00 by default);
- raises the cap only after clean days and cools down for longer after each block;
- tracks unfollowers and scans your followers for bots.
ReelGrow uses the same approach: likes on followers of creators like you, a ramp, a block ladder and a list of every result.
Where INSSIST users get stuck
- Growth Assist is PRO. The free trial is 3,000 likes. After that it's $14.5–19.5 a month, and the $145 lifetime plan doesn't include the growth autopilot. One reviewer called it "outright ludicrous"; another said it "stops working after like 3 days and wants money".
- The "free likes" offer. On first run INSSIST offers 100 free likes for joining a like exchange. Six reviews from 2026 say their account then liked strangers' posts without their say: "liked posts i didnt even like".
- Data. In our code read, INSSIST sends your Instagram username with its analytics and uses remote config that can change limits.
- Bot removal. Auto-remove for bot followers is a PRO feature.
Keep INSSIST for posting if you like it, and let ReelGrow do the growth part for free.
Add to Chrome, freeINSSIST vs ReelGrow
As of October 2026, from the store listing, INSSIST's own screens and our tests.
| ReelGrow | INSSIST Growth Assist | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, every feature | 3,000 free likes, then PRO $14.5–19.5/mo |
| Automatic actions | Likes and saves | Likes |
| Who it reaches | Followers of creators you pick | Followers of accounts you name, or ones INSSIST picks |
| Likes per person | 2 by default (1–3) | Set by min and max likes |
| Pace | 40 likes day one, +10 per clean day, max 150 | Auto ramp, or 100, 300 or 500 a day |
| Gap between likes | At least 8 s, at most 3 a minute | 1–20 s, in batches of up to 20, then 1–12 min pauses |
| First warning | Stops for the day, then 20% slower, no increase for 3 clean days | Cooldown of 1–3 h, growing up to 24 h, speed ×0.8 |
| Like exchange | None | "Free likes" offer on first run |
| Follows | Only when you press, at least 20 s apart | Manual Follow button |
| Unfollowers and bots | Included; you press Remove | Included; auto-remove is PRO |
| Posting, scheduling, DMs | No | Yes |
| Your audience data | Stays on your computer | Username sent with analytics |
When INSSIST is the better pick
- You post, schedule or answer DMs from your computer and want one tool for all of it.
- You want anonymous story viewing or downloads.
- You want the interface in one of INSSIST's 53 languages.
ReelGrow doesn't post, schedule or send DMs. If you only paid for PRO to keep Growth Assist running, that's the part ReelGrow replaces.
Don't run two growth autopilots on the same account. Two tools each at a "safe" pace add up to an unsafe one. If you also look at GrowBot, see the GrowBot alternative page, or the full checklist in how to pick an Instagram growth tool.
How to switch from INSSIST
- Turn off Grow followers in INSSIST's Growth Assist.
- Add ReelGrow from the Chrome Web Store and open its side panel.
- Pick creators like you. ReelGrow suggests some from the accounts you follow. Add the same accounts you used as INSSIST lead sources.
- Press Start growing. Day one runs at 40 likes, between 08:00 and 22:00, while Chrome is open.
Frequently asked questions
Is ReelGrow made by INSSIST?
No. ReelGrow is an independent extension and isn't affiliated with INSSIST, Instagram or Meta.
Is ReelGrow safer than INSSIST?
Instagram doesn't allow automation, so neither is risk-free. The differences: ReelGrow stops for the whole day at the first warning, has no like exchange, and keeps your audience data on your computer.
Can I keep my INSSIST lead sources?
Yes, by hand. Add the same creators under Where to look in ReelGrow's Grow settings. Nothing is imported automatically.
Does ReelGrow track unfollowers for free?
Yes. It checks your followers once a day and lists who left and who's new. Every feature is free.
Will ReelGrow post to Instagram for me?
No. ReelGrow only likes and saves on its own. Keep INSSIST, or any scheduler you like, for posting.