Instagram Filters: Everything You Need to Know in This Ultimate Guide

With more than 40 native Instagram filters to choose from, plus thousands more on third-party apps, it can be challenging to figure out which one to use. Maybe you should try them all? Or skip filters altogether and avoid having to make a decision.

• 👉 A quick history of Instagram filters
• 👉 How to use Instagram filters (including how to find hidden filters!)
• 👉 What are the most popular Instagram filters?
• 👉 How to choose the right Instagram filter
• 👉 Best practices for brands using Instagram filters
• 👉 Where to find unique filters for Instagram

A quick history of Instagram filters

When Instagram was founded back in 2010, filters set Instagram apart from other photo sharing apps. Filters allowed just about anyone to create professional looking photographs (even with a crappy camera phone).

(Note: For tips on photography, check out How to Take Good Instagram Photos on Your Phone: The Ultimate Guide.)

In the beginning, filters were named based on random associations. For example, Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom says he named the Valencia filter after Valencia Street, in San Francisco’s Mission District.

The iconic Hefe filter was named after a Hefeweizen beer Systrom was drinking while he developed the filter. Today, filters are named based on an internal voting process at Instagram.

Instagram filters became popular, fast. Nearly every photo was overedited to the point where everyone’s photos looked pretty much the same. It wasn’t a good look.

Today, luckily, you can choose from more than 40 different Instagram filters. However, with so many options it can be challenging to select the right filter for your brand and marketing strategy. Let’s cover how to use Instagram filters, then we will dig into picking the right one for your images.

How to use Instagram filters (including how to find hidden filters!)

Tap the filter you like, then hit “Next” to apply that filter, then add your caption and post your photo.

Simple, right?

But wait! There are more filters than just the few you can see on the scroll bar.

You now have dozens of additional filters to choose from — more than 40, actually! With so many filters to choose from, which filter should you use?

First, let’s look at the most popular Instagram filters, then we will go over best practices for choosing the right filter.

What are the most popular Instagram filters?

With so many options, it can definitely get a bit overwhelming. Let’s look at the most used filters on Instagram and the best types of images to use them.

According to a study by Iconosquare, the most used Instagram filters are:

#nofilter

Yep, the most popular filter on Instagram is using no filter at all. While most users don’t use any filters on Instagram, this doesn’t account for those who use an external editing app or filter before posting to Instagram.

Clarendon

This filter increases saturation and contrast, making colors pop, then “cools” down the colors down with a slight blue tint.

Great for: Selfies or portraits as it smooths imperfections.

Juno

This filter increases the contrast and makes images look more vivid. It does this by slightly intensifying warm colors, like red and yellows.

Great for: Urban shots or fall nature photos.

Ludwig

A simple filter that reduces color saturation for all colors except red, which it increases.

Great for: Portraits and architecture

Lark

A calming filter that increases exposure for a brighter photo.

Great for: Landscape and product shots.

Gingham

This filter washes colors out a bit by adding a slight yellow tinge and upping exposure.

Great for: Any time you want a nostalgic vibe

Lo-Fi

Ups contrast and increases shadows, for a 90’s look.

Great for: Food and landscape shots.

Valencia

Adds a yellow tinge to your images and slightly brightens colors for an 80s vibe.

Great for: Nature shots or portraits with an old-school vibe.

Aden

This filter lowers contrast and desaturated colors for a smooth, even look.

Great for: Selfies, portraits, lifestyle shoots, and high color nature shots.

X-Pro II

One of the OG filters, this one ups the contrast for an eye-popping photo with intense dark and light areas.

Great for: Creating a dramatic look on any photo, especially landscapes, urban settings, and unique portraits.

How to choose the right Instagram filter

With more than 40 total filters to choose from, it can get overwhelming to choose the right one for your photo. Before you choose one on the fly, here are a few things to think about.

1. Consider the mood you are going for

Think about the mood you want to evoke in your followers. Just like your brand colors tell your followers something about your brand, so does your choice in Instagram filters.

Here are a few examples:

Want a vintage vibe? Try Gingham.

Looking for a dark, brooding look? X-Pro II is an excellent all-around filter for dramatic photos.

Want to give your photos a little pop so they don’t look like you took them with your camera phone? Try Aden or Juno.

Looking to post a flattering portrait? Try Clarendon, which smooths skin and reduces shadows that can make wrinkles and dark spots more visible.

2. Consider your subject

Next, consider the subjects you post photos of most often. If you post portraits regularly, consider using Clarendon, which has a smoothing effect, versus Lo-Fi, which increases dark shadows and is less flattering for faces.

If you often post photos of your products, consider how the filter may alter their color. Customers may be disappointed if their order is a drastically different color than what they see on Instagram.

3. Choose a filter based on the colors in your photo

Some filters amp up warm colors, others increase cool colors. Make sure you test a few images to see how your filter of choice works with the colors of photos you often post.

4. Look at what other people are doing

You don’t want to copy other people, of course. But see what your competitors are doing. Look at a few of your favorite Instagram accounts. How are they using filters? Is there something you think they could do better? Do they often use the same filter or do they vary by subject?

Notice what does and doesn’t work, then use that to build your filter strategy.

Best practices for brands using Instagram filters

Now that we’ve covered the most popular filters and how to choose the right one for your brand, let’s talk about best practices for getting the most out of Instagram filters.

1. Stick to one or two types of filters

It’s a good idea to only use one or two filters so your Instagram feed has a cohesive look. Why?  Because, like consistent branding, a cohesive Instagram look helps define your brand’s personality. It tells your followers “We get you.” It shows you are professional, and it helps your followers know what to expect.

Build filters into your Instagram strategy and workflow

Your Instagram marketing strategy includes things like what your goal is, your content calendar, and what hashtags you want to use. It should also include which filters are brand-appropriate.

Remember, filters affect the vibe of your posts, which is why you want to stick to one or two.

Including the filters you want to use will help ensure your feed looks the same no matter who posts —which is critical as your business grows.

Sometimes the best filter is #nofilter

Remember when filters first came out? Everyone used the same four filters, and everyone’s photos ended up looking the same.

Camera phones have gotten better since then and sometimes a little authenticity is refreshing. Don’t feel like you need to use a filter for every single photography. This is particularly true when you are posting photographs of products.

Even the creator of the first Instagram filters, Cole Rise, says to use them sparingly. In an interview with TechRadar, he said:

“Having made many of the original filters for Instagram, I realized that subtly is key. It’s really important when taking photos not just to look at today, but think about what it’s going to look like tomorrow.”

Where to find unique filters for Instagram

In addition to the 40+ filters built right into Instagram, you can also use a photo editing app to find some really unique filters. Here are a few of our favorite apps for filters.

VSCO

This heavy-hitting photo editing app offers “presets,” which function similar to filters. They have a free version, or you can get access to 130 presets and tons of other features for $19.99 a month. Here are a few examples of photographs created with their presets:

Afterlight 2

With a full library of natural filters and access to powerful editing tools, this app allows you to be in full control of what your images look like. The focus on natural filters is refreshing, but using their editing tools you can also create stunning images like these:

A Color Story

With this app, you get access to more than 100 different filters, dozens of tools, and 40+ effects, including light leaks, color fogs, light flares, and blend modes. Here is peek at a few images created with A Color Story:

Even with all the features, this one is pretty easy to use. It is a good choice if you are looking for a bit more control than Instagram offers natively, but don’t need a full-featured tool.

They also have a sister tool called A Design Kit, which lets you add designs, brushes, stickers, and text to your images.

Snapseed

This full-featured app, created by Google, offers a full suite of design tools, including the ability to add filters, adjust exposure, rotate, fix perspective, adjust brightness, add Bokeh, and much, much more.

The most unique feature of this app is that you can essentially create your own filters by saving “personal looks” which you can apply to future images.

Here is a preview from the apps store, where you can see the number of different tools available:

This is not a lightweight tool; you will have nearly full control over every aspect of your images. Which means it does come with a solid learning curve.

Most importantly: have fun with Instagram filters!

Do you have a favorite Instagram filter or favorite Instagram filter app? Share yours in the comments below.