Instagram Tests New ‘Instants’ App for Disappearing Photos — A Snapchat and BeReal Hybrid Launches on Android

Instagram is testing a new standalone app called “Instants” that allows users to share disappearing photos with friends, marking the company’s latest effort to compete with ephemeral messaging platforms like Snapchat.

The app, confirmed by Instagram to TechCrunch on Thursday, April 23, 2026, is currently available in Italy and Spain on both iOS and Android devices. Instants enables users to capture and send photos that can be viewed only once and remain accessible for 24 hours before disappearing.

Unlike the main Instagram app, Instants does not allow photo uploads from the camera roll or any editing of images after capture. Users can add text to their photos, but no further modifications are permitted. The app opens directly to the camera interface, emphasizing quick, in-the-moment sharing without the curated aesthetic typical of Instagram’s primary platform.

Instagram describes Instants as a response to user demand for low-pressure ways to connect with friends. A company spokesperson told TechCrunch that the goal is to explore “what people like” through multiple versions of the app, with feedback guiding future development.

Users can share Instants with mutual followers or their Close Friends list, which remains synchronized across both the Instants app and the main Instagram application. Content shared via Instants can also be viewed within the standard Instagram interface, maintaining continuity between the two experiences.

The launch of Instants reflects Instagram’s broader strategy to reintroduce more spontaneous, authentic interactions amid growing criticism that its main platform has become overly commercialized and influencer-driven. By focusing on unedited, real-time photo sharing, the app draws clear parallels to Snapchat’s core functionality while also borrowing concepts from platforms like BeReal, and Locket.

Instagram had previously tested Instants as an in-app feature in select regions before releasing it as a standalone application. The company says users will be able to choose between using Instants within the main Instagram app or as a separate download, depending on their preference.

As of April 23, 2026, Instants is positioned as a direct competitor to Snapchat’s disappearing photo model, representing Meta’s continued experimentation with formats that prioritize immediacy and privacy over permanence and polish.