Are Private Instagram Account Viewers Legit? (2024)

With private Instagram account viewers making the rounds online, you might question their legitimacy and efficacy. They claim that they “unlock” private stories and posts. But viewing a private Instagram user’s profile without following them sounds suspicious.

Do your research before signing up for these platforms. In this article, we’ll discuss what private Instagram account viewers do, how much they cost, and whether they really work.

What Are Private Instagram Account Viewers?

When a user switches their Instagram account to private, their profile accessibility is limited to approved followers. All posts and stories will be hidden. To interact with these users, you must follow them first, although they don’t have to follow your account back.

However, not everyone likes sending follower requests. If you prefer viewing profiles anonymously, you might consider using private Instagram account viewers instead. They’re third-party apps that supposedly bypass Instagram’s privacy restrictions.

Some private Instagram account viewers that you’ll encounter include the following:

• Instagram++
• Glassagram
• Privateinsta
• Instalooker

The above list only consists of a few of the most widely known options. A quick Google search will reveal various other premium and free private Instagram account viewers, from web browsers to mobile applications.

What Do Instagram Private Account Viewer Apps Claim to Do?

Account viewers claim you can use them to bypass several of Instagram's features. Later, we’ll check whether they work or not, but let’s first discuss their supposed features and benefits.

• Viewing private Instagram accounts: You can supposedly visit private Instagram profiles without following them. Just enter your target’s username, after which the site will generate their posts. Some ask users to answer surveys in exchange for their services, while others charge a monthly subscription fee.
• Watch stories anonymously: They also claim to let you view stories anonymously. Most users view Instagram stories anonymously by preloading them and switching to airplane mode. Although effective, it’s inconvenient. Instead of disabling your phone’s Wi-Fi and cellular connection, using a private account viewer might seem easier. They supposedly hide your identity online.
• Download other users’ posts: Although you can save other Instagram users’ posts in an in-app folder, you can’t download them to your device. Neither the mobile nor web browser version supports this feature. Despite these restrictions, private Instagram account viewers claim that they’ll let you download any post, reel, or story in HD.
• Zoom-in on profile pictures: Unlike other social media platforms, clicking on an Instagram profile picture won’t enlarge it. Zooming in on the page only gives you a pixelated image.
• Explore Instagram without an account: You need an account to access most features on Instagram. If you don’t have one, you’d only see the profile picture, display name, and bio on a private account. Private account viewers claim they can work around this feature.

Why You Shouldn’t Use Private Instagram Account Viewers

While private Instagram account viewers sound promising, think twice before signing up for one. They won't meet your expectations. We made a roundup of reasons why users should avoid free and premium account viewers alike.

Private Account Viewers Don’t Work

The main reason that you should avoid private Instagram account viewers is they don't work. They only make empty promises. Considering Instagram's rigid authentication protocols and sophisticated API, no third-party app can "unlock" private accounts.

We tried some aggressively marketed account viewers. Not only were they unsuccessful in bypassing privacy features, but they were also misleading and deceptive. You'll get stuck in an endless loop of checkout pages. Either your payment won't push through, or your browser will redirect you to another survey page. Whatever the case, you'll waste your time with them.

Instagram frequently releases updates. Even if you find a private Instagram account viewer that works, there's no guarantee that it'll work on the app's more recent versions.

Your Login Information Might Get Compromised

Most private Instagram account viewers ask for login credentials. Some just need usernames, while others might require users to enter both their email address and password—please avoid doing either. These apps won't guarantee your privacy. In the worst case, they'll deliberately use phishing attacks to steal your login credentials and take over your profile.

The Surveys on Free Account Viewers Are Endless

A commonality among free private Instagram account viewers is that they require users to answer random surveys—which vary based on region. You’ll supposedly unlock private accounts after completing them.

The surveys are brief. They include simple market research questions, so you should finish one within a few minutes.

But don’t get your hopes up. We answered dozens of surveys on different websites, yet we didn’t unlock a single private account. The account viewers didn’t even record our progress. In all likelihood, they make money by sending unsuspecting users to random survey websites.

No Reputable Tech Site Recommends Account Viewers

Another red flag is that official tech sites don’t recommend private Instagram account viewers. Try searching the topic online. All positive reviews will come from independent bloggers or affiliate marketers making money off of commissions.

Meanwhile, legit tech sites post criticisms. They generally dislike how account viewers invade online privacy, charge high monthly fees, and spam users with shady ads.

Bypassing Private Account Violates Instagram’s Terms of Use

Bypassing Instagram’s security features, the exact service that private account viewers offer, violates the site’s terms of use. The agreement explicitly states that users shouldn’t:

• Modify, translate, and reverse engineer Instagram’s products.
• Interfere with the intended operation of Instagram’s services.
• Promote the violation of Instagram’s terms of use.

Instagram bans users that violate its community guidelines.

Should You Try Private Instagram Account Viewers?

Although private Instagram account viewers sound appealing, none of the apps we tried showed results. You can still test these sites. Just note that there’s no proven way to view private Instagram accounts without following them. Premium spy apps will likely waste your money.

Instead of trying to cheat Instagram’s security features, reach out to the account holder. Who knows? They might accept your follower request. And if they don’t, it’s best to respect their privacy before they block your account altogether.