InStories Reels & Story Maker

What it does

InStories is a powerful mobile editor designed to help users create professional-quality content for social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. The app provides a vast library of templates for Reels and Stories, which users can customize with their own photos and videos. It combines a user-friendly, template-based approach with advanced editing tools, including AI-powered features like background removal and object replacement.

Where it shines

The app excels in its streamlined yet powerful editing interface. For example, creating a story from a template is intuitive. After selecting a photo (01:11), the background is removed with a single tap (01:16), a process that is both fast and effective. The editor makes it easy to layer elements, such as adding animated text (01:44) and stickers (02:03), with simple drag-and-drop controls. A standout feature is the contextual AI tool (04:17), which allows users to seamlessly replace parts of an image with a simple text prompt, demonstrating how advanced technology can be integrated into a smooth creative workflow.

UX highlights

Template-First Approach: The app guides users to start with a pre-designed template, reducing the friction of creating from scratch and ensuring a high-quality output.
Contextual Toolbars: The editor uses a multi-layered navigation. Primary tools are always visible at the bottom, but selecting an element on the canvas reveals a secondary, context-specific toolbar (01:15), keeping the main interface clean.
AI in Context: Advanced AI features like background removal (01:16) and object replacement (04:25) are integrated directly into the editing flow, making them feel like natural tools rather than separate modes.
Dynamic Social Proof: During onboarding, the app uses a live-counting animation of its user base (00:28) to build trust and excitement, a more engaging method than static testimonials.
Project Organization: The app includes a simple but effective project management system with folders (07:42), allowing users to keep their creations organized.
Comprehensive Customization: Users have granular control over text, with options for fonts, effects, and styles (01:34), as well as stickers and global filters (02:44), offering deep creative freedom.

Monetization & growth

The monetization strategy is introduced at the end of a comprehensive onboarding flow. At 00:35, the app presents a soft paywall with a clear call to action for a 3-day free trial. The paywall clearly presents two options (yearly and monthly) and highlights the savings on the annual plan ("SAVE 71%"). A prominent toggle (00:37) allows users to easily enable the free trial. After a successful subscription, a welcome screen (00:51) immediately reinforces the value by listing all the newly unlocked premium features.

Who it’s for

InStories is aimed at social media creators, influencers, small business owners, and marketing professionals who need to produce high-quality visual content quickly and efficiently. The template-driven workflow appeals to users who may not have advanced design skills, while the deep customization and AI tools cater to more experienced creators looking for powerful features on the go. The focus on formats like Reels and Stories makes it particularly relevant for users active on Instagram and TikTok.

Notes & opportunities

The editing experience is generally smooth, but the sheer number of options in menus like text effects or filters could be slightly overwhelming for new users. While the multi-layered UI helps, some initial guidance or tooltips within the editor could improve discoverability. The AI replacement tool (04:25) is impressive, but the loading time for generation could be a point of friction. Providing some visual feedback or entertainment during this wait might improve the experience.