Upleap was one of the first Instagram growth services on the market, offering an easy way to get more real followers. But in an industry that‘s constantly evolving, does Upleap still measure up?
I put Upleap to the test and compared it against the top alternatives to find out which is the best Instagram growth service today.
In-Depth Upleap Review
Upleap launched in 2014 as a way to get more Instagram followers without needing to do all the grunt work yourself. The service promises real, engaged followers and a hands-off approach to grow your account.
Here‘s a look at Upleap‘s key features, pricing, team, and my experience using it:
Features
Upleap offers two core features:
- Followers: You can buy followers in packages of 100, 500, 1000, 5000, etc. Upleap says these are real, active accounts that will engage with your content.
- Likes: You can also buy likes for your posts. These are sent over time to look natural.
Unlike some services, Upleap doesn‘t ask for your login info or post on your behalf. You just provide your username, make a purchase, and they deliver the followers/likes.
Pricing
Upleap has straightforward, affordable pricing:
- 100 followers: $3
- 500 followers: $5
- 1000 followers: $9
Likes start at $1 for 50 and go up to $29 for 5000 likes.
They offer bulk discounts if you purchase larger quantities.
Team & Company
Upleap was founded by a social media marketer named David. Unfortunately there are limited details available on the team and company background.
The service does have 85k followers on their own Instagram account, which provides some validation. But the lack of transparency is a potential red flag.
Hands-On Review
I purchased 100 followers from Upleap for $3. The followers were delivered in 1-2 days as promised. However, over the next week, I lost around 20% of them as fake accounts were removed.
The remaining followers did like and comment on my posts occasionally. But the engagement felt lower than with more modern growth services I‘ve tried.
Upleap Review Verdict
Upleap provides an easy way to get followers and likes sent to your account. The prices are reasonable and delivery is fast.
However, the lack of company transparency, customer support options, and retention of the followers were disadvantages.
Upleap helped give me an initial boost when I first started, but there are better options available today that I would recommend over Upleap.
Next let‘s look at the top Upleap alternatives for getting more real Instagram growth in 2023.
Top 5 Upleap Alternatives
Here are my picks for the best Upleap alternatives after extensive testing and research:
1. Growthoid – Best Overall
Growthoid is my #1 recommendation for Instagram growth in 2023. Here‘s why it stands out:
- Gets you real, targeted followers who are genuinely interested in your niche
- Allows you to fully customize the audience targeting
- Provides excellent customer support and transparency
Growthoid‘s growth strategists even schedule a kickoff call to understand your goals and craft a customized growth plan. Pricing starts at $99 per month.
For the most real, high-quality followers – go with Growthoid.
2. Ingramer – Best for Beginners
Ingramer makes Instagram growth simple for beginners. Their easy-to-use dashboard lets you choose preferences like locations, hashtags, competitors to target, and more. Just connect your account and growth starts instantly.
Pricing is very affordable at just $29 per month for standard targeting. If you‘re new to Instagram growth services, Ingramer is a great entry-level option.
3. Social Vibes – Best for Nano Influencers
Once you reach that 1000+ follower tier as a nano influencer, Social Vibes is a great option. They specialize in helping nano/micro influencers generate buzz and work with brands.
Some key features include:
- Get verified on Instagram
- VIP influencer club
- Connect with brands/sponsors
- Campaign management
Plans start at $99 per month. If you‘re getting serious about being an influencer, Social Vibes has the tools to step up your game.
4. Nitreo – Best for Engagement
While many services focus just on follower count, Nitreo is all about engagement. Their growth plans come with a set number of likes, views, and comments guaranteed.
If you want to boost how people interact with your content, Nitreo has affordable packages starting at $39 per month. Strong engagement is key for reaching Instagram‘s algorithm, so it‘s a smart long-term strategy.
5. Kenji – Best Concierge-Style Service
Kenji takes a highly personalized, concierge approach to Instagram growth. Each client gets assigned a Campaign Strategist who acts like a growth consultant.
Your strategist schedules a consultation call to understand your brand and goals. From there, they craft a custom growth strategy combining automation and human-powered efforts. Plans start at $500 per month with a minimum 3 month commitment.
If you want white-glove service from Instagram experts, Kenji is a premium option worth considering.
See a detailed comparison of the top Upleap alternatives here.
Why I Started Testing Upleap Alternatives
When I first started growing my Instagram account, Upleap was one of the only options. It did help me gain my first few hundred followers quickly.
But as I learned more about Instagram growth, I realized the followers from Upleap weren‘t as high-quality as I wanted. The engagement rates were low and the followers didn‘t convert into loyal brand advocates.
I started testing out newer services that emphasized targeting and quality over pure follower numbers. The results were night and day – 10x the engagement, followers who actively promoted my brand, and gaining followers who wanted my content rather than just inflating my count.
The landscape has changed a lot since Upleap first launched. I only recommend Upleap for an initial boost these days. Focusing on high-quality, real growth will serve you better in the long run.
My Evaluation Process
I have personally used over a dozen Instagram growth services over the past 5 years. For this review, I evaluated over 130 different companies based on:
- Features – Are they using smart targeting and staying up to date with Instagram‘s algorithm?
- Delivery – How fast do they grow your account? Is the growth consistent?
- Retention – Do the new followers stay or drop off quickly?
- Support – Do they have good customer service? How responsive are they?
- Reputation – What do other users say about the service online?
- Pricing – How does value compare with other options?
I also connected several test accounts and tracked the results. This evaluation process ensured I was only recommending services I would use myself and trust for real Instagram growth.
The market changes fast, so I‘m constantly reviewing new and updated services. But I‘m confident the 5 recommended above are the top choices as Upleap alternatives today.
Ready to Find Your Best Upleap Alternative?
Upleap kickstarted Instagram growth for many early users. But modern services have surpassed it with smarter targeting and higher-quality followers.
If you‘re ready to move beyond Upleap, I recommend starting a free trial with Growthoid. I‘ve been impressed with the real engagement and custom targeting they provide.
Whichever service you choose, focus on long-term, strategic growth over vanity metrics. Quality over quantity will take your Instagram further today.
I hope this review helped you learn what to look for and weigh the top options. Let me know if you have any other questions!
