Instagram creator accounts explained
A creator account is one of two professional account types, built for public figures and content producers rather than retailers or brands.
Is this your situation?
You are deciding whether a creator account fits how you use Instagram. You want to know what a creator account offers compared with other account types.
What it is
An Instagram professional account can be set to either Business or Creator. Creator accounts are best for public figures, content producers, artists and influencers. Setting up a creator account gives access to features to help grow the account, monetize, create ads, understand growth, and manage messages. A user can switch back to a personal account, or change their professional account type, at any time. Changing a personal profile to a professional account will limit the user's ability to take certain actions on Instagram.
How Instagram handles this
- Professional accounts can't be set to private.
- All pending follow requests are automatically accepted when a professional account goes public.
- A professional account gives access to a Professional dashboard that tracks performance and offers educational information.
- A professional account can run ads from the account, using Meta tools for ads on Instagram and Facebook.
- A professional account has access to an inbox with Primary, General and Requests folders.
Side by side
| Feature | Creator account | Business account |
|---|---|---|
| Best suited for | Public figures, content producers, artists and influencers. | Retailers, local businesses, brands, organizations and service providers. |
| Account type | One of two professional account types. | One of two professional account types. |
| Dashboard | Access to a Professional dashboard tracking performance. | Access to a Professional dashboard tracking performance. |
| Privacy | Can't be set to private. | Can't be set to private. |
| Inbox | Access to an inbox with Primary, General and Requests folders. | Access to an inbox with Primary, General and Requests folders. |
| Ads | Can run ads using Meta tools for Instagram and Facebook. | Can run ads using Meta tools for Instagram and Facebook. |
Common mistakes
- Switching while private The account becomes public when switching to a creator account.Why it happens: Professional accounts can't be set to private.
- Follow requests accepted automatically Pending follow requests are accepted automatically once the account goes public.Why it happens: Switching to a professional account makes a private account public.
- Expecting the category to decide account type Choosing a category during setup does not decide business or creator type.Why it happens: The category chosen does not determine the account type.Already happened: Review who manages the account in your audit of access.
Quick reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who is a creator account for? | Public figures, content producers, artists and influencers. |
| Can it be private? | No, professional accounts can't be set to private. |
| Can it switch to personal? | Yes, at any time. |
| Does it get a dashboard? | Yes, a Professional dashboard with performance tracking. |
| Does it get an inbox? | Yes, with Primary, General and Requests folders. |
| Can it run ads? | Yes, using Meta tools for Instagram and Facebook ads. |
| Does the category decide the type? | No, the chosen category does not determine the type. |
| Can account type change later? | Yes, account type can be switched between at any time. |
Frequently asked questions
Is a creator account the same as a business account?
No, an account is set to either Business or Creator, not both.
Will switching make a private account public?
Yes, because professional accounts can't be set to private.
What happens to pending follow requests?
They are automatically accepted when the account goes public.
Does the chosen category decide the account type?
No, the category chosen does not determine business or creator type.
Keeping track of who has access
Confusion about account types builds when more than one person helps manage a profile. Delvia keeps a record of that setup so the picture stays clear.
Was this helpful?