To send a gift on Instagram, open the creator's reel, tap Comments, then tap the Gift icon. Top up your stars balance if it's low, pick a gift and tap Send. You'll need an App Store or Google Play payment method set up first, and Facebook Stars won't work here.
Sending a gift is a few taps once your phone is set up for in-app purchases. The fiddly part is the first time, because Instagram won't sell you stars until the App Store or Google Play has a working payment method, and a lot of people only find that out halfway through.
Before your first gift
- Update the Instagram app, so the gift icon shows on reels.
- Add a payment method in the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android).
- Check you're looking at a reel, not a photo post or a live; gifts are a reels feature.
Send a gift on a reel, step by step
- Open the reel from the creator you want to support.
- Tap Comments.
- Tap the Gift icon.
- If you need more stars, tap your stars balance on the right, choose how many to add and follow the checkout.
- Tap the gift you want to give.
- Tap Send.
You'll see a confirmation on screen once it's gone through. The creator sees the gift; Instagram notes that only the creator can see the specific gifts they receive, although their terms also allow the stars they collect to be shown publicly on the video, in comments or on the profile.
Your stars balance, explained
Stars are the currency behind every gift. You don't pay per gift at the moment you tap it; you spend stars you've already bought. Instagram's help page puts it simply: you can purchase stars and update your balance each time you send a gift. Bigger gifts use more stars, so a top-up that covers one large gift might cover several small ones.
Two balance rules catch people out. Your Facebook Stars balance can't be used on Instagram, and stars must be used on the app where you bought them. If you've got leftover Facebook Stars, they stay on Facebook.
How much of your gift reaches the creator
| Slice | Who takes it |
|---|---|
| App store fee (typically 30%, per Instagram) | Apple or Google |
| Instagram's revenue share (varies with pack size) | |
| 0.01 US dollars for every star received | The creator |
That's worth knowing if you want your support to count. Instagram takes its share at the moment you buy the stars, and the share changes depending on the size of the pack, so the creator's cut is fixed per star while your spend isn't. If you want the creator to get the most, buying their merch or booking their services directly will usually leave more in their pocket. A gift's real value is the public thank-you it sends.
Gift button missing? Run through this
| What you see | Likely reason |
|---|---|
| No gift icon on any reel | Gifts may not be available in your location, or the app needs updating |
| No gift icon on one creator's reels | That creator isn't eligible or hasn't turned gifts on |
| Gift icon on a reel but not on a collab | Collaborative posts can't receive gifts |
| Checkout fails | No working payment method in the App Store or Google Play |
On the creator side, the gift button only appears for accounts that meet Instagram's rules, including at least 500 followers and a country where gifts run. Accounts that mainly post content focused on children are excluded too. If you're curious why a creator might not have it yet, my explainer on how to start getting paid on Instagram covers the creator requirements.
Does sending a gift tell anyone else?
Your gift is part of how a creator sees support, so assume it isn't private from them. Instagram's creator terms allow the stars a creator receives to be shown publicly in the video, comments or on their profile, and creators can see who sent each gift even before their payout account is set up. If you're gifting from a business account, that's a nice bit of visibility; if you're gifting quietly, it's worth knowing.
Can you send gifts on a live?
Not with stars. On Instagram lives the tipping tool is called badges, which you buy during the broadcast through the App Store or Google Play. Gifts are for reels. It's an easy mix-up because both appear as small icons near the comments.
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A few etiquette points
- Say why in a comment. Creators love knowing which reel landed.
- Don't send gifts to ask for a follow back or a shout-out; that's not what the feature is for.
- Keep an eye on spend. Top-ups are quick, so set yourself a limit if you gift often.
My verdict
Set up your app store payment method once, then sending a gift is three taps from the comments. Just go in knowing that stars cost you more than the creator receives, and that Facebook Stars won't carry over. If you run an account yourself and want to understand the other side, making money on Instagram as a beginner is the place to start.
Frequently asked questions
How do you send gifts on Instagram?
Open a reel, tap Comments, tap the Gift icon, top up stars if needed, choose a gift and tap Send.
Why can't I send gifts on Instagram?
Gifts may not be available in your location, the creator may not be eligible, the post may be a collab, or you may not have an App Store or Google Play payment method.
Can I use Facebook Stars to send gifts on Instagram?
No. Stars must be used on the app where you bought them.
How much does the creator get from my gift?
The creator earns 0.01 US dollars for every star received. Instagram and the app store take their shares first.
Can I send gifts on an Instagram live?
No. Lives use badges, which you buy during the broadcast. Gifts are a reels feature.
