You buy stars on Instagram from inside a reel: tap Comments, tap the Gift icon, then tap your stars balance and choose how many stars to add. Checkout runs through the App Store or Google Play, so set up a payment method there first. Stars are only spendable on gifts for reels.
There's no separate stars shop on Instagram. Stars are bought at the moment you want to gift, from the same panel you use to send the gift, and the payment itself is handled by Apple or Google rather than Instagram. Once you know that, the whole thing makes sense.
Buy stars in five taps
- Open any reel from a creator who has gifts turned on.
- Tap Comments, then tap the Gift icon.
- Tap your stars balance on the right of the gift panel.
- Choose how many stars you want to add.
- Follow the App Store or Google Play checkout to pay.
Your new balance shows straight away, and you can pick a gift and send it, or close the panel and keep the stars for later. Instagram's own wording is that you can purchase stars and update your balance each time you send a gift, so topping up as you go is the normal way to do it.
Set up payment before you start
Instagram asks you to have a payment method for in-app purchases ready in the App Store or Google Play Store before you begin. If the checkout fails or never appears, that's the first thing to check. On iPhone it's in your Apple Account's payment settings; on Android it's your Google Play payment methods. Family-managed accounts may also need purchase approval from whoever runs the family plan.
Why the price you pay isn't what the creator gets
This is the part I'd want to know before spending. Stars come in packs, and Instagram says it takes its share of revenue at the time you buy them, with that share varying by the size of the pack. A portion of the pack price also goes to Apple or Google, whose in-app purchase fees Instagram puts at typically 30%. The creator then receives a flat 0.01 US dollars for every star sent to them.
| Where your spend goes | Rule Instagram publishes |
|---|---|
| Apple or Google | In-app purchase fee, typically 30% |
| Revenue share that varies with pack size | |
| The creator | 0.01 US dollars per star received |
I haven't quoted pack prices here because they change by country and app store, and the stars terms page wouldn't load for me to check. Look at the numbers on the checkout screen, and compare the pack sizes on offer: the share Instagram keeps depends on which one you pick.
Instagram stars vs Facebook stars
They share a name but not a wallet. Instagram is clear that your Facebook Stars balance can't be used to send gifts on Instagram, and that stars must be used on the app where you bought them. If you buy stars on Facebook to support someone, they won't follow you over to their reels on Instagram.
What you can and can't do with stars
| You can | You can't |
|---|---|
| Send gifts on eligible creators' reels | Use them on Instagram lives (those use badges) |
| Top up whenever you send a gift | Move them to Facebook, or bring Facebook stars in |
| Keep a balance for later gifts | Send them as a gift on a collab post |
Lives run on a different system: you buy badges during the broadcast instead. Collaborative posts aren't eligible for gifts at all, so you won't see the option there.
If you can't buy stars
- No gift icon anywhere: the feature may not be available in your location, according to Instagram's help page.
- No gift icon on one creator: they may not qualify or haven't turned gifts on.
- Checkout fails: check the payment method in the App Store or Google Play.
- Old app: update Instagram and try again.
Keeping your spending under control
Stars are designed to be quick to buy, which is lovely when you're moved by a reel and less lovely when you check your statement. A few habits help:
- Buy a smaller pack first and see how far it goes before you commit to a bigger one.
- Turn on purchase authentication in the App Store or Google Play so every top-up needs a password or Face ID.
- If a child uses your phone, use the app store's family purchase controls.
- Check your app store purchase history now and then; every stars top-up shows there.
And if a gift doesn't seem to arrive, look for the on-screen confirmation Instagram shows after you tap Send before you top up again.
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Is buying stars worth it?
If you want to give a creator a visible thank-you on a reel that helped you, yes, stars are the cleanest way to do it inside Instagram. If your aim is simply to put the most money in their hands, buying from them directly usually beats any app currency, because there's no app store fee in the middle. For the creator's side of the story, how to start getting paid on Instagram explains what they need to qualify, and making money on Instagram as a beginner covers the bigger picture.
My verdict
Buy stars from the gift panel on a reel, keep your app store payment method up to date, and treat stars as reels-only money that stays on Instagram. Pick your pack with your eyes open, because the pack size changes how much Instagram keeps.
If you want the full set, start at the Instagram Help: 81 Guides to Followers, Hashtags, Money, Accounts and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I buy stars on Instagram?
Open a reel, tap Comments, tap the Gift icon, tap your stars balance, choose how many stars to add and pay through the App Store or Google Play.
Can I buy Instagram stars on a computer?
Instagram's help page describes buying stars in the app through the App Store or Google Play, so plan on using your phone.
Can I use Facebook stars on Instagram?
No. Stars must be used on the app where you bought them.
How much does a creator get per star?
0.01 US dollars for every star received, paid monthly.
Why can't I buy stars on Instagram?
The feature may not be available where you are, or your App Store or Google Play payment method isn't set up.
