What does a professional account do?
Instagram has personal accounts and professional ones. Meta says an Instagram professional account can represent a business or a creator, and that apps using its APIs require their users to have one. You switch in the Instagram app's settings. Both types can use Instagram Messaging through the API.
Business or creator: which should you pick?
| Business account | Creator account | |
|---|---|---|
| Works with Meta's APIs | Yes | Yes |
| Instagram Messaging | Supported | Supported |
| Typical fit | Shops, salons, agencies, local businesses | Influencers, coaches, personal brands |
For DM automation, either works. Pick the one that fits how you present yourself. One technical note from Meta: on the Messenger Platform setup, a creator account must make a Conversations API request before it receives webhooks.
Do you need a Facebook Page?
Not always. Meta's Instagram API with Instagram Login serves professional accounts without a linked Facebook Page and supports messaging. The Facebook Login setup does require the account to be connected to a Page. Meta also requires apps using Instagram messaging to offer an escalation path to a human agent.
How does ReplyRep work with professional accounts?
Connect your professional account through Meta's login and set up your first automation in about four minutes. Instagram accounts per plan: Free 1, Lite 1, Boost 3, MAX 5. See ReplyRep pricing, automatic Instagram DMs, how to send automatic DMs on Instagram and the Instagram Graph API explained.
Connect your professional account
Start free, on the official API.
Related terms
- Instagram Graph API: the official API a professional account unlocks for tools.
- Message requests: where DMs from non-followers land in a professional inbox.
- Comment-to-DM: the most common automation people connect a professional account for.