Instagram Carousel vs Reels and Which Works Better in 2026
Published on 28.07.2026 by Chizoba T
In recent years, Reels have gained significant prominence on Instagram and are often dubbed the best type of content for driving engagement on Instagram in 2026. While this is true, there is also another gold that is often sidelined: carousel posts. According to a Buffer study, carousel posts have the highest engagement on Instagram.
This often raises the question of which of these two content formats is better. In this article, we compare the two and determine which format wins.
What are Instagram Reels?
Instagram Reels are short-form content designed to capture the audience's attention and deliver content in an engaging way. Short video formats range from a few seconds to 90 seconds. These video formats are highly pushed by the Instagram algorithm, often appearing in the Reels tab and Explore page, which increases their reach compared to other content formats. This means they are a good choice for increasing your brand's visibility or attracting new audiences. They also result in more saves, which have a hidden effect on long-term ranking.
Brands often use reels to show quick tips, trends, and entertaining content that drives interaction and sharing. When you create an outstanding reel, you can easily go viral, garnering hundreds of thousands or even millions of views in a short time. This is a great level of exposure that you can struggle to achieve with other content formats.
What are Carousel Posts?
Carousel posts are posts that contain several images or videos. The images or videos are presented in a swipeable format, allowing the audience to swipe through them. This is the perfect content format for detailed explanations, educational content, and storytelling.
Carousel posts differ from reels in that they focus on depth rather than fast consumption. That means they encourage users to spend more time engaging with the content. Such a high interaction level sends a stronger signal to your Instagram algorithm, potentially boosting content visibility.
A major benefit of the carousel post is that it can easily add value. Whether through a step-by-step guide, insights, or tips, the format can enable the brand to communicate more effectively. Instagram may show users different posts from a carousel when they don't engage quickly, providing an opportunity for the content to perform again. This ensures that carousel posts are highly effective at driving engagement and building a more loyal audience.
Understanding the Current Social Media Landscape
The social media landscape has evolved in recent years, as the days when you could post a single image and drive engagement are gone. With the social media platforms prioritizing keeping people on the platform for as long as possible, the algorithms are now placing greater emphasis on dwell time. This is the amount a user spends interacting with a post.
Two of the post formats that give the highest rate are the dwell time. The movement in Reels and trending sounds helps them capture attention. On the other hand, carousel posts are great for attention-grabbing, as long as users need to do something to keep swiping and reading.
Reels can go viral easily, making them a perfect choice for discoverability. They use quick cuts, visual hooks, and trending audio to grab the user’s attention within the first three seconds. Today, the Reel algorithm is far more complicated and is able to predict the user’s interest with great accuracy, showing users videos they didn't know existed.
On the other hand, carousel posts are a great way to create in-depth content. With a carousel that accommodates over 10 images in slide form, they are perfect for tutorials, storytelling, and breakdown lists. Therefore, even though a reel might focus on entertainment, a carousel post often focuses on education. Understanding this key difference is important for brands that want to establish themselves as authorities rather than just garnering views.
Reels vs. Carousel Posts: A Detailed Comparison
Let us now compare these two content formats in detail:
Reach
One key factor to consider when comparing Reels to carousel posts is reach. Given Instagram's preference for Reels, they have a broader reach than carousel posts. Reels are designed to be discoverable and often show the content to users outside your current followers. This makes them perfect for driving brand awareness and expanding your brand’s reach.
On the other hand, carousel posts often reach your current followers, family, and friends. While they still have a considerable reach, they cannot reach the level of the reel. However, this doesn't mean they are less important because they also have their own benefits over the reels.
Engagement
Carousel posts often have higher engagement than reels because users spend more time interacting with slide posts, thereby increasing post dwell time. The longer a user spends on a piece of content, the more likely it is to be promoted in Instagram's feed.
If you create informational or educational content, carousel posts can be a good option to do so. These post formats also encourage a range of actions, such as shares and saves, which, in turn, show the algorithm that you create quality content. You can read our guide on why saves have an impact on long-term ranking.
Since the content format is used for informative and educational content, carousel posts often tend to encourage users to revisit them. While reels may get quick views and likes, the carousel can foster meaningful interaction that leads to sustainable long-term growth.
Follower Growth
If you want to gain more followers, you can use Instagram Reels. These can easily reach new audiences and appear in the discovery feed, providing them with a clear advantage. When your social media users see your engaging Reels, they can visit your profile or follow your account. This means Reels are a great tool for brands aiming to grow their following.
However, attracting followers is only one part of the coin. Even after attracting followers, you also need to retain them by producing content that consistently delivers value. This is where carousel users succeed. A good idea would be to combine both formats: use reels to attract your target audience and keep them engaged with carousels. Having such a balanced approach provides you with a higher level of growth and retention, resulting in better long-term success.
Spotlight on the Algorithm
Which of these two content formats gets a higher level of exposure on the Instagram Algorithm? Reels are usually visible on the Reels Feed and Explore Tab, which makes them great for exposure. On the other hand, the carousel's higher engagement also means it can appeal for longer, since carousel slides can be seen many days after the post goes live, giving users a second chance to capture their attention. The viewing time of carousels is usually higher, leading the algorithm to consider them valuable content.
Instagram Reels vs. Carousels: When to Use Each Format
Whether to go with Reels or carousel posts depends on your brand's marketing strategy. However, there are some general rules of thumb to help you choose between the two. If you want to reach non-followers and grow your following, Instagram Reels are a good choice. You can also use Reels when you want to:
- Follow trends.
- Offer fast entertainment.
- Show your face and voice.
- Reach new audiences.
- Go viral.
You can use Instagram carousel posts to build a stronger connection with your audience and engage them. This content format is a good choice for telling your story, educating, offering quick checklists and tutorials, sharing some case studies, and increasing shares and saves. If you are promoting a product or service that requires context, a story, or some form of explanation, the carousel posts can help you build it.
Best Strategy: A Combination of Both
You don't have to choose one content format over the other. The best strategy is the one that combines both content formats, providing more balanced content. While you can use Reels to capture your audience’s attention and attract new users, carousels enable you to create in-depth content that drives engagement.
Combining the two content formats is key to maximizing engagement and reach. Being consistent is also an important factor. When you maintain a consistent posting schedule, you can help build a better strategy. When you understand the benefits of each format and use them effectively, you can build a well-rounded Instagram marketing strategy that delivers the results you want.
In Conclusion
Both Instagram Reels and carousel posts can play a more important role in building a better Instagram presence. However, they have different purposes for growth. Reels play an important role in increasing content's reach and growing the total following, thanks to algorithmic support and discoverability. Carousels, on the other hand, are great for driving engagement, increasing the number of saves, and providing value for your audience. We recommend you read our comparison of Instagram carousel vs. static posts.