What are Instagram trial reels?
A trial reel is a reel that Instagram first shows only to people who don't follow you yet. You test a video with a new audience, without your followers seeing it.
How do trial reels work?
When you post a reel, you turn on the Trial toggle. The reel stays off your profile grid and out of your followers' feeds. Instagram shows it to people who don't follow you yet. After about 24 hours you see the views, likes, comments and shares.
Do my followers see a trial reel?
No, unless you share it. You can share a trial reel with everyone at any time. You can also let Instagram share it with your followers automatically if it performs well in the first 72 hours. Instagram does not publish what counts as performing well.
Who can use trial reels?
Instagram launched trial reels in December 2024 for professional accounts, creator or business. If you don't see the toggle, the feature is not available on your account yet.
Why use trial reels?
You reach people who don't know you yet, without showing your followers the same video again and again. A video you already made gets a second and third chance with a new audience.
How do you get the most out of trial reels?
Change one thing at a time: the first second, the opening line or the text on screen. Compare the views after a day. Keep what works.
Can someone make and post trial reels for me?
Yes. With a scheduling tool you plan trial reels yourself, but you often still do the editing. Trial Reels takes over the whole job: new versions of the videos you already have, every day, posted as trial reels through Meta's official connection.
Trial reels every day, without spending time on it
Trial Reels makes new versions of the videos you already have every day and posts them as trial reels on your account. You don't have to film or schedule anything.
See how it works