Pinterest Ads vs Instagram Ads, Which Works Better in 2025
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- The Growth of Social Media Advertising in 2025
- Why Businesses Consider Pinterest Ads
- Key Advantages of Instagram Ads
- Audience Demographics and Targeting Comparison
- Cost-Effectiveness of Pinterest and Instagram Ads
- Creative Strategies That Work Best on Each Platform
- Measuring ROI from Pinterest and Instagram Campaigns
- Which Platform is Ideal for Your Brand in 2025
- Kantha Digital Insights on Paid Social Media Ads
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
1. Introduction
In 2025, social media advertising continues to be one of the most powerful digital marketing strategies. Two platforms, Pinterest Ads and Instagram Ads, stand out for businesses that want to reach visually driven audiences. While both focus heavily on images and creativity, the way they engage users and generate conversions differs.
At Kantha Digital, we help brands choose the right advertising channel. This blog compares Pinterest Ads and Instagram Ads in detail, guiding you toward smarter ad investments
2. The Growth of Social Media Advertising in 2025
The year 2025 has seen the rapid adoption of AI-powered targeting, immersive ad formats, and predictive analytics. Social ads now drive not just brand awareness but also measurable sales. Platforms like Pinterest and Instagram keep innovating to attract advertisers with features such as:
- Shoppable pins and posts
- AI audience insights
- AR and VR ad experiences
- Smarter campaign automation
These innovations raise an important question: which platform offers the better ROI?
3. Why Businesses Consider Pinterest Ads
Pinterest has evolved into a discovery engine rather than just a social media platform. Users actively search for inspiration related to lifestyle, fashion, food, and home improvement. This intent-driven behaviour makes Pinterest Ads powerful for businesses that want to:
- Reach audiences during their planning stage
- Promote eCommerce products through shoppable pins
- Drive traffic to blogs, tutorials, and product pages
With Pinterest, advertisers target users based on interests, keywords, and behaviour, making it highly effective for long-term conversions.
4. Key Advantages of Instagram Ads
Instagram remains a visual powerhouse in 2025. With over a billion monthly users, the platform offers unmatched reach and engagement. Businesses favour Instagram Ads because they:
- Provide advanced targeting through Facebook Ads Manager
- Offer multiple formats, including reels, stories, and carousel ads
- Deliver strong engagement rates for lifestyle and luxury products
- Blend seamlessly into the user’s feed, making ads less intrusive
For brands seeking mass visibility, Instagram is often the first choice.
5. Audience Demographics and Targeting Comparison
When deciding between Pinterest Ads and Instagram Ads, understanding who uses the platforms is critical:
- Pinterest: Strong female audience base, high intent shoppers, age group 25 to 44 dominates.
- Instagram: Diverse global audience, stronger presence among the 18 to 34 age group, ideal for entertainment and lifestyle.
Both platforms allow advertisers to target by interests, behaviours, and demographics, but Pinterest leans more toward intent-based targeting, while Instagram focuses on broad audience reach.
6. Cost-Effectiveness of Pinterest and Instagram Ads
The cost per click and overall ad spend vary across platforms:
- Pinterest Ads generally have lower CPCs because of less competition, making them attractive for smaller businesses.
- Instagram Ads can be more expensive, but they often deliver higher engagement rates and viral potential.
Ultimately, cost effectiveness depends on your industry, goals, and campaign optimisation strategy.
7. Creative Strategies That Work Best on Each Platform
Creativity defines ad success on both platforms, but the approach differs:
- Pinterest Ads: Work best with educational guides, tutorials, how-to visuals, and lifestyle tips. Content should inspire planning and decision-making.
- Instagram Ads: Perform better with bold visuals, influencer collaborations, reels, and interactive stories. Content thrives on emotions and trends.
Knowing which type of content resonates with each audience is key to maximising ROI.
8. Measuring ROI from Pinterest and Instagram Campaigns
Return on investment is measured through clicks, conversions, and customer lifetime value.
- Pinterest ROI: Best for eCommerce, blog traffic, and long tail conversions. Ads keep performing for weeks after posting.
- Instagram ROI: Best for brand awareness, community building, and direct sales. Results are often immediate but may require higher investment.
By tracking conversion rates, CTR, and cost per acquisition, businesses can evaluate which platform aligns best with their goals.
9. Which Platform is Ideal for Your Brand in 2025
Choosing between Pinterest Ads and Instagram Ads depends on your objectives:
- Select Pinterest Ads if your goal is to inspire customers during their research phase and drive long-term product discovery.
- Choose Instagram Ads if you want mass reach, trend participation, and quick brand recognition.
For many brands, a hybrid strategy using both platforms provides the best balance of visibility and conversion.
10. Kantha Digital Insights on Paid Social Media Ads
At Kantha Digital, we craft campaigns tailored to your brand’s goals. Whether it’s high intent Pinterest Ads or wide reach Instagram Adsour strategies ensure:
- Audience targeting that maximises ROI
- Creative designs that grab attention
- Performance tracking for continuous improvement
Our holistic approach to social advertising helps businesses grow authority, engagement, and sales in 2025.
11. Conclusion
The battle of Pinterest Ads vs Instagram Ads in 2025 is not about which platform is universally better, but about which one aligns with your business objectives. Pinterest excels at intent-driven marketing, while Instagram dominates mass visibility and engagement.
At Kantha Digital, we help you decide and design strategies that maximise your advertising results. Explore our Pinterest Ads services and Instagram Ads solutions today to elevate your brand in 2025.
12. Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Are Pinterest Ads cheaper than Instagram Ads?
A1. Yes, Pinterest Ads usually have a lower CPC, but Instagram offers a broader audience reach.
Q2: Which platform is better for e-commerce businesses?
A2.Pinterest is often better for e-commerce as users actively search for products, while Instagram boosts brand visibility.
Q3: Do Instagram Ads work for small businesses?
A3.Yes, small businesses can run budget-friendly Instagram Ads if campaigns are highly targeted.
Q4: Should I use both Pinterest and Instagram Ads together?
A4. Yes, using both provides maximum exposure, with Pinterest driving intent and Instagram boosting awareness.