Twitter Fleets vs Instagram Stories: Features and availability compared

Twitter just unveiled its Fleets feature in India as a part of a wider testing program and users left no opportunity to compare it with Instagram Stories, an identical feature that has existed since years. While both come from two different social media platforms, their purpose seems to be the same - let your thoughts out, post everyday content and engage more with others. However, when it comes to features, they are not quite the same. So, naturally we did a short comparison between Twitter Fleets and Instagram Stories, talking about the basic differences in terms of features, what you lack or get extra. Check it out.

Note: Since Twitter Fleet is still in the testing phase, there might be other features in the pipeline too. We are comparing both on the basis of what they offer right now.

Fleets vs Stories: Vertical and horizontal scrolls vs horizontal-only scrolls

Yes, in Fleets you can scroll vertically to jump between posts by a single user and swipe horizontally to see Fleets by other users. Stories, on the other hand, has just horizontal swipes to jump between posts.

Fleets vs Stories: Either media only or text only with Fleets

One of the downsides of Fleets is that a single post can either have all texts + URLs or just media files like videos and GIFs. You cannot type anything over a media file (except for images). Instagram Stories, however, let you type over and above GIFs, images and videos.

Fleets vs Stories: No filters in Fleets yet

Unlike what you see in Instagram Stories, Fleets misses out on the number of filters to change the colour tone of the post. 

Fleets vs Stories: Can share URLs, something which Instagram Stories can’t

However, one of the biggest plus points of Twitter Fleets is that it supports URLs, something that all Instagram Stories don't have yet. Only those with verified accounts can support URLs.

Fleets vs Stories: Reply goes to DM just like in Instagram Stories

A similarity here is the you get the option to reply to a Fleet or an Instagram Story as a direct message to users.

Fleets vs Stories: Both stay for 24 hours

Another similarity is that both Instagram Stories and Twitter Fleets stay for 24 hours. However, while Fleets completely vanish, Stories can still be retrieved using Highlights.

Fleets vs Stories: Can reply using reactions

Yes, in both of them you can reply in the form of reactions as well. While Stories has laughing, amazed, love, cry, applause, hot, celebration and 100 as reactions, Fleets has the same set of reactions except for 100 and celebration, which are replaced by heart and angry reactions. 

Fleets vs Stories: Fleets limited to Android/iOS apps, Stories viewable on desktop too

Also, while Fleets is limited to Android and iOS apps for now, Instagram Stories can be viewed additionally on the desktop. 

Fleets vs Stories: Can mute anyone’s Fleets, can’t mute others’ Insta Stories

Fortunately, you can mute the fleets of others in case you don't want to see them. This is not there on Instagram as the user needs to be unfollowed so he/she doesn't show up in the list.

Fleets vs Stories: Can’t hide Fleets with select people, Stories can be hidden

On the other hand, you can't hide Fleets from select users on Twitter whereas Instagram lets you hide Stories from select followers.