How much does it cost to get a blue check on instagram

How less notable brands and figures can get the blue tick.

Photo by Thomas Drouault on Unsplash.

If you’ve ever googled how to get verified, you know that all guides warn you that whoever tries to sell you a verification is scamming you.

I can assure you that’s not the case.

I want to be verified on Instagram. I crave that blue check next to my name. Why? Basically because none of my friends are verified, so the verification will prove I’m better than them; which I always suspected.

I spent my weekend obsessively researching how to get my Instagram account verified. Every article was basically the same.

They suggested that growing your following will get you that blue check in no time. They recommended things like: Using popular hashtags, interacting with other users, promoting your Instagram on other channels, and by posting at the “magic times” of 2 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Yeah, like posting a pic of my daughter at 5 p.m. and tagging it #InstaGood is going to set off a wave of followers like Instagram has never seen.

What a bunch of nonsense.

Follower count has nothing to do with getting verified. Check out Comedy Slam’s profile. They have 9.6 million followers and no blue check.

Now, look at Dante Jones’ profile. He doesn't have any posts, and only has 5,000 followers; yet he’s verified. How did he do it?

It doesn’t make any sense. It's not supposed to.

According to Instagram, “Only some public figures, celebrities and brands have verified badges. It's not currently possible to request or purchase a verified badge.”

That’s actually not true; you can definitely request to be verified. And you can pay to be verified, on the black market.

I reached out to every verified person that I knew, and found that there are really only three ways to be verified: Be famous and have a ton of followers, work with a digital agency and have them submit a request for you, or pay a third party or someone at Instagram to get you verified.

If you could just become famous, you’d already be verified and wouldn’t be reading this article, so let’s move on.

Most of the verified people that I spoke with worked with a digital agency, or publicist, to get their blue check. The agencies and publicists have access to a digital portal that the rest of us don’t.

Instagram calls it “Media Partner Support.” According to Instagram, “Media partners can submit requests on behalf of public figures. Media partners will hear back within two days of submitting their request.”

I asked YouTuber Rachel Levin how it worked. “I got verified a couple of years ago. I initially asked my manager if she could submit me to get verified. Nothing really happened for around a year after that, but then I started working with a publicist and after that I got verified. It was all very exciting!”

I figured this was my best chance to get verified, so I asked around until I found an agency willing to risk their reputation on me. I actually found one that would!

They asked for a copy of my driver's license and my Instagram and Facebook handle. Seems pretty simple. But it doesn’t guarantee anything.

I spoke to YouTuber Marissa Rachel, who told me that she had to apply several times before she got verified. She got several emails like this:

Now is it realistic that you’ll get verified if you can just get someone to apply for you? Probably not. Marissa and Rachel are public figures, with millions of followers, so it makes sense for them to be verified.

So what about the rest of us? How can we get verified?

Really, the only way to do it is to know someone at Instagram or pay a third party to do it for you.

I reached out on Twitter to see if anyone had a contact at Instagram that could get me verified. I got dozens of messages, but only one seemed legitimate. A guy told me,“I have a friend at Instagram who can get me and one other person verified. He charges $500. The first $250 now, via PayPal, and another $250 after you’re verified.”

He said it was his friend’s side hustle, and although Instagram has cracked down on employees getting their friends verified; he still charges a couple of people a month to get verified.

There seems to be a lot of money changing hands for the elusive blue check. But it's a lot easier than creating content, growing your following, and becoming famous. Who's got the time for all that? We want our blue check now.

But the problem with paying one of these third parties is that it's going to be impossible to get your money back if they don't deliver.

Maybe becoming famous is easier than hacking the system.

There is one elusive social media status symbol you can’t buy, which therefore makes it highly coveted and immensely valuable: the Instagram verified badge.

A February 2020 study revealed that 73.4% of Instagram accounts that had over 1 million followers had a verified badge. Out of the next group down (100,000 to one million followers), 22.4% were verified accounts. When studying accounts with between 1,000 and 5,000 followers, only 0.87% were verified.

What is verified badge on Instagram?

An Instagram verified badge is a blue checkmark next your profile name. The check proves the account is owned by a public figure like a celebrity or brand. 

As a business on Instagram, one question you may ask yourself is, “How do I get my account verified?” Most social media services have some kind of “verification” process for getting the almighty blue checkmark on your profile:

How much does it cost to get a blue check on instagram

But why should you get verified? And just how hard is it? This guide will answer those questions and help you understand Instagram’s verification process so you can get your account verified too. 

Shortcuts ✂️

  • Why get verified on Instagram?
  • Is it hard to get verified on Instagram?
  • How to get verified on Instagram
  • Tips for getting verified
  • What to do if you don’t get verified
  • Don’t stress if you can’t get verified
  • Instagram verification FAQ

How much does it cost to get a blue check on instagram

Free Webinar:

How to Grow and Monetize Your Instagram Account

A free workshop with field-tested Instagram marketing tips. Learn how to grow your Instagram audience and monetize it with an online store.

Why get verified on Instagram?

Data suggests that the majority of bigger Instagram accounts are verified. As you grow your Instagram profile, you’ll want to get verified to stand out from the competition. Verified accounts are more trustworthy than unverified ones and have a 30% higher engagement rate on average.

Other reasons to get verified include:

  • It stops impersonation. The main reason the verification badge exists is to make sure accounts holders are who they say they are. The blue check on your profile shows followers and visitors that you’re the real deal, not a fake account.
    • It lends credibility. As a side effect of Instagram users knowing you’re the real business account of a brand, you become more credible and trustworthy. The blue tick is also a status symbol that shows users your account is worth following.
    • You get access to special features. One of the most coveted features for brands and influencers alike is the Swipe Up feature. Sharing links in Instagram Stories can improve your Instagram marketing through more engagement and conversions. Normally, you’d need at least 10,000 followers, but if you’re verified you can use this feature no matter how many followers you have.
    • Verified accounts appear higher in search. Lastly, if your account is verified and users search Instagram for content in your category, you may appear higher in search results:

    How much does it cost to get a blue check on instagram

    This means you’re more likely to attract new followers directly from search results (in the Instagram app) and increase brand awareness. 

    With all of those great benefits, you’re probably thinking that getting verified is going to be pretty difficult. But is it? Let’s take a look. 

    Is it hard to get verified on Instagram?

    The good news is that applying to be verified on Instagram is super easy (as you’ll see in the tutorial below). The not so great news is that actually getting approved can be difficult.

    It’s no secret how Instagram verifies accounts. It's guidelines state the eligibility requirements your account must meet:

    • Authentic. As in you must be a real person, public figure, or registered business entity. You’ll need official business documents and ID to prove it.
    • Unique. You can’t have multiple accounts for the same person or business (unless they are language-specific accounts). Instagram also doesn’t verify general interest (like memes) or fan accounts.
    • Complete. At the bare minimum, your Instagram profile needs to be public, have an Instagram bio, a profile picture, and be active when you apply. “Be active” isn’t defined, but you can take it to mean you post, share, or comment on content regularly.
    • Notable. This is the tougher bit that most struggle with. Being notable means your account name represents a “well-known, highly searched for” person or brand. Instagram reviews accounts that are featured in multiple news sources, but not paid or promotional content.

    Those are on top of the basic rules of following community guidelines and Instagram’s terms of use. As bonus good news, these criteria also mean you don’t have to have a certain number of followers to get verified—you could request verification as soon as you sign up and complete your profile.

    How to get the verified badge on Instagram

    1. Start your request

    Open the Instagram app and head to your profile. Once you’re on your profile page, tap on the hamburger icon (three lines) in the top-right corner and select Settings. On your settings page, toward the bottom, you’ll see the option to Request Verification. Tap it and you're ready for step 2.

    How much does it cost to get a blue check on instagram

    2. Add your business details

    From there, you’ll need to fill in details about your business such as:

    • Your full name (or trading name), which you’ll need to back up with a photo ID, such as a driver’s license, or business documents, such as business registration papers or utility bills (for physical stores).
    • Notability, which is confirmed by selecting your industry category and target audience. You’ll also have to list brand names you might also or otherwise be known as.
    • Supporting links to help confirm your notability. Here you can link to other verified social media accounts if you have them, news or press releases your brand is featured in, your website, or other (non-promotional) links you feel might be relevant.

    3. Make your submission

    Once you’ve filled in the verification application details, hit Submit and congrats: you’ve sent off your request.

    How much does it cost to get a blue check on instagram
    Photo courtesy of: Pexels

    Within 30 days, Instagram will notify you in your Activity feed whether your application was successful or not. If so, you’ll get the Instagram verification badge right away. 

    Tips for getting verified

    Before you go ahead and submit your application for the coveted blue badge, keep in mind the following tips that will help improve your chances of getting a verified Instagram account:

    • Don’t buy a badge
    • Get real followers
    • Complete your profile
    • Follow the community guidelines
    • Get publicity

    Don’t buy a badge

    Under no circumstances does Instagram let users buy, sell, or otherwise transfer their verified badge. If you see an account that advertises the ability to get you one either for free or a “small fee,” like the one below, don’t fall for the scam.

    How much does it cost to get a blue check on instagram

    Use Instagram responsibly. Don’t try shady tactics like buying badges, followers, likes, or comments. Otherwise, you could find your account banned.

    Get real followers

    Don’t buy Instagram followers. Focus on the genuine, organic growth of your account. It’s easy to tell when someone buys followers because their account will have lots of followers but low engagement. These “followers” are often bots or inactive accounts, so they don’t interact with your brand. The lack of engagement means your posts won’t show up on the explore pages or in your audiences feeds.

    Although your follower count doesn’t matter when it comes to verification, a highly engaged following can help. Some ways to get more Instagram followers include: 

    • Using the right hashtags to get your profile in front of targeted audiences
    • Publishing a mix of Instagram Stories, Reels, and feed posts
    • Running giveaways 
    • Encouraging user-generated content 
    • Curating your profile grid 
    • Creating shareable content 

    Instagram followers are more than just a number, they are your community. Even if you don’t get verified, real followers will help increase traffic to your site, make more sales, and build influence in your space.

    Complete your profile

    All verified accounts have one thing in common: complete profiles. Each of them has a concise and punchy Instagram bio, a strong profile photo, an external link (to either their website or a Linktree, linking to multiple sites), and well-designed Story Highlights. 

    How much does it cost to get a blue check on instagram

    Sure, the Instagram profile has the same structure for every account. But each Instagram bio—the small summary underneath the username—is unique. Users look at your bio when deciding whether or not to follow you on Instagram, so you have to make it count.

    The bios of verified accounts accomplish a number of things:

    1. Highlight essential information about the business (brand name, category, company overview)
    2. Offer a way for users to get in touch
    3. Showcase the brands’ personality 
    4. Establish a unique selling proposition 
    5. Encourage response with a call-to-action

    A strong profile can make a good first impression on behalf of your brand and convince people to follow you. 

    Follow the community guidelines 

    As long as your brand is consistent, only posting your own content—content that is safe for public viewing—you’re most likely already following the community guidelines and ticking this box for verification.

    Though to be more specific, Instagram has given a short version of what the community guidelines cover:

    We want Instagram to continue to be an authentic and safe place for inspiration and expression. Help us foster this community. Post only your own photos and videos, and always follow the law. Respect everyone on Instagram; don’t spam people or post nudity.

    No matter if you’re a global brand or the average Joe, Instagram can (and does) punish accounts that don’t follow these basic guidelines. 

    Get publicity 

    Team up with a PR agent or agency, or even a journalist, who can help you get your name out there. Some agencies also have access to Facebook’s Media Partner Support tools, where they can submit requests and get accounts verified through the portal. 

    To get publicity, you’ll need to do things considered newsworthy. What’s deemed newsworthy depends on your niche, but here are a few ideas to get you started:

    • Participate in or create a local event (for charity or otherwise)
    • Make a guest appearance on a podcast or other media channel
    • Pledge to donate to a relevant cause, either a one-off or indefinitely 
    • Publish a white paper or other original data relevant to your target audience

    Getting involved in activities outside of your brand is how you build awareness and get into media outlets. When the Instagram verification team checks to see if you are notable, they’ll find you in these news channels. 

    What to do if you don’t get verified

    Even if you follow all of the tips above, there’s still a chance Instagram won’t approve your application. So what happens then? Try a few of the following actions: 

    Double-check the verification requirements

    As simple as it sounds, it’s worth double-checking the four main requirements we saw earlier: authentic, unique, complete, and notable. 

    Make sure you have the most appropriate business document to prove authenticity. Be sure to remove/delete any old accounts you might have set up. Compare your level of profile completeness to those who are already verified. 

    Lastly, do a Google search on your brand. If you don’t see any mentions of it outside of your own website, that could be the issue.

    Wait and apply again

    If your verification request gets rejected by Instagram, all is not lost. You can apply again after 30 days. Be patient though—repeated applications within 30 days will mean the request will be cancelled.

    Give yourself that month to figure out ways of improving your chances using the tips above rather than hope you’ll get approved in the following 30 days without making any changes.

    Show authenticity in other ways

    If you still can’t get approved for a blue check, there are other ways to show your brand’s authenticity without it.

    Instagram recommends linking your account to your official website, Facebook page, YouTube channel, or Twitter account to help show you’re the real owner of your brand. Another way to show your authenticity is by creating video content of you or your team behind the scenes.

    Showing how your business looks day-to-day is a great way to gain trust, but also follows the recommendations of multi-format content to grow followers.

    Don’t stress if you can’t get verified

    Getting the verification badge on Instagram (or any social media for that matter) is a big milestone for your business. It proves your account is worth watching and engaging with. However, all the benefits come with a challenge—it can be hard to get approved.

    Getting the basics right matters, and so does building your brand outside of your immediate social bubble. Following the tips in this guide will help you toward fulfilling those requirements.

    That said, verified or not, making money on Instagram is still possible by funnelling traffic to your ecommerce store, setting up an Instagram shop, becoming a brand affiliate, and more.

    Illustration by Dan Page


    Ready to create your business? Start your free 3-day trial of Shopify—no credit card required.

    Instagram verification FAQ

    Can an individual person get verified on Instagram?

    An individual person or small business can get verified on Instagram. The profile must represent a real person or business, and it must be the only legitimate Instagram account representing you or your business. 

    How many followers do I need to get verified on Instagram?

    Instagram doesn’t give an official number needed for verification. One study found that accounts with as low as 1,000 followers had verification badges. It also found that the more followers an account has, the more likely they are to have a verification badge.

    How much does it cost to get Instagram verified?

    The verification application is free through the Instagram app. There are businesses you can pay to get you verified, but that’s not recommended.

    How do I get verified on Instagram?

      1. Log in to the Instagram account you want to verify.
      2. Tap the hamburger icon.
      3. Tap Settings > Account > Request Verification.
      4. Enter your name and provide the required information.
      5. After you complete the form, send it and wait 30 days for a response.

    Can you pay to get a blue check on Instagram?

    Instagram verification is free. Instagram will never ask for payment for the verification badge, and if someone is offering to verify your account for money, they are trying to scam you.

    How much does a blue tick cost?

    Twitter's blue tick will cost $8 a month, says Elon Musk, giving 'power to the people' The charge will allow users to get priority replies, mentions and searches and allow them to post longer videos and audio clips, it has been announced.

    How much money need in blue tick in Instagram?

    Verification badge being sold for Rs 30,000-1 lakh in India; Instagram removes blue ticks after ET flags accounts. In the aspirational world of social media, blue ticks are a coveted status symbol.

    Can you buy verified on Instagram?

    Under no circumstances does Instagram let users buy, sell, or otherwise transfer their verified badge. If you see an account that advertises the ability to get you one either for free or a “small fee,” like the one below, don't fall for the scam. Use Instagram responsibly.