IGDetective alternative: SocialChecker compared
IGDetective is a web app that refreshes public Instagram profiles daily, dates new follows and archives stories.
The key point first: Instagram does not sort the following list by date. A tool that simply shows the first entries cannot know who is new. Only services that compare the list over time are reliable.
Side by side
| Feature | SocialChecker | IGDetective |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone and Android app | Yes, iOS and Android | No, browser only |
| Push notifications | Yes, for new posts and stories. Follow changes in the feed | Not stated |
| Platforms | Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat (Premium and up) | |
| New follows with dates | Yes, new and dropped follows, compared several times a day from when you add the profile | Yes, from tracking start, daily (Premium). Unfollows currently unavailable per FAQ |
| Story archive | Yes, automatic with timestamps | Yes, automatic on Premium, manual on free |
| Free tier | Web tools free (recent follows checker: 3 searches/day without an account). Tracking from Basic | 1 profile, stories, manual archive. Recent follows Premium only |
| Price | Basic $5.49/month for 3 profiles, Premium $10.99 for 10, Ultra $27.99 for 50 (Google Play US, yearly cheaper) | $30/month or $1/day, up to 5 profiles |
| Instagram password needed | No | No |
Where IGDetective is stronger
- A free tier with one profile and stories.
- Very upfront about the order of the following list, credit where it is due.
Where SocialChecker is stronger
- Much cheaper: 3 profiles from $5.49 a month, 10 profiles for $10.99.
- Dropped follows are still detected.
- Compared several times a day instead of once a day, with push in the app.
- TikTok and Snapchat on top of Instagram.
Which one fits you?
IGDetective fits if you only work in the browser and one Instagram profile on the free tier is enough.
SocialChecker fits if you want to follow several profiles on your phone and also see dropped follows.
FAQ
Does the Instagram following list show who someone followed most recently?
Not reliably. We checked real profiles on 24 September 2026: new follows were at the top for some and in the middle for others, for example at position 258 of 556. IGDetective also states that since an Instagram update on 9 September 2026 the order no longer reflects when each follow happened. The only reliable way to spot new follows is to compare the list over time.
Can SocialChecker see who someone unfollowed?
Yes, for watched public profiles: when an account drops out of the following list, the change shows up with a date. SocialChecker does not show who unfollowed you personally, because it compares following lists, not follower lists.
Why do both services only show new follows from when tracking starts?
Because Instagram does not reveal when a follow happened. All you can do is compare two versions of the list. Anything before the first version cannot be dated.
Sources (as of September 24, 2026)
Get SocialChecker for free
Add profiles and SocialChecker reports new follows, stories and posts automatically.