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.

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.

Try the recent follows checker

Side by side

iPhone and Android app

SocialChecker: Yes, iOS and Android
IGDetective: No, browser only

Push notifications

SocialChecker: Yes, for new posts and stories. Follow changes in the feed
IGDetective: Not stated

Platforms

SocialChecker: Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat (Premium and up)
IGDetective: Instagram

New follows with dates

SocialChecker: Yes, new and dropped follows, compared several times a day from when you add the profile
IGDetective: Yes, from tracking start, daily (Premium). Unfollows currently unavailable per FAQ

Story archive

SocialChecker: Yes, automatic with timestamps. With Ultra also Instagram highlights, including removed contents
IGDetective: Yes, automatic on Premium, manual on free

Free tier

SocialChecker: Web tools free (recent follows checker: 3 searches/day without an account). Tracking from Basic
IGDetective: 1 profile, stories, manual archive. Recent follows Premium only

Price

SocialChecker: Basic $5.49/month for 3 profiles, Premium $10.99 for 10, Ultra $27.99 for 50 (Google Play US, yearly cheaper)
IGDetective: $30/month or $1/day, up to 5 profiles

Instagram password needed

SocialChecker: No
IGDetective: No

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)	Instagram
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. With Ultra also Instagram highlights, including removed contents	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.

More comparisons

Sources (as of September 24, 2026)

Details about other services come from their own websites. “Not stated” means we found nothing on it. Prices may change. Spotted a mistake? Email [email protected].

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