11 Reasons Why Fotoapp is an Instagram killer

It's a new era of social photography

As I mentioned in my previous post, I am an Instagram Dinosaur📱🦕, and I long for the old Instagram. The one before influencers squatted on it. A time when all that mattered was just sharing photos and the people whom you shared it with.

For a long time, I was convinced that there was no way anyone would be able to build another photo app like it. Ok, there have been many contenders, the latest had been ironically Meta’s own Threads. It’s actually quite good, and many photographers have been trying to make a home of it.

Then 2 weeks ago Fotoapp released their new Foto App!

I saw it first in Threads, of course, and my first thought was ‘Meh - not yet another foto app’.

But then I saw a storm of messages about this app. Almost every other post on my feed mentioned Fotoapp, praising how great it was and urging people to download and try it.

So I did 😂

It didn’t disappoint! In fact, I loved it so much that I decided to become an Ambassador. It means that you become a paid member of the app. I will tell you more about this later. But now let’s have a look at why I think this app could potentially be an Instagram killer!

1. Clean Interface

I love the clean non-clutter interface of the old Instagram and Fotoapp has done a good job of reviving this feeling.

2. No-Crop Gallery

All photos are presented in their original dimension.

3. Photo Only - No Video

Instagram’s attempt to beat TikTok on the short video front ruined the whole experience of the photo-only app, and since Reels and Stories elevated into first-class citizens, photos didn’t have much chance to grow.

Fotoapp states that it doesn’t allow video. It restores the status of photography to its rightful place.

4. No Filter BS

Instagram's famous mantra was ‘Shot - Edit - Share’.

Fotoap makes it even simpler - ‘Just bloody share’!

There is no selection of filters, or editing tools built into the interface. You are reduced to picking the photo and share.

You can write a description and choose 3 tags from a list, and that’s it.

Notes: Fotoapp confirmed that it will resize the uploaded image up to 1800px on the longest side.

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5. No User Generated Hashtags

Hashtags were quite a neat invention. It allows us to categorise our photos in a simple way. But let’s admit it, it was too much - it went too far.

Fotoapp only allow you to choose 3 tags, and only from a limited list! You cannot invent your own tags. Simple and manageable.

By the way, these tags are also used in the Discovery Page to filter photos. Another simplicity.

6. Live URL Link in the Description

This is one single feature I have been asking Instagram since day one. They never allowed it, ever.

But Fotoapp does! This feature alone should persuade you away from Instagram if nothing else.

No more “Link in the bio”!

7. Photo Zen in Discovery

The Discovery page is the only way you can - well - discover new users.

You can search users by name, or filter the page by tags.

The page is just a stream of pure images. Nothing else!

It’s a photo gallery zen.

8. Simple Zoom

One tap gives you the Image View, Double-Tap gives you a Full-Screen view. From here you can still use your finger to make it bigger or move the image around the screen.

9. No Likes Count

Fotoapp doesn’t show the number of Likes that a post has received!

I love this feature!

It moves your focus away from Attention Economy to just chill, relax and enjoy the view.

Notes that you can still see the number of likes that your own post got.

10. No Algorithm!

Wow! Such a fresh way of looking at things.

Fotoapp displays all photos in chronological order. There is no magic to influence how the feed is presented.

11. No Ads!

Yup! Fotoapp is committed not to put ads in the app. Instead, it opts for the Pro Membership offering.

They call it Foto Ambassador and I am one.

Apart from getting the Ambassador Badge, you will also get access to the Pro Features.

If you are joining Fotoapp, consider becoming an Ambassador, because this way you will support their effort financially and more importantly you will keep away the ads from the app.

Exciting New Era for Digital Photography Ahead

I don’t know about you, but I’m excited.

I really hope that Fotoapp team will manage to do everything they are planning to in their roadmap. They have my full support, hence me being an Ambassador.

If you are still on the fence, I encourage you to download the app and have try.

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