15 Best Instagram Filters for Your Photos

Understanding which Instagram filters work in different situations will help your profile stand out. Read on to discover some of the best Instagram filters, along with the types of images you should use each one for.

1. Color Leak

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Instagram released Color Leak in November 2023, and it's a great option if you're into film-style photography. The filter resembles what you might sometimes see after a film camera's photo is developed, with subtle shades of red, yellow, and orange.

Color Leak is one of the best Instagram filters for images with a lot of brightness or bright colors in the background. However, it is a bit difficult to use on images with dark backgrounds.

2. Ludwig

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Ludwig is one of the oldest and most popular Instagram filters. It's also one of the more versatile options on this list.

Using this filter, you will get warmer tones and sharper contrast. It is better than Color Leak for photos with dark backgrounds because its effect is more subtle.

You can also use Ludwig for portraits and selfies. The reason this filter works well with people is because the changes are so subtle and it can also reduce the clarity a bit if your image was previously too sharp.

3. Oslo

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The Oslo Instagram filter is another great option if you want to add subtle changes to your photos. Using this filter, you will increase the contrast in your photos and reduce shadows. But at the same time, you will also increase the exposure.

Oslo is a great Instagram filter for architecture, urban, and street photos. You can also use this filter if you want something simple that makes your facial features stand out more.

4. Soft Light

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Soft Light is one of the many filters introduced on Instagram in November 2023. It significantly reduces the clarity of the image and also reduces the contrast.

If you're interested in shooting during golden hour, Soft Light is a great option. It will enhance the warm tones in your photos, especially on overcast days.

5. Simple

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The Simple filter adds simple edits to your images. For this reason, it is one of the best and most versatile Instagram filters.

When you use this filter, your image will have increased contrast. If you want to take a portrait where a person is wearing dark clothes and you want them to stand out, this is a great option.

In addition to higher contrast, Simple will also slightly increase the exposure and brightness in your photos. It's a great option for enhancing your portraits and selfies on an overcast day.

6. Melbourne

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Melbourne is very similar to Oslo, but the filter will significantly enhance your visibility compared to Oslo. Furthermore, this filter does not enhance contrast as much as the other options.

When you use the Melbourne filter, your image won't have as much added saturation and will look a little flatter. For this reason, Melbourne is a better choice than Oslo for photographing people and landscapes on sunny days. It's also a good choice for golden hour images – whether they're people or places.

7. Lo-Fi

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Lo-Fi is a high-contrast, saturated filter. It's a great choice for images that already have a lot of bright colors but you want to make them pop even more. And if you want to take better photos in poor lighting conditions, this filter makes your photos look much better on a sunny day.

The Lo-Fi filter is a bit tricky to use for portraits because it can add too much saturation and contrast, resulting in an unnatural look. However, it's a good option for architectural and botanical photography if you want to make your subject look more dramatic.

8. Fade

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Fade is one of the best Instagram filters if you want something a little more subtle. The filter reduces the contrast in your photo, making it a good choice if you want to add a little drama to your photos – including images that are more saturated than you would normally want. The Fade filter works best on photos that have a lot of added brightness.

9. Valencia

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Valencia is one of the oldest Instagram filters and to this day, it remains a popular choice among many users. The filter enhances the exposure in your photos and you also get a slightly less saturated look.

You can use Valencia in many situations, but it's especially popular for selfies and street style photos.

10. Aden

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Aden is one of the most popular Instagram filters that has been around for a while. It will increase the saturation in your images and give them a more washed out look. It's sometimes a better choice for nature photos than something like Oslo and Lo-Fi – Lo-Fi has too much contrast for nature shots, while Oslo can sometimes be too washed out.

If you want to make your scene look more lively than dramatic, Aden is a good choice. For this reason, it can also work with some indoor shots.

11. Slumber

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Slumber is comparable to Ludwig, but this filter has some key differences. It adds warmth and reduces contrast in your photos, giving them a cozy, inviting atmosphere.

You can use the Slumber filter for nature photography, and it can also work well for some portraits and selfies. However, it's best to use the filter for these types of photos in low-light conditions. It's also a better option than Oslo if you want something a little less subtle without sacrificing elegance.

12. Wide Angle

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Did you fail to crop your image the way you wanted in post-production? Don't worry; you can still make subtle adjustments before uploading your image to Instagram. The Wide Angle filter doesn't change any of the colors or lighting in your photo, but it does zoom in on your photo a little. After applying this filter, your main subject will stand out more.

13. Paris

Paris is one of the oldest Instagram filters and it is the best for subtle adjustments. When you use this filter, it will look almost nothing at first. However, it will slightly increase the amount of light in your photo.

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Many people often use Paris when they have already edited their photos elsewhere and don't want to change too much.

14. Aden

Another classic Instagram filter worth using is Aden. This will accentuate shadows and add a flattering look to your photos, but not to the same degree as the more specific blur filters. It works particularly well on photos with lots of color.

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If you like filters but not apps, you can get Instagram-style filters on your smartphone through third-party apps.

15. Simple Cool

People don't use Simple Cool very often, but it's a great option when you want to make your image more blue. So if you accidentally over-balance your image while editing, this is an easy way to get it back to a good enough level.

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Simple Cool works particularly well with foggy photos (as you can see above). It would also work really well if you wanted to edit a photo taken on a snowy day.

You can access all of these Instagram filters for free and easily experiment with them all before sharing your images with the world. Each filter is best suited for different situations and over time you will learn when to use each filter, which will help elevate your photo editing game above everyone else.

David Pac

Update 12 December 2024