How to Earn Money on Instagram in India: Complete Guide for 2025

Vivan Mehta

Instagram is one of the most popular social media platforms in India. With millions of users scrolling, liking, and sharing every day, it has become more than just a photo-sharing app. In 2025, Instagram offers huge opportunities for people who want to earn money online.

Whether you're a student, content creator, small business owner, or someone with a passion, you can turn your Instagram account into a money-making platform. In this complete guide, we will explain the different ways to earn money on Instagram in India and how you can start your journey today.

Why Instagram Is a Powerful Platform to Make Money in 2025

Instagram is growing very fast in India. With a large youth population and more people using smartphones and the internet, Instagram has become a top choice for social media in India.

Here are some reasons why Instagram is powerful in 2025:

  • Over 300 million active users in India.

  • Reels are more popular than ever.

  • Instagram Shopping is available in India.

  • Instagram supports creators with many tools.

  • Easy to connect with brands and followers.

    • All of these make Instagram the best platform for earning money in 2025.

    Minimum Requirements to Start Earning on Instagram

    You don’t need to be a celebrity to earn money on Instagram. But there are a few things you should have:

    1. Followers

    You don’t need lakhs of followers. Even accounts with 1,000 to 10,000 followers (called nano-influencers) can earn money. Brands look for real engagement, not just high numbers.

    2. Engagement Rate

    This is how active your followers are. A good engagement rate is around 3% or more. You can calculate it by dividing the number of likes and comments by the total number of followers.

    3. Niche

    Choose a specific topic like fashion, travel, fitness, cooking, or tech. Having a niche helps you attract loyal followers and makes it easier to get brand deals.

    4. Creator or Business Account

    Switch your personal account to a Creator or Business account. This gives you access to insights and more tools.

    Top 10 Proven Ways to Earn Money on Instagram in India

    1. Sponsored Posts & Brand Collaborations

    Many brands pay influencers to promote their products. These are called sponsored posts.

  • How to get brand deals?

  • Use hashtags to get noticed

  • Tag brands in your posts

  • Create quality content regularly

  • How much can you earn?

  • Nano-influencers: Rs. 500–2,000 per post

  • Micro-influencers: Rs. 2,000–25,000 per post

  • Platforms to connect with brands:

  • Winkl

  • Plixxo

  • BrandConnect

    • 2. Affiliate Marketing

    You promote products and earn a commission for every sale made through your unique link.

  • Best affiliate platforms for India:

  • Amazon Associates

  • Cuelinks

  • Flipkart Affiliate

  • Tips:

  • Add links in bio or stories

  • Share reviews or tutorials

  • Focus on trusted products

    • 3. Selling Your Own Products or Services

    If you have a product or service, Instagram is a great platform to sell it.

  • Examples:

  • Handmade crafts

  • Digital art

  • T-shirts

  • Makeup tutorials

  • Tools:

  • Use Instagram Shopping

  • Try platforms like Meesho, Dukaan, and GlowRoad

    • 4. Paid Partnerships via Creator Marketplace

    Meta (Instagram's parent company) has a Creator Marketplace that helps influencers find paid opportunities.

  • How it works:

  • Brands can find your profile and invite you to campaigns

  • You get paid through Instagram

  • Tip: Make sure your profile is active and niche-based

    • 5. Reels Bonus & Ad Monetization

    Instagram is testing bonuses and ad-sharing features in India.

  • Reels Bonus: You get paid based on the performance of your Reels.

  • Ads on Reels: Instagram shares ad revenue with creators.

  • Note: These features are being rolled out slowly, so check if they are available in your account.

    • Introduction to Google Ads & Types of Google Ads | Google Ads Course | Academy Of Digital Marketing

    6. Promote Your Freelance Skills

    Use Instagram to showcase your work if you are a:

  • Photographer

  • Designer

  • Writer

  • Social Media Manager

    • Post your projects, client reviews, and tips. Many freelancers get work through Instagram DMs.

    7. Offer Paid Subscriptions or Exclusive Content

    Instagram now allows creators to offer paid content.

  • You can offer:

  • Exclusive Reels

  • Behind-the-scenes content

  • Private lives or tutorials

  • Pricing: You can set your own monthly subscription fees.

    • 8. Launch & Promote Online Courses or Ebooks

    If you are an expert in something, you can sell knowledge through courses or ebooks.

  • Popular topics in India:

  • Digital marketing

  • Stock market

  • Fitness and yoga

  • Tools to use:

  • Teachable

  • Gumroad

  • Instamojo

    • 9. Dropshipping or Reselling

    You don’t need to keep products with you. In dropshipping, the supplier ships directly to the customer.

  • Indian-friendly platforms:

  • Meesho

  • Shop101

  • GlowRoad

  • How to sell on Instagram:

  • Post product photos or reels

  • Share customer reviews

  • Add contact or order links in bio

    • 10. Host Paid Live Sessions or Webinars

    You can go live and charge people to attend.

  • Examples:

  • Cooking class

  • Makeup tutorial

  • Fitness session

  • Payment tools:

  • Razorpay

  • Instamojo

  • Google Forms + UPI

    • How Many Followers Do You Need to Start Earning in India?

    You don’t need lakhs of followers. Here's a simple breakdown:

  • Nano-influencers (1K–10K): Start getting small brand deals

  • Micro-influencers (10K–100K): Can charge decent rates and do affiliate marketing

  • Macro-influencers (100K+): Get bigger brand deals and multiple income sources

    • Real story: Many Indian creators with just 5K followers earn through affiliate links and selling their services.

    Tips to Grow on Instagram Faster in 2025

    1. Optimize Your Bio

  • Add a clear description

  • Use a link in bio tool (Linktree, Taplink)

  • Add contact info

    • 2. Use Reels Effectively

  • Post trending reels

  • Use music and hashtags

  • Add captions and hooks in the first 3 seconds

    • 3. Be Consistent

  • Post 3-4 times a week

  • Use Stories daily

    • 4. Collaborate with Others

  • Do shoutouts

  • Go live with other creators

    • 5. Use Hashtags and Location Tags

  • Use 10–20 relevant hashtags

  • Tag your city to attract local followers

    • Legal & Financial Tips for Indian Creators

    1. Income Tax

  • Earnings from Instagram are taxable

  • Keep a record of your income

  • You may need to file ITR as a freelancer

    • 2. PAN Card and GST

  • Brands may ask for PAN card

  • GST is needed if you earn above the limit (currently Rs. 20 lakhs/year for services)

    • 3. Safe Payments

  • Use Indian payment gateways

  • Razorpay, Paytm Business, and UPI are great for receiving money

    • 4. Written Agreements

  • Always sign a contract with brands

  • This avoids payment issues and ensures terms are clear

    • Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Buying fake followers: Low engagement and trust issues

  • Copying others: Be original

  • Not engaging with followers: Reply to comments and DMs

  • Ignoring analytics: Use Instagram Insights to track performance

  • Not disclosing paid promotions: Use #ad or #sponsored as per Indian advertising laws

    • Best Tools & Apps for Instagram Monetization

    1. Scheduling Tools

  • Buffer

  • Later

  • Meta Business Suite

    • 2. Analytics Tools

  • Instagram Insights (free)

  • Not Just Analytics

    • 3. Design & Editing

  • Canva

  • InShot (for Reels)

  • Lightroom Mobile

    • 4. Link in Bio Tools

  • Linktree

  • Beacons

  • Taplink

    • Conclusion

    Earning money on Instagram in India is no longer a dream. In 2025, anyone with a smartphone, internet connection, and a bit of creativity can build a successful income stream using Instagram.

    Start by choosing your niche, building your audience, and picking the right method to monetize your content. Whether it’s through brand deals, selling your own products, or sharing your skills, the opportunities are endless.