This Rising Instagram Alternative Is Promising Everything Meta Can’t

But there are a lot of other ways that Glass stands out. Unlike Instagram and its unwillingness to make an iPad app, Glass got its dedicated app for iPadOS in February 2022, providing a larger canvas for viewing photos in all their pixel-dense glory. Yes, media consumption, especially for creatives is best experienced on a larger screen, which is why Glass’ web client loads high-resolution photos after showing a low-res preview.

However, don’t mistake it for a locked ecosystem. Glass founders told TechRadar that the app was built for “photographers, amateur and professional alike.” And unlike Instagram with its risk of social media addiction, one of the platform’s creators Stefan Borsje told Protocol that they “don’t think you open the Glass app to get hooked and just doomscroll for like two hours.” Tom Watson, the other founder of the app, previously worked at Facebook and Pinterest. But here’s the biggest difference.

Glass is a paid subscription-based app, which costs $5 per month or $30 for an annual plan — plus, it requires an Apple ID to sign up, but that is about to change soon. The founders are of the opinion that a paid platform reduces toxic interactions that are everywhere on a free service where users have little to lose. Plus, this is a bootstrapped project without any pressure from VC backers or deep-pocket investors. Glass essentially borrows Instagram’s photo-sharing DNA, but puts it to better use, for a price.