Instagram has become an obsession for all iPhone carrying consumers out there. The simple act of shooting and pairing photos with artsy filters continues to rake in the users, despite its rather narrow scope. At the moment, it remains an iPhone exclusive, with no Android or even iPad app available.
Thankfully, its open API has made for some inspired innovation. But if all you want is a desktop view for your filter-heavy feed, look no further. Here are our favorite Mac and PC desktop Instagram clients.
Instagrille
This desktop app from Pokki integrates Instagram into the very heart of your PC routine. You can forego the browser entirely via this slick and easy-to-access icon. Clicking the app pulls up a window into your Instagram feed letting your view popular images, as well as your personal account. It is somewhat limiting however: you can’t view it fullscreen, search for users, or edit your account settings.
Inkstagram
Inkstagram is arguably the most well-known browser-based Instagram option. And it’s simple enough: you view your feed, personal photos, and likes in a grid format. This application also gives you the ability to search and create hashtag albums. You can additionally search for users.
Visual Grub
This is a new addition to the Instagram-at-the-desktop category for Macs. It’s a free download from the Mac App Store that streams your feed, popular photos, and your favorites in real-time. Clicking on an image will pop it out from the desktop app so you can comment or like it. Offline viewing is also an option.
Instadesk
Easily one of the most popular Mac-based Instagram clients, there is no application more fully-featured than this. The download issues you an iTunes-like service that showcases your photos, friends, feed, popular photos, and lets you take your insta-addiction to new heights. You can create slideshows, enable desktop notifications, dub contacts your “favorite friends,” download and share images, and browse tags. It’s $4.99 from the Mac App Store.
Carousel
Carousel is another Mac-only application, and this one is more style than substance. With a minimalist UI, you view photos in a single column and can choose between different themes as a background to contrast them against. You can get a 15-day free trial of Carousel, which is $4.99 for keeps.
Extragram
With quite a few similarities to Inkstagram, it’s difficult to distinguish these two. Most of the details lie in subtle UI distinctions, but overall they are just simple, accessible ways to view Instagram. You can choose how you view photos via Extragram, whether in a simple grid, a filmstrip with thumbnails below, or by location. There’s also PicPlz integration and discovery options.
Gramfeed
Gramfeed’s UI is a little overwhelming, but if you can look past the distractions there are some pretty interesting features in there. Google Maps integration displays where the photos in your feed are coming from, in addition to the feed itself, which hovers users’ photos on top. You can switch between your likes, photos, and popular images as well. There’s also a search bar to look for photos, users, and places. You have the option of keeping your Gramfeed specific profile private.
