VSCOAvery Hartmans/Business Insider

Instagram is one of the most popular social media apps currently available, allowing users to share pictures, videos, and livestreams of their daily lives. The Facebook-owned app is pretty casual — with face filters, stickers, and location tags — but it might leave some more serious photographers wanting more. 

VSCO, a photo-editing and social media app, is aimed at artsy photographers who want a little more control over their photo editing. It’s focused on artistic photography, while Instagram is more centered around snapshots of daily life. The two aren’t mutually exclusive, but both apps serve different needs for different people. 

Here are some of the differences between the two apps, and which app I would recommend to anyone: