Facebook reels are short-form videos that are designed to be entertaining, engaging, and easily shared across Facebook and Instagram. They allow creators to record and edit 15-60 second multi-clip videos using audio, effects, and creative tools. Reels first launched on Instagram in 2020 as a competitor to the popular short-form video app TikTok. In 2022, Facebook expanded reels to its platform as well to encourage more video creation.
TikTok
The closest equivalent to Facebook reels is TikTok. TikTok allows users to create, edit, and share 15-60 second videos set to music and augmented with effects and filters. Like reels, TikTok videos are designed to be entertaining, humorous, and shareable. The TikTok format became wildly popular with young audiences, prompting Facebook and Instagram to launch a similar short-form video product in order to remain competitive.
There are some key similarities between Facebook reels and TikTok:
- Length – Both allow 15-60 second video clips
- Multi-clip editing – Users can stitch together multiple clips with edits and transitions
- Music and audio – Videos feature music, voiceovers, and other creative audio
- Effects and filters – Fun AR effects and editing tools allow creativity
- Distribution – Made to be widely shared on social media
However, there are also some differences between the platforms:
- TikTok is mainly for video, while Facebook and Instagram focus on multiple formats
- TikTok has a more robust effects library while reels relies on Instagram/Facebook tools
- TikTok’s algorithm is built purely for short video, while Facebook’s caters to many formats
- TikTok orientated vertically while reels can be vertical or horizontal
YouTube Shorts
Another equivalent is YouTube Shorts, YouTube’s short-form video service. Shorts allows users to create up to 60 second long videos using YouTube’s massive music library. Similar to TikTok and reels, Shorts are designed for mobile creation and consumption and can be edited using various filters and effects.
YouTube Shorts shares a number of similarities with Facebook reels:
- 60 second maximum length
- Multi-clip editing capabilities
- Music library access to add songs
- AR effects and filters for creativity
- Vertical orientation ideal for mobile
There are also some differences between YouTube Shorts and Facebook reels:
- YouTube has a much larger music catalog thanks to licensing deals
- YouTube’s ecosystem is centered around longer videos, unlike the social media-focused platforms
- Shorts can use YouTube’s analytics while reels analytics are limited
- YouTube draws from a massive creator community acccustomed to video creation
Snapchat Spotlight
Snapchat Spotlight is another competitor in the short-form social video space. Spotlight allows Snapchat users to create up to 60 second vertical videos using Snapchat’s creative tools and features. Videos can then be shared publicly to Spotlight where they have the chance to go viral on Snapchat and earn money for the creator.
Spotlight shares some core similarities with Facebook reels:
- 60 second length cap
- Verticle orientation for mobile use
- Fun AR lenses, filters, and effects
- Distribution on a social platform (Snapchat) to gain views
There are also some key differences between the products:
- Spotlight is less focused on music
- Spotlight has a revenue sharing program to pay creators
- Spotlight videos disappear after 24 hours rather than living on a profile
- Spotlight features more Snapchat-powered effects vs. broad editing
Triller
Triller is a TikTok competitor app focusing solely on short form social video. Users can create music-driven videos up to 60 seconds long and share them across the Triller platform. Triller offers similar tools and formats as platforms like TikTok, allowing for multi-clip editing, filters, and creative effects.
Triller has many of the hallmarks of Facebook’s reels product:
- 15-60 second video length
- Robust editing tools and formats
- AR effects, filters, and editing capabilities
- Integrated music library
- Designed for social sharing and virality
Some differences between Triller and Facebook reels include:
- Triller is a standalone app while reels are baked into Instagram and Facebook
- Reels leverages Facebook’s creative tools and effects vs. Triller’s proprietary tools
- Triller focuses more narrowly on just short video vs. Facebook’s broad app ecosystem
- Reels taps into Facebook’s massive creator community vs. Triller’s smaller base
Conclusion
Facebook reels are essentially Facebook’s own take on the popular short-form social video format popularized by platforms like TikTok and Snapchat. The closest equivalent is TikTok given its dominance in the space and pioneering of the short video format. Other competitors like YouTube Shorts, Snapchat Spotlight, and Triller offer their own spins on short video but TikTok’s success and format informed the launch of reels on Instagram and Facebook. While differences exist across platforms, they largely allow users to create entertaining 15-60 second vertical videos using similar creative tools, music, effects, and editing capabilities.