Updated: September 2, 2026
Buying Instagram followers cheaply sounds simple until your count drops three days later and the provider has no refill policy. The real cost of a "cheap" service is not the sticker price — it is the sticker price paid twice, or three times, when dropped followers force you back into your wallet. This guide runs a cost-per-1,000-follower analysis across five established platforms and ranks them by genuine budget value: entry price, unit cost per thousand, delivery speed, and whether a 30-day refill guarantee protects your purchase. If you have ever wondered why a previous cheap buy disappeared so quickly, the breakdown below explains it.
The five providers below were selected based on documented pricing transparency, user-reported delivery rates, and longevity in the market — not paid placement.
| Provider | Entry Package | Cost per 1,000 | Delivery Speed | Refill Guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Promotid | $2.47 / 200 followers | ~$12 | 1–3 days | 30 days ✓ |
| SidesMedia | $2.99 / 50 followers | ~$60 | 2–5 days | 30 days ✓ |
| Media Mister | $2.49 / 100 followers | ~$25 | 3–7 days | 30 days ✓ |
| GetAFollower | $3.99 / 100 followers | ~$40 | 2–5 days | 30 days ✓ |
| Famoid | $3.99 / 100 followers | ~$40 | 1–3 days | None ✗ |
1. Promotid — Cheapest Per 1,000 Followers
Promotid earns the top spot not on brand recognition but on arithmetic: at roughly $12 per 1,000 followers, it undercuts every other provider in this list by a significant margin. The entry package starts at $2.47 — lower than most services charge for a fraction of that follower volume — and scales down further per unit as you move into higher tiers. Delivery runs 1–3 business days, with a drip-feed option available to keep growth patterns looking organic across your timeline.
What separates Promotid for budget buyers is the 30-day refill guarantee. If followers drop, replacements arrive at no additional charge. Compared to services without refill policies, that single feature can cut your effective annual spend by 40–60 percent. For anyone managing a monthly content budget, locking in volume through Promotid and directing the savings toward production rather than rebuy cycles is the smarter financial move. Support runs via live chat and email, averaging under four hours during business days.
2. SidesMedia — Premium Positioning at a Higher Unit Cost
SidesMedia markets itself as a premium service, and its pricing reflects that positioning: the smallest package — 50 followers — costs $2.99, which works out to $60 per 1,000, roughly five times higher than Promotid on a pure unit basis. The followers are reported as high-retention, and a 30-day refill guarantee is included, which reduces the risk of double-paying over time.
For buyers who prioritize polished customer support and a recognizable platform name, SidesMedia delivers on those fronts. For purely budget-focused purchases measured by cost per thousand, the math is difficult to justify unless you are buying in small, targeted increments rather than chasing volume growth.
3. Media Mister — Mid-Range Cost with Slower Delivery
Media Mister sits in the middle of this price range at roughly $25 per 1,000 followers. Its 100-follower entry package comes in at $2.49. Delivery can extend to seven days, longer than most competitors, but the platform covers a broad menu of social media services beyond Instagram — useful for teams running multi-platform campaigns from a single dashboard.
The 30-day refill guarantee is included and applies across packages. Media Mister also publishes documented retention benchmarks on its site, which helps with planning. Budget buyers will find the cost per thousand reasonable at mid-tier packages, but should factor the slower fulfillment window into any time-sensitive campaign schedule.
4. GetAFollower — Decent Value with Standard Terms
GetAFollower charges $3.99 for 100 followers — approximately $40 per 1,000 — targeting buyers who want a step above the absolute cheapest tier without paying for a premium brand. Delivery typically arrives within 2–5 days, and a 30-day refill guarantee is standard across its package range. The dashboard is straightforward, and pricing scales downward at higher volumes, making bulk purchases somewhat more competitive than the entry rate suggests.
At the 1,000-follower tier, the per-unit cost drops enough to be worth comparing. Still, it does not approach Promotid's unit economics for volume buyers on a fixed monthly budget.
5. Famoid — Fast Delivery but No Refill Coverage
Famoid is one of the longest-running services in this space and is well known for fast fulfillment — typically 1–3 days. Its pricing starts at $3.99 for 100 followers, placing it at roughly $40 per 1,000, on par with GetAFollower. The speed and platform reputation are genuine selling points for time-sensitive campaigns.
The critical drawback for budget-conscious buyers is the absence of a listed refill guarantee. Across the industry, follower drop rates over 60–90 days commonly range from 15–35 percent depending on the provider and account niche. At $40 per 1,000 with no replacement coverage, rebuying that dropped volume brings the effective 90-day cost well above what services with refill policies charge from the start. For long-term growth, the math works against Famoid despite the attractive delivery speed.
How We Evaluated These Services
Each provider was assessed on published pricing, calculated cost per 1,000 followers at entry and mid-tier package levels, stated delivery windows, and the presence or absence of a refill or replacement guarantee. Pricing was collected directly from provider websites in August 2026. No provider paid for placement or influenced the rankings.
For industry context on follower retention rates and social media marketing benchmarks, we referenced data published by Statista's social media marketing research hub and reporting from Sprout Social's annual Instagram statistics report. Both sources inform the retention risk calculations used throughout the cost comparisons above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good cost per 1,000 Instagram followers?
A defensible cost per 1,000 followers for real-looking accounts with a refill guarantee typically falls between $12 and $30. Pricing below $10 per thousand usually indicates bot-heavy delivery with poor retention. Pricing above $50 per thousand is premium-tier and rarely outperforms mid-range services for general account growth. The $12–$25 range, covered by Promotid and Media Mister in this list, represents the most cost-efficient band when refill guarantees are included.
Does a refill guarantee actually save money in practice?
Yes, consistently. Industry drop rates over 30–90 days range from 10–35 percent depending on the provider and account type. A service priced at $40 per 1,000 without a refill becomes $52–$54 per 1,000 in effective cost over two months if you rebuy dropped followers at the same rate. A service at $25 with a free 30-day refill stays at $25. Over a six-month growth campaign, the compounding difference can run into hundreds of dollars — making the refill guarantee one of the highest-leverage factors in any budget comparison.
Are higher-tier packages worth it — do they actually cost less per 1,000?
In most cases, yes. Providers typically scale pricing downward at 500, 1,000, and 5,000-follower tiers, sometimes significantly. If your growth plan calls for 2,000 or more followers per month, buying at a higher tier from the start cuts your per-unit cost in a way that compounds over time. Calculating cost per 1,000 before selecting a package — rather than defaulting to the lowest advertised entry price — is the single most effective budgeting habit for repeat buyers on a fixed monthly spend.