Have you seen the words “EmbedSocial Instagram Story Viewer” online and wondered what they mean? You are not alone. Many people think it is a tool to watch Instagram Stories in secret. That is not what it does.
EmbedSocial is a website tool. It helps you show your own Instagram Stories on your own website. Visitors can tap through your Stories there, just like they do in the Instagram app.
In this guide, I will explain what the tool is, how it works, what you need to start, how much it costs, and which other tools you can try. I wrote it in simple words, so you can follow along even if you are new to this topic.
What Is the EmbedSocial Instagram Story Viewer?
The name sounds like an app for watching Stories. In real life, it is a widget. A widget is a small block of content that you add to a web page.
EmbedSocial calls its tool an Instagram Stories widget. According to the company, it shows your Instagram Stories on your website in the same tap-through style that people know from the app. It adds new Stories by itself, and you can change the look to match your brand.
So the word “viewer” here means your website visitors are the viewers. They watch your Stories on your page, not on Instagram.
There is also an older WordPress plugin called EmbedStories. It does a similar job. It fetches your latest Story and shows it on a WordPress site with a short piece of code called a shortcode. You still need an EmbedSocial account to use it.
What It Cannot Do
This part matters, because many people search for this keyword with the wrong idea. Here are the main limits:
- It does not let you watch other people’s Stories.
- It does not hide your name when you view Stories.
- It does not make new content for you.
One article about this type of tool says it well. A story widget does not bring new followers or new leads by itself. It only shows what is already on your Instagram profile on your website too.
Another useful source, a guide from Curator, says you cannot embed Stories from other users directly. There is one small exception. If someone tags you in a Story and allows resharing, you can repost it to your business account. After that, it can appear in your widget.
Why Would Anyone Put Stories on a Website?
Instagram Stories disappear after 24 hours. Highlights stay on your profile, but website visitors rarely see your profile. So a good Story gets a short burst of views, and then it is gone.
A story widget can help with that. The Curator guide explains that once you approve a Story in your widget tool, it stays on your website after Instagram removes it. Your best content can keep working for you.
Here are some good reasons to use a story widget:
- You make good short videos. Product demos, how-to clips, and customer thank-you videos can work on your homepage for weeks.
- You want visitors to stay longer. A tap-through Story is more fun than a still photo. EmbedSocial says this kind of format can increase time on page.
- You want more Instagram followers. If visitors enjoy your Stories, they may follow you.
- You save time. You post once on Instagram, and the website updates by itself.
One example from EmbedSocial’s own page: a travel company called TrovaTrip used customer testimonials with the tool and says its booking rate went up by 12% in four weeks. This is the company’s own success story, so treat it as one example and not a promise for everyone.
How the Tool Works Behind the Scenes
You do not need to know code to use it, but a short explanation helps you understand the limits.
EmbedSocial says it connects through the official Instagram API. An API is a safe door that lets one program talk to another. To use it, you connect a Facebook account that is linked to your Instagram profile. After that, the tool can pull your Stories and update the widget.
This also explains why some Instagram rules apply. Instagram only lets outside tools use Stories from certain accounts. That is why you need the right account type, which I explain next.
What You Need Before You Start
Before you sign up, check this short list:
- An Instagram Business account. The Curator guide says Instagram requires a Business account for third-party tools to show Stories. If you have a personal account, you can switch to a Business account in the Instagram settings. The rule comes from Instagram, not from the tool.
- A Facebook account linked to your Instagram profile. EmbedSocial uses this link to connect.
- A website that accepts code. EmbedSocial says its widget works with WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Weebly, and any site that allows JavaScript or iframe code.
- A plan. On its Stories page, EmbedSocial says Instagram Stories are part of the Pro plan and higher, with a 7-day free trial.
How to Set It Up: Step by Step
EmbedSocial describes the process in three main steps. Here is a simple version with a few extra tips.
Step 1: Create an account
Go to the EmbedSocial website and start the free trial. You will make an account with your email.
Step 2: Connect your profile
Connect the Facebook account that is linked to your Instagram Business profile. Give the tool permission to read your Stories. You stay in control, and you can remove access later in your account settings.
Step 3: Build and style your widget
Pick a template. EmbedSocial says it has more than 200 templates, and it names five Story widget styles: Slider, Lightbox, Story List, AMP List, and Slider List. Then change the colors and layout. If you know CSS, you can use the custom CSS editor for deeper changes.
Step 4: Choose which Stories to show
Use the moderation option. This lets you pick the Stories that appear on your site. I recommend this for most people. Stories are often casual. A “sale ends tonight” Story looks strange on a homepage a week later.
Step 5: Copy the code and paste it
Copy the embed code and paste it on your page. On WordPress, you can use the official plugin and a shortcode instead. Each widget has its own shortcode that you can place in a post, a page, or a widget area.
Tall Stories need space. The Curator guide suggests placing the widget near the top of a product or event page, and not in a narrow sidebar.
Main Features of EmbedSocial’s Stories Widget
Here are the features that EmbedSocial lists on its official page:
- Auto-sync. New Stories appear on your site without extra work.
- Highlights. You can make a widget that looks like your Instagram Highlights.
- Story galleries. You can join several Stories into one widget.
- Bookends. You can add a last screen with “read more” links.
- Story analytics. You can see how each Story performs.
- Shoppable Stories. You can add “Buy” buttons that send visitors to a checkout page.
- Moderation. You choose which Stories to show.
- Custom CSS. You can change the style in detail.
- Mobile friendly. The widgets are made to fit any screen size.
- Many sites. You can use the same account for more than one website.
One thing to know: if you cancel your plan, the widget stops working. EmbedSocial says it will have to remove the widget from your site. Plan for that before you build your whole homepage around it.
How Much Does It Cost?
On its Stories page, EmbedSocial shows a price of $29 per month and a 7-day free trial, plus a money-back guarantee. The Curator guide also lists the Pro tier at $29 per month. Prices can change, so please look at the official pricing page before you pay.
For a quick comparison, here are some other prices listed in the Curator guide. Remember that Curator makes a competing product, so check these numbers yourself too.
| Tool | Free plan | Paid plan example |
|---|---|---|
| Curator | Yes, with 3 sources and updates every 24 hours | Pro at $25 per month |
| Taggbox | Yes, 1 feed and 500 monthly views | Starter at $19 per month |
| Juicer | Yes, but Stories are not included | Stories on Pro and Enterprise plans |
| SociableKIT | Free forever plan | Check the official pricing page |
| EmbedSocial | 7-day free trial | $29 per month listed |
Another writer reviewed this group of tools and said they usually cost around 25 to 90 pounds or dollars a month. That fits with what the tool pages show.
Good and Not So Good: A Fair Look
What is good
- It is easy to use. You do not need a developer.
- The widget updates by itself.
- You can keep your best Stories on your site after Instagram removes them.
- It has many templates and shop features.
- The company says it has more than 400,000 brands as users, and it shows a 4.9 out of 5 rating from 202 reviews on G2. These are numbers from the company’s own page, so view them as a starting point.
What is not so good
- You need a paid plan for Stories.
- You need an Instagram Business account.
- The widget stops working if you stop paying.
- It only shows your own Stories.
- If you stop posting Stories, the widget will show old content. One writer noted that some clients paid for months without seeing that their widget only showed old Stories.
Tips to Get the Best Result
- Keep evergreen Stories. Product tips, customer thanks, and behind the scenes clips stay useful for a long time.
- Remove old offers. Check your widget once a month and delete anything out of date.
- Post often. The tool shows what you share. No new Stories means no new content on your page.
- Use manual approval. It takes a few minutes, and it stops mistakes.
- Test on mobile. Most visitors will watch on a phone.
- Place it high on the page. Give vertical videos enough space.
Other Tools You Can Try
If EmbedSocial is not right for you, here are some other choices mentioned in the Curator guide:
- Curator. It has a free plan and works with many content types.
- Taggbox. It is strong for user-generated content and shoppable feeds.
- Juicer. It pulls content from many networks into one feed.
- SociableKIT. It has a separate Stories widget and a Highlights widget.
Before you choose, check three things. First, is the Stories widget live today and not “coming soon”? Second, how often does it refresh? Third, can you choose which Stories show up?
Final Thoughts
The EmbedSocial Instagram Story Viewer is not a secret viewer. It is a simple widget that puts your own Stories on your website. It is a good choice if you post useful Stories often and want them to work harder for you.
Start with the free trial, build one widget, and test it on your most visited page. If it fits your plan and your budget, keep it. If not, look at the other tools in this guide. The best tool is the one that you will actually use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use EmbedSocial to watch someone else’s Instagram Story?
No. The tool does not work as a Story watching app. It only shows Stories from your own Instagram Business account on your own website. You cannot use it to view other people’s Stories, and it does not hide your identity.
Do I need an Instagram Business account?
Yes. Instagram only allows outside tools to read Stories from Business accounts. If you have a personal account, you need to switch to a Business account first. You also need a Facebook account that is linked to your Instagram profile, because EmbedSocial connects through it.
Will my Stories stay on my website after 24 hours?
Yes, in most cases. Once a Story is added to your widget, it can stay on your site after Instagram removes it from the app. That is one of the main reasons people use these tools. Still, you should remove old Stories, like sales that have ended, so visitors do not get confused.
