Want your best Instagram Stories to keep working after they vanish from the app? An Instagram Story widget puts the Stories you choose right on your website, in a layout that fits your brand.
I've set up Story widgets on product pages, event sites, and footers. The setups that work always start with deciding which Stories deserve to stay.
Maybe you want a handful of all-time favorites. Or maybe you want every new Story added automatically. Either way, we've got you covered.
Keep reading for step-by-step setup, tips for choosing a Story widget tool, five tools with free plans, and answers to common questions.
An Instagram widget can show feed posts, Reels, and Stories side by side. Comparing every option? Start with our guide to Instagram widgets.
For more ways to embed Instagram posts, check our guide on embedding your Instagram feed, embedding Instagram Reels, and working with UGC Instagram Stories from your customers.
Why a Story widget keeps your best Stories alive
Your Story gets a burst of views, and then it's gone. Instagram removes Stories after 24 hours, and Highlights only live on your profile, where website visitors never see them.
A Story widget fixes that. It pulls the Stories you approve into a feed on your website. Once approved, a Story stays on your site after it disappears from the app. Your good content keeps working.
That makes your choice of Stories important. Before you approve anything, ask one question: will this still make sense next month?
Keep: product demos, customer testimonials, quick how-tos, and behind-the-scenes moments.
Skip or delete later: flash sales, "tonight only" events, and sold-out notices.
A flash sale Story is perfect on Instagram. On your homepage a week later, it just confuses people. Need ideas for evergreen content? Browse these Instagram Stories examples.
How to add an Instagram Story widget, step by step
Follow these simple instructions to add a feed with your Instagram Stories to your website. The total setup time from start to finish should be less than 5 minutes.
1. Pick a Story widget tool and log in
Start by choosing a Story widget tool. Usually, that's a social media aggregator that lets you add a social media feed to your website for free or at a low monthly cost. Compare plans by monthly feed views, number of widgets, and number of sources. Not sure which tool fits? Check the buying tips and the five tools with free plans below.
2. Create a new feed and set the moderation style
Next, create a new feed and give it a name, something like "Instagram Stories" so you know what content the feed is for.
During this stage, you'll also need to set the default post status. Choose "Approved" if you want all posts to be automatically added to your site (unless you delete them in the dashboard). Or, choose "Needs approval" if you'd rather manually approve each Story one by one.
3. Select Instagram Stories as the feed source
Next, choose Instagram as the platform (you can also aggregate content from dozens of other social media networks). And select Stories as the post type you want to display in your feed.
You can always add more post types to the same feed or a different feed later.
4. Connect your Instagram Business account
You will then be prompted to connect your Instagram Business account by logging in and giving access to the social media aggregator.
You must have an Instagram Business account to aggregate Stories, so you'll need to convert your account from Personal to Business if you haven't yet.
Just to be clear, the Business account requirement comes from Instagram, not Curator. You can pull Stories on any Curator plan, including the free one.
5. Approve Instagram Stories to be added to your website
Next, you will need to approve the individual Story posts that you want to embed on your website. You'll do this in the Curate tab inside of Curator.
If you set your approval style to "Needs approval" you'll click the check mark for each post you want to display.
If you set your approval style to "Approved" you'll delete any post you do not want to display. The rest will be automatically approved and added to your site in reverse chronological order.
6. Choose your favorite template
Next, it's time to stylize your feed.
Check out all of our great social media feed templates here.
You can also customize the colors of the backgrounds, borders, Instagram logo, captions and more using easy settings. Or, enter custom CSS if you're an experienced website designer looking to make advanced customizations.
7. Embed the feed code in your website
The last step is to click "Publish," copy the HTML code, and paste it into your website where you want to add the feed.
In general, every website builder, whether it's Wix or WordPress, has a section where you can drag and drop an HTML code box or custom code box. Drag this widget where you want it (your blog's side bar, a product page, a customer love page, or the footer of your website). Then paste the HTML code in that box.
So where should it go? Stories are tall, and they need room to breathe. I generally recommend a carousel near the top of a product or event page. Vertical Stories get cramped in a narrow sidebar.
Want more installation help? Learn more about embedding your Instagram feed with Curator. The embed code works with all major website builders, including:
WordPress
SquareSpace
Wix
Shopify
Webflow
Drupal
Hubspot
How to choose an Instagram Story widget
Ever connected your account, only to find the Stories widget costs extra? Check these four things before you sign up.
Stories support you can use today. Confirm the Stories widget is live, not listed as coming soon. Some vendors also reserve Stories for pricier plans.
Refresh rate. Stories only last a day on Instagram. If your widget checks for new content once a day, you're cutting it close. Match the refresh rate to how often you post. Curator's free plan updates every 24 hours, and its Pro plan updates every 60 minutes.
Approval control. You want to choose which Stories appear. Manual approval is the safer default, since Stories tend to be casual or time-sensitive.
Views, branding, and layout. Free plans cap monthly views and often add branding. Preview a template with vertical content so nothing gets awkwardly cropped.
When I compare Story widgets, I check the refresh rate first. For content that disappears in 24 hours, it matters more than template count.
Approval control is a close second. A small coffee roaster we worked with set their Story widget to auto-approve. A week later, their homepage still showed a "sold out" Story for a blend that was back in stock. They switched to manual approval, pinned two evergreen brewing-tip Stories, and the mixed messages stopped.
5 Instagram Story widgets with free plans
Choose one of these Story widget tools to curate your Instagram Stories and add the approved ones to a beautiful widget on your website. Prices change often, so double-check each pricing page before you commit. You may also spot Elfsight in search results, but its Stories widget hasn't been released yet.
1. Curator
Curator is a social media aggregator designed to help you embed Instagram Stories on your website quickly and professionally. It supports a wide range of content types, including Stories, Reels, and posts from Instagram and other major platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok.
With flexible moderation options and customizable feed designs, Curator makes it easy to display Story content in a way that fits your brand.
Key features:
Display content from hashtags, usernames, or locations
Lightweight branding on the free plan (no branding on paid plans)
Highlight featured Stories by pinning them
Add custom updates or static posts to your feed
Dozens of feed layout templates to choose from
Custom CSS support for advanced design control
Manual or automated post approval workflows
Plans & pricing:
The free plan includes 3 sources, updates every 24 hours, and up to 2,000 monthly views, with a small "Powered by Curator" link. The Pro plan costs $25/month, or $23/month billed annually. It adds 5 sources, 60-minute updates, 15,000 monthly views, no branding, and post pinning. Curator is installed on 100,000+ websites.
2. EmbedSocial
EmbedSocial offers a suite of tools for displaying social content on your website, including a dedicated widget to embed Instagram Stories. The platform is especially useful if you're collecting user-generated content or managing customer reviews, as it includes rights management tools and social proof features.
Key features:
Supports Instagram Stories, Reels, and feed posts
Responsive, branded feed widgets with auto-updating content
Manual and automatic moderation options
Designed for user-generated content (UGC) collection and display
Option to manage content rights and display verified customer reviews
Plans & pricing:
EmbedSocial offers a free Instagram Stories widget with automatic syncing and WordPress shortcode support. Templates, gallery layouts, and AMP conversion are PRO features, and the PRO tier is listed at $29/month. Need UGC rights or review tools? Check EmbedSocial's pricing page for higher plans.
3. Taggbox
Taggbox is a content curation platform designed for brands that want control over their user-generated content (UGC). In addition to feed widgets for Instagram and other social networks, it offers tools for collecting, moderating, and publishing UGC across your site.
With flexible plans for different use cases, Taggbox can be a good fit if you're looking to display curated Stories or build shoppable feeds. The added features may be more than you need for simple Story embeds.
Key features:
Curate and display content from Instagram accounts, hashtags, and reviews
Built-in UGC rights management tools (on advanced plans)
Social commerce features like shoppable posts and product tags
Content moderation and analytics dashboard
Widget customization options for styling and branding
Plans & pricing:
Taggbox offers a free plan with 1 feed and 500 monthly views. Paid plans start with Starter at $19/month, then Growth at $29/month. For UGC rights management and deeper customization, you'll need the Advanced plan at $79/month.
4. Juicer
The streamlined social media aggregator Juicer lets you pull content from major platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter into one unified feed. While it supports Instagram content types, including Stories (on eligible plans), the platform is best suited for users who are willing to invest in a paid tier.
Key features:
Aggregates content from multiple social networks
Simple feed styling and layout controls
Post filtering and moderation tools
Real-time content updates (on paid plans)
Plans & pricing:
Juicer's free plan includes 1 feed with 1 source. Stories aren't part of it, though. Juicer offers Stories on its Pro and Enterprise plans, or as an add-on to the Starter plan. Paid prices shift often, so check Juicer's pricing page for current costs.
5. SociableKIT
SociableKIT is a no-code widget builder with a dedicated Instagram Stories widget. You create the widget, customize the design, and paste the embed code into your site. It also offers a separate Story Highlights widget, which is handy for evergreen content.
Key features:
Separate Instagram Stories and Story Highlights widgets
No-code setup with copy-and-paste embed code
Works with WordPress, Wix, Webflow, Squarespace, and Shopify
Layout, color, and font customization
Plans & pricing:
SociableKIT offers a free-forever plan, and new accounts start with a 7-day premium trial. Check SociableKIT's pricing page for current paid plans.
5 free Instagram Stories makers
These free tools are great for creating high-quality Stories that you can publish on Instagram and later embed on your website.
1. Kapwing
With Kapwing's Instagram video templates, you can make Reels, Stories, and video feed posts. The platform offers several AI-powered video editing features to speed up your workflow, including automated highlight finding for repurposing long-form videos and horizontal-to-vertical video resizing. WIth the Brand Kit, you can store brand assets and styles.
2. Canva
Canva is a popular tool for all sorts of digital content creation, from graphics to videos to reports. Their Instagram Story Maker offers thousands of templates and available-to-use design elements. And the Brand Kit makes it easy to store your own assets, colors, and fonts for easy content creation.
3. Wepik
Wepik has a free Instagram Story maker that's great for creating content. There are built-in templates and design elements like icons, illustrations, animations, and images. Like Canva and Kapwing, you can use the Brand Kit to store your brand's logo, fonts, and colors so all stories match your desired style.
4. Adobe Express
Adobe Express offers an intuitive platform for creating Instagram Stories using drag-and-drop tools and pre-made templates. You can start from scratch or choose from thousands of free designs sized specifically for Instagram Stories. It's easy to add your brand's fonts, logos, and colors to keep everything on-brand.
The multi-page editor also lets you build cohesive Stories with consistent styling, which is especially helpful for storytelling or product tutorials.
5. Stockimg.ai
If you're looking for an AI option, Stockimg.ai is a content tool to consider. It helps you generate Instagram Stories in seconds. No design skills needed. Whether you're promoting a product, sharing a quick tip, or announcing an event, its templates and automation tools make it easy to create professional-quality stories at scale. It also includes features for brand consistency, engagement optimization, and scheduling, making it a useful option for creators or small businesses that want to post Stories more regularly without spending hours designing.
Instagram Story widget FAQs
We've got answers to all of the FAQs related to adding Instagram Stories to a stylized feed or widget on your website.
Can I embed Instagram Stories on my website?
Yes, you can embed Instagram Stories on your website as easily as embedding Instagram feed posts. All you need to do is sign up for a free social media aggregator, connect your Instagram Business account, approve the Stories you want to display, and choose a template for your feed. Then, copy and paste the widget's HTML code where you want it to appear on your website.
How do you embed Instagram Stories on a WordPress website?
Within your social media aggregator tool, connect your Instagram Business account. Then, approve the Stories you want to add to your site. Next, choose a template for your feed or customize the style manually with the optional settings. Lastly, head to the Appearance >> Widgets section of WordPress, and add a custom code box to your blog's side bar, footer, header, or other key section of your WordPress site where you want the Instagram Stories widget to appear. Paste the HTML code for the feed in the box. You can also use Curator's WordPress plugin to add your feed with shortcode instead of HTML.
Can I embed Instagram Stories from other users?
You cannot directly embed Instagram Stories from other users. However, you can repost a Story if you are tagged in it and the original poster has enabled resharing. Once you repost someone's Story to your Instagram Business account, you'll be able to add it to your website widget of Instagram Stories.
What kinds of Instagram posts can be embedded on a website?
You can embed feed posts, Stories, and Reels. Standard feed content can be embedded from your own account, a hashtag, a mention, or a tagged/collab content. Instagram Stories can only be pulled from a Business Account.
Can I embed multiple types of content in one social media feed?
Yes, you can add as many sources as you want to a single feed. Keep in mind that most free plans only allow one or two sources, so you might need to upgrade your subscription to unlock more sources. You can aggregate multiple types of Instagram content in a single feed (like Reels, Stories, and mentions) or you can aggregate multiple platforms in a single feed (like Instagram Reels, YouTube videos, and Facebook posts). Just make sure to choose a feed template that works well for all the formats of content included.
Can I add old Instagram Stories?
Social media aggregators work best with recent content. If your embedded Instagram Stories feed isn't pulling in the Instagram Stories you want to display because they're too old, simply repost them to Instagram and they'll show up in the Curate section of the dashboard, where you can approve them to be added to your website.
Can I embed Instagram Stories without a Business account?
No. Instagram requires a Business account to allow third-party tools to access and display Stories. If you're using a Personal or Creator account, you'll need to switch to a Business profile to embed your Instagram Stories on a website using platforms like Curator or other social media aggregators.
The good news? You don't need a paid Curator plan. Stories work on Curator's free plan too.
Does an Instagram Story widget keep Stories after they expire?
Yes. Once you approve a Story in your widget tool, it stays in your website feed after Instagram removes it. That's what makes a Story widget so useful for demos, testimonials, and how-tos. As covered in the section on keeping your best Stories alive, clear out time-sensitive Stories once they're out of date. Otherwise, visitors may chase offers that no longer exist.
What's the difference between a Story widget and embedding Highlights?
Highlights are saved collections of Stories on your Instagram profile. Only people who visit your profile will see them. A Story widget shows the Stories you approve directly on your own website, in a layout that matches your brand. You decide which Stories appear and where they go, whether that's a product page, an event page, or your homepage.
Now you've got all the tips and tools you need to add your awesome Stories to your site!
Curator is an easy-to-customize Instagram Story widget and social media aggregator that pulls from over a dozen sources. It powers feeds on 100,000+ websites. If you'd like to give Curator's free forever plan a spin, sign up today.
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