Ads by type

Instagram Stories Ad Examples: 15 real examples running now

The best Instagram Stories ads look like a story someone you follow would post: a full-screen vertical frame, a person or a hand in shot, and a short caption in the middle of the screen. They open on something already happening, such as a creator holding up a bag, a roller sweeping hair off a carpet, or a line of text teasing a problem. The text stays clear of the top and bottom edges, where Instagram puts its own buttons.

The first frame has to work alone. Many people tap past in under a second, so the ads that hold up put the product and the reason to care in that opening still, with sticker-style captions doing the talking instead of a logo.

live ads, each annotated

different advertisers

December 2023

oldest still running

The 15 instagram stories ad examples

Every ad below is live in the public Meta Ad Library and belongs to the brand that runs it. We show a still frame, the copy, and our read on why it works. Dates are when each ad started running.

Coach ad: Make this bestseller your new go-to.

CoachRunning since August 2026

Video ad (still frame) · Facebook + Instagram

Make this bestseller your new go-to.

The bag for all your looks.

CTA: Shop now

Hook: A creator in a denim jacket holds up a Coach shoulder bag by its chain strap, looking straight at the camera.

Why it works

The bag sits in the centre of the frame, where nothing in the Stories interface can cover it, and the creator's pose feels like a haul video rather than a campaign. The headline, "Make this bestseller your new go-to", tells viewers the bag is already popular without giving a number.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

Scentify ad: Get a FREE Scent with Your V2 Diffuser | Build Your Kit

ScentifyRunning since September 2024

Video ad (still frame) · Facebook + Instagram

Get a FREE Scent with Your V2 Diffuser | Build Your Kit

Get your first 100ml Scent FREE for a limited time only with the purchase of a Plug-in Diffuser V2 ($30 Value) Give your home the sense of scent with our all new Scent Diffuser — ✨ Whisper-quiet technology for a…

CTA: Shop now

Hook: A real living room with the caption "It's so easy to set up," placed in a small black label at mid-screen.

Why it works

The caption answers the first objection to a plug-in diffuser before the product appears, and its placement mimics native Story text. The offer is a free 100ml scent worth $30 with the diffuser, a bonus that makes the price feel smaller.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

StarbucksRunning since October 2026

Dynamic creative · Facebook + Instagram

Coffee, but it lifts now

Try +17g protein for a coffee that’s built different. Sip on the Vanilla Protein Cream Cold Brew.

CTA: See menu

Hook: Two battery icons over a cold brew: "Your coffee" at half charge, "Your coffee with 17g protein" fully charged.

Why it works

The battery graphic explains the product at a glance, with no reading required. The headline "Coffee, but it lifts now" speaks to gym-goers in their own slang and gives a familiar drink a new reason to order it.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

AYBLRunning since September 2025

Video ad (still frame) · Facebook + Instagram

AYBL 🤝 Menswear. Premium fits and fabrics, be the first to shop AYBL Men.

CTA: Shop now

Hook: A guy in an oversized AYBL tee walks toward the camera in his kitchen.

Why it works

It looks like a try-on clip from a friend, which suits a gym-wear brand launching its menswear line. The full-height frame shows the whole fit, top to shoes, which a square ad would crop.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

Uproot CleanRunning since August 2026

Video ad (still frame) · Facebook + Instagram

That musty smell in your house isn't your dog. It's what's buried in your carpet. 🤢 Pet hair locks between carpet fibers using microscopic hooks. Foot traffic pushes it deeper. Static holds it tighter. Your vacuum only…

CTA: Shop now

Hook: A rubber rake drags a stripe of hair out of a carpeted stair, with a tiny "just get it" sticker beside it.

Why it works

The demo is the ad: you see the dirt come out in the first second. The copy explains why vacuums miss it (pet hair hooks into carpet fibres), which makes the result feel earned rather than staged.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

PrayerSong ad: Create Your Custom Christian Song Now

PrayerSongRunning since November 2025

Video ad (still frame) · Facebook + Instagram

Create Your Custom Christian Song Now

He got a PrayerSong for his wife and she couldn't believe this PrayerSong was about her😭🥹 Make them a custom Christian song that makes them feel truly seen, appreciated, and loved ❤️ The most unique gift for…

CTA: Shop now

Hook: A caption in the middle of the screen: "Wife is MAD thinking he forgot their anniversary, but secretly he had THIS planned..."

Why it works

The text sets up a tiny story with a cliffhanger, so people keep watching for the reveal. Filming in an ordinary kitchen keeps it feeling like a real couple's moment, and the body copy names the product, a custom song written as a gift.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

Lucky BearRunning since June 2025

Video ad (still frame) · Facebook + Instagram

Sale Ends Today

"My waterproof initial necklace is a game-changer for summer! Not only does it withstand water like a champ, but it also looks super stylish with any outfit. I've even gifted one to my bestie, and she's just as obsessed…

CTA: Shop now

Hook: A hand with bright green nails dangles a gold initial necklace against a white wall.

Why it works

The product is held up close in the centre of the frame, so the initials are readable even on a small screen. The copy is a customer's quote about wearing it all summer and gifting one to a friend, which does the persuading, and "Sale Ends Today" adds a deadline.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

Gate 1 TravelRunning since April 2026

Video ad (still frame) · Facebook + Instagram

Subscribe for Weekly Deals

Last minute travel deals for your next dream vacation!

CTA: Sign up

Hook: A full-screen hilltop town with five stacked reasons to book: tours in 90+ countries, unbeatable value, hassle-free travel, local guides, small groups.

Why it works

Gate 1 uses the vertical frame like a slide, with the selling points as short caption lines over the footage and the logo in the bottom band. The goal is a weekly deals email signup, a low-commitment ask that suits people who are dreaming about a trip but not ready to book.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

Qure Skincare ad: Hesitant To Start Micro-Infusion? Here’s what you need to know

Qure SkincareRunning since December 2025

Video ad (still frame) · Facebook + Instagram

Hesitant To Start Micro-Infusion? Here’s what you need to know

Qure’s Micro-Infusion System is designed for comfort, simplicity, and real skin benefits—without the clinic visit. The 24K gold-plated 0.5mm needles gently press into the skin (no dragging or tearing) to help increase…

CTA: Shop now

Hook: A woman tilts her head back to apply a serum, under the line "Full step by step tutorial + results at the end".

Why it works

The top caption promises a payoff, which keeps viewers watching to the end of the clip. The headline speaks to hesitation directly ("Hesitant To Start Micro-Infusion?"), and the body explains how the tool feels, which is the main worry for first-time buyers.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

Because Of Alice ad: Elevate Your Style, Effortlessly

Because Of AliceRunning since September 2026

Image ad · Facebook + Instagram

Elevate Your Style, Effortlessly

Timeless fashion meets premium quality. Elevate your wardrobe with ease.

CTA: See details

Hook: A model in a long white column dress with a high slit, alone in a bare grey room.

Why it works

The empty set and the vertical frame give the dress the whole screen, which suits a brand selling timeless pieces. It leaves room for the silhouette to read even on a small phone.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

Empower MedSpa ad: Home | Empower Medspa

Empower MedSpaRunning since November 2025

Image ad · Facebook + Instagram

Home | Empower Medspa

Our Christmas Tree is overflowing with gifts ready to be purchased by YOU! 🫵 Everything is discounted at least 20% with the exception of gift cards! Select items offer savings of up to 50% off! 😱 You can find some of…

CTA: Book now

Hook: A full Christmas tree hung with wrapped skincare products instead of ornaments.

Why it works

It turns a holiday sale into a picture: every gift on the tree is something you can buy. The copy gives a floor and a ceiling for the discount (at least 20% off, up to 50% on select items), which is clearer than a vague "holiday sale". The tall vertical frame fills the screen.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

Studio LuxcoRunning since December 2023

Video ad (still frame) · Instagram

Our new collection ✨ suitable for daily

Hook: A hand reaches for one of five structured handbags lined up on a sofa.

Why it works

The hand reaching in makes the viewer feel like they are choosing, and five colours in one frame show the range without a carousel. Shot on a phone in a real home, it blends into a stories feed.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

Halara Dress ad: Limited time discount 📣

Halara DressRunning since November 2025

Video ad (still frame) · Facebook + Instagram

Limited time discount 📣

Comfy & stylish for any occasion 🎁 Look good and feel good too 👏 A selection of color choices 🧡

CTA: Shop now

Hook: "YOUR NEW STRAIGHT LEG WORK PANTS" across the middle of a close shot of the waistband.

Why it works

The caption names the exact product and use in five words, placed where the eye lands in a vertical frame. Filming the pants from the waist down keeps the focus on fit and fabric.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

Orélina Jewelry ad: FREE Shipping + 40% Off — Limited Time

Orélina JewelryRunning since September 2025

Video ad (still frame) · Facebook + Instagram

FREE Shipping + 40% Off — Limited Time

The Calm Ring by Orélina is your beautiful escape from anxious habits! With smooth-spinning motion, elegant luxurious design, and water-proof stainless steel — everyday stress has finally met its match. No more restless…

CTA: Shop now

Hook: A hand fidgets with a ring under the single word "problem...".

Why it works

A one-word caption opens a question the viewer wants answered, and the close shot of fidgeting hands shows the habit the ring is designed for. The headline puts the offer, free shipping and 40% off for a limited time, outside the video.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

Rapid Radios ad: 🚚FREE Shipping For A Limited time + 60% OFF

Rapid RadiosRunning since January 2026

Video ad (still frame) · Facebook + Instagram

🚚FREE Shipping For A Limited time + 60% OFF

The Freedom To Communicate Without Limits: Whether you’re at home or abroad, stay in touch with friends, your kids, elderly, or business team members. These radios are ready to use right out of the box (no programming…

CTA: Learn more

Hook: A close-up of a radio screen with a green "battery life" sticker over the display.

Why it works

The sticker labels the one feature that matters for a walkie-talkie, so viewers grasp the benefit before the voiceover finishes. The copy then explains it works out of the box with no programming, the other common worry.

See it in the Meta Ad Library ↗

Patterns across these ads

Text in the middle third. Captions like "It's so easy to set up," and "just get it" sit near the centre of the frame, away from the profile bar at the top and the reply and link area at the bottom.
Sticker-style captions. Small white or black label boxes that mimic Instagram's own text tool make the ad feel native rather than designed.
A hand or a face in the first frame. Almost every ad opens with a person holding, wearing or using the product, filmed on a phone in a real room.
A teaser line that promises a payoff. "Full step by step tutorial + results at the end" and "problem..." give viewers a reason to keep watching past the first second.
Demo over description. The carpet rake, the radio battery and the diffuser setup are shown working, which is faster to understand on a small vertical screen than any copy.

Make your own version

Download any of these ads

Our free Chrome extension adds a download button to every ad in the Meta Ad Library.

Start from a template

Free Canva ad templates built on the same layouts you see above.

Write a better hook

Hook formulas and a free generator for the first line of your ad.

FAQ

What size should an Instagram stories ad be?

Stories use a vertical 9:16 frame, which is 1080 by 1920 pixels. Every ad here fills that frame edge to edge. Plan your shot so the product and any text still read if the top and bottom slivers are covered.

Where should text go in an Instagram story ad?

In the middle of the screen, roughly the central two thirds. The top of a Story carries the profile name and progress bar, and the bottom carries the call to action and reply area, so text placed there gets covered. The captions in these examples sit around eye level, where a person would put text in a personal story.

Should stories ads look polished or homemade?

The ones here mostly look homemade: phone footage, natural light, a real kitchen or living room, a simple caption. That matches what people are watching between friends' stories, so the ad does not jar. Polish can work for a big brand, but the product still needs to be in frame from the first second.

Where do these Instagram stories ad examples come from?

They are real ads from the public Meta Ad Library, which shows every ad running on Instagram and Facebook. They belong to the brands that run them. We chose ones running in the vertical format Stories uses, and the library does not show placement-level results.

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Ads are from the public Meta Ad Library and belong to their respective brands. They are shown here for study and commentary. We do not know any advertiser’s spend or results, so we never quote them.