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How to Create Hashtags for Instagram & TikTok (Free)

October 18, 2026 · 5 min read · By the DollarWise team
How to Create Hashtags for Instagram & TikTok (Free)
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You’ve posted the perfect photo or video — and then comes the awkward part: staring at the caption box wondering which hashtags to add. Most people either skip them, copy-paste the same 30 generic tags every time, or use #love #instagood #photooftheday and wonder why nothing happens. Hashtags still work in 2026, but the strategy has changed. Here’s how to create hashtags that actually get you discovered — plus a free tool that does the tedious part.

How hashtags work now (not in 2019)

The old game was volume: stuff 30 tags, rank on a few hashtag pages, collect likes. That game is over. Today’s algorithms use hashtags primarily as categorization signals — they tell Instagram and TikTok what your content is about so it can be matched to interested viewers.

That means relevance beats reach. A niche tag like #sourdoughstarter (50k posts) will put your bread video in front of bread people; #food (500M posts) puts it in front of nobody, because you’re competing with half a billion posts for a signal the algorithm barely weighs.

The hashtag formula that works

Build every hashtag set in three tiers:

  1. Niche tags (2–4): Specific to your exact topic and community. Under 500k posts each. Examples: #lofibedroomproducer, #vanlifediy, #budgetmealprep. These are where small accounts actually get discovered.
  2. Mid-size tags (2–4): Your broader category, 500k–5M posts. Examples: #homebaking, #indiemusic, #personalfinance. Competitive but winnable.
  3. Broad tags (1–2): The big category, 5M+ posts. Examples: #baking, #fitness. Include one or two for categorization, but expect zero direct traffic from them.

Total: 5–10 hashtags. Instagram’s own creator guidance suggests 3–5; TikTok similarly rewards a tight, relevant set. Quality and specificity win.

Creating hashtags in 60 seconds with a generator

Researching tags manually means searching each one, checking post counts, and judging relevance — 15 minutes per post, minimum. A generator compresses that to seconds:

  1. Describe your content in our free hashtag generator — a few keywords about your post or video (“vegan meal prep bowls,” “acoustic guitar cover”).
  2. Pick your platform. Instagram and TikTok favor slightly different tag mixes; the tool tailors the set.
  3. Copy the tiered set. You get niche, mid-size, and broad tags balanced per the formula above — ready to paste.
  4. Rotate, don’t repeat. Generate a fresh set per post. Using identical hashtag blocks on every post is a known spam signal; slight variation keeps you safe.

How to research hashtags manually (when you have 10 minutes)

Generators are fast, but knowing the manual method helps you judge quality:

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  1. Start with a seed keyword. Type your topic into Instagram or TikTok search and open the Tags tab. Note the post count on each suggestion.
  2. Check the 50k–500k sweet spot. Tags in this range have active audiences but beatable competition. Tap a tag and scroll: if the top posts have engagement levels similar to yours, you can compete there.
  3. Steal (ethically) from competitors. Find 3–5 accounts your size in your niche with good reach. Note which tags repeat across their best posts — those are proven in your exact lane.
  4. Test in batches. Use one tag set for a week, another the next. Compare reach-from-hashtags in your analytics. Keep a simple spreadsheet of winners.

Do this once per content pillar and you’ll build a personal tag library that beats any generic list.

Platform-specific hashtag rules

Instagram (2026):

  • 3–5 hashtags is the official recommendation; up to ~15 is fine in practice
  • Hashtags work in Reels, feed posts, and Stories (Stories: keep to 1–3, or hide them behind stickers)
  • Keyword-rich captions now do heavy lifting — write naturally about your topic and tag it
  • Banned or “broken” tags (flagged for spam) can suppress reach — if a tag’s page shows limited results, drop it

TikTok (2026):

  • 3–5 relevant tags per video; the algorithm reads your caption text and audio, so hashtags are supporting signals
  • Trending challenge tags (#duet, branded challenge tags) can spike discovery when genuinely relevant
  • SEO-style captions matter more here than on Instagram — write what people would search

Hashtag mistakes killing your reach

  • Copy-pasting the same block every post. Vary at least half your tags each time.
  • Only using mega-tags. #love has over 2 billion posts. You will never rank there. One niche tag beats ten mega-tags.
  • Irrelevant trending tags. Jumping on a trending tag unrelated to your content annoys viewers and trains the algorithm to miscategorize you.
  • Ignoring your analytics. Check which posts got Explore/For-You traffic and note their tag mix. Double down on what worked.

Frequently asked questions

How many hashtags should I use on Instagram in 2026? Instagram officially recommends 3–5 highly relevant hashtags per post. Using 8–15 is still common and safe; avoid stuffing 30 loosely related tags, which can look spammy and dilute relevance.

How many hashtags should I use on TikTok? TikTok’s own guidance suggests a mix of broad and niche tags — 3–5 per video works well. The caption’s keywords matter more than hashtag count, so prioritize relevance over volume.

Do hashtags still work in 2026? Yes, but their role has shifted. Hashtags now categorize your content for the algorithm more than they drive browse traffic. Relevant, specific hashtags still boost discovery — generic mega-tags like #love do almost nothing.

Should I put hashtags in the caption or comments? It makes no algorithmic difference on Instagram. Caption placement is simpler and keeps everything in one place; first-comment placement keeps captions cleaner visually. Pick whichever you prefer and stay consistent.

#hashtags#instagram#tiktok#social-media
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Written by the DollarWise team

We turn confusing money topics into plain-English guides for beginners. Every article is written to be actionable on day one — no jargon, no hype, no sales pitch.

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