What’s the Difference Between Ads on Reels and In-Stream Ads?

 Facebook provides multiple ad formats to help creators earn from their video content, and two of the most talked-about monetization tools are Ads on Reels and In-Stream Ads. While both are ways for creators to make money by allowing Meta to place ads in or around their videos, they are fundamentally different in terms of video format, eligibility, placement, viewing experience, and payment structure. If you’re a content creator looking to understand which option works best for your content—or aiming to qualify for both—this blog will break down every key difference between the two.

Let’s start by understanding each ad type individually, then compare them directly across all the critical categories.

---

Ads on Reels – What Are They?

Ads on Reels refer to the monetization feature where short, full-screen ads appear between Reels (Facebook or Instagram). These Reels are the vertical, 60–90 second short-form videos that resemble TikTok or YouTube Shorts. Meta allows creators to earn revenue from ads that are placed in between their Reels, in the feed.

These ads are usually auto-generated and may appear in one of two ways: either as overlay banner ads on top of your Reel (on Instagram), or as post-loop ads on Facebook (where an ad plays after the Reel loops). As a creator, you don't control which ads appear, but Meta shares a portion of the revenue generated from these views with you.

Ads on Reels do not interrupt your content directly. They play after or in between the viewing of multiple Reels.

---

In-Stream Ads – What Are They?

In-Stream Ads are used in long-form, on-demand video content that you upload to your Facebook Page. These ads play before (pre-roll), during (mid-roll), or after (post-roll) your video. These are the traditional video ads that appear during regular horizontal video content (3 minutes or longer), similar to YouTube ads.

In-Stream Ads are perfect for creators who regularly post educational videos, tutorials, talk shows, or storytelling content that lasts several minutes. These ads are usually skippable or auto-played and help monetize your longer videos directly by injecting ad breaks into the natural flow of your video.

Unlike Reels, these ads are embedded within the content itself, making them more intrusive but also more monetizable due to longer watch time and stronger viewer intent.

---

Key Differences Between Ads on Reels and In-Stream Ads

1. Video Format and Length

Ads on Reels are associated with short-form, vertical video content. These videos are typically 15 to 90 seconds long, designed to be consumed quickly, and focus heavily on trends, music, humor, or bite-sized education.

In-Stream Ads are tied to horizontal, long-form videos. The minimum video length required is 3 minutes, and longer videos (5–10 minutes or more) tend to perform better with mid-roll ads.

2. Viewer Experience

In Reels, the ads show up between Reels—not within the Reel itself. This keeps the viewing experience seamless. It’s similar to swiping between TikToks and occasionally landing on an ad.

In In-Stream Ads, the ads break into the video you’re watching. For example, if someone is watching a 6-minute video on cooking tips, they may get a mid-roll ad around the 3-minute mark. The content pauses while the ad plays.

3. Placement and Control

For Ads on Reels, Meta determines the placement automatically. You do not choose where or when ads appear in the Reel feed.

In In-Stream Ads, you can control when mid-roll ads appear if your video is eligible. Creators can either let Facebook automatically place them or manually insert ad breaks at natural pause points.

4. Eligibility Requirements

Ads on Reels:

• You must have Professional Mode enabled or a Facebook Page.

• Must meet Meta’s monetization standards.

• Be located in a supported country.

• Regularly post original Reels.

• No follower or video minute threshold as strict as In-Stream Ads.

In-Stream Ads:

• Must be at least 18 years old.

• Have a Facebook Page, not just a profile.

• Minimum of 10,000 Page followers.

• Have at least 600,000 total minutes viewed in the past 60 days across all video content (on-demand, live, or previously live).

• Have 5 active video uploads.

• Be in a supported country and meet all monetization eligibility standards.

Clearly, In-Stream Ads are harder to qualify for than Ads on Reels.

5. Revenue Model

In both formats, Meta shares ad revenue with creators. However, In-Stream Ads tend to bring in more revenue per 1,000 views compared to Ads on Reels due to:

• More intentional viewing

• Longer ads

• Higher advertiser bids

Ads on Reels may generate lower revenue per view, but they can go viral much faster due to the short-form format and the massive organic reach of Reels.

6. Where They Appear

Ads on Reels:

• Display in the Facebook Reels Feed or Instagram Reels Feed

• Appears between user Reels or after looping

In-Stream Ads:

• Appear inside long-form videos on the Facebook Watch tab

• Play during normal video viewing sessions

7. Engagement and Viral Potential

Reels have higher chances of going viral due to their snackable nature, built-in discovery algorithm, and music-based formats. One good Reel can get thousands or even millions of views quickly, earning you ad revenue even with a smaller audience.

In-Stream videos typically require more planning, scripting, and longer viewer attention spans. But they often build deeper engagement and authority.

8. Creative Strategy

Reels are optimized for creativity, trends, humor, and fast consumption. It’s all about grabbing attention quickly and delivering a hook within 3 seconds.

In-Stream video content allows you to go in-depth—create value-driven tutorials, podcasts, storytelling, educational explainers, or how-tos that people are willing to sit through.

9. Monetization Status and Updates

Facebook’s Ads on Reels replaced the earlier Reels Play Bonus Program, which was invite-only and paid creators fixed bonuses based on views. Now, Facebook uses an ad revenue share model for Reels that’s performance-based.

In-Stream Ads have remained consistent for years and are considered the backbone of Facebook’s video monetization system. The thresholds and terms have occasionally changed, but they remain a stable long-form income source for eligible Pages.

10. Creator Type That Benefits Most

Ads on Reels are perfect for:

• Short-form content creators

• Lifestyle vloggers

• Trend chasers

• Entertainers

• Creators with limited editing time

In-Stream Ads are perfect for:

• Educators and coaches

• Interviewers and podcasters

• Tutorial creators

• News publishers

• Creators with larger followings and structured content

---

Conclusion

While both Ads on Reels and In-Stream Ads provide revenue opportunities for Facebook creators, they cater to different content styles and creator types. Reels ads are fast, flexible, and ideal for creators leveraging short-form trends. In-Stream Ads offer deeper monetization for creators who consistently produce long-form, high-retention videos and meet Facebook’s stricter eligibility criteria.

If you’re just starting out, Ads on Reels are often the best entry point into Facebook monetization. But if you’re scaling and aiming for predictable, sustainable income, growing your Page and qualifying for In-Stream Ads is a worthwhile long-term goal.

Both are powerful in their own ways—and some of the most successful creators use both formats simultaneously to maximize revenue across their video catalog.