BeReal

BeReal

BeReal is a social media app released in 2020 that aims to show authentic moments from users' lives. The app prompts users daily to take and share a photo capturing what they're doing in the moment within a 2 minute time limit.
BeReal image
social-media authenticity daily-photo real-life-moments

BeReal: Authentic Moments from Your Life

BeReal is a social media app released in 2020 that aims to show authentic moments from users' lives. The app prompts users daily to take and share a photo capturing what they're doing in the moment within a 2 minute time limit.

What is BeReal?

BeReal is a social networking and photo sharing app that was created in 2020 by Alexis Barreyat. The app's purpose is to share authentic and unedited photos of users' daily lives.

The main feature of BeReal is the daily notification users receive asking them to take and share a photo within 2 minutes. The app simultaneously snaps a photo using the front and back phone cameras, so the goal is to capture a glimpse of what the user is genuinely doing at that moment in time. This is meant to contrast with curated social media content on apps like Instagram or Snapchat.

BeReal does not allow editing features on its platform and photos disappear after 24 hours. The app has a strong focus on privacy and does not show likes, comments or follower counts. The feed shown to users is chronological without algorithms rather than ordered by engagement. Users can only see their friends' content.

Since launching, BeReal has gained significant popularity especially among Gen Z users. It promotes itself as the anti-social media app for showing real and unfiltered life moments. The app monetizes through a subscription plan without ads or data selling. Key reasons for BeReal's growth are seen as pandemic-driven authenticity nostalgia and general social media fatigue from polished yet less genuine platforms.

BeReal Features

Features

  1. Daily photo prompt at a random time
  2. 2-minute time limit to capture and share photo
  3. Chronological feed of friends' photos
  4. Ability to react to friends' posts
  5. Option to retake photo within the 2-minute window

Pricing

  • Free

Pros

Encourages authentic, unfiltered sharing

Promotes in-the-moment engagement

Fostering a more genuine social media experience

No algorithms or filters to manipulate content

Cons

Limited time to capture and share photos

Potential for missed prompts or forgetting to post

Lack of advanced editing tools or features

Reliance on friends using the app to have an engaging feed


The Best BeReal Alternatives

Top Social & Communications and Photo & Video Sharing and other similar apps like BeReal

Here are some alternatives to BeReal:

Suggest an alternative ❐

Instagram icon

Instagram

Instagram is a free photo and video sharing app that allows users to post content and engage with others. It has over 1 billion monthly active users. Some key features of Instagram include:Photo and video posting - Users can post high quality photos and 60 second videos using filters and...
Instagram image
Snapchat icon

Snapchat

Snapchat is a mobile app for iOS and Android that allows users to send and receive 'self-destructing' photos, videos, and messages called snaps. One of the core concepts of Snapchat is that the pictures, videos, and messages are available for only a short time before they become inaccessible to their...
Snapchat image
Wizz icon

Wizz

Wizz is a user-friendly web design software aimed at small business owners, entrepreneurs, bloggers, and other non-technical people who want to build a professional website without learning to code.It features an intuitive drag-and-drop interface that allows users to select pre-designed page layouts, themes, photos, fonts, colors, and other elements to...
Wizz image
VSCO icon

VSCO

VSCO (formerly known as VSCO Cam) is a photo and video editing app for iOS and Android devices. Originally launched in 2011, VSCO has become one of the most popular editing apps amongst creative professionals and enthusiasts.The key highlights and features of VSCO include:An extensive range of presets and filters...
VSCO image
Minutiae icon

Minutiae

Minutiae is an open-source, self-hosted password manager that allows users to securely store passwords and other sensitive information. It features a minimalist, easy-to-use interface along with robust encryption and security options.Some key features of Minutiae include:Client-side encryption - All data is encrypted before leaving the user's device, ensuring privacy and...
Minutiae image
Pixelfed icon

Pixelfed

Pixelfed is an open-source, decentralized and federated photo sharing platform that was created as an ethical alternative to commercial social networks like Instagram. It aims to give users more control over their privacy and data.Some key features of Pixelfed:Open-source - the codebase is transparent and community-drivenFederated - users on different...
Pixelfed image
Goodwall icon

Goodwall

Goodwall is a social media platform focused on empowering youth, students and young professionals. Launched in 2014 by Taha Bawa and Erik Mathison, the mission of Goodwall is to provide a positive community that celebrates the achievements of young people across academics, sports, extracurriculars and workplace success.Some key features of...
Goodwall image