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Path Social alternative: how Kicksta compares

Looking for the right Path Social alternative? We tested Path Social hands-on and read its terms, pricing and hundreds of reviews. Here's where it falls short, and how Kicksta answers each problem.

Follower quality

Reviewers report followers that look fake or inactive
Real, engaged followers

Competitor targeting

AI-picked larger accounts, only on its Elite plan
Included on the Growth Plan

Free trial

None listed on its pricing page
7-day free trial on monthly and quarterly plans

What Path Social is

Path Social is an Instagram growth service with two plans, Instagram Core and Instagram Elite. It says it promotes your profile through shoutouts from its 13,000+ influencers and its email newsletters.

What it says it does

  • Says its AI reviews your profile first, to find you the right followers.
  • Says it doesn't ask for your Instagram password.

What unhappy customers say on Trustpilot

  • “Increased followers, but Lithuanian despite weeks of targetting and warming up. Paid extra for engagement, but nothing.”
    Kate Doddon Trustpilot, May 27, 2025
  • “Doesn’t work, got fake new accounts from india even though my settings were to professional business accounts in uk and USA. Tried to complain via email and provided evidence. I’ve not had 1 legit real follower!”
    Claire Northcotton Trustpilot, April 2, 2026
  • “Super expensive and all you get are fake followers that leave as soon as they arrive. When you complain they blame you and refuse to compensate you in any way. Stay away from them!”
    Thavi Jmzon Trustpilot, July 18, 2026
  • “I was deceived. Paid for months and I got nowhere near the growth they promised and then, on top of that, the followers started dropping. They did nothing to fix the issue, just continued to charge me despite my multiple complaints.”
    Diana Vrejoiuon Trustpilot, September 18, 2025

Where Path Social falls short

With Path Social

Compared with Kicksta

Reviewers report followers that look fake or inactive.

With KickstaReal people who chose to follow you

Reviewers say the followers they got didn't fit the gender or country they targeted.

With KickstaFollowers from the accounts and hashtags you choose

Its pricing page doesn't mention keeping new followers engaged.

With KickstaKeeps your new followers engaged

Path Social reviews: why people leave

What people complain about most in Path Social's Trustpilot, Capterra and Reddit reviews.

  • Billing and cancelling94 of the 211 complaints we collected
    “Some of the accounts they claimed to have helped are fake. Also, once you cancel the account, your followers mysteriously start to decline?”
    CA · Trustpilot · May 31, 2025
  • Results42 of the 211 complaints we collected
    “Definitely not worth the money. It hurt my insta more than helped it while their followers were not real so in the end it was counter productive. Highly do not recommend.”
    Julie Marghilano · Trustpilot · July 20, 2026
  • How it's marketed36 of the 211 complaints we collected
    “If there was a zero star rating I would chose that - it’s a scam and needs to be avoided at all cost.”
    Heather Coughlan · Trustpilot · October 1, 2026
  • Support11 of the 211 complaints we collected
    “Why do you not respond to any negative review? I would highly avoid this scam company”
    Sean Johnston · Trustpilot · July 1, 2025

13% raise other problems

Quotes are word for word from public reviews.

Is Path Social safe and legit?

Path Social is a real company that sells Instagram growth plans. Two things to weigh before you pay.

  • It has no obligation to provide you with customer support.In its own terms
  • Reviewers report billing and cancelling problems more than anything else.In its Trustpilot reviews

Path Social pricing vs Kicksta pricing

What each plan costs per month, and what's included.

Sale price

Monthly

$49/mo

Instagram Core, billed monthly

Price checked October 29, 2026

Its pricing page runs a countdown: 50% off yearly plans, ending in an hour.

Free trialNone listed on its pricing page
Competitor targetingAI-picked larger accounts, only on its Elite plan
Profile reviewAn initial AI profile review
Ways to payMonthly or yearly
Growth Plan

Monthly

$69/mo

Billed monthly.

Free trial7-day free trial on monthly and quarterly plans
Competitor targetingIncluded on the Growth Plan
Profile reviewWeekly Instagram audit on the Growth Plan
Ways to payMonthly, quarterly or yearly

Path Social vs Kicksta: side by side

See why Kicksta is a better choice than Path Social, feature by feature.

10 won by Kicksta3 won by Path Social3 even

  • Kickstawins the round
  • Path Socialwins the round
  • Evena tie splits the point
What mattersPath Social$49/mobilled monthlyKicksta$69/mobilled monthly
Getting started20
Free trialKicksta None listed on its pricing pagetheir pricing page, October 29, 2026 7-day free trial on monthly and quarterly plans
Ways to payKicksta Monthly or yearlytheir pricing page, October 29, 2026 Monthly, quarterly or yearly
What it costs02
Monthly pricePath Social Instagram Core $49/month, billed monthlytheir pricing page, October 29, 2026 Growth Plan $69/mo billed monthly
Yearly pricePath Social Instagram Core $29/month, billed annuallytheir pricing page, October 29, 2026 Growth Plan $39/mo billed yearly
How it grows your account503 even
Competitor targetingKicksta AI-picked larger accounts, only on its Elite plantheir pricing page, October 29, 2026 Included on the Growth Plan
Followers in your nicheKicksta Reviewers say the followers they got didn't fit the gender or country they targetedTrustpilot reviews, October 15, 2026 Followers from the accounts and hashtags you choose
Hashtag targetingEven Hashtag targeting, per its pricing pagetheir pricing page, October 29, 2026 Hashtag targeting on the Growth Plan
Audience settingsEven Niche and targeting filters, per its pricing pagetheir pricing page, October 29, 2026 Smart niche filters: account size, activity, privacy and content type
Likes your new followers' postsKicksta None listed on its pricing or home pagetheir pricing page, October 29, 2026 Like after follow, on both plans
Close Friends adderKicksta None listed on its pricing or home pagetheir pricing page, October 29, 2026 Close Friends Adder on the Advanced Plan
Profile reviewKicksta An initial AI profile reviewtheir pricing page, October 29, 2026 Weekly Instagram audit on the Growth Plan
Growth analyticsEven Real-time analytics, per its pricing pagetheir pricing page, October 29, 2026 Live growth analytics
If something goes wrong31
SupportKicksta Its terms say it has no obligation to provide customer support; 24/7 support only on Elitetheir terms, October 29, 2026 24/7 live support
CancellingKicksta By email or its site, per its terms; reviewers report billing and cancelling problems mosttheir terms, October 29, 2026 Start your cancellation from Settings in your dashboard; there are no cancellation fees
Follower qualityKicksta Reviewers report followers that look fake or inactiveCapterra reviews, October 15, 2026 Real, engaged followers
Instagram passwordPath Social Doesn't ask for your Instagram passwordtheir pricing page, October 29, 2026 Encrypted login; Kicksta doesn't store your password

How to switch from Path Social to Kicksta

  1. Try Kicksta free for 7 days

    Pick a monthly or quarterly plan and connect your Instagram account.

  2. Choose who to reach

    Add the accounts and hashtags your audience already follows. Kicksta puts your profile in front of the people behind them.

  3. Keep what works

    Your dashboard shows which accounts and hashtags bring you new followers. Keep the best ones and swap the rest.

Video reviews

Hear it from Kicksta customers

Six customers on what changed once the right people followed them.

47,500+happy customers

  • Kicksta G2 Leader badge, Small Business, Fall 2025
  • Kicksta G2 High Performer badge, Europe, Fall 2025
  • Kicksta G2 Best Meets Requirements badge, Fall 2024
  • Kicksta Capterra Shortlist 2024 badge
  • Kicksta Capterra Best Value 2024 badge
  • NateFreelance photographer

    “I even landed a few gigs through Instagram”

  • AlexUp-and-coming influencer

    “It has saved me so much time”

  • JoshFitness instructor

    “It did all the heavy lifting for me”

  • NatalieContent creator

    “People have actually started noticing and reacting to my posts”

  • CambriaTravel creator

    “Kicksta has proved to be the most effective”

  • MorganBusiness owner

    “Kicksta has brought actual relevant followers to my business”

Path Social alternative FAQ

What is the monthly plan cost of Path Social?

Instagram Core is $49/month and Instagram Elite is $69/month billed monthly, or $29 and $41 a month billed annually. Kicksta's Growth Plan is $39/mo billed yearly or $69/mo billed monthly.

Does Path Social have a free trial?

Its pricing page lists no free trial. Kicksta's monthly and quarterly plans start with a 7-day free trial.

Is Path Social legit?

Path Social is a real company that sells Instagram growth plans. Its terms say it has no obligation to provide customer support, and its Trustpilot reviewers report billing and cancelling problems more than anything else.

What do Path Social reviews say?

Trustpilot shows no rating for Path Social; it removed fake reviews. Reviewers raise billing and cancelling most, followed by results.

How long does Kicksta take to start working?

After you connect, Kicksta warms your account up for up to 72 hours, then growth starts.

Can I cancel Kicksta at any time?

Yes. You can start your cancellation from Settings in your Kicksta dashboard. There are no cancellation fees.

How do I switch from Path Social to Kicksta?

Start a Kicksta trial on a monthly or quarterly plan and add the accounts and hashtags your audience follows. Your dashboard shows which ones bring you new followers, so you can keep the best and swap the rest.

What is the best Path Social alternative?

Kicksta, if you want followers from the audience you choose: you pick the accounts and hashtags, and it reaches the people who follow them.

See what Kicksta does for your account

Pick the accounts and hashtags your audience follows. Try it free for 7 days on a monthly or quarterly plan.

See plans