The Ick alternatives: apps like The Ick for Instagram
By the Stalkie teamUpdated · 4 min read
Quick answer
The closest alternatives to The Ick are Stalkie, Lurk and Recent Follow: all three read a public profile's following list without an Instagram login and show who it followed and unfollowed. Stalkie runs in any browser, including on iPhone; Lurk follows the most profiles and adds a story viewer; Recent Follow adds a Chrome extension and spreadsheet export.
The Ick made recent-follow tracking popular on TikTok. People look for alternatives for practical reasons: they use an iPhone, want to follow more profiles, need another language or want features The Ick doesn't have.
Stalkie is our product. The other apps are described from what their own sites and store listings say, checked in November 2026.
What The Ick does
- Reads public profiles only, with no Instagram login.
- Checks every hour and follows up to 5 profiles.
- Shows new follows, unfollows and new followers in a timeline, with phone alerts.
- Runs on the web and Android.
- Shows follows from before you started without a date.
The Ick compared with its alternatives
| The Ick | Stalkie | Lurk | Recent Follow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | Web, Android | Any browser | iPhone, Android, web | iPhone, Android, Chrome |
| How often it checks | Every hour | Several times a day | Not stated | Varies |
| Profiles at a time | Up to 5 | Up to 3 | Unlimited | Not stated |
| Profile changes | Not stated | Name, bio, photo, private | Not stated | Not stated |
| Two profiles side by side | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Mutual friends |
| Extra | Timeline | Weekly summary, email alerts | Story viewer | Spreadsheet export |
Stalkie: the closest match on iPhone
Stalkie does what The Ick does, follows, unfollows and new followers with alerts, and runs in the browser, so iPhone users get it without an app. It adds changes to name, bio and photo, alerts when a profile goes private, the full following list to search or download, two profiles side by side and a weekly summary. It's available in English, Portuguese and Spanish.
The Ick checks more often (every hour) and follows more profiles at once (5 against 3).
Lurk: for following many profiles
Lurk has apps for iPhone and Android plus a web version. Its site lists unlimited profiles, follows sorted by most recent, a full timeline and a story viewer. It doesn't state how often it checks.
Recent Follow: for spreadsheets and a Chrome extension
Recent Follow, from IGExport, sorts a profile's follows newest first, shows latest followers and exports lists to a spreadsheet. It's a phone app and a Chrome extension. The time it shows is when the app first saw the account.
Switching from The Ick
- Add the same profiles to the new app. Only the @ is needed.
- Turn on alerts on the phone you use. On iPhone with Stalkie, add the site to the home screen first; how alerts work explains it.
- Keep both running for a day if you want to compare. Each app's history starts when it first reads the profile, so the old timeline doesn't carry over.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to The Ick?
On iPhone, Stalkie, because it runs in the browser. To follow more than five profiles, Lurk. For spreadsheet exports, Recent Follow.
Is there an app like The Ick for iPhone?
Yes. Stalkie works in Safari with nothing to install, and Lurk and Recent Follow have iPhone apps.
Does Stalkie work like The Ick?
Yes. Both read public profiles without an Instagram login and show follows, unfollows and new followers with alerts. Stalkie also tracks profile changes.
Can I move my history from The Ick to another app?
No. Each app keeps its own record, starting when it first reads the profile. Add the profiles again and the new history starts that day.
Do any of these apps work on private profiles?
No. A private profile's following list is only visible to approved followers, in The Ick and in every alternative.
Will the person know I'm tracking them?
No. These apps only read what the profile shows to anyone and don't use your Instagram account.
