Marketing Hog launches EngageCheck to screen Instagram audiences

Marketing Hog has launched EngageCheck, a public Instagram audit tool that checks for fake followers, bot engagement and other audience risks before brands spend on creator campaigns. The service returns a 0 to 100 Audience Quality Score in under two minutes and is available now with free preview access and tiered pricing.

Why it matters: - Brands and agencies are under pressure to spend creator budgets more carefully as follower counts and real reach diverge. - EngageCheck is built to flag fake followers, bot engagement, comment pods and brand-safety risk before a campaign begins. - The tool gives marketers a fast screen on whether an Instagram audience looks worth paying for.

What happened: - Marketing Hog announced the public launch of EngageCheck on June 29, 2026. - The product audits public Instagram accounts to verify whether an audience is real before brands commit budget to a creator campaign. - Users enter a public Instagram handle and receive an audit with an Audience Quality Score from 0 to 100. - Most reports finish in under two minutes. - The tool is available now at EngageCheck.

The details: - EngageCheck checks for fake followers, bot engagement, comment pods, brand-safety risk and overall audience quality. - The product returns a plain-English verdict on whether an account is safe to work with. - New users can run a free preview without entering a card. - Tiered pricing starts at $5 for individual checks. - Light plans cost $10 and Growth plans cost $20 for marketers running regular audits. - Agency plans cost $99 for 50 audits, $299 for 200 audits and $599 for 500 audits. - An API is available for teams that want to run bulk Instagram audits inside their own workflows. - EngageCheck also includes AI-powered support that lets users open tickets and get guided help or a handoff without leaving the tool.

Between the lines: - EngageCheck is positioned as a speed-first alternative to larger influencer platforms that may require subscriptions, onboarding and a learning curve before delivering an answer. - Marketing Hog is targeting the moment right before a spend decision, when brands want a quick yes-or-no read on audience quality. - Founder David Schlaegel said a lot of influencer spend goes to audiences that are not what they appear to be. - Schlaegel said the company wants checking an audience to be as routine as checking a price.

What's next: - Marketing Hog is using a free preview to convert new users into paid plans after they see how the Audience Quality Score works. - The API and agency packages suggest the company is aiming at both individual marketers and higher-volume teams. - Marketing Hog says EngageCheck is not affiliated with Instagram or Meta.

The bottom line: - EngageCheck turns Instagram audience checks into a fast, low-commitment step before creator spend.