Instagram , the iPhone photo-sharing app that turns almost anyone into an artful photographer , is growing at an astonishing rate . The app now has 27 million registered users -- up from 15 million in December , its co-founders announced Sunday . And a long-awaited version of Instagram for the Android platform is coming soon . `` We 've been able to put together one of the most incredible Android apps you will ever see , '' said CEO Kevin Systrom told audience members during a session at the South By Southwest Interactive conference , waving an Android phone with a prototype on it . `` It 's extremely fast . '' Systrom said he 's been using the Android phone since shattering his iPhone while climbing out of an Austin pedicab . Systrom said the Android app is in private beta but will be released to the public `` really soon . '' Instagram also is looking at WIndows Phone 7 as another possible future platform , he said . `` It 's a very exciting time for us . We 're growing faster more quickly than anyone right now , '' he said . Launched by Systrom and partner Mike Krieger less than two years ago , Instagram already has more users than location-based network Foursquare , despite only being available on Apple 's iOS . Systrom and Krieger attributed their dramatic growth rate to the popularity of the iPhone 4S and Apple naming Instagram as its 2011 App of the Year . The pair also were featured in a Best Buy ad that aired during the Super Bowl last month . The app lets users enhance their photos with filters , share them with their friends or other people and comment on friends ' photos . Like Twitter , Instagram also allows people to follow other users . The Wall Street Journal reported last week that Instagram is raising a new round of funding that would value the company at up to $ 500 million . Systrom declined to comment on that Sunday .
Photo-sharing app Instagram has almost doubled its user base since December . Instagram CEO says an Android version of the app is in private beta .