At first glance, the Bundesliga social media table looks predictable. FC Bayern has the largest audience and publishes the most content on both Instagram and TikTok, making it the obvious candidate for first place. But follower totals alone say little about audience growth, publishing frequency, or how strongly fans interact with content. Those measures change the picture: RB Leipzig leads our opening Bundesliga social media power ranking, while SV Elversberg stands out for its growth and interaction rates despite having one of the smallest audiences.

Fanpage Karma analyzed all 18 Bundesliga clubs across Instagram and TikTok, covering 36 profiles in total. The analysis spans May 17 to August 27, 2026, capturing the summer between the 2025/26 and 2026/27 Bundesliga seasons. By combining four performance metrics per platform and weighting both platforms equally, the ranking looks beyond audience size to give a broader picture of social media performance. Which clubs come out on top when having the most followers is no longer enough?

How the Bundesliga social media ranking works

Our analysis focuses on the summer between the 2025/26 and 2026/27 Bundesliga seasons: 103 days from May 17 to August 27, 2026, with both dates included. During this period, clubs shared transfer news, training content, and preparations for the season ahead to keep fans informed. We compare how they performed within that window rather than looking at their entire account history or activity after the new campaign started. The analysis includes one Instagram profile and one TikTok profile for each of the 18 Bundesliga clubs.

We compare performance on Instagram and TikTok using four metrics, each capturing a different aspect of a club’s social media presence:

• Follower count: The size of the club’s audience on August 27, 2026.
• Follower growth rate: How the audience changed throughout the analysis period.
• Number of posts: The amount of content published during the 103 days.
• Post interaction rate: How strongly audiences interacted with the content published during the period.

The timeframe behind each metric also plays an important role. Follower count is a snapshot from August 27, while growth, publishing activity, and post interaction are measured across the entire analysis period. This separates accumulated audience size from performance over time.

To calculate the final ranking, we use metric ranks rather than raw values and follow four steps, giving Instagram and TikTok equal weight:

1. Rank all 18 clubs on the four Instagram metrics.
2. Average those four ranks to calculate each club’s Instagram score.
3. Repeat the same process to calculate each club’s TikTok score.
4. Average all eight metric ranks to calculate the combined score.

Lower averages indicate stronger results. Using ranks prevents one enormous follower count from dominating every other measure, although it does not reflect the numerical size of the gaps. Tied metrics receive the average of the affected positions. Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hamburger SV, and Mainz each record 0.00% TikTok growth and receive a scoring rank of 17.

What the Bundesliga ranking teaches us about social media

Although this ranking focuses on Bundesliga clubs, the approach is also useful for brands, agencies, and social media managers working with multiple accounts. The aim goes beyond identifying a winner: it is to understand the different aspects of social media performance. A large audience or frequent posting does not automatically mean stronger results. Examining each metric separately helps reveal strengths and weaknesses that a single overall score might hide. Four principles can guide that reporting:

• Separate audience size from performance. Follower count shows scale, while growth and interaction reveal results during the reporting period.
• Compare platforms individually. Instagram and TikTok can show different strengths, so assess each before combining results.
• Read activity alongside interaction. More posts do not necessarily mean more engagement.
• Keep reporting consistent. Clear timeframes, metrics, and scoring rules, including weighting, make comparisons more meaningful.

These principles also apply to everyday reporting. Choose a defined group of profiles and a clear timeframe, then compare the same metrics across all accounts. Review each platform separately and calculate an overall score only when it adds value to the analysis. Fanpage Karma can support this process by bringing profile comparisons, publishing activity, and interaction data from different platforms into one reporting workflow. Keep negative growth, tied positions, and periods without posts visible alongside the scores.

Finally, every ranking needs context. Negative growth, tied positions or periods without posts can affect results. Highlighting these details helps explain performance differences and prevents misleading conclusions.

Complete Social Media Ranking Data

The following lists show every supplied club’s metric results and platform scores. Shared positions are marked with an equals sign. Together, they reveal how different combinations of audience size, growth, activity, and interaction shape the final order.

Instagram number of followers: FC Bayern dominates audience size

The Instagram follower count ranking compares all 18 Bundesliga clubs by audience size on August 27, 2026. FC Bayern leads with more than twice as many followers as second-placed Borussia Dortmund. Bayer Leverkusen ranks third, while SV Elversberg has the smallest audience:

1. FC Bayern: 45,317,927
2. Borussia Dortmund: 20,724,231
3. Bayer Leverkusen: 4,597,971
4. RB Leipzig: 2,278,375
5. FC Schalke 04: 1,465,312
6. Eintracht Frankfurt: 1,363,978
7. Borussia Mönchengladbach: 1,225,829
8. VfB Stuttgart: 780,399
9. Hamburger SV: 775,369
10. 1. FC Köln: 696,926
11. SC Freiburg: 661,912
12. Werder Bremen: 610,114
13. TSG Hoffenheim: 538,414
14. Union Berlin: 365,935
15. 1. FSV Mainz 05: 355,799
16. FC Augsburg: 314,244
17. SC Paderborn 07: 111,050
18. SV Elversberg: 68,298

Instagram follower growth ranking: SV Elversberg sets the pace

Follower growth presents a very different picture from audience size. SV Elversberg leads with an impressive growth rate, almost three times that of second-placed SC Paderborn 07. VfB Stuttgart ranks third, while Borussia Mönchengladbach is the only club to lose followers during the analysis period:

1. SV Elversberg: 39.60%
2. SC Paderborn 07: 13.76%
3. VfB Stuttgart: 3.68%
4. FC Augsburg: 3.30%
5. RB Leipzig: 3.23%
6. SC Freiburg: 3.08%
7. 1. FSV Mainz 05: 2.98%
8. Hamburger SV: 2.76%
9. 1. FC Köln: 2.21%
10. Werder Bremen: 2.14%
11. FC Bayern: 1.87%
12. FC Schalke 04: 1.27%
13. Borussia Dortmund: 1.00%
14. TSG Hoffenheim: 0.98%
15. Eintracht Frankfurt: 0.72%
16. Union Berlin: 0.42%
17. Bayer Leverkusen: 0.17%
18. Borussia Mönchengladbach: -0.14%

Instagram number of posts: FC Bayern posts the most

This ranking shows how frequently clubs posted during the 103-day analysis period. FC Bayern leads with the number of posts, followed by Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund. Interestingly, SV Elversberg published the fewest posts, despite achieving the highest follower growth and interaction rate:

1. FC Bayern: 1,134
2. Bayer Leverkusen: 813
3. Borussia Dortmund: 754
4. Hamburger SV: 466
5. RB Leipzig: 461
6. 1. FSV Mainz 05: 458
7. SC Paderborn 07: 450
8. Werder Bremen: 444
9. FC Schalke 04: 430
10. 1. FC Köln: 419
11. Borussia Mönchengladbach: 406
12. Eintracht Frankfurt: 354
13. FC Augsburg: 345
14. TSG Hoffenheim: 341
15. VfB Stuttgart: 312
16. SC Freiburg: 303
17. Union Berlin: 251
18. SV Elversberg: 202

Instagram post interaction ranking: SV Elversberg leads audience response

The Instagram post interaction ranking highlights how strongly audiences responded to clubs’ content during the analysis period. SV Elversberg leads with nearly twice the rate of second-placed SC Paderborn 07, followed by Hamburger SV. Bayer Leverkusen ranks last, despite having the third-largest audience and second-highest publishing volume:

1. SV Elversberg: 4.21%
2. SC Paderborn 07: 2.19%
3. Hamburger SV: 1.84%
4. VfB Stuttgart: 1.83%
5. Werder Bremen: 1.70%
6. SC Freiburg: 1.40%
7. Union Berlin: 1.35%
8. 1. FC Köln: 1.30%
9. 1. FSV Mainz 05: 1.13%
10. FC Schalke 04: 1.04%
11. FC Augsburg: 1.03%
12. Borussia Mönchengladbach: 0.74%
13. Eintracht Frankfurt: 0.68%
14. RB Leipzig: 0.64%
15. TSG Hoffenheim: 0.60%
16. FC Bayern: 0.36%
17. Borussia Dortmund: 0.28%
18. Bayer Leverkusen: 0.22%

Overall Instagram ranking: Hamburger SV takes the first spot

The overall Instagram ranking combines all four metrics into one average score. Hamburger SV leads, despite not ranking first in any individual category. Its consistent performance across follower count, growth, publishing activity, and interaction puts it ahead of RB Leipzig and SC Paderborn 07, who share second place. FC Bayern follows in fourth place:

1.  Hamburger SV: 6.00
2. RB Leipzig: 7.00 (joint 2nd)
3.  SC Paderborn 07: 7.00 (joint 2nd)
4.  FC Bayern: 7.25
5. VfB Stuttgart: 7.50
6. Werder Bremen: 8.75 (joint 6th)
7. Borussia Dortmund: 8.75 (joint 6th)
8. FC Schalke 04: 9.00
9. 1. FSV Mainz 05: 9.25 (joint 9th)
10. 1. FC Köln: 9.25 (joint 9th)
11.  SV Elversberg: 9.50
12. SC Freiburg: 9.75
13. Bayer Leverkusen: 10.00
14. FC Augsburg: 11.00
15. Eintracht Frankfurt: 11.50
16. Borussia Mönchengladbach: 12.00
17. Union Berlin: 13.50
18. TSG Hoffenheim: 14.00

TikTok number of followers: FC Bayern leads again

The TikTok follower count ranking shows that FC Bayern also leads on TikTok, with 31.3 million followers, around 10.5 million more than second-placed Borussia Dortmund. Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig complete the top four, while SC Paderborn 07 has the smallest audience:

1. FC Bayern: 31,300,000
2. Borussia Dortmund: 20,800,000
3. Bayer Leverkusen: 5,445,904
4. RB Leipzig: 4,200,000
5. Eintracht Frankfurt: 1,800,000
6. Borussia Mönchengladbach: 1,400,000
7. Hamburger SV: 1,300,000
8. FC Schalke 04: 744,100
9. TSG Hoffenheim: 697,100
10. 1. FC Köln: 694,400
11. 1. FSV Mainz 05: 661,900
12. VfB Stuttgart: 436,000
13. Werder Bremen: 288,000
14. FC Augsburg: 274,100
15. SC Freiburg: 247,908
16. Union Berlin: 187,000
17. SV Elversberg: 24,600
18. SC Paderborn 07: 1,996

TikTok growth: Elversberg leads, Leipzig follows

The TikTok follower growth ranking highlights SV Elversberg’s strong performance, more than twice the rate of second-placed RB Leipzig. SC Paderborn 07 follows in third. At the bottom, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hamburger SV and 1. FSV Mainz 05 all record 0.00% growth and share the final three positions:

1. SV Elversberg: 37.43%
2. RB Leipzig: 16.67%
3. SC Paderborn 07: 13.22%
4. VfB Stuttgart: 9.25%
5. Borussia Dortmund: 6.67%
6. Eintracht Frankfurt: 5.88%
7. SC Freiburg: 5.80%
8. FC Bayern: 5.74%
9. Union Berlin: 4.24%
10. FC Schalke 04: 3.85%
11. Werder Bremen: 3.15%
12. Bayer Leverkusen: 2.99%
13. 1. FC Köln: 2.28%
14. TSG Hoffenheim: 1.75%
15. FC Augsburg: 1.26%
16. Borussia Mönchengladbach: 0.00%
17. Hamburger SV: 0.00%
18. 1. FSV Mainz 05: 0.00%

TikTok number of posts: FC Bayern posts more than twice as much as Dortmund

The TikTok publishing ranking shows a clear lead for FC Bayern, with more than twice as many as second-placed Borussia Dortmund. RB Leipzig follows closely on the third place. Meanwhile, SV Elversberg published just a few posts, and SC Paderborn 07 recorded no publishing activity:

1. FC Bayern: 572
2. Borussia Dortmund: 210
3. RB Leipzig: 209
4. Eintracht Frankfurt: 196
5. Bayer Leverkusen: 159
6. TSG Hoffenheim: 152
7. Werder Bremen: 120
8. Union Berlin: 108
9. 1. FC Köln: 107
10. Borussia Mönchengladbach: 105
11. Hamburger SV: 101
12. SC Freiburg: 99
13. FC Augsburg: 89
14. FC Schalke 04: 79
15. 1. FSV Mainz 05: 69
16. VfB Stuttgart: 53
17. SV Elversberg: 13
18. SC Paderborn 07: 0

TikTok post interaction ranking: SV Elversberg leads with an exceptional interaction rate

The TikTok post interaction ranking highlights SV Elversberg’s impressive performance, with a 22.43% interaction rate, well ahead of second-placed VfB Stuttgart. Hamburger SV follows in third. Interestingly, SV Elversberg achieved the highest interaction rate with just 13 posts, while Stuttgart ranks second despite being among the least active clubs:

1. SV Elversberg: 22.43%
2. VfB Stuttgart: 8.20%
3. Hamburger SV: 2.76%
4. FC Schalke 04: 2.14%
5. SC Freiburg: 1.69%
6. Union Berlin: 1.59%
7. Werder Bremen: 1.53%
8. RB Leipzig: 1.26%
9. Bayer Leverkusen: 0.90%
10. 1. FC Köln: 0.90%
11. 1. FSV Mainz 05: 0.89%
12. FC Augsburg: 0.63%
13. TSG Hoffenheim: 0.59%
14. Borussia Dortmund: 0.51%
15. FC Bayern: 0.49%
16. Borussia Mönchengladbach: 0.47%
17. Eintracht Frankfurt: 0.40%
18. SC Paderborn 07: 0.00%

SC Paderborn 07 published no TikTok posts during the analysis period. Its 0.00% interaction rate therefore reflects the scoring convention rather than an observed audience response.

Overall TikTok ranking: Leipzig comes out on top

RB Leipzig takes the top spot on TikTok, thanks to a particularly strong showing in follower growth and publishing activity, where it ranks second and third, respectively. Combined with fourth place in audience size and eighth in interaction. Borussia Dortmund follows in second place, ahead of FC Bayern in third:

1.  RB Leipzig: 4.25
2. Borussia Dortmund: 5.75
3. FC Bayern: 6.25
4. Bayer Leverkusen: 7.25
5. Eintracht Frankfurt: 8.00
6. VfB Stuttgart: 8.50
7. FC Schalke 04: 9.00
8. SV Elversberg: 9.00
9. Hamburger SV: 9.50
10. Werder Bremen: 9.50
11. SC Freiburg: 9.75
12. Union Berlin: 9.75
13. 1. FC Köln: 10.50
14. TSG Hoffenheim: 10.50
15. Borussia Mönchengladbach: 12.25
16. FC Augsburg: 13.50
17. 1. FSV Mainz 05: 13.50
18. SC Paderborn 07: 14.25

Combined Instagram and TikTok ranking: RB Leipzig wins through balance, not dominance

The combined ranking brings together all eight metrics from Instagram and TikTok to determine which Bundesliga clubs performed best across both platforms. RB Leipzig takes first place ahead of FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund. While FC Bayern leads in follower count and publishing activity on both platforms, RB Leipzig’s stronger overall balance gives it the advantage.

Hamburger SV finishes fourth, supported by its first-place Instagram ranking, while VfB Stuttgart completes the top five. Further down the table, SV Elversberg reaches ninth place, thanks to its exceptional follower growth and interaction rates, despite having one of the smallest audiences and publishing less frequently:

The complete combined ranking is:

1. RB Leipzig: 5.63
2. FC Bayern: 6.75
3. Borussia Dortmund: 7.25
4. Hamburger SV: 7.75
5. VfB Stuttgart: 8.00
6. Bayer Leverkusen: 8.63
7. FC Schalke 04: 9.00
8. Werder Bremen: 9.13
9. SV Elversberg: 9.25
10. SC Freiburg: 9.75
11. Eintracht Frankfurt: 9.75
12. 1. FC Köln: 9.88
13. SC Paderborn 07: 10.63
14. 1. FSV Mainz 05: 11.38
15. Union Berlin: 11.63
16. Borussia Mönchengladbach: 12.13
17. FC Augsburg: 12.25
18. TSG Hoffenheim: 12.25

The results also show why individual platform metrics remain important. Hamburger SV leads on Instagram but finishes fourth overall, while Bayern takes second place despite ranking sixteenth for Instagram post interaction. The combined score offers a broader picture of performance, but the individual metrics help explain what drives each club’s position.

What the Bundesliga ranking reveals about social media success

Although this ranking focuses on Bundesliga clubs, the approach is also useful for brands, agencies, and social media managers working with multiple accounts. The aim goes beyond identifying a winner: it is to understand the different aspects of social media performance. A large audience or frequent posting does not automatically mean stronger results. Examining each metric separately helps reveal strengths and weaknesses that a single overall score might hide.

Four principles can guide that reporting:

• Separate audience size from performance. Follower count shows scale, while growth and interaction reveal results during the reporting period.
• Compare platforms individually. Instagram and TikTok can show different strengths, so assess each before combining results.
• Read activity alongside interaction. More posts do not necessarily mean more engagement.
• Keep reporting consistent. Clear timeframes, metrics, and scoring rules, including weighting and treatment of periods without posts, make comparisons more meaningful.

These principles also apply to everyday reporting. Choose a defined group of profiles and a clear timeframe, then compare the same metrics across all accounts. Review each platform separately and calculate an overall score when it adds value to the analysis.Fanpage Karma supports this process by bringing profile comparisons, publishing activity, and interaction data from different platforms into one reporting workflow. This makes it easier to identify performance differences and turn the results into actionable insights.

The Bundesliga opening verdict

The first Bundesliga social media power ranking shows that having the largest audience doesn’t necessarily guarantee the strongest overall performance. RB Leipzig takes first place in the combined ranking and on TikTok, while Hamburger SV leads on Instagram. FC Bayern finishes second overall, supported by its large audience and high publishing volume, despite weaker interaction results.

SV Elversberg stands out as one of the biggest surprises. Despite having one of the smallest audiences, the club achieves the highest follower growth and post interaction rates on both platforms, securing ninth place overall.

The results highlight why follower count, growth, publishing activity, and interaction should be considered together. Each metric reveals a different aspect of social media performance, while the combined ranking offers a more complete comparison.

Use Fanpage Karma to compare your own profiles, explore the content behind the numbers, and follow the halfway update and final 2026/27 Bundesliga Social Media Power Ranking.