20 Best Responses to a "TBH" On Instagram

Instagram moves fast. Messages fly back and forth, stories disappear in twenty-four hours, and most interactions happen in shorthand. But every so often, someone drops a "TBH" in your DMs or comments—To Be Honest—and suddenly the tone shifts. It's like they're opening a door to something more real, more direct. TBH moments are invitations to drop the performance and just say what you actually think.

I've noticed these moments tend to catch people off guard. You want to respond genuinely, but you also don't want to fumble it by being too stiff or too casual. The right response acknowledges their honesty, reciprocates the energy, and keeps the connection feeling authentic. So I've gathered twenty responses that work across different contexts—whether someone's complimenting you, being vulnerable, or just trying to strengthen the friendship through candid words.

Here's what actually works when someone hits you with a TBH.

Thanks For Your Honesty! I Appreciate It

Simple and effective. When someone offers you honest thoughts, the most straightforward move is to acknowledge it directly. "Thanks for your honesty! I appreciate it" does exactly that without overcomplicating things.

This response works because it's clean. You're not deflecting, not overthinking—just accepting what they said and showing gratitude. It keeps the door open for more honest conversation without forcing anything. Sometimes the best response is the one that doesn't try too hard.

I Love Your Honesty! You're An Awesome Friend

This one takes the appreciation up a notch by tying their honesty to your friendship. When you say "I love your honesty" followed by "you're an awesome friend," you're doing two things: validating their candor and reinforcing the relationship.

It's particularly effective when their TBH was something supportive or complimentary. You're essentially saying, "This is exactly why we're friends," which feels good on both ends. It transforms a single honest moment into a celebration of the whole friendship.

Your Positivity Is Contagious

Some TBHs come wrapped in genuine positivity—someone telling you they think you're doing great, that your posts inspire them, whatever. When that happens, "Your positivity is contagious" flips the compliment back in a way that feels natural.

You're not just saying "thanks." You're pointing out that their ability to see good things and share them openly affects the people around them. That's a deeper acknowledgment than a basic thank you, and it usually lands well.

Awww, Thank You! You Always Make Me Smile

This response brings warmth without being overly sentimental. The "Awww" softens it, makes it feel casual and genuine rather than formal. Then "you always make me smile" adds specificity—you're telling them their presence has a consistent positive impact on you.

It works especially well when their TBH was sweet or supportive. You're meeting their energy with equal warmth, which keeps the positive momentum going.

Honestly, You've Got A Heart Of Gold

When someone shares something genuinely kind or thoughtful in their TBH, this response matches that sincerity. "You've got a heart of gold" is a classic compliment, but it lands because it speaks to character rather than surface-level traits.

This isn't about what they do or how they look—it's about who they are fundamentally. That depth makes it feel more meaningful than generic praise.

To Be Honest, Your Presence Brightens My Day

Using "To be honest" at the start mirrors their TBH and signals you're being equally candid. Then "your presence brightens my day" gets specific about their impact on your life.

This response works because it's concrete. You're not vaguely saying they're nice—you're saying their existence in your orbit makes things better. That specificity makes it stick.

You're One Of The Most Supportive Friends I've Ever Had

When someone's TBH demonstrates genuine support or encouragement, calling that out directly hits different. "You're one of the most supportive friends I've ever had" acknowledges not just this moment but a pattern of behavior.

It's a bigger statement than just responding to one message. You're recognizing their consistent role in your life, which tends to deepen friendships pretty quickly.

Honestly, Your Sense Of Humor Is A Gift To Everyone Around You

If their TBH made you laugh or if you're responding to someone whose humor you genuinely appreciate, this one nails it. "Your sense of humor is a gift" frames their personality as something that benefits others, not just themselves.

It's a generous way to give a compliment because you're acknowledging how they improve the vibe for everyone in their circle. That feels good to hear.

Your Kindness Never Goes Unnoticed

Short, direct, meaningful. When someone shows consistent kindness and drops a TBH that reflects that quality, telling them "your kindness never goes unnoticed" validates their efforts.

A lot of kind people wonder if what they do matters. This response confirms it does, that people see it and value it. That's powerful feedback.

I'm Grateful For Your Friendship Every Day

This response cuts through any casual pretense and just states something true: you value them consistently, not just in this moment. "I'm grateful for your friendship every day" is vulnerable in its own way, which makes it a fitting response to a TBH.

It works because it matches their honesty with your own. They opened up, you're opening up back. That's how real connections build.

Our Friendship Is A Treasure

Calling a friendship a "treasure" might sound dramatic, but in the context of a TBH exchange—where honesty is already on the table—it fits. It's a way of saying this relationship matters deeply to you without getting overly sentimental.

Treasure implies something rare and valuable, something you protect and cherish. That's a meaningful thing to communicate.

I Admire Your Dedication And Hard Work

When someone's TBH reveals their commitment to something—whether that's their goals, their relationships, their craft—acknowledging that directly resonates. "I admire your dedication and hard work" recognizes effort, not just results.

In a culture that often celebrates outcomes over process, this response values the grind itself. That's refreshing and usually appreciated.

You've Got A Heart As Big As The Ocean

Metaphorical but effective. "Heart as big as the ocean" conveys boundless kindness and generosity without needing to spell it out in detail. It's poetic enough to feel special but clear enough to be understood immediately.

This works when someone's TBH demonstrated genuine care or compassion. You're matching their emotional generosity with your own expressive appreciation.

I'm Thankful For Your Positivity In My Life

Similar to earlier responses but with a slightly different angle. "I'm thankful for your positivity in my life" emphasizes how their outlook affects your experience. It's personal and specific.

Positivity as a trait gets undervalued sometimes, treated like it's just surface-level cheerfulness. This response recognizes it as something substantial that actually impacts your wellbeing.

You're A True Friend, And I Respect You Immensely

Combining friendship acknowledgment with explicit respect creates a strong response. "You're a true friend, and I respect you immensely" doesn't just say you like them—it says you hold them in high regard.

Respect is different from affection. This response conveys both, which deepens the message considerably.

Your Creativity Knows No Bounds

For the creative friends who share honest thoughts about your work or theirs, this response celebrates their imaginative spirit. "Your creativity knows no bounds" isn't just a compliment—it's encouragement to keep pushing, keep exploring.

Creative people often doubt themselves. Hearing that their creativity seems limitless can provide real fuel.

Your Wisdom Always Shines Through

When someone drops a TBH that reveals genuine insight or perspective, acknowledging their wisdom directly makes sense. "Your wisdom always shines through" recognizes that they consistently offer valuable perspectives.

Wisdom differs from intelligence—it's about understanding, judgment, experience. This response honors that distinction.

Your Confidence Is Inspiring

Confidence can be intimidating or inspiring depending on how it's presented. When someone with healthy confidence shares a TBH, telling them "your confidence is inspiring" flips any potential intimidation into admiration.

It also encourages them to keep being self-assured, which benefits everyone around them.

Your Sense Of Adventure Is Contagious

For friends who push boundaries, try new things, and generally live with curiosity, this response celebrates that quality. "Your sense of adventure is contagious" suggests their willingness to explore rubs off on others.

That's a powerful compliment because it acknowledges they don't just live boldly—they inspire others to do the same.

Your Determination Is Truly Commendable

When someone's TBH reveals their persistence or grit, calling out their determination specifically hits home. "Your determination is truly commendable" recognizes the hard part of achievement—not the talent or luck, but the refusal to quit.

This response works because determination is something people consciously choose. You're acknowledging their agency and willpower, which feels validating.

TBH moments on Instagram offer something increasingly rare: genuine exchanges in a space that often feels performative. The responses that work best are the ones that meet honesty with honesty, that acknowledge not just what someone said but what it reveals about who they are. These twenty options give you flexibility depending on context, but they all share a common thread—they treat candor as valuable and respond in kind. Next time someone drops a TBH in your messages, you'll know exactly how to keep that authentic energy alive.