10 Best Social Media Scheduling Tools [2026] Compared

Short answer: Buffer is the easiest social media scheduler. Hootsuite and SocialPilot cover the most networks and accounts, and Later is best for visual Instagram planning. SEO Runway schedules posts to Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn and is worth considering if you also manage SEO, local SEO or Google Ads in one place. For agency features, see our social media management tools for agencies.

Disclosure: SEO Runway is our product. We ranked it using the same criteria as every other tool, and noted where others do better.

Quick picks

• Easiest: Buffer
• Most networks: Hootsuite
• Best for Instagram visuals: Later
• Best value for many accounts: SocialPilot
• Best free plan: Publer or Metricool

Social media scheduling tools compared

*Approximate; verify network lists per tool.

How we chose these tools

We compared each tool's published features, plans and documentation on six criteria: networks supported, queue and calendar, bulk scheduling, media editing, AI captions, and price.

1. Buffer: easiest

Verdict: clean, simple scheduling with a useful free plan.

Pros: ease; price per channel.

Cons: limited team and agency features.

2. Hootsuite: most networks

Verdict: broad network coverage, streams and an AI writer.

Pros: breadth; integrations.

Cons: price.

3. Later: best for Instagram visuals

Verdict: drag-and-drop visual planning and link in bio.

Pros: visual grid.

Cons: post limits on lower plans.

4. SocialPilot: best value for many accounts

Verdict: affordable scheduling across many profiles.

Pros: value; bulk.

Cons: analytics depth.

5. Publer: best free plan

Verdict: feature-rich scheduling, including a free tier.

Pros: features for price.

Cons: interface density.

6. Metricool: best scheduling + analytics

Verdict: scheduling with solid analytics and ads reporting.

Pros: analytics.

Cons: limits on free plan.

7. SEO Runway: best scheduler alongside SEO, local and Ads

Verdict: publish now or schedule to Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn from a content calendar (list and month views), with a post editor for photo and video and an AI monthly calendar, in the same platform as SEO, local and Google Ads.

Pricing: Social from $39/month; 14-day free trial. See plans.

Pros: AI month plans; one platform for marketing.

Cons: only three networks (no TikTok, X, YouTube or Pinterest); no engagement inbox.

8. Loomly: best for planning ideas

Verdict: post ideas and a planning calendar.

Pros: ideas; approvals.

Cons: price per user.

9. Sendible: best for client accounts

Verdict: scheduling with client management and white-label.

Pros: agency features.

Cons: interface.

10. Planable: best for collaboration

Verdict: preview, comment and approve before scheduling.

Pros: collaboration.

Cons: light analytics.

Best times to post by platform

Industry studies publish "best time to post" charts every year [editor: cite 1–2 current studies with links and dates]. Treat them as a starting point only. Your audience's time zone, industry and habits matter more. Post at a few different times for four weeks, then use your own analytics to set your schedule.

Related guides

• Content calendar tools
• Free social media schedulers

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest social media scheduler?

Buffer is widely considered the easiest, with a simple queue, calendar and free plan.

Can I schedule Instagram posts automatically?

Yes. Most schedulers, including SEO Runway, Buffer and Later, can publish to Instagram professional accounts automatically through Meta's API.

How far ahead should I schedule posts?

One to four weeks is common. Leave room for timely posts and reacting to news.

The bottom line

• Easiest: Buffer.
• Most networks: Hootsuite.
• Instagram visuals: Later.
• Many accounts on a budget: SocialPilot.
• Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn alongside SEO and Ads: SEO Runway.

Start a 14-day free trial of SEO Runway, or see the social media workspace.