Best Social Media Scheduling Tools (2026): Free and Paid Compared

Short answer: if you post to a few accounts and want to pay nothing, start with Buffer's free plan or Meta Business Suite (for Facebook and Instagram only). If you also want analytics on a free plan, look at Metricool. Hootsuite and Later have no free plan, only free trials. For connecting social posting to the rest of your tools, Zapier and Make both have free tiers.

How we compared: we checked each tool's official pricing page on 15 October 2026 and list only what those pages state. Plans and prices change often and can vary by country, so check the linked page before you sign up. Prices are in US dollars unless noted.

Quick comparison

Free scheduling tools

Buffer

Buffer's free plan is the easiest way to start scheduling across networks. You can connect up to three channels and keep up to ten posts queued per channel, and the queue refills as posts go out. It also includes an AI assistant for drafting posts and a shared inbox for comments. Paid plans are priced per channel, so they stay affordable if you only manage a handful of accounts.

Good for: freelancers and small businesses posting a few times a week to two or three networks.

Metricool

Metricool's free plan covers one brand, up to 20 scheduled posts a month and 30 days of analytics history. That analytics access is what sets it apart from most free schedulers. Paid plans add multiple brands, unlimited publishing and competitor analysis.

Good for: people who want to see what's working, not just schedule.

Meta Business Suite

If you only post to Facebook and Instagram, Meta's own tool is free and does the job. It schedules posts and stories, puts Facebook, Messenger and Instagram messages in one inbox (with automated responses), and shows basic insights. It doesn't support other networks.

Good for: local businesses whose audience is mainly on Facebook and Instagram.

Paid-only tools (with free trials)

Hootsuite

Hootsuite no longer offers a free plan. You get a 14-day trial without a credit card. Paid plans include unlimited scheduling, AI post and image generation, and a unified inbox, and are aimed at teams and agencies managing many accounts.

Later

Later is built around a visual, drag-and-drop calendar, which suits image- and video-led brands. It publishes automatically to Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads, Pinterest and LinkedIn, and includes Link in Bio. It has a 14-day trial but no free plan.

Automating social posts: Zapier and Make

Schedulers queue posts you've written. Automation tools connect social posting to everything else, for example "when a new blog post is published, share it to LinkedIn" or "save every new Instagram post to a spreadsheet".

• Zapier's free plan includes 100 tasks a month and unlimited two-step automations ("Zaps"). Multi-step automations need a paid plan.
• Make's free plan includes 1,000 credits a month and two active scenarios built in a visual editor. It gives you more room to experiment before paying.

Start small: automate one repetitive step you do every week, check it works for a month, then add the next.

Before you schedule: get each post right

A scheduler posts exactly what you give it, so a post that's too long or formatted for the wrong network goes out that way. Two free tools help:

• Social Media Post Formatter: paste one message and get a version adapted for LinkedIn, X, Instagram or Facebook, with the right tone, length, hashtags and call to action.
• Character Limit Checker: check the final text against each platform's limit before it goes into your queue.

For the rules behind them, see our social media formatting guide and the current social media character limits.

Which should you use?

• You post to 2–3 networks and want it free: Buffer.
• You want analytics on a free plan: Metricool.
• You're only on Facebook and Instagram: Meta Business Suite.
• You manage many accounts for clients: trial Hootsuite or Later and compare.
• You want posting to happen automatically from other apps: Zapier or Make.

FAQ

Is there a free social media scheduler?

Yes. Buffer, Metricool and Meta Business Suite all have free options. Buffer allows three channels with ten queued posts each, Metricool allows 20 scheduled posts a month for one brand, and Meta Business Suite is free for Facebook and Instagram.

Does Hootsuite have a free plan?

No. Hootsuite offers a 14-day free trial, after which you need a paid plan.

Can I automate social media posts for free?

Yes, within limits. Zapier's free plan includes 100 tasks a month and Make's includes 1,000 credits a month, enough for simple automations such as sharing each new blog post.

How often should I post?

There's no universal number. Pick a pace you can keep up with good posts, schedule a few weeks ahead, and use your scheduler's analytics to see which days and formats get a response.