Our top picks for growing businesses

Should you’re managing social media marketing with out a social media scheduler, I’ve received one factor to say to you: You’re making your job more durable than it must be. A social media scheduler eliminates the chaos of logging into a number of platforms, posting in real-time, and hoping you remembered to hit publish on the proper second — releasing you to deal with technique as an alternative of logistics.

That mentioned, social media management tools and social media calendar tools have advanced from easy submit schedulers into complete platforms that deal with every little thing from content material creation to analytics. For rising companies, discovering the perfect social media scheduler means balancing performance and affordability.

Free social media tools can get you began, however as your technique matures — and as you be taught how B2B marketers can succeed on social — you’ll doubtless want extra sturdy social media scheduling platforms that join posting to precise enterprise outcomes.

On this information, I’ve curated the highest social media instruments for groups at each stage, damaged down key options to prioritize, and outlined precisely learn how to use social media scheduling software program to maximise effectivity.

Let’s get into it.

Desk of Contents:

Social media scheduling tools automate submit timing, preserve consistency, and unlock entrepreneurs for strategic work moderately than repetitive guide duties. This shift from reactive posting to proactive planning is why the perfect social media scheduler choices have develop into important for groups managing a number of accounts or platforms.

For rising companies, free social media scheduling choices present an entry level, whereas extra sturdy platforms provide superior options resembling:

• Analytics
• Crew collaboration
• AI-powered suggestions

Total, the perfect social media scheduler for small companies sometimes balances ease of use with room to scale as posting wants improve.

Now that we’ve lined what social media schedulers do and why they matter, within the subsequent part, let’s stroll by means of learn how to put these instruments to work.

Professional Tip: HubSpot’s Social Media Management Software permits bulk scheduling, efficiency monitoring, and direct CRM integration for unified buyer insights, connecting your social efforts to the identical contact information that powers instruments like Advertising Hub.

Professional Tip: HubSpot’s Content Hub helps social scheduling workflows by centralizing model property, enabling content material remixing, and sustaining messaging consistency throughout channels.

Step #2: Join your profiles

As soon as your calendar is mapped, it’s time to hyperlink your social accounts to your chosen platform. Most social media scheduling platforms help direct API connections to main networks, together with:

• Fb
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• X
• Pinterest
• TikTok

Then, throughout setup, make sure you:

• Authenticate every account: Grant posting permissions by means of every platform’s official authorization move
• Assign workforce entry: If collaborating, set roles and approval workflows for content material evaluate
• Configure default settings: Set up posting preferences like hyperlink shortening, UTM parameters, and picture sizing
• Import present property: Add logos, templates, and authorised visuals to your media library

Professional Tip: HubSpot’s Social Media Management Software permits bulk scheduling, efficiency monitoring, and direct CRM integration for unified buyer insights. This implies posts you schedule join on to contact data, so you possibly can see how social engagement ties to leads and prospects.

Step #3: Publish and optimize

Now, scheduling posts is only the start — the actual worth comes from analyzing what works and adjusting accordingly.

After your content material goes dwell, monitor engagement metrics to tell future choices.

Right here’s the way you’ll optimize and refine your method:

• Evaluation efficiency information: Observe likes, feedback, shares, clicks, and attain for every submit
• Take a look at posting occasions: Experiment with completely different publish home windows to seek out when your viewers is most energetic
• Determine high content material: Be aware which subjects, codecs, and CTAs drive the strongest response
• Iterate on underperformers: Regulate headlines, visuals, or messaging for posts that fall flat

All-in-all, social media scheduling improves effectivity by batching content material creation, decreasing guide posting, and enabling off-hours publishing. With the appropriate social media scheduling software program in place, you spend much less time on logistics and extra time on technique.

Within the subsequent part, let’s get into the good things: the perfect social media schedulers.

Finest social media schedulers (at a look)

Finest social media schedulers

1. HubSpot’s Social Media Management Software (Advertising Hub)

Why it’s a match: HubSpot’s Social Media Management Software permits bulk scheduling, efficiency monitoring, and direct CRM integration for unified buyer insights. In case your workforce already makes use of HubSpot for e mail, leads, or gross sales, this device retains social information related to your contact data — so you possibly can attribute income to social efforts and see full buyer journeys.

HubSpot’s Social Media Management Software key options:

• Schedule posts throughout Fb, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X from one dashboard
• Monitor model mentions and key phrases immediately inside the platform
• Join social engagement to CRM contacts for closed-loop reporting
• Entry Breeze AI for AI-generated captions and optimum timing suggestions

Finest for: Advertising groups utilizing HubSpot’s ecosystem who need social media scheduling software program that ties immediately to guide technology and gross sales pipelines.

HubSpot pricing (Advertising Hub):

• Free: $0/month
• Starter: $15/month
• Skilled: $890/month
• Enterprise: $3,600/month

2. Buffer

Source

Why it’s a match: Buffer affords a clear, intuitive interface that makes scheduling approachable for solopreneurs and small groups simply getting began.

Buffer’s key options:

• Easy drag-and-drop calendar interface
• Browser extension for fast content material sharing
• Fundamental analytics on submit efficiency
• Reasonably priced paid tiers as wants develop

Finest for: People or very small groups in search of a free social media scheduler with a minimal studying curve.

Buffer pricing:

• Free: $0/month
• Necessities: $6/month
• Crew: $12/month

3. Hootsuite

Source

Why it’s a match: Hootsuite helps a variety of networks and affords workforce collaboration options, making it a powerful selection for small companies increasing their social presence.

Hootsuite’s key options:

• Helps 10+ social networks, together with TikTok and Pinterest
• Crew workflows with approval processes and content material libraries
• Social listening for rivals and trade monitoring
• Customizable analytics dashboards

Finest for: Rising groups that want the perfect social media scheduler for small companies with room to scale into enterprise options.

Hootsuite pricing:

• Normal: $249 per consumer/month
• Superior: $499 per consumer/month
• Enterprise: Customized pricing solely (see here)

4. Sprout Social

Source

Why it is a match: Sprout Social combines scheduling with deep analytics, social listening, and consumer reporting — ideally suited for businesses managing a number of manufacturers or companies with complicated approval workflows.

Sprout Social’s key options:

• Unified sensible inbox throughout all related profiles
• Superior reporting with presentation-ready exports
• Asset library for centralized model administration
• Constructed-in social listening and sentiment evaluation

Finest for: Businesses and mid-market groups needing social media scheduling platforms with enterprise-grade reporting.

Sprout Social pricing:

• Normal: $199 per seat/month
• Skilled: $299 per seat/month
• Superior: $399 per seat/month
• Enterprise: Customized pricing solely (see here)

5. Later

Source

Why it is a match: Later’s visible content material calendar and Instagram-first method make it a powerful decide for manufacturers the place aesthetics drive engagement. Its drag-and-drop grid preview helps groups plan cohesive visible feeds.

Later’s key options:

• Visible Instagram grid planner
• Linkin.bio for shoppable link-in-bio pages
• Consumer-generated content material discovery instruments
• Hashtag recommendations and first-comment scheduling

Finest for: E-commerce manufacturers, creators, and way of life companies prioritizing Instagram and TikTok.

Later pricing:

• Starter: $25/month
• Progress: $50/month
• Scale: $110/month

6. Lately

Source

Why it’s a match: Lately makes use of AI to repurpose long-form content material into social posts routinely, decreasing content material creation time for groups with blogs, podcasts, or video libraries to mine.

Lately’s key options:

• AI-generated social posts from blogs, movies, and audio
• Model voice studying for constant messaging
• Efficiency analytics tied to AI suggestions
• Bulk content material technology from single property

Finest for: Content material-heavy groups wanting social media scheduling software program that automates repurposing.

Lately pricing:

• Customized pricing solely; demo required (see here)

7. SocialBee

Source

Why it’s a match: SocialBee affords category-based scheduling and content material recycling at a cheaper price level than many rivals, making it accessible for budget-conscious small companies.

SocialBee’s key options:

• Content material classes for balanced posting combine
• Evergreen content material recycling
• Canva integration for in-app design
• RSS feed automation

Finest for: Small companies in search of a social media scheduler that balances options and affordability.

SocialBee pricing:

• Bootstrap: $24/month
• Speed up: $40/month
• Professional: $82/month

Social media scheduling instruments: Options to search for

Professional Tip: HubSpot’s Marketing Hub customers acquire this benefit natively. Social engagement ties on to contact data alongside e mail opens, type submissions, and gross sales conversations.

4. Content material library and asset administration

Consistency requires quick access to authorised visuals, templates, and messaging. Search for social media scheduling software program that features a centralized asset library the place groups can retailer and reuse brand-approved content material.

Whereas searching, right here’s what to search for:

• Media library (for photos, movies, and GIFs)
• Folder group and tagging
• Crew permissions for asset uploads and edits
• Integration with design instruments like Canva

Professional Tip: HubSpot’s free version of Marketing Hub (and paid tiers, too) integrates with Canva, enabling content material remixing, centralized model asset administration, and messaging consistency throughout channels – eliminating scattered information and off-brand posts that sluggish groups down.

5. AI-powered help

AI capabilities are rapidly changing into customary in social media scheduling platforms. These options scale back guide effort by:

• Producing captions
• Recommending optimum posting occasions
• Suggesting content material variations

Should you’re not offered on AI-powered social media scheduling but, listed here are just a few options to prioritize:

• Caption technology based mostly on hyperlinks, photos, or prompts
• Optimum send-time suggestions based mostly on viewers exercise
• Content material repurposing recommendations (turning blogs into social posts)
• Hashtag suggestions

Subsequent, let’s sort out the questions entrepreneurs ask most about social media schedulers.

Ceaselessly requested questions (FAQ) about social media schedulers

Professional Tip: HubSpot’s Social Media Management Software permits scheduling throughout Fb, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X from one dashboard, with direct CRM integration for unified buyer insights.

Are there good free social media scheduler choices?

My brief reply? Sure. A number of social media scheduling software program choices provide purposeful free tiers appropriate for people and really small groups.

Right here’s what free plans sometimes embody:

• 1 to three related social profiles
• Fundamental scheduling and calendar views
• Restricted posts per 30 days (typically 10 to 30)
• Minimal analytics

Moreover, a free social media scheduler works properly for solopreneurs or companies testing social technique earlier than scaling. HubSpot’s Marketing Hub, for instance, consists of free social publishing instruments that combine with its CRM, helpful for groups trying to monitor leads from day one.

As posting wants develop, the perfect social media scheduler for small companies will provide reasonably priced paid tiers with expanded limits and options.

How do approvals work in a social media scheduler?

Most social media scheduling platforms designed for groups embody approval workflows that route posts by means of designated reviewers earlier than publishing.

Typical approval workflow steps:

1. Content material creator drafts and schedules a submit
2. Submit enters a pending/evaluate queue
3. Designated approver receives notification
4. Approver evaluations, requests edits, or approves
5. Accepted posts publish on the scheduled time

Approval options forestall off-brand messaging, catch errors, and preserve compliance. That is particularly essential for regulated industries or businesses managing consumer accounts.

Total, the perfect social media schedulers provide customized approval chains, role-based permissions, and in-platform suggestions, so edits occur with out e mail back-and-forth.

Can I schedule Instagram Reels and Tales with a scheduler?

Sure, most main social media scheduling software program now helps scheduling for Instagram Reels and Stories, although performance varies.

What to know:

• Reels: Many platforms help direct Reels publishing with captions, cowl photos, and hashtags
• Tales: Some instruments provide direct publishing; others ship cellular reminders with pre-loaded content material for guide posting
• Limitations: Interactive Story components (polls, questions, hyperlinks) might require guide addition after publishing

Later and Buffer each help Reels scheduling. HubSpot’s Social Media Management Software permits Instagram submit scheduling with direct publishing

All-in-all, all the time affirm your chosen device’s particular Instagram capabilities, as platform API adjustments can have an effect on function availability.

How do I migrate from one scheduler to a different with out downtime?

This is probably not the reply you need, nevertheless it’s the sincere one: Switching social media scheduling platforms requires planning to keep away from gaps in your posting calendar.

Nonetheless, if you happen to’re dedicated to creating a swap, I’ve outlined a step-by-step migration course of to observe. Have a look:

1. Export present content material: Obtain scheduled posts, media property, and analytics studies out of your present device
2. Overlap subscriptions: Run each instruments concurrently for 1 to 2 weeks throughout transition
3. Recreate your calendar: Rebuild your posting schedule within the new platform, beginning with dates past your present device’s final scheduled submit
4. Reconnect profiles: Authenticate all social accounts within the new device (this received’t have an effect on present scheduled posts within the outdated device)
5. Take a look at earlier than going dwell: Schedule just a few check posts to substantiate publishing works appropriately
6. Cancel outdated subscription: Solely after confirming the brand new device is totally operational

Entrepreneurs, a social media scheduling device may be your new finest pal

Able to simplify your social technique and see what’s truly working? Get started with HubSpot’s Social Media Management Software to schedule posts, monitor engagement, and join each interplay to your CRM — all from one platform.