Editor's note, November 1, 2026: Rebuilt list: the 2021 list of six Instagram schedulers for influencers was rebuilt for businesses and marketing teams, with 10 apps compared on Instagram publishing, approvals, price and public reviews, checked on 1 November 2026.
How we choose: we research each tool on its own site, check prices at the source and read what users say in public reviews. Our method
Later is the best IG scheduling app for most businesses. It was built around Instagram, previews your grid before anything goes live and auto-publishes posts, carousels, Stories and Reels, from $18.75 a month billed yearly. Choose Metricool or Buffer if you want a free plan, or Meta Business Suite if you only post to Instagram and Facebook.
Teams with sign-off rules need something else. Planable is built around client and manager approval, SocialPilot adds an inbox and approvals at a mid-range price, and Sendible gives agencies a workspace per client with unlimited users. Agorapulse, Sprout Social and Hootsuite suit larger teams that also moderate comments and report to management, at per-user prices.
When you compare Instagram schedulers, check four things on the plan you can afford: which formats it auto-publishes (Reels and Stories often fall back to a phone reminder), whether it supports a first comment and a grid preview, who can approve posts, and how many users and accounts are included. Auto-publishing needs an Instagram business or creator account. For what to post, see our guides to growing an Instagram business organically and Instagram marketing strategies. Prices below were checked on 1 November 2026.
The list at a glance
| # | Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan | Team |
|---|
| 1 |  Later | Brands that plan a visual Instagram grid and want every format auto-published | $18.75 USD per month | No | Marketing |
| 2 |  Metricool | Small businesses that want a free plan, then low-cost scheduling and analytics per brand | $20 per month, billed yearly | Yes | Marketing |
| 3 |  Buffer | Small teams that want the simplest scheduler and pay per channel | $5 per channel per month, billed yearly | Yes | Marketing |
| 4 |  Meta Business Suite | Businesses that post only to Instagram and Facebook and want to pay nothing | Free | Yes | Marketing |
| 5 |  Planable | Agencies and teams where clients or managers must approve each post | $33 per workspace per month | No | Marketing |
| 6 |  SocialPilot | Small agencies and businesses that want many accounts and users at a mid-range price | $25.50 per month, billed yearly | No | Marketing |
| 7 |  Sendible | Agencies that manage Instagram for many clients and want unlimited users | $30 per month, billed yearly | No | Marketing |
| 8 |  Agorapulse | Teams that schedule Instagram and answer comments and DMs together | $79 per user per month, billed annually | No | Marketing |
| 9 |  Sprout Social | Larger marketing teams that need scheduling, reporting and a shared inbox | $79 per seat per month, billed yearly | No | Marketing |
| 10 |  Hootsuite | Large social teams that want scheduling, monitoring and benchmarks in one platform | $99 per user per month | No | Marketing |
How we chose
We ranked each app on the five points of our published method, in this order. First, fit: how well it helps a business or marketing team plan and publish Instagram content on schedule. Second, the Instagram features that matter for that job, taken from each vendor's own documentation: auto-publishing for posts, carousels, Reels and Stories, first comments, grid previews, best-time suggestions and approval workflows. Third, price and how clearly it is stated, including free plans, trials and which plan includes approvals. Fourth, what users report in public reviews on G2, or on Capterra where a tool has no G2 listing. Fifth, whether the product is actively developed.
Every app was researched on its own website, pricing page and help documentation, and in public reviews. We did not test the apps ourselves. Instagram-first planners and low-cost schedulers rank highest because they suit most businesses. Team and agency platforms rank lower because they cost more per user, even when they do more. For a wider set of Instagram tools, see our list of the best IG tools, compare content calendar tools or browse all social media tools.
Best for brands that plan a visual Instagram grid and want every format auto-published
1. Later
Marketing- Starting price
- $18.75 USD per month
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The best IG scheduling app for most businesses. Later was built around Instagram, and its visual planner, best-time suggestions and Link in Bio still make it the most complete Instagram-first scheduler at a low entry price.
Why it's on the list
Later's drag-and-drop planner shows how your grid will look before anything goes live, which no other tool here puts at the centre of the product. Its Instagram scheduler auto-publishes single-image posts, carousels, Stories and Reels, and a scheduled post can carry a first comment, a location tag and mentions. It suggests best times to post and hashtags, and Link in Bio turns the profile link into a clickable page of your posts with click tracking. Starter costs $18.75 per month billed yearly for 1 social set, 1 user and 30 posts per profile a month, and every plan has a 14-day free trial. Later Social holds 4.5 out of 5 on G2 from more than 340 reviews, with ease of use and the visual calendar praised most.
Pros
- Visual grid planner with drag-and-drop scheduling
- Auto-publishes posts, carousels, Stories and Reels
- Best times to post, hashtag suggestions and a first comment
- Link in Bio with click tracking
Cons
- No free plan
- Starter allows 1 user and 30 posts per profile a month
- Approvals and the social inbox start on Growth, at $37.50 per month billed yearly
Who it's for
Consumer brands, small marketing teams and agencies whose main channel is Instagram and who care how the feed looks.
Who should skip it
Teams that want a free plan or many users on a small budget. Metricool, Buffer or Sendible fit better.
More about Later: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for small businesses that want a free plan, then low-cost scheduling and analytics per brand
2. Metricool
Marketing- Starting price
- $20 per month, billed yearly
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- No
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The best value. Metricool auto-publishes every Instagram format, suggests best times and adds analytics and competitor tracking, with a free plan and paid plans priced per brand instead of per user.
Why it's on the list
Metricool's planner auto-publishes Instagram feed posts, carousels, Reels and Stories for business and creator accounts and shows the best times to post. The free plan never expires and covers 1 brand, 20 scheduled posts a month and 30 days of analytics. Starter costs from $20 per month billed yearly, or $25 month to month, for up to 5 brands, with unlimited publishing under a fair use policy, up to 100 competitor profiles and unlimited analytics history. Post approval and team roles need Advanced, from $53 per month billed yearly. It holds 4.4 out of 5 on G2 from about 100 reviews, where ease of use, the calendar and value are praised most.
Pros
- Free plan that never expires
- Auto-publishes posts, carousels, Reels and Stories
- Priced per brand, not per user
- Analytics and competitor tracking included
Cons
- The free plan allows 20 scheduled posts a month
- First comments work on feed posts only, and Stories with links or stickers are sent as reminders
- Post approval needs the Advanced plan
Who it's for
Small businesses, freelancers and agencies with several small clients that want scheduling and reporting on a small budget.
Who should skip it
Teams that need approvals on an entry plan. Planable and SocialPilot include them for less.
More about Metricool: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for small teams that want the simplest scheduler and pay per channel
3. Buffer
Marketing- Starting price
- $5 per channel per month, billed yearly
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The simplest way to keep posting. Buffer is cheap, easy to learn and has a free plan, though Reels sometimes fall back to a phone reminder and its analytics are lighter than the tools above.
Why it's on the list
Buffer schedules Instagram posts, carousels of up to 10 images and Stories to publish automatically, and plans Reels too, although some Reels switch to notification publishing when Instagram's API cannot auto-publish them. Best-time recommendations are based on your account's recent performance. The free plan covers 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time, and Essentials costs $5 per channel per month billed yearly, or $6 month to month, adding first comment scheduling and a hashtag manager. Team, at $10 per channel per month billed yearly, adds unlimited users and approvals, and paid plans come with a 14-day free trial. It holds 4.3 out of 5 on G2 from 1,042 reviews, with its simple design praised most.
Pros
- Free plan for 3 channels
- Low price per channel, with unlimited users on Team
- First comment and hashtag manager on Essentials
- Best-time recommendations from your own results
Cons
- Some Reels need to be finished in the Instagram app
- Auto-publishing needs a professional Instagram account
- G2 reviewers say larger teams can outgrow its analytics
Who it's for
Small businesses, solo marketers and lean teams that want to post consistently with little setup.
Who should skip it
Teams that report on Instagram in depth. Metricool or Sprout Social measure more.
More about Buffer: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for businesses that post only to Instagram and Facebook and want to pay nothing
4. Meta Business Suite
Marketing- Starting price
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- No
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The best free option. Meta's own tool schedules Instagram and Facebook posts and stories and gathers comments and DMs in one inbox, but it does not reach any other network.
Why it's on the list
Meta Business Suite is free and comes from the company that runs Instagram. Its planner schedules posts and stories to Instagram, Facebook or both, on a computer or in the mobile app. The inbox collects Instagram DMs and comments with Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp Business messages, and you can set automated responses to common questions. Insights show how content performs and who your audience is. It ranks below the paid tools because it covers only Meta's apps and Meta's product page does not mention a grid preview, a first comment or Reels scheduling. Capterra's Facebook Business Suite listing holds 4.3 out of 5 from 194 reviews.
Pros
- Free, with no subscription
- Schedules Instagram posts and stories, alone or with Facebook
- One inbox for Instagram, Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp Business
Cons
- Only covers Meta's own apps
- Lighter planning and analytics than paid tools
- Capterra reviewers mention slow loading and features that change after updates
Who it's for
Small businesses active only on Instagram and Facebook that want to schedule and reply without paying.
Who should skip it
Teams that also post to LinkedIn, TikTok or YouTube, or need approvals. Use a third-party app.
More about Meta Business Suite: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for agencies and teams where clients or managers must approve each post
5. Planable
Marketing- Starting price
- $33 per workspace per month
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- October 31, 2026
The best for approvals. Planable shows posts as they will look, lets clients comment and approve in context, and prices per workspace with unlimited users.
Why it's on the list
Planable is built around review. Clients and colleagues comment on a post preview, suggest edits and approve it, with optional, required or multi-level approvals depending on the plan. Planable says it schedules Instagram posts, carousels, Stories and Reels with direct publishing and a first comment, and its Pro plan adds a grid view that mocks up the profile. Basic costs $33 per workspace per month billed yearly, or $39 month to month, for 60 posts and 4 social pages, and Pro costs $49 billed yearly with 150 posts and 10 pages. The free trial gives 50 posts with no time limit and no card. It holds 4.6 out of 5 on G2 from more than 1,100 reviews, with ease of use and client collaboration praised most.
Pros
- Approval workflows on every plan, with share links for clients
- Unlimited users in each workspace
- Instagram grid view on Pro
- Trial of 50 posts with no time limit
Cons
- Post limits per workspace on Basic and Pro
- Analytics and the social inbox are paid add-ons
- G2 reviewers find it expensive for small businesses and mention limits on Instagram publishing
Who it's for
Agencies and in-house teams that need sign-off from clients, legal or managers before posts go live.
Who should skip it
Solo marketers who approve their own posts. Later or Buffer cost less for the same scheduling.
More about Planable: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for small agencies and businesses that want many accounts and users at a mid-range price
6. SocialPilot
Marketing- Starting price
- $25.50 per month, billed yearly
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
A strong all-rounder for the money. SocialPilot auto-publishes every Instagram format and adds an inbox, reports and approvals from $42.50 a month, without per-seat pricing.
Why it's on the list
SocialPilot auto-publishes Instagram images, videos, carousels, Stories and Reels for business and creator profiles, with a first comment, user and location tags and AI hashtag suggestions. Essentials costs $25.50 per month billed yearly, or $30 month to month, for 7 social accounts and 1 user. Standard, at $42.50 per month billed yearly, adds 15 accounts, 3 users, the social inbox, analytics and manager approval, and Premium adds client approval and white-label reports. Every plan has a 14-day free trial that SocialPilot says needs no card. It holds 4.5 out of 5 on G2 from about 850 reviews and 4.4 on Capterra from about 375, where easy scheduling and value are praised most.
Pros
- Auto-publishes posts, carousels, Stories and Reels
- First comment, user tags and location tags
- Inbox, analytics and approvals from Standard
- Several users included without per-seat pricing
Cons
- Essentials has no analytics, inbox or approvals
- No free plan
- Reviewers mention missing features and occasional posting errors
Who it's for
Small agencies, multi-location businesses and marketing teams that manage 10 to 50 accounts.
Who should skip it
Instagram-first brands that plan the look of the grid. Later is built for that.
More about SocialPilot: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for agencies that manage Instagram for many clients and want unlimited users
7. Sendible
Marketing- Starting price
- $30 per month, billed yearly
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
Built for agencies. Sendible gives each client a workspace, includes unlimited users on every plan and previews the Instagram grid before you publish.
Why it's on the list
Sendible auto-publishes Instagram posts, Reels, Stories and image carousels to professional profiles, and sends phone reminders for Stories with interactive stickers or sounds and for video carousels. Its compose box previews how a post will sit in the feed grid, and it can add a first comment with hashtags and a geotag to every post. Core costs $30 per month billed yearly, or $35 month to month, for 1 workspace with 6 profiles and unlimited users, and approval workflows start on Plus at $84 per month billed yearly. There is a 14-day free trial with no card. It holds 4.5 out of 5 on G2 from about 905 reviews and 4.6 on Capterra from 137, where ease of use and managing many clients are praised most.
Pros
- Unlimited users on every plan
- Instagram grid preview and first comment
- One workspace per client, brand or location
- Client approvals and branded reports on higher plans
Cons
- Approvals start on Plus, not Core
- Stories with stickers and video carousels need a phone reminder
- G2 reviewers mention accounts that disconnect and cause failed posts
Who it's for
Marketing agencies and franchise or multi-location brands that run Instagram for many clients or sites.
Who should skip it
A single brand with one Instagram account. Later or Metricool are simpler and cheaper.
More about Sendible: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for teams that schedule Instagram and answer comments and DMs together
8. Agorapulse
Marketing- Starting price
- $79 per user per month, billed annually
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
A strong team tool when the inbox matters as much as scheduling. Agorapulse publishes every Instagram format and includes a shared inbox on its first plan, but it is priced per user and no longer has a free plan.
Why it's on the list
Agorapulse publishes Instagram posts, Stories, carousels and Reels, adds a first comment to posts and Reels, and lets you try different grid layouts before posts go out. Its reports show the best times to post, and the inbox collects Instagram comments and DMs with every other profile, including comments on Instagram ads. Standard costs $79 per user per month billed yearly, or $99 month to month, for 10 social profiles, and approval workflows start on Professional at $119. Agorapulse closed its free plan on 6 July 2026 and now offers a 30-day free trial without a card. It holds 4.5 out of 5 on G2 from more than 950 reviews, with the interface, support and inbox praised most.
Pros
- Shared inbox for comments and DMs on every plan
- First comment on posts and Reels
- Best times to post in reports
- 30-day free trial without a card
Cons
- Priced per user, from $79 per month billed yearly
- Approvals need Professional at $119 per user
- G2 reviewers mention price and features kept for higher plans
Who it's for
Social and community teams that publish and moderate Instagram as a group and report to managers.
Who should skip it
Small businesses that only need to schedule. Buffer or Metricool cost far less.
More about Agorapulse: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for larger marketing teams that need scheduling, reporting and a shared inbox
9. Sprout Social
Marketing- Starting price
- $79 per seat per month, billed yearly
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
The most complete platform for larger teams, with optimal send times and strong reporting, but priced per seat at a level most small businesses will not need.
Why it's on the list
Sprout Social publishes Instagram single-image posts, videos, Reels and carousels of up to 10 images directly, schedules Stories and lets you add a first comment to each post. Optimal Send Times appear in the composer as recommended slots based on when your audience is active. Essentials costs $79 per seat per month billed yearly, or $99 month to month, for 5 social profiles, while the Smart Inbox needs Standard at $199 and the competitor report needs Professional at $299. There is a 30-day free trial without a card. It holds 4.4 out of 5 on G2 from more than 6,900 reviews, with ease of use and scheduling praised most and price criticised most.
Pros
- Direct publishing for posts, Reels and carousels, plus Story scheduling
- Optimal Send Times in the composer
- Strong reporting for management
- 30-day free trial without a card
Cons
- Priced per seat, from $79 per month billed yearly
- The shared inbox needs Standard at $199 per seat
- Stories with stickers must be finished in the Instagram app
Who it's for
Mid-size and larger marketing teams that manage Instagram next to other networks and report on results.
Who should skip it
Small businesses and agencies on a budget. SocialPilot or Sendible cover scheduling and approvals for less.
More about Sprout Social: pricing, features and alternatives
Best for large social teams that want scheduling, monitoring and benchmarks in one platform
10. Hootsuite
Marketing- Starting price
- $99 per user per month
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Yes
- Price checked
- November 1, 2026
A long-standing platform that schedules every Instagram format and adds monitoring on every plan, but it is the most expensive app here for one user.
Why it's on the list
Hootsuite schedules Instagram photos, videos, carousels, Stories and Reels from one calendar alongside other networks, and suggests when to post based on your audience's activity and goals. Its inbox answers Instagram comments and private messages, and every plan includes brand and competitor monitoring. Standard costs $99 per user per month billed yearly for up to 10 social accounts, and paid plans come with a 14-day free trial that limits posting. It holds 4.3 out of 5 on G2 from more than 7,500 reviews, where scheduling across networks is praised most and price is the most common complaint.
Pros
- Schedules posts, carousels, Stories and Reels
- Best time to post based on your goals
- Brand and competitor monitoring on every plan
Cons
- No free plan, and $99 per user per month on the first plan
- The free trial limits posting and bulk scheduling
- G2 reviewers mention failed posts and fewer features on lower plans
Who it's for
Larger marketing teams that run several brands or regions and want publishing and monitoring in one tool.
Who should skip it
Small businesses with one Instagram account. Later, Metricool or Buffer do the job for far less.
More about Hootsuite: pricing, features and alternatives
Also considered
- Loomly: A calendar and approval tool that schedules to Instagram and eight other networks. It was left out because its entry plan starts at $49 per month billed yearly, more than SocialPilot or Sendible for similar Instagram features.
- Iconosquare: An Instagram analytics tool that also schedules posts, Reels, Stories and carousels. It is covered in our list of the best IG tools, where analytics is the main need.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free Instagram scheduling app?
Meta Business Suite is free and schedules Instagram posts and stories, alone or with Facebook. Metricool's free plan auto-publishes every Instagram format for 1 brand, up to 20 posts a month, and Buffer's free plan covers 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time.
Can scheduling apps post Instagram Reels and Stories automatically?
Most can, for business and creator accounts. Later, Metricool, SocialPilot, Sendible and Agorapulse say they auto-publish Reels and Stories. Stories with interactive stickers or music usually arrive as a phone reminder to finish in the Instagram app, and Buffer says some Reels fall back to a reminder when Instagram's API cannot publish them.
Do I need an Instagram business or creator account to schedule posts?
Yes, for auto-publishing. Buffer says personal accounts are limited to reminder-based posting, Metricool auto-publishes for business and creator profiles, and Sendible publishes to professional profiles.
Which Instagram scheduler is best for agencies?
Sendible and Planable suit agencies best. Sendible gives each client a workspace with unlimited users, and Planable is built around client approval of each post. SocialPilot adds client seats and client approval on its Premium plan.
Which apps preview the Instagram grid before posting?
Later is built around a visual grid planner. Sendible shows a grid preview in its compose box, Planable has a grid view on Pro, and Agorapulse lets you try grid layouts before posts go out.
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