What tools are best for scheduling and managing posts across multiple social media platforms?

For scheduling and managing posts across multiple platforms, tools like Metricool (which i like best), Buffer, Hootsuite, and Later offer user-friendly interfaces and strong analytics. Sprout Social is ideal for larger teams needing collaboration features and deeper reporting. SocialBee and Publer are great for budget-conscious users who still want advanced scheduling and content recycling. For Instagram-heavy strategies, Planoly and Meta Business Suite (for Facebook and Instagram) provide visual planners and post automation.

The best tools for scheduling and managing posts across multiple social media platforms include Hootsuite, Buffer, Sprout Social, and Later. These tools allow you to schedule posts, track engagement, and manage multiple accounts from one dashboard. Meta Business Suite is great for Facebook and Instagram, while TweetDeck is ideal for Twitter. Choose based on your needs and budget.

For a robust, all-encompassing solution, Hootsuite stands out, offering scheduling across major platforms and comprehensive analytics. If your focus leans heavily towards visual content, especially on Instagram and Pinterest, Later's visual planner and specialized features for Stories and Reels are invaluable. For those seeking a budget-friendly option without sacrificing essential scheduling and analytics, Buffer provides a straightforward and effective solution.

The "best" tool ultimately depends on your priorities. Consider factors like your primary platforms, budget constraints, the importance of detailed analytics, and the need for advanced features like social listening or team collaboration. Trying out free trials is a practical approach to determine which tool seamlessly integrates with your workflow. Whether you prioritize comprehensive scheduling, visual planning, or budget-friendliness, there's a tool tailored to streamline your social media management.

In my opinion Hootsuite and Buffer are pretty intuitive. Hootsuite offers a comprehensive dashboard for scheduling, monitoring, and analyzing posts across various platforms, making it ideal for teams managing multiple accounts. Buffer is user-friendly, allowing easy post scheduling, performance tracking, and team collaboration, making it perfect for businesses seeking a simple, effective solution.

Getting lost trying to manage multiple social media accounts? Use these top tools to quickly schedule and manage your post across different platforms.

1. Hootsuite
Hootsuite is an important social media manager and automation software application. It can perform scheduling and monitoring of various social media accounts as well as analytics, all from the same dashboard.
Pro Tip: Use Hootsuite's bulk scheduler to plan your month in one go and save your hours of work.

2. Buffer 🛠
Buffer has a neat interface that is easy to work with for scheduling, tracking performance, and collaborating with your team members. Ideally, small to medium-size businesses would find its use to be fruitful.
Example: Schedule posts simultaneously on Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, optimizing your posting across all channels.

3. Later
Ideal for visual content, Later claims to specialize in Instagram. Its visual content calendar allows users to plan and preview their posts intuitively.
Pro Tip: Later's media library allows you to curate and organize your photos and videos, which makes locating content that needs to be quickly scheduled a breeze.

4. Sprout Social
Sprout Social puts together scheduling, monitoring, and extensive analytics into a comprehensive tool for bigger businesses and enterprises.
Pro Tip: Leverage Sprout Social's reporting features to gain a deep understanding of your social media performance in order to optimize your strategy appropriately.

5. SocialBee
SocialBee has category-based posting options, which will allow you to maintain a balanced and varied posting schedule on different platforms more easily.
Example: Consider promotional, educational, and entertaining content categories to ensure your social media presence is diverse and engaging. 

If you need something basic and free, Facebook Meta Business Suite is a great starting point. For more advanced needs, like managing multiple platforms or accessing detailed analytics, tools like Hootsuite or Sprout Social may be better. Think about what you prioritize—simplicity, cost, analytics, or platform variety—and choose accordingly!

Here are a few popular tools to consider:

1. Facebook Meta Business Suite

Best for: Basic scheduling and managing posts for Facebook and Instagram.

Pros: It’s free, easy to use, and directly integrates with Facebook and Instagram, offering insights and basic scheduling features.

Cons: Limited to Facebook and Instagram, with fewer features for advanced analytics, collaboration, or cross-platform scheduling.

Ideal for: Those just starting or managing only Facebook and Instagram accounts.

2. Hootsuite

Best for: Managing multiple social media platforms and gaining detailed insights.

Pros: Supports a wide range of platforms, offers detailed analytics, team collaboration features, and post approvals.

Cons: Can be pricey, especially for advanced plans, and the interface might feel overwhelming to new users.

Ideal for: Businesses or agencies that manage multiple accounts across platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok.

3. Buffer

Best for: Simplicity and ease of use for scheduling posts.

Pros: User-friendly, affordable, and covers all major platforms with basic analytics and engagement tracking.

Cons: Limited in-depth analytics and advanced collaboration tools.

Ideal for: Small businesses, freelancers, or individuals focused on straightforward scheduling and posting.

4. Later

Best for: Visual content planning, especially for Instagram and Pinterest.

Pros: Includes a content calendar with a drag-and-drop feature and a visual grid preview for Instagram posts.

Cons: Less effective for text-heavy platforms like LinkedIn or Twitter and offers limited analytics in lower-tier plans.

Ideal for: Content creators, influencers, and businesses with a focus on visually appealing content.

5. Sprout Social

Best for: Comprehensive social media management with advanced analytics.

Pros: Robust collaboration tools, excellent reporting features, and the ability to manage customer relationships through social media.

Cons: High cost, making it better suited for larger businesses or agencies.

Ideal for: Marketing teams or agencies that require in-depth reporting and team collaboration.

6. Canva Content Scheduler

Best for: Those already using Canva for content design.

Pros: Combines design and scheduling in one tool, allowing you to create posts and schedule them directly.

Cons: Limited analytics and features compared to dedicated scheduling platforms.

Ideal for: Small businesses or content creators who prioritize design alongside scheduling.

When it comes to scheduling and managing posts across multiple social media platforms, the tools you choose should offer both efficiency and scalability. Here are some of the top tools we recommend based on our experience managing diverse client accounts:

1. Hootsuite: Great for managing multiple accounts and scheduling posts with advanced analytics and team collaboration features.

2. Buffer: A user-friendly option for scheduling and analyzing posts across platforms. It’s ideal for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

3. Later: Perfect for visual content planning, especially for Instagram, with drag-and-drop functionality and hashtag suggestions.

4. Sprout Social: Offers in-depth reporting and advanced social listening features for businesses focused on engagement and growth.

5. Jarvee: A desktop-based tool ideal for automation tasks like scheduling, following, and engagement, ensuring growth without overwhelming manual effort.

Each of these tools has strengths tailored to different needs. For example, we use a mix of these tools depending on client requirements—whether it’s managing a startup’s growing presence or scaling an established brand’s social media engagement. Always assess your specific goals and workflows to select the tool that aligns best with your needs

These tools are best for scheduling and managing posts across multiple social media platforms.

1. Loomly

Features: Content calendar and idea generation, post scheduling, automated publishing, and ad management. It offers post previews for different platforms and team collaboration tools.

Platforms Supported: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Google My Business, YouTube.

Best For: Small businesses and teams looking for easy collaboration and an intuitive content creation process.

2. Hootsuite

Features: Schedule and publish posts, social listening, advanced analytics, and team collaboration. Offers a unified dashboard for managing multiple social accounts.

Platforms Supported: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube.

Best For: Businesses of all sizes needing an all-in-one social media management solution.

3. Buffer

Features: Plan and schedule posts, basic analytics, team collaboration, and an easy-to-use interface. Includes engagement tools to manage social comments and messages.

Platforms Supported: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest.

Best For: Solopreneurs and small teams looking for a straightforward tool to manage multiple social accounts.

4. Metricool

Features: Social media analytics, automated scheduling, competitive analysis, and reporting. Allows tracking metrics like follower growth and post performance.

Platforms Supported: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Ads, YouTube, TikTok.

Best For: Marketers who need a combination of scheduling and robust analytics.

5. Later

Features: Drag-and-drop content calendar, visual scheduling, Instagram hashtag suggestions, and analytics. It also supports Linkin.bio for clickable posts.

Platforms Supported: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, TikTok, LinkedIn.

Best For: Content creators and brands focused on visual marketing, particularly on Instagram.

6. Sprout Social

Features: Scheduling, social listening, detailed analytics, audience engagement tools, and team collaboration. Includes advanced reporting and social CRM capabilities.

Platforms Supported: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube.

Best For: Medium to large businesses and agencies requiring powerful reporting and engagement tools.

7. Zoho Social

Features: Post scheduling, brand monitoring, customizable reporting, and CRM integration. Includes team collaboration tools like approval workflows.

Platforms Supported: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google My Business.

Best For: Businesses using the Zoho ecosystem or looking for affordable and scalable options.

8. Planoly

Features: Visual content planning, grid preview for Instagram, drag-and-drop scheduler, and hashtag organizer. Includes analytics and shop integration features.

Platforms Supported: Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok.

Best For: Visual brands and influencers aiming to maintain a cohesive aesthetic on Instagram.

9. Meta Business Suite

Features: Free tool for managing Facebook and Instagram pages. Includes scheduling, basic analytics, ad management, and inbox for managing messages and comments.

Platforms Supported: Facebook, Instagram.

Best For: Businesses looking for a free and reliable way to manage Facebook and Instagram marketing.

10. eClincher 

Features: Advanced scheduling, social listening, robust analytics, and integration with third-party tools like Canva and Google Drive. Includes a social inbox and auto-posting for RSS feeds.

Platforms Supported: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok.

Best For: Brands and agencies looking for advanced features and extensive integrations.