Managing multiple Instagram accounts without a solid plan? It’s like trying to keep a hundred plates spinning at once; frustrating and exhausting.
If you’re a social media manager, content creator, or running a business account, the struggle to keep your Instagram feed consistent, engaging, and on-schedule is all too real.
Without the right tools, things can quickly get out of hand. But here’s the good news: with the right Instagram planner, you can turn that chaos into clarity.
In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to 11 effective Instagram planners that will help you streamline your posting, organize your content, and keep your brand’s Instagram grid looking fresh and on point.
What is an Instagram Planner?
An Instagram planner is a tool designed to help you schedule, organize, and manage your Instagram content more efficiently. It allows you to plan your posts, ensuring you stay consistent while saving time and effort.
Who Uses Instagram Planners?
Instagram planners are used by influencers, brands, agencies, and small business owners. These are people who rely on a consistent social media presence to engage their audiences and grow their reach.
If you want to explore other options and features beyond planners, check out some of the best Instagram tools available.
Basic Capabilities of an Instagram Planner:
- Content Calendar: An Instagram planner offers a content calendar where you can schedule your posts, stories, and reels for days, weeks, or even months ahead.
- Visual Grid Layout: The visual grid layout lets you see your Instagram feed in advance, helping you ensure a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing feed before posting.
- Best-Time-to-Post Insights: These tools often provide insights into the best times to post, optimizing your content’s visibility and engagement.
- Hashtag Organization: Instagram planners also help you organize hashtags for each post, making it easier to increase discoverability and engagement with targeted audiences.
Top Instagram Planners
- SocialPilot: Best suited for agencies looking for automated scheduling, seamless approvals, client collaboration, analytics, and white-labeling.
- Later: Best for creators and brands focused on visual Instagram grid planning and maintaining a cohesive feed.
- Planoly: Best for content creators and influencers to plan, schedule, and manage Instagram posts with ease.
- Buffer: Best simple, free planner for individuals and small businesses seeking straightforward post scheduling.
- Preview App: Best mobile-first feed planner for managing Instagram content and visual grid previews on the go.
- Plann: Best for solopreneurs needing content scheduling, collaboration, and visual planning tools.
- Hootsuite: Best for enterprises requiring multi-channel planning, team collaboration, reporting, and large-scale management.
- Pallyy: Best minimalist, affordable planner offering Instagram scheduling, analytics, and comment management.
- Sprout Social: Best for advanced analytics, Instagram planning, team collaboration, and performance tracking.
- Canva Content Planner: Best design + scheduling combo for brands and marketing teams prioritizing visual content creation and planning.
- Loomly:Best for teams seeking collaborative Instagram planning with content suggestions, scheduling, analytics, and approval workflows.
How We Have Analysed & Selected Instagram Planners
We carefully selected these top Instagram planners through extensive research and hands-on testing. Each tool was evaluated based on key factors such as user experience, ease of scheduling, app integrations, G2 ratings, and user reviews. We also considered features like content calendar management, visual grid layout, best-time-to-post insights, and the ability to organize captions and hashtags. We aim to provide planners that are intuitive, reliable, and scalable; tools that not only help you stay organized but also optimize your Instagram social media strategy easily.
Quick Overview of Instagram Planners
Here is a quick look at the tools, with a detailed comparison of their features and user experience, so that you can manage your Instagram presence effectively.
 SocialPilot |
 Later |
 Loomly |
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| Pricing | Starts at $30/Month | Starts at $25/Month | Starts at $60/Month |
| Best for | Agencies & Small Businesses | Brands & Creators | Brands & Enterprises |
| Social Profiles | 7 | 7 | 10 |
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| Calendar View | Easy to read |
Overwhelming |
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| Learn more | Learn more | ||
Best Instagram Planners in 2025
Best for
Marketing Agencies, SMBs, Multi-Location Brands & Professionals
Ratings
4.5 (G2), 4.4 (Capterra)
Apps:
Web version, Android, iOS apps, Chrome, Firefox, and Edge web extensions
Social Media Platforms Supported
Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, TikTok, Threads, Bluesky, YouTube, and Google Business Profile
Key Features:
- Multi-Platform Scheduling: Schedule Instagram posts, Reels, and Stories from one dashboard.
- AI-Powered Scheduling: Auto-generate captions and hashtags for Instagram posts using AI.
- Bulk Scheduling: Upload a CSV to schedule upto 500 Instagram posts at once.
- Content Calendar: Visualize all Instagram posts in a drag-and-drop calendar.
- Queue Templates: Set reusable post queues to maintain consistent Instagram content.
- Approval Workflow: Review and approve Instagram posts before they go live.
- First Comment Scheduling: Schedule hashtags or extra info as the first comment.
- Hashtag Generator: Find the best Instagram hashtags for every post automatically.
- Content Library: Organize all Instagram photos, videos, and media assets in one place.
- Analytics and Reporting: Track Instagram post performance, engagement, and growth.
Strengths
- Content Calendar: The visual drag-and-drop calendar makes it easy to plan, schedule, and rearrange Instagram posts, ensuring a cohesive and consistent feed.
- Content Library: Organize all Instagram photos, videos, and media assets in one central place, allowing quick access and efficient content management.
- Bulk Scheduling: Upload up to 500 Instagram posts at once, streamlining content planning for agencies and businesses with high-volume posting needs.
Verified User in Consumer Services
SocialPilot has been the best marketing tool for the small business I work at. There haven’t been any errors when posting on any social media platforms, unlike other marketing tools, which are unable to effectively post to Instagram. The company is also competitive and offers a lower price for entry and more analytics than other companies. Additionally, I enjoy being able to correct photos to the right sizing with their crop tool.
Areas to Improve
- Occasional Account Linking Issues: Some users face difficulties reconnecting social media accounts, which can interrupt scheduling and require troubleshooting.
- Lack of Visual Calendar View: SocialPilot uses a list format for scheduling, which some users might find less intuitive than a visual calendar layout.
Marty S.
Some end-user involvement is required to achieve above-par results. Sometimes LinkedIn or Facebook makes changes that require us to re-sync, but that’s only a click to do.
What’s the Standout Feature of SocialPilot:
SocialPilot’s standout feature is its AI-powered scheduling that goes beyond simple post planning. It helps generate captions, hashtags, and post ideas, while allowing bulk scheduling of up to 500 Instagram posts at once, making content creation and publishing faster and smarter.
About SocialPilot
SocialPilot is a powerful Instagram planner and social media management tool designed to streamline content scheduling, posting, and analytics. Ideal for social media managers, agencies, and businesses managing multiple Instagram accounts, it simplifies the process of maintaining a consistent and engaging Instagram presence.
SocialPilot automates caption creation and hashtag suggestions, saving you time and optimizing your posts for better engagement. Its bulk scheduling feature lets you upload and schedule up to 500 Instagram posts at once; efficient for high-volume content management.
The platform offers a visual content calendar, allowing you to easily plan and arrange posts with a simple drag-and-drop feature. This ensures your Instagram grid remains consistent and cohesive, aligning with your brand’s aesthetic.
Other key features include first comment scheduling, an inbuilt hashtag generator, a content library for easy media storage, and detailed analytics to track performance. SocialPilot also supports team collaboration with approval workflows and role-based access, ensuring efficient content creation and approval.
Overall, SocialPilot combines ease of use with advanced tools, making it the ultimate solution for businesses and marketers looking to enhance their Instagram strategy.
Pricing and Value
SocialPilot offers a 14-day free trial and access to all premium features (no credit card required & cancel any time). Choose a plan that fits your needs.
| Ultimate | Premium | Standard | Essentials |
$170.00/mo$200
Billed annually (Save 15%)
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$85.00/mo$100
Billed annually (Save 15%)
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$42.50/mo$50
Billed annually (Save 15%)
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$25.50/mo$30
Billed annually (Save 15%)
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Streamline Social Media Management
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Best for
Creators, Agencies, Social Media Managers, and Growing Businesses.
Ratings
4.5 (G2), 4.4 (Capterra)
Apps
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Pinterest, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Multi-Platform Scheduling: Schedule Instagram posts, Stories, and Reels alongside other social channels from a single dashboard.
- Drag-and-Drop Visual Calendar: Plan your Instagram content visually and easily rearrange posts to maintain a cohesive feed aesthetic.
- Auto-Publishing for Stories: Automatically publish Instagram Stories, reducing manual work and saving time.
- Post-Performance Analytics: Track engagement, reach, and top-performing posts to optimize your Instagram strategy.
- Media Library: Store and organize images and videos for quick access when planning your Instagram content.
- Best Time to Post Recommendations: Get insights on optimal posting times to maximize engagement on Instagram.
Strengths
- Drag-and-Drop Visual Calendar: Later offers a visual content calendar that makes rescheduling and planning Instagram posts intuitive and easy.
- Post-Performance Tracking: Users can monitor how their content is performing, gaining insights to improve future posts.
- Auto-Publish Instagram Stories: Later can automatically publish Instagram Stories, streamlining content management and saving time.
Casey G.
I like the full calendar view of your week’s worth of content. I also find the analytics page very helpful for my monthly overview of content performance.
Areas to Improve
- Limited Automation: Later does not support automating comments or DMs, which limits its overall automation capabilities.
- Pricing Concerns: Some users feel that the cost is high relative to the automation features offered.
- Customer Service Issues: Users have reported challenges with billing, refunds, and support responsiveness.
- Basic Analytics: While post-performance data is available, the metrics are limited and often duplicate what Instagram Insights already provides.
Julianna O.
I really dislike when Later tells me a video I’m posting is too long, or the dimensions aren’t right and when I try to edit the content in Later, it doesn’t update. I then have to manually send myself the content, edit it on my phone, and post it manually. It is very time consuming and seems glitchy.
What’s the Standout Feature of Later:
Later’s standout feature is its visual Instagram planning combined with auto-publishing. The drag-and-drop grid allows you to preview your entire feed, schedule posts at optimal times, and maintain a consistent aesthetic, making Instagram content management simpler and more visually cohesive.
About Later
Later started as a dedicated Instagram scheduling tool and has evolved into a comprehensive visual social media marketing platform. It provides a single dashboard to plan, schedule, and manage content across six platforms, while keeping Instagram at the forefront.
Designed for creators, agencies, and social media managers, Later simplifies content planning with a drag-and-drop visual calendar, post-performance tracking, and auto-publishing for Stories. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to maintain a consistent Instagram aesthetic, plan posts in advance, and identify the best times for engagement.
While ideal for individuals or small teams, Later currently lacks structured approval workflows, which may limit collaboration for larger teams managing multiple Instagram accounts.
Pricing
Later’s pricing starts with the Starter plan at $16.67/month for individuals, the Growth plan at $33.33/month for growing teams, and the Scale plan at $73.33/month for large brands and agencies; you can read a detailed breakdown of these plans in our Later pricing guide.
Best for
Creators, Agencies, Social Media Managers, and Growing Businesses.
Ratings
4.3 (G2), 4.3 (Capterra)
Apps
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Threads.
Key Features:
- Visual Drag-and-Drop Calendar: Plan and rearrange Instagram posts with a simple visual interface.
- Instagram Grid Planner: Preview your profile grid before posting to maintain a cohesive aesthetic.
- Auto-Publishing: Schedule posts and stories to publish automatically at the best times.
- Analytics & Insights: Track engagement and performance metrics for Instagram posts.
- Media Library: Store and organize photos and videos for quick access during planning.
- Canva & Unsplash Integration: Seamlessly upload content directly from these platforms.
Strengths
- Advanced Follower Insights: Gain a deeper understanding of your audience with analytics on follower behavior and engagement.
- Seamless Content Uploads: Integrate Canva and Unsplash accounts for quick, smooth media uploads.
- Instagram Grid Planner: Preview and schedule posts in grid-view to plan your profile’s aesthetic effectively.
Prem K.
Planoly is one of the best tools to manage social media. I can easily connect multiple social media accounts and post on all accounts at the same time in a very few steps. I can also reschedule posts.
Areas to Improve
- Auto-Scheduler Reliability: The auto-scheduler can sometimes be inconsistent, which may disrupt your planned grid layout.
- No Approval Workflows: Planoly lacks team approval workflows, making collaboration less streamlined.
Kala S.
This app has caused me so much stress for my page. I use the scheduler because I am asleep when I want to reach my audience on the other side of the world, but half the time it doesn’t post, even though it has been scheduled without any error messages.
What’s the Standout Feature of Planoly:
Planoly’s standout feature is its Instagram Grid Planner, which allows users to visually plan and preview their posts in grid view before scheduling. This ensures a cohesive profile aesthetic while saving time on manual adjustments.
About Planoly
Planoly is a robust Instagram content planner designed for businesses, creators, and social media managers to schedule, organize, and manage posts efficiently. Its drag-and-drop visual calendar, auto-publishing, and post-performance analytics simplify content planning while saving time and effort.
The tool also includes an Instagram grid planner, which lets users preview and rearrange posts to maintain a cohesive and visually appealing feed, ensuring profiles stay consistent and engaging. The tool’s intuitive interface makes it easy to plan campaigns, experiment with post layouts, and maintain an organized posting schedule.
While Planoly is ideal for individuals and small teams, it lacks approval workflows, which may limit collaboration for larger teams managing multiple Instagram accounts. Overall, Planoly is a strong choice for anyone looking to enhance their Instagram marketing with a focused planning tool that keeps content organized, visually aligned, and performance-driven.
Pricing
Planoly offers three pricing tiers: Starter at $16/month, Growth at $28/month, and Pro at $43/month, catering to individuals, growing teams, and larger teams with advanced Instagram planning needs.
Best for
Businesses, Publishers, Non-profits, Mid-stage startup teams, Solopreneurs, and E-commerce.
Ratings
4.5 (G2), 4.5 (Capterra)
Apps
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Shopify, Threads, Mastodon, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Instagram Post Scheduling: Schedule posts in advance and maintain a consistent posting schedule.
- Content Planning: Plan your Instagram posts using Buffer’s calendar and drafts.
- Best Time to Post Suggestions: Get recommendations for optimal posting times based on engagement data.
- Media Management: Store and organize photos and videos for your Instagram content.
- Multi-Account Management: Manage multiple Instagram accounts from a single dashboard (with paid plans).
Strengths
- User-Friendly Design: The tool’s intuitive interface makes it accessible for users of all technical levels.
- Flexible Scheduling: Plan posts in advance and choose between automatic publishing or manual posting with reminders.
Tracy W.
Buffer is extensively used in our company in marketing and corporate communication departments. It enables users to schedule and track scheduled posts across all major social networks. The analytics are great and show the performance of each post, and also Buffer is pretty affordable.
Areas to Improve
- Scheduling Issues: Some users experience posts not being published as planned.
- API Limitations: Functionality can be limited due to Instagram’s API restrictions, affecting certain features.
Victory J.
The mobile app isn’t as seamless as the web version. I guess this isn’t an issue for many as most people prefer to work on their computers. I do a lot of repetitive tasks on the move, so it kind of is a big deal for me.
What’s the Standout Feature of Buffer:
Buffer’s standout feature is its intuitive simplicity combined with multi-platform management, letting users schedule and analyze Instagram posts efficiently while managing other social channels from one dashboard.
About Buffer
Buffer is a user-friendly social media management tool that helps businesses, agencies, and creators plan, schedule, and monitor content across multiple platforms, including Instagram. Its intuitive interface makes it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise, while features like post scheduling, analytics, and audience engagement tools consolidate multiple social media tasks in one place.
The tool allows users to plan posts in advance, choose between automatic publishing or manual posting with reminders, and monitor post performance to adjust content strategy effectively. Buffer’s analytics dashboards provide insights on engagement, reach, and growth, helping teams make data-driven decisions.
Buffer supports a free plan for managing up to three social accounts, while paid plans unlock additional functionality for larger teams and more accounts. While ideal for small businesses and individual users, Buffer’s limitations due to Instagram’s API restrictions and per-account pricing may be a consideration for those managing multiple accounts.
Pricing
Buffer offers 3 plans: Free plan to manage up to 3 social channels, an Essentials plan at $5/month per channel, and a Team plan at $10/month per channel, with yearly billing saving two months. For more details, you can also check our detailed Buffer pricing review.
Best for
Creators, Agencies, Social Media Managers, and Growing Businesses.
Apps
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Instagram and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Drag-and-Drop Visual Planner: Easily arrange and preview your Instagram feed before posting to maintain a cohesive aesthetic.
- Content Calendar with Auto-Posting: Plan and schedule posts, Reels, and Stories in advance to streamline your content workflow.
- Integrated Media Library: Store and organize photos and videos for quick access and reuse.
- Hashtag Manager and Analytics: Discover the best hashtags and track post performance to optimize reach and engagement.
- Shoppable Post Support: Tag products directly in posts for Instagram shopping, turning your feed into a sales channel.
Strengths
- Intuitive Interface: Clean and visually appealing design.
- Visual Planning: Excellent for planning Instagram content visually.
- Content Calendar & Auto-Posting: Streamlines scheduling and posting across planned content.
- Hashtag & Analytics Tools: Provides useful tools for hashtag research and basic performance tracking.
Areas to Improve
- Limited Platform Support: Primarily Instagram and Pinterest, not ideal for other platforms.
- Multi-Account Management: Less suitable for managing multiple social media accounts.
- Paid Feature Limitations: Some key features require a paid subscription.
- Analytics Depth: Lacks advanced analytics compared to competitors.
What’s the Standout Feature of the Preview App:
Preview App’s standout feature is its visual drag-and-drop calendar, which allows users to plan their Instagram feed with a cohesive aesthetic while scheduling posts, editing photos, and managing hashtags all in one place.
About the Preview App
Preview App is an Instagram-focused content planner designed to help individuals, creators, and small businesses plan, organize, and optimize their Instagram feed. With its drag-and-drop visual calendar, users can preview their grid, rearrange posts, and maintain a cohesive aesthetic across Stories, Reels, and posts.
The app offers a free plan, which is great for solo users managing a single account on one device. Paid subscriptions unlock unlimited uploads, visual scheduling, and photo editing tools, allowing more advanced planning for growing accounts. Preview also includes features like hashtag suggestions, caption drafting, and analytics, helping users fine-tune their Instagram strategy based on post performance.
While the interface is user-friendly, navigating all features can be tricky at times, and customer support isn’t always responsive. However, for users prioritizing a simple, visual-first approach to Instagram planning, Preview App provides a streamlined solution to keep feeds consistent, save time, and manage content effectively.
Pricing
Preview App offers 3 pricing plans: a Free plan for beginners, limited to 1 user and 1 device. Paid plans include Pro at $6.67/month and Premium at $12.50/month, unlocking features like multiple accounts, unlimited scheduling, and advanced analytics.
Best for
Social Media Managers, Marketing Agencies, Small to Medium Businesses, and Freelancers
Ratings
2.6/5 (Trustpilot)
Apps
Web Version, iOS, and Android apps
Social Media Platforms Supported
Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube
Key Features:
- Visual Instagram Feed Planner: Drag-and-drop interface to plan and preview posts for consistent feed aesthetics.
- Post Scheduling: Schedule single images, carousel posts, and Instagram Stories in advance.
- Content Library: Centralized storage for photos, videos, and captions for easy reuse.
- Hashtag Manager: Save and organize hashtag sets to maximize reach and engagement.
- Analytics Dashboard: Track engagement, growth, and performance to optimize posting strategy.
- Team Collaboration: Shared calendar, approvals, and workflow management for collaborative content planning.
- Caption & Draft Management: Create, edit, and save captions and drafts for multiple posts at once.
Strengths
- Visual Planning: The drag-and-drop grid makes feed planning intuitive and aesthetically focused.
- Collaboration Tools: Multiple team members can work seamlessly with approval workflows and shared calendars.
Areas to Improve
- Limited Integrations: Limited platform integrations compared to all-in-one social media tools.
- Mobile App Performance: Mobile app sometimes lags when loading large content libraries.
Ibrahim (2/5 Stars)
Plannthat are lying to you.
I approached Plannthat with high hopes but have been met moments of mild enjoyment but most major frustrations. Its not particularly user friendly, has poor analytics but I kept it for the hashtag & media collections.
Writing this today because this is the last time I waste time and effort when one of my carousel posts goes missing.
Their helpdesk says they wait 5mins before deleting a carousel post. Thats B* – its immediate, I should know it just happened again for the nth time and it has been happening for months!
What’s the Standout Feature of Plann:
Plann’s standout feature is its Visual Instagram Feed Planner, which allows users to drag and drop posts to curate a cohesive feed before publishing. This visual-first approach ensures that the Instagram grid remains consistent and aesthetically pleasing.
About Plann
Plann is a visually-driven Instagram planner designed for solopreneurs, small teams, and growing businesses that want full control over their social media strategy. Its visual feed planner shows exactly how posts will appear together, helping maintain a cohesive and aesthetically consistent Instagram grid.
Users can schedule posts, Stories, and carousel content while using content tagging, labels, and collaborative calendars to organize campaigns across multiple team members. With approval workflows, managers can review and finalize content before publishing, streamlining team collaboration.
Plann’s analytics features provide insights into engagement trends and optimal posting times, ensuring content reaches the right audience at the right moment. Accessible via both web and mobile apps, Plann allows users to plan, schedule, and manage Instagram content anytime, anywhere, making it a practical and reliable tool for Instagram-first strategies.
Pricing
Plann’s pricing plans start with Power User at $12.5/month (billed annually) for 1 user and 1 brand, Build at $25/month (billed annually) for 2 users and 2 brands, and Grow at $62.5/month (billed annually) for 4 users and 5 brands. All plans include free usage for 2 months.
Best for
Professionals, Marketers, and Large Enterprises.
Ratings
4 (G2), 4.4 (Capterra)
Apps
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Instagram Core Metrics Tracker: Monitor engagement, reach, and follower growth.
- Instagram Scheduling and Publishing: Plan and auto-publish posts and Stories.
- Real-time Team Collaboration: Coordinate content creation and approvals across teams.
- Instagram UGC and Influencer Management: Manage user-generated content and influencer collaborations.
- In-depth Instagram Analytics Capabilities: Track performance, audience insights, and trends.
- AI Content Creation: Get AI suggestions for captions, hashtags, and post ideas.
- Instagram Calendar: Visualize and organize all upcoming posts in one calendar.
- Instagram Advanced Social Listening: Track hashtags, mentions, and trends.
- Paid Instagram Ads Management: Schedule, manage, and monitor ad campaigns.
Strengths
- Comprehensive KPI Tracking: Tracks any KPI and metric, helping users evaluate their content performance.
- Centralized Content Calendar: Provides a hub to view and manage upcoming posts efficiently.
Verified User
Hootsuite provides many features in one app. Dashboard, analytics, scheduling capabilities, analytics, monitoring, etc. The app has a user-friendly interface as well.
Areas to Improve
- Limited Features for the Price: Each plan has restricted functionality, which can be challenging for SMBs and agencies.
- Complex Dashboard Navigation: The interface can be difficult to navigate and understand, especially for new users.
- High Pricing: The cost may be hard to justify given the available features.
- Customer Support Challenges: Users often need assistance due to dashboard complexity, but support isn’t always responsive.
Verified User
This is outrageous! Hootsuite is charging us an exorbitant amount – over \$1,000 a month – for a service that barely meets our needs. We did our research and found several much more affordable options with way more integrations – features Hootsuite doesn’t even offer, like GBP integration & many more!
What’s the Standout Feature of Hootsuite:
Hootsuite’s standout feature is its all-in-one Instagram calendar and analytics hub. This lets users schedule posts, collaborate with teams, and monitor core metrics from a single dashboard, streamlining Instagram content planning and performance tracking.
About Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a comprehensive social media management platform that integrates multiple social channels into a single dashboard, helping businesses plan, schedule, and manage content efficiently. While it supports several platforms, its Instagram features allow users to schedule posts, plan Stories and Reels, and maintain a consistent feed aesthetic.
The tool caters to enterprises and large teams across industries like education, finance, healthcare, and government, providing analytics and performance tracking to optimize engagement and growth. Hootsuite’s content calendar and reporting tools help users plan their Instagram strategy alongside other platforms, streamlining workflow for teams managing multiple accounts.
While powerful, its UI can be complex, and some users may find navigating the dashboard less intuitive than simpler Instagram-specific planners. Nonetheless, for brands and agencies looking to manage Instagram as part of a broader social media strategy, Hootsuite offers a robust and scalable solution.
Pricing
Hootsuite’s plans start with Standard at $99/month (billed annually) for 1 user and 5 social accounts, Advanced at $249/month (billed annually) for unlimited accounts and additional users, and Enterprise with custom pricing for larger businesses. All plans include a 30-day free trial. For a more detailed look at Hootsuite’s pricing, you can also check out our Hootsuite pricing review.
Best for
Social Media Managers & Agencies, Small to Medium Businesses, and Freelancers.
Ratings
4.7/5 (Capterra)
Apps
Web version, Android, and iOS apps.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Facebook, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, and Google Business Profile.
Key Features:
- Instagram Story Auto Publishing: Automatically schedule and post image and video Stories up to 1 minute.
- Image Cropping Tool: Intelligent cropping for square, landscape, portrait, and Story dimensions.
- Shared Calendar: Collaborative calendar for teams to view and manage content.
- Preview & Rearrange Posts in Instagram Grid View: Visual feed planner to maintain aesthetic consistency.
- Carousel Publishing: Supports multi-image/video posts for storytelling and product showcases.
- Identify the Best Time to Post: Analytics-driven recommendations for optimal posting times.
Strengths
- Ease of Use: Intuitive dashboard allows fast drafting and scheduling of posts.
- Multiple Views: Offers grid, list, calendar, board, and month/week views to suit different workflows.
Katelyn
I compared around 20 platforms to manage my social media portfolio of around 8 clients and nothing compared to Pallyy in terms of features and price. I’ve been using Pallyy for a couple of years now, and it just keeps getting better and better. The [sensitive content hidden] is available and responsive to any feedback. I love the ease of being able to share the content calendar with my clients and for them to provide feedback. Scheduling to multiple channels is simple and really, it just does everything I need it to without complicating the process.
Areas to Improve
- Customer Service: Some users report slow or unclear support.
- Frequent Bugs: Occasional bugs with delayed support response.
Jacob
There’s the occasional bug, but nothing major and a highly responsive team to report to.
What’s the Standout Feature of Pallyy:
Pallyy’s standout feature is its intelligent image cropping tool combined with automated scheduling optimization. The cropping tool formats content for square posts, landscape images, portrait shots, and Stories, while the scheduler uses analytics to determine the best posting times for maximum engagement.
About Pallyy
Pallyy is a social media management platform designed to simplify Instagram post, Reel, and Story scheduling. It excels in content creation and scheduling, offering a post editor for all Instagram formats, including Reels, Stories, and carousel posts.
The intelligent cropping tool formats images for different dimensions, reducing manual resizing tasks.
Collaboration features include shared calendars, approval workflows, and team commenting. The Instagram grid preview helps users maintain feed aesthetics before publishing, and analytics identify optimal posting times. Key operational tools include a media library with folders, queue-based scheduling, and labeling for campaigns.
Available on web and mobile, Pallyy offers flexibility for professional social media management across small and large teams alike.
Pricing
Pallyy’s plans start with the Free plan, Pay As You Go at $25/month for unlimited posts with one social set, and the Unlimited plan at $199/month for unlimited social sets, posts, and users.
Best for
Social media consultants, large-sized businesses, and enterprises
Ratings
4.4/5 (G2), 4.4/5 (Capterra)
Apps
Web, iOS, Android versions, and Sprout Social Chrome Extension
Social Media Platforms Supported
Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube, Google Business Profile, Threads, Bluesky
Key Features:
- AI-Enhanced Post Captions: Generate caption variations and adjust tone for posts.
- Optimal Publishing Times with ViralPost: Analytics-driven recommendations for posting at peak engagement times.
- Collaborative Calendar Sharing: Teams can access and view scheduled content in one shared calendar.
- Asset Library for Content: Organize and store media assets for quick reuse.
- Content Tagging: Categorize posts by campaign, client, or custom labels for better management.
- On-Draft Collaboration & Approval Workflow: Draft posts can be reviewed, approved, or queued for posting across teams.
Strengths
- Centralized Multi-Platform Management: Save time by scheduling and publishing across multiple social channels from one dashboard.
- Robust Team Collaboration: Allows for detailed workflow management, including drafts, queues, and approvals.
Kathryn R.
We LOVE that we can access all platforms of social media through Sprout Social and that we are able to manage our posts & quickly and easily! We don’t have to have multiple windows open and the process has been so seamless compared to the way we used to have to manage our pages! The support is amazing and we use Sprout Social all throughout our day and week – We are so thankful it has been a smooth transition and has been simple for our colleagues to understand how to post as well. Thank you!
Areas to Improve
- High Pricing for Small Teams: Per-user pricing makes it expensive for smaller businesses.
- Limited Multi-Platform Customization: No way to reuse content or tailor captions across different networks.
- Mobile App Glitches: Occasional issues like slow loading and caption errors when posting on Instagram.
Chelsea S.
A LOT of features (including some of the best features Sprout has to offer) are hidden behind levels of payment. It’s super pricey, even just for basic plans with basic features. Plus, the mobile app needs help. It seems there’s always a glitch with the mobile app – captions not copying when you go to IG to post, long loading time for mobile publisher posts.
What’s the Standout Feature of Sprout Social:
Sprout Social’s standout feature is ViralPost, which uses audience activity analytics to recommend the best times to post on Instagram for maximum engagement. Combined with AI caption suggestions, it streamlines post optimization for teams managing multiple accounts.
About Sprout Social
Sprout Social is a comprehensive social media management platform designed to help mid-to-large businesses, social media consultants, and enterprise teams streamline Instagram scheduling alongside multiple social channels. The platform excels at team collaboration, providing workflows for drafting, reviewing, approving, and queuing posts to ensure a smooth content management process.
It offers a robust asset library for organizing media, a content tagging system for categorization, and AI-powered caption suggestions to reduce creative workload. Sprout Social also includes the ViralPost feature, which analyzes audience activity patterns to recommend optimal posting times for maximum engagement.
While the platform may lack certain visual planning features such as drag-and-drop grid previews and integrated stock images, it compensates with powerful analytics, reporting, and cross-platform scheduling capabilities. This makes it ideal for agencies, marketers, and teams handling multiple Instagram accounts and client projects who want detailed insights, optimized posting, and seamless collaboration across campaigns.
Pricing
Sprout Social has three paid plans starting from $199 per user every month to manage five social profiles. The other two plans come at $299 and $399 per user/month to manage an unlimited number of social profiles. Explore our detailed Sprout Social pricing breakdown to find the plan that best suits your social media management goals.
Best for
Social media managers, marketers, small to large businesses, and content creators.
Ratings
4.5 (G2), 4.5 (Capterra)
Apps
Web version, Android, and iOS apps
Social Media Platforms Supported
Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Pinterest, and TikTok
Key Features:
- Drag-and-Drop Content Planner: Plan, rearrange, and visualize posts in a calendar or grid view.
- Automated Scheduling: Schedule posts, Stories, and multi-image carousels in advance.
- Integrated Design + Posting: Create visuals in Canva and publish directly without switching apps.
- Team Collaboration & Approvals: Share content with team members and get approvals before publishing.
- Content Library: Store, organize, and reuse templates, images, and brand assets.
- Analytics Dashboard: Track engagement, post performance, and best times to post.
Strengths
- All-in-One Platform: Combines content creation, design, and scheduling.
- User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive for beginners while robust for professionals.
Mukesh H.
I absolutely love how Canva makes creating professional-looking designs so effortless. The drag-and-drop interface is super intuitive, and the huge variety of templates saves me so much time. I recently created a presentation and Instagram post in under 20 minutes—bloody brilliant! I also adore the new AI tools like Magic Resize and Magic Write; they make me feel like a pro designer without the steep learning curve.
Areas to Improve
- Limited Advanced Scheduling: Lacks some features like recurring posts for multiple accounts.
- Analytics Can Be Basic: Insights aren’t as detailed as specialized Instagram analytics tools.
Anna P.
Limited folder creation to store designs can be annoying when you are trying to separate work for multiple businesses.
What’s the Standout Feature of Canva Content Planner:
The standout feature is its seamless integration of design and scheduling, allowing users to create visually engaging content and post it directly to Instagram from the same platform. This eliminates the need for multiple apps and ensures a consistent feed aesthetic.
About Canva Content Planner
Canva Content Planner is a versatile tool that blends design and scheduling in one platform, making it ideal for businesses and creators looking to streamline their Instagram strategy. At its core, Canva enables users to create visually compelling Instagram posts, Stories, and carousels with its drag-and-drop editor, pre-designed templates, and an extensive media library. Beyond design, the Content Planner allows you to schedule posts across Instagram and other social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter (X), and Pinterest, providing a centralized view of your content calendar.
Teams can collaborate seamlessly, assign tasks, and approve posts before publication, ensuring consistency and brand alignment. The visual planner lets users preview the Instagram grid, helping maintain a cohesive aesthetic.
While it doesn’t offer in-depth analytics or AI-driven posting recommendations like some dedicated Instagram planners, Canva excels at combining content creation, visual planning, and basic scheduling in a single intuitive platform, making it a great fit for solopreneurs, small businesses, and marketing teams that prioritize visually appealing Instagram feeds.
Pricing
Canva offers 4 kinds of plans: Free plan with basic features, Canva Pro at around $12.99/month or $119.99/year for one person, and Canva for Teams at about $14.99/month or $149.90/year for five users, billed annually. Enterprise plans are also available with custom pricing for large organizations. Annual plans provide a discounted rate compared to paying monthly.
Best for
Agencies, Startups, Individuals, SMBs, Freelancers, and Creators.
Ratings
4.5 (G2), 4.7 (Capterra)
Apps
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, and TikTok.
Key Features:
- Instagram Post Scheduling: Plan and schedule single-image and video posts directly to Instagram from a unified dashboard.
- Story and Reel Scheduling: Schedule Instagram Stories, with Reels scheduling supported via reminders for manual posting.
- Direct Publishing: Automate publishing for standard posts and streamline posting across other social platforms.
- Post Approval Workflow: Collaborate with teams using built-in approval workflows, ensuring all content is reviewed before going live.
- Hashtag Suggestions: Get relevant hashtag recommendations to improve reach and engagement.
- Carousels Scheduling: Schedule multi-image posts with a preview of the final carousel layout.
- Team Collaboration: Assign roles, manage permissions, and review posts collaboratively for efficient content planning.
- Instagram Post Preview: Visualize how posts will appear in your Instagram feed, maintaining a consistent aesthetic.
- UTM Tracker: Add UTM parameters to posts for tracking campaign performance in Google Analytics and other tools.
Strengths
- User-Friendly Interface: Loomly’s clean and simple UI makes Instagram post scheduling effortless.
- Approval Workflow & Team Collaboration: Marketing teams love the streamlined post approvals and collaborative features.
- Story Scheduling & Automation: Easily schedule Instagram Stories while automating content.
Brie B. (4/5 Stars)
A lot of great features! Love that I can separate accounts in different calendars and how easy it is to schedule posts on different platforms on their own individual day/time and even clone to other calendars. Also really enjoy that I can internally title and categorize each post!
Areas to Improve
- Limited Automation: Loomly’s automation has several limitations and isn’t fully comprehensive.
- Analytics Limitations: The platform’s analytics are less detailed compared to more affordable alternatives.
- No Free Trial: Users cannot test Loomly before subscribing, unlike some other Instagram planners.
Brianna H. (1/5 Stars)
While it is cost-effective, it is a bit off-putting to have to pay more to download a calendar. I downgraded because I didn’t need all the features but I didn’t realize I’d lose the ability to save a calendar to send to clients.
What’s the Standout Feature of Loomly:
Loomly’s standout feature is its approval workflow and team collaboration system, which ensures content is reviewed and approved before going live. Coupled with Instagram post, Story, and Reel scheduling, it provides marketing teams a smooth, organized way to manage content across campaigns.
About Loomly
Loomly is a versatile social media management platform designed to help individuals, agencies, and businesses streamline their Instagram content strategy. From solo content creators to large marketing teams, Loomly provides a structured approach to planning, scheduling, and publishing posts, Stories, and Reels. Its post approval workflow, team collaboration features, and Instagram post preview ensure that content is consistent, on-brand, and ready for publication.
The platform also offers hashtag suggestions, content inspiration, and UTM tracking, helping social media managers maximize reach and engagement while keeping campaigns measurable. Loomly supports multiple platforms beyond Instagram, including Facebook, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube, making it a solid choice for cross-channel planning.
While the interface can take a little getting used to, the tool effectively addresses common pain points faced by social media managers, such as coordinating multiple accounts, maintaining consistent aesthetics, and ensuring timely approvals. Overall, Loomly blends ease of use, collaborative workflows, and multi-platform scheduling, making it an ideal Instagram planner for teams aiming to organize and optimize their content strategy.
Pricing
Loomly offers various plans starting at $42/month and going up to $369/month for the Premium plan, which includes advanced features like custom branding. Not all plans include Instagram automation, so you may need higher-tier plans for Story/Reel scheduling, post approval workflows, or team collaboration. You can explore a detailed breakdown of Loomly pricing here.
Benefits of Using an Instagram Planner
Using an Instagram planner can transform how you manage your Instagram accounts. Here are the key benefits:
1. Stay Consistent & Save Time
By scheduling posts in advance, you ensure a consistent flow of content without the last-minute rush. This helps save valuable time, especially when managing multiple Instagram accounts or a busy content calendar. Learn more about Instagram scheduler tools to see how scheduling can boost efficiency.
2. Keep Feed Aesthetic & On-Brand
Maintaining a cohesive Instagram feed is crucial for brand identity. With a visual grid layout, you can plan your posts ahead of time, ensuring that your content aligns with your brand’s style and messaging.
3. Improve Engagement by Posting at Optimal Times
Instagram planners often provide insights into the best time to post, ensuring that your content reaches the largest possible audience and maximizes engagement, whether you’re focusing on Instagram stories or regular Instagram posts. For more insights on maximizing engagement, see our Instagram management tools guide.
4. Organize Captions, Hashtags & Campaigns in One Place
Instagram planners allow you to store and organize captions, hashtags, and campaign ideas in one place, making it easy to streamline your content creation process and avoid repetitive work. This also ensures that you’re using the right hashtags for each post, enhancing visibility.
5. Collaborate with Teams & Clients
If you’re part of a team or an agency, Instagram planners make it easy to collaborate on content creation. You can share access, assign tasks, and get feedback from clients or team members to ensure a smooth content workflow.
How to Choose the Right Instagram Planner
Choosing the right Instagram planner can make all the difference in managing your Instagram accounts and content. Here’s what you should consider:
- Ease of Use: Choose a tool that is user-friendly and intuitive, so you don’t waste time figuring out the interface. A simple drag-and-drop feature for Instagram posts and a clear content calendar can save you hours of work.
- Scheduling and Auto Posting: Ensure that the planner allows you to schedule posts and auto-post at optimal times. Features like best-time-to-post insights help you reach your audience when they’re most active.
- Visual Grid Layout: A visual planner with a grid layout helps you organize your Instagram feed before posting. This feature ensures that your content is consistent and aligned with your brand’s aesthetic.
- Hashtag & Caption Management: Look for planners that help you organize hashtags, caption ideas, and even Instagram stories in one place. This feature keeps your content creation process streamlined and efficient.
- Collaboration Capabilities: If you’re working with a team or managing multiple Instagram accounts, choose a tool that enables collaboration. Features like team access and client sharing help smooth out the workflow. This aligns well with using broader social media planner tools for multi-platform campaigns.
- Integrations: Make sure the planner integrates seamlessly with other tools and platforms you use, like your website, analytics, or other social media accounts. This ensures a smooth experience across all social media platforms.
- Pricing and Plans: Consider your budget and what the planner’s pricing offers. Many tools offer a free version with basic features, while others provide a premium plan for more advanced capabilities.
Plan Smartly, Grow Consistently with Instagram Planners
Instagram planners are essential for maintaining a consistent posting schedule, cohesive feed aesthetic, and overall growth on the platform. Choosing the right planner depends on your specific goals, whether you’re focused on creating a visually appealing feed, scheduling posts efficiently, analyzing performance, or collaborating with a team.
No matter your priority, having the right tool can save time, streamline workflows, and help you stay ahead. For a smart, all-in-one solution that combines scheduling, analytics, and collaboration, take SocialPilot’s 14-day free trial and plan your Instagram content better.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Instagram planner app?
The best Instagram planner depends on your goals. SocialPilot and Sprout Social excel for scheduling and analytics, while Plann and Canva are ideal for visual planning and maintaining a cohesive Instagram aesthetic.
Can Instagram planners schedule Reels and Stories?
Yes. Tools like SocialPilot, Later, and Plann allow you to schedule both Reels and Stories, helping maintain consistent posting while saving time on manual uploads.
Are there free Instagram planners?
Yes. Apps like Canva, Plann, and Planoly offer free plans with basic scheduling and visual planning, making them perfect for solopreneurs and small businesses starting out on Instagram.
Which Instagram planner is best for influencers?
Influencers often need a mix of visual planning and analytics. SocialPilot, Plann, and Later help maintain a cohesive feed while tracking engagement to optimize content strategy.
Can Instagram planners improve engagement?
Absolutely. Tools like SocialPilot, Sprout Social, and Plann help you post consistently at optimal times, track performance, and plan visually appealing content, all of which boost audience interaction.
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