Being a social media marketer, agency owner, or business owner requires juggling countless tasks, from content creation to performance tracking. That’s where the right social media tools step in. They streamline your workflow, save time, and amplify your brand’s presence by automating repetitive tasks.
Think of social media tools as the Swiss Army knives of the digital world. Whether it’s planning posts, engaging with your audience, analyzing results, or collaborating with your team, these tools give you everything you need to supercharge your online presence.
In this guide, we’ll break down the best social media tools across different categories:
- Overall Social Media Management Tools
- Social Media Tools for Content Creation and Curation
- Social Media Tools for Planning and Scheduling
- Social Media Automation Tools
- Social Media Tools for Analytics
- Social Media AI Tools
- Social Media Collaboration Tools
- Social Media Engagement Tools
- Free Social Media Tools
- Top Platform-Specific Tools
This guide will help you explore and compare the top social media tools, so you can pick the ones that truly support your strategy and make managing your online presence easier.
What Are Social Media Tools?
Social media tools are the platforms and software you use to bring your brand’s social game together in one smooth workflow. They help you create and curate content, schedule and publish posts, monitor mentions or messages, dive into analytics, automate routine tasks (hello, automation!), and even collaborate with your team or clients, all from a unified hub.
In short, they’re your digital sidekicks that save your time, keep your strategy consistent, and give you the data to refine what’s working and what’s not. From drafting a post to tracking its performance, these tools have your back at every step.
Types of Social Media Tools
Social media tools come in all shapes and sizes; some tools help you manage everything in one place, while others focus on niche areas like content creation, analytics, or collaboration.
Below, we’ve broken down the different categories of social media tools with examples, so you can easily identify what fits your needs.
Overall Social Media Management Tools
These are all-in-one platforms that let you schedule posts, track analytics, engage with audiences, and collaborate with teams—all from a single dashboard. Examples include SocialPilot, Hootsuite, and Sprout Social.
- SocialPilot – A cost-effective management tool for agencies and businesses, offering scheduling, analytics, social inbox, and team/client collaboration.
- Hootsuite – Known for multi-platform publishing, monitoring, and social listening, making it popular among large teams.
- Sprout Social – Provides advanced analytics, reporting, and engagement features, often favored by enterprises.
Social Media Tools for Content Creation and Curation
These tools help you find trending topics, create content, and manage curated posts. Tools like BuzzSumo and ContentStudio are great examples.
Along with these, writing tools, designing tools, and video editing tools play a big role in creating diverse content, and that’s where SocialPilot’s AI Pilot comes in handy. For curation, platforms like Curata and Quuu also support discovering and sharing fresh content.
- BuzzSumo – Specializes in content discovery and trend tracking, helping marketers identify high-performing content ideas.
- ContentStudio – Combines curation and creation with automation features, making it easy to publish content consistently.
Social Media Tools for Planning and Scheduling
Planning and scheduling tools ensure your posts go live at the right time with minimal effort. Examples include CoSchedule and Planoly.
- CoSchedule – A marketing calendar that unifies blogs, email campaigns, and social posts into one workflow.
- Planoly – Focused on Instagram and Pinterest, offering drag-and-drop visual planning to keep feeds consistent.
Discover more social media posting tools.
Social Media Automation Tools
Automation tools reduce repetitive tasks by handling posting, queuing, and distribution. Popular choices are Sendible and Buffer.
- Sendible – Automates publishing, reporting, and monitoring across multiple social accounts with smart queues.
- Buffer – Simple automation and scheduling with features like automated posting and performance tracking.
See our picks for social media automation tools
Social Media Tools for Analytics
Analytics tools dig into your data to show what’s working, what isn’t, and how you compare with competitors. Examples include Rival IQ and Brandwatch.
- Rival IQ – Focused on competitor benchmarking and performance analysis for sharper strategy insights.
- Brandwatch – A social listening and analytics platform that uncovers brand sentiment and audience trends.
Explore our curated list of social media analytics tools here.
Social Media AI Tools
AI-powered tools help you generate, design, and optimize social content faster. Examples include Canva and Statusbrew.
- Canva – Leverages AI for smart design suggestions, templates, and automated resizing across platforms.
- Statusbrew– Uses AI to recommend trending topics and automate posting strategies.
Other notable tools like Socialbee, Copy.ai, and Ocoya also provide AI-driven solutions for content creation and automation.
Looking for more, here’s our selection of the best social media AI tools
Social Media Collaboration Tools
These tools allow teams and clients to work together on social media campaigns. Examples are Loomly, and Planable. Besides that, when you choose a comprehensive social media management tool like SocialPilot, you get built-in collaboration features to seamlessly manage team workflows and client approvals.
- Loomly – Provides content calendars, draft approvals, and optimization suggestions for teams.
- Planable – Built for agencies, it allows teams and clients to review, approve, and comment directly on content before publishing.
Apart from the tools mentioned above, there are also other great tools like Asana, Monday.com, Slack, and Notion, which can enhance collaboration and streamline team communication, project tracking, and task management.
Check out our top social media collaboration tools
Social Media Engagement Tools
Engagement tools help you connect with your audience by managing conversations and interactions effectively. Examples include Agorapulse and Emplifi.
- Agorapulse – Streamlines engagement by consolidating messages, comments, and mentions into a single inbox.
- Emplifi – Provides customer engagement and care solutions powered by insights and social listening.
Free Social Media Tools
Free tools give you a taste of social management, and many now come with extra perks like caption, bio, and hashtag generators. Examples include Google Analytics and ChatGPT.
You can also explore SocialPilot’s free social media tools, from caption and hashtag generators to bio, username, and character counters, all designed to help you create, plan, and optimize content at no cost.
- Google Analytics – Free tracking of website and social referral data to measure campaign ROI.
- ChatGPT – Assists in generating captions, hashtags, and bios, helping marketers with quick, creative content.
Platform-Specific Tools
Every social platform provides its own native tools to help you publish, analyze, and run ads directly within the network. These are designed to maximize performance on their respective platforms.
- Facebook Tools – Meta Business Suite gives you control over publishing, scheduling, messaging, and ads for Facebook Pages, all in one place.
- Instagram Tools – From Meta Business Suite to Creator Studio, Instagram’s native tools help manage posts, reels, DMs, and ad campaigns.
- LinkedIn Tools – LinkedIn Campaign Manager lets you run ads, track conversions, and target professionals with precision.
- Twitter Tools (X Tools) – X Pro (formerly TweetDeck) allows advanced scheduling, monitoring, and engagement on Twitter.
- TikTok Tools – TikTok Ads Manager and TikTok Creator Tools provide performance insights, ad campaigns, and audience analytics.
- YouTube Tools – YouTube Studio helps creators and businesses manage uploads, track analytics, and optimize channel performance.
- Pinterest Tools – Pinterest Business Hub offers scheduling, ad creation, and analytics to grow brand presence on Pinterest.
How We Analyze and Select Social Media Tools
Each social media tool on this list is chosen after thorough research and testing. We look at user ratings and reviews (including G2 scores and feedback), check how easy the tool is to use, and evaluate its core features like automation, content creation, analytics, and collaboration. We also compare pricing and scalability to see if the tool can support long-term growth. This way, our recommendations are grounded in both user experience and real performance.
Overview of the Top Social Media Tools
Here is an in-depth analysis of the top 5 tools for social media management to automate your planning, engagement, and publishing.
 SocialPilot |
 Loomly |
 Hootsuite |
 Sendible |
 Buffer |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Starts at $30/Month | Starts at $65/Month | Starts at $99/Month | Starts at $29/Month | Starts at $6/Month |
| Best for | Agencies & Small Businesses | Brands & Enterprises | Brands & Enterprises | Brands | Mid-size Businesses |
| Social Profiles | 7 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 1 |
| Ease of Use | |||||
| Support | |||||
| Publishing | |||||
| Bulk Scheduling | 500 Posts | 400 Posts | 350 Posts | 350 Posts |  |
| Smart Queues |  |
|
|
|
|
| Repeat Post | |
|
Complex |
|
|
| First Comment | |
|
|
|
Only Facebook & Instagram |
| Audience Targeting | |
|
|
|
|
| Content Planning & Creation | – | – | – | – | – |
| Calendar View | Easy to read |
Hard-to-read |
Complex |
Complex |
Hard-to-read |
| AI Assistant | |
|
|
Only caption |
|
| Custom Call-To-Actions | |
|
|
|
|
| Content Library | |
|
|
|
|
| Instagram Collab Posts | |
|
|
|
|
| Location Tagging | |
|
|
|
Only Instagram |
| Holiday Calendar | |
|
|
|
|
| Image Editor | |
|
|
|
|
| Engagement | |||||
| Social Inbox | Unified inbox |
Unorganized |
Multiple inboxes |
Multiple inboxes |
Limited Features |
| Reply to Reviews & Queries | |
|
|
|
|
| Reply to DMs & Comments | |
|
|
|
Only Facebook and Instagram |
| Analytics | |||||
| Detailed Social Media Analytics | Easy to read |
Complex |
Complex |
Complex |
Complex |
| Custom Report Builder | |
|
|
|
|
| Auto-Schedule Report Sharing to Clients | |
|
|
|
|
| Team and Client Collaboration | |||||
| Client Management | |
|
|
|
|
| Approval Workflows | Easy & swift |
Missing functions |
Confusing |
Technical glitches |
Basic |
| Per Post Multi-User Collaboration | |
|
|
|
|
| Approval-on-the-go | |
|
|
|
|
| White Labeling | |||||
| White Label Dashboard | |
|
|
|
|
| White Label Downloadable Report | |
|
|
|
|
| Learn More | Learn More | Learn More | Learn More | ||
Best Overall Social Media Management Tools
Best for:
Marketing agencies, SMBs, multi-location brands & professionals.
Star Rating:
4.5 stars on G2 & 4.4 stars on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
X (Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Google Business Profile, Threads, TikTok, and Bluesky.
About SocialPilot:
SocialPilot is a social media management platform for businesses and agencies, offering social media scheduling and publishing, AI-driven content suggestions, analytics, and team collaboration tools. It simplifies content planning, enhances engagement, and provides actionable insights for data-driven strategies.
Key Features:
- Multi-Platform Management: Seamlessly manage multiple social media accounts from a single, efficient dashboard.
- Content Scheduling & Automation: Schedule posts in advance with automated publishing across platforms.
- Social Media Analytics: Track engagement, reach, and follower growth with detailed insights.
- Team Collaboration: Assign tasks, review, and approve content across teams for smooth workflow.
- Social Inbox: Manage all messages, comments, and mentions from multiple accounts in one place.
- Bulk Scheduling: Upload hundreds of posts at once to save time and maintain consistency.
- Content Library & Customization: Store media assets and customize posts for each platform easily.
Strengths:
- User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive dashboard makes managing multiple accounts and campaigns simple and straightforward.
- Cost-Effective: Affordable pricing provides strong value compared to competitors with similar features.
- Advanced Automation: Automated scheduling, bulk posting, and AI-driven features save time and effort.
Fady S.
I really like the overall SocialPilot platform. It has all the features we require for the 20+ pages we manage on our account. It was also super easy to integrate with all our pages on the different platforms. We use it several times a week to schedule posts and ensure our calendar is properly set up. I highly recommend this platform as it’s a great deal for the price as well.
Areas to Improve:
- Twitter Multi-Account Limitations: Scheduling tweets across multiple Twitter accounts simultaneously isn’t fully supported.
- Periodic Profile Reconnection: Some social accounts occasionally require reconnection to maintain seamless publishing.
- Analytics Depth: Insights are useful but less detailed compared to dedicated analytics tools.
Jenny N.
I wish there were a more significant difference in the number of accounts you get with the small team versus the agency.
What’s the Standout Feature of SocialPilot:
SocialPilot’s AI Pilot allows intelligent content, caption, and hashtag generation, saving time and boosting engagement. Bulk Scheduling lets users upload hundreds of posts at once, ensuring consistent publishing. Its team collaboration tools, including approvals-on-the-go, streamline multi-user workflows efficiently, making it ideal for agencies and businesses managing multiple social media accounts.
Pricing
SocialPilot offers a 14-day free trial and access to all premium features (no credit card required & cancel any time). Choose a plan that meets your requirements.
| Ultimate | Premium | Standard | Essentials |
$170.00/mo$200
Billed annually (Save 15%)
|
$85.00/mo$100
Billed annually (Save 15%)
|
$42.50/mo$50
Billed annually (Save 15%)
|
$25.50/mo$30
Billed annually (Save 15%)
|
|
Social Media Made Easy With SocialPilot
|
|||
Best for:
Professionals, Small teams, Small-medium businesses, and Enterprises.
Star Rating:
4 on G2 & 4.4 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Networks Supported
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, and TikTok.
About Hootsuite:
Hootsuite is a powerful platform for large teams, offering post scheduling, audience engagement, and multi-network posting. It excels at monitoring keywords, conversations, and brand mentions, along with analyzing both organic and paid content. However, its pricing may be a concern for budget-conscious agencies.
Key Features:
- Unified Dashboard: Manage multiple social media accounts and platforms in a single, streamlined interface.
- Scheduling & Automated Publishing: Plan and schedule posts across channels in advance for consistent engagement.
- Social Media Analytics: Track performance metrics, engagement, and audience growth to refine strategies.
- Team Collaboration: Assign tasks, review content, and manage approvals efficiently within teams.
- Content Curation: Discover, share, and organize relevant content from trusted sources directly.
- Monitoring & Social Listening: Track brand mentions, keywords, and competitor activity in real-time.
Strengths
- Supports Multiple Platforms: Integrates with numerous social channels, making cross-platform management convenient and centralized.
- Robust Analytics: Provides in-depth reporting for campaigns, posts, and engagement trends.
- Team-Friendly Tools: Facilitates collaboration and approvals, reducing workflow friction for agencies and businesses.
Gabriela P.
I love how easy it is to schedule. Especially the calendar view. I also love the recommended times to post, which saves a lot of time for us, since we’re a marketing agency.
Areas to Improve
- Pricing: Can be expensive for small businesses compared to other social media management tools.
- Complex for Beginners: The feature-rich platform has a learning curve for first-time users.
- Limited Instagram Direct Posting: Some Instagram posts may require mobile push notifications instead of full automation.
Ally C.
Sometimes when I add content to be posted to a platform, I get a notice that the format doesn’t work which is strange. I usually have to lower the quality or the size to make it work. I wish it would work better with larger size files! It’s also a bit expensive for a small business or agency.
What’s the Standout Feature of Hootsuite:
Hootsuite’s Publisher allows scheduling posts for multiple platforms at once, while Analytics tracks engagement and audience trends. Its Streams feature enables real-time social listening, monitoring brand mentions, and competitor activity across platforms. Together, these tools create an integrated workflow for managing, analyzing, and optimizing social media campaigns efficiently.
Pricing
Hootsuite offers three pricing plans: Professional ($99/month/user), Team ($249/month/3 users), and Enterprise (custom pricing). The tool comes with a 30-day free trial. For a complete overview of features and value across all plans, explore our Hootsuite pricing analysis to identify the plan that best aligns with your needs.
Best for:
Entrepreneurs, Medium to Big Businesses, and Enterprises.
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.4 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, and TikTok.
About Sprout Social:
Sprout Social is a comprehensive tool for scheduling, publishing, and engaging with your audience. It offers performance tracking, AI-powered response suggestions, social listening, and integrates with Zendesk, UserVoice, and Salesforce to enhance customer interactions.
Key Features:
- Unified Social Inbox: Manage messages from all platforms in one place, streamlining responses and monitoring engagement.
- Smart Publishing & Scheduling: Schedule posts across platforms, optimize timing, and maintain a consistent content calendar.
- Advanced Analytics & Reporting: Track engagement, audience growth, and performance trends with customizable reports.
- Social Listening: Monitor brand mentions, hashtags, and keywords to understand audience sentiment and trends.
- Collaboration Tools: Assign tasks, approve content, and manage team workflows efficiently within the platform.
- CRM Integration: Connect customer data with social interactions to deliver personalized marketing campaigns.
Strengths
- Comprehensive Reporting: Detailed insights help teams make data-driven decisions and improve social media strategies.
- Multi-Platform Management: Handles multiple social accounts effortlessly, reducing manual effort and increasing efficiency.
- User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive dashboard simplifies social media management for teams of all experience levels.
Kavin V.
Sprout has a clean, simple, and intuitive interface and main navigation. It makes it easy for new users to learn. At the same time, the tool is feature-packed and customizable. I love the reporting section and how easy it is to sort and filter with quick responsiveness.
Areas to Improve
- Higher Pricing: Compared to some competitors, subscription costs may be expensive for small businesses.
- Limited Bulk Scheduling: Some users find scheduling large batches of posts less flexible than desired.
- Learning Curve: Advanced features require time to master for optimal use and team adoption.
Alisanne S.
I wish I could edit posts across different platforms on one editing page, rather than making duplicates. That is one thing about HubSpot that I always liked. At times, it is difficult to get questions answered by their customer support team, as calling them is easier than email or chat.
What’s the Standout Feature of Sprout Social:
Sprout Social excels with Social Listening, Smart Inbox, and Advanced Analytics, giving teams complete control over engagement and insights. The platform consolidates messages, tracks trends, and provides customizable performance reports, enabling precise decision-making. Its CRM Integration further connects social interactions with customer data for personalized campaigns.
Pricing
Sprout Social offers three paid plans, starting at $199 per user per month for managing up to five social profiles. The higher-tier plans are priced at $299 and $399 per user per month, allowing management of unlimited profiles. For full details, explore our Sprout Social pricing analysis to find the best fit.
Social Media Tools for Content Creation and Curation
Best Social Media Platform for:
Marketing managers, medium-sized businesses, agencies, and enterprises.
Star Rating:
4.5 stars on G2 & 4.5 on Capterra
Apps:
Web Version & Chrome extension
Social Media Platforms Supported
Twitter, Instagram, YouTube channels, Facebook, and TikTok.
About BuzzSumo:
BuzzSumo is a content research tool that helps users find trending content, popular topics, and influential authors across social media. It allows competitor analysis, content strategy insights, and discovering relevant influencers for collaboration or promotion.
Key Features:
- Content Discovery: Find trending and high-performing content across social media and blogs.
- Influencer Identification: Locate key influencers in your niche for collaborations and amplification.
- Content Research: Analyze what types of content resonate with audiences for smarter creation.
- Competitor Analysis: Track competitors’ top content and strategies to inform your campaigns.
- Social Engagement Metrics: Monitor shares, likes, and engagement to measure content performance.
- Alerts & Monitoring: Get notified about brand mentions, competitor content, and trending topics instantly.
Strengths
- Powerful Trend Insights: Quickly identify trending topics to create timely, high-engagement content.
- Competitive Intelligence: Monitor competitors’ top-performing content for strategic advantage.
- Influencer Discovery: Find the right influencers to expand reach and credibility.
Nicolas F.
BuzzSumo monitoring brand alerts and keyword alerts have been two great and useful features, enabling us to monitor our online presence and mentions by third parties. The Content Analyzer and Facebook Page Analyzer are also two great features, enabling us to optimize our social media presence.
Areas to Improve
- Limited Free Plan: The free version offers basic features; full access requires a paid subscription.
- Learning Curve: New users may need time to explore all analytics and research features.
- Export Restrictions: Some reporting and export features are limited unless using higher-tier plans.
Stephen F.
Honestly, it’s mostly just a matter of price. It’s extremely pricey for the features. You’ve got to have a serious budget to justify it. Fine if you’re established but painful when you’re just getting revenue streams in.
What’s the Standout Feature of BuzzSumo:
BuzzSumo excels at Content Discovery and Social Engagement Analysis, enabling marketers to identify trending topics, analyze engagement metrics, and understand what content works best in their niche. Its Influencer Identification tool also makes connecting with the right voices easy, boosting content reach and credibility efficiently.
Pricing
BuzzSumo has four pricing plans: Content Creation ($199/per user/month), PR & Comms ($299/5 users/month), Suite ($499/10 users/month), and Enterprise ($999/30 users/month).
Best for:
Individuals, Small Businesses, Content Marketers, and Marketing Agencies
Star Rating:
4.6 on G2 & 4.7 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Channels Supported
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, and TikTok.
About ContentStudio:
ContentStudio is a social media content creation and curation platform that helps marketers streamline workflows. It offers content discovery, multi-channel publishing, a content calendar for planning, automated RSS feeds, and analytics to optimize engagement and refine strategies.
Key Features:
- Content Discovery: Finds trending articles, blogs, and social posts to inspire content creation.
- Multi-Channel Posting: Schedule and publish posts across multiple social media accounts seamlessly.
- Visual Planner: Drag-and-drop calendar view for arranging posts and visualizing your content strategy.
- Content Curation: Save and organize relevant content to share with your audience easily.
- Automated Publishing: Schedule posts in advance and automate repetitive social media tasks.
- Analytics & Reporting: Track engagement and content performance across platforms in real-time.
Strengths
- All-in-One Platform: Combines content creation, curation, scheduling, and analytics in a single dashboard.
- Time-Saving Automation: Automates content posting and curation, reducing manual work significantly.
- Collaboration-Friendly: Supports team workflows, approvals, and multi-user management effectively.
Rogelyn T.
What I like most about ContentStudio is that it makes my life easier. Before, it took a lot of time to manage different social media accounts for my clients. Now, it’s faster than I expected.
Areas to Improve
- Learning Curve: New users may need time to navigate advanced features efficiently.
- Limited Design Tools: Less robust than dedicated graphic design platforms for advanced visuals.
- Pricing: Can be expensive for smaller teams or limited-feature plans.
Alisanne S.
Their support is now dreadful and has gotten worse over time. It is a damn shame. A week or two can go by with several emails to them, and all we hear are crickets. There is no response sometimes until the third or fourth email. This is terribly unprofessional and is horrible for our agency and clients.
What’s the Standout Feature of ContentStudio:
ContentStudio’s Content Discovery and Content Curation features make it easy to find trending content and organize it into shareable posts. Combined with the Visual Planner and Automated Publishing, you can efficiently plan, schedule, and maintain a consistent social media presence.
Pricing
ContentStudio offers two starter plans priced at $25/month and $49/month, along with an agency plan that can go up to $300/month, depending on the number of accounts managed.
Looking for more? Check out our detailed review of the top social media writing and editing tools for better content creation.
Social Media Tools for Planning and Scheduling
Best for:
Individuals, SMBs, and Agencies
Star Rating:
4.5 stars on G2 & 4.4 stars on Capterra
Apps:
Android, iOS Mobile App, and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, Google Business Profile, Mastodon, Bluesky
About CoSchedule:
CoSchedule is a marketing suite focused on scheduling and project management. It offers a content calendar, drag-and-drop scheduling, and supports various platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Instagram. Its standout ReQueue feature automatically reshares top-performing posts for better engagement.
Key Features:
- AI Social Assistant (Mia): Drafts platform-specific posts, hashtags, and schedules from marketer-tested prompts.
- ReQueue Automation: Recirculates top-performing posts automatically, filling schedule gaps intelligently.
- Best Time Scheduler: Publishes at optimal times to maximize reach and engagement automatically.
- Social/Marketing Calendar: Unified calendar to create, schedule, publish, and measure across channels.
- Social Templates & Campaigns: Save repeatable posting patterns; build multi-post campaigns in seconds.
- Reporting & Analytics: Track campaign performance and engagement from the same calendar view.
Strengths
- Time-saver with automation: ReQueue and templates reduce manual scheduling and repost planning.
- AI-assisted creation: Mia generates on-brand copy, hashtags, and campaign structures quickly.
- All-in-one calendar: Plan, publish, and measure social from a single interface.
Verified User in Marketing and Advertising
CoSchedule Marketing Suite impresses me with its all-inclusive arsenal of marketing tools, harmoniously working together to simplify campaign planning, automate workflows, foster collaboration, and maximize marketing effectiveness, ultimately boosting efficiency and achieving outstanding results.
Areas to Improve
- Feature access varies by plan: Advanced options may require higher tiers.
- Profile limits on lower plans: Extra social profiles can add monthly costs.
- Learning curve for power users: Automation, templates, and workflows need initial setup.
Allie C.
Nothing really. We were excited about the calendar functionality but that didn’t end up being enough to get my team on board with adopting it.
What’s the Standout Feature of CoSchedule:
ReQueue, Best Time Scheduler, and AI Social Assistant (Mia) combine to auto-resurface winning content, schedule at peak times, and draft tailored copy. Together, they shrink manual effort while sustaining consistent, data-led social visibility.
Pricing and Value
There are four pricing plans: Free Calendar (Free), Social Calendar ($29/month), Content Calendar (Call for pricing), and Marketing Suite (Call for pricing).
Best for:
Creators, Agencies, Social Media Managers, and Growing Businesses.
Star Rating:
4.3 on G2 & 4.3 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Networks Supported
Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Threads.
About Planoly:
Planoly shines as one of the top social media calendar tools that helps users plan and organize content with ease. It features drag-and-drop grid scheduling, AI-generated captions, and unified auto-posting across platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. Planoly also includes analytics, social commerce tools like LinkIt and Sellit, making it ideal for creators.
Key Features:
- Visual Planner: Drag-and-drop grid preview for Instagram, Reels, Stories, and Pinterest scheduling.
- Auto-post & Social Calendar: Schedule posts across platforms via calendar, then post automatically.
- Hashtag & Ideas Manager: Build hashtag groups and organize inspirations, trends, and TikTok sounds.
- AI-Caption Generator: Uses AI to craft engaging captions, easing writer’s block.
- Comment Manager & Analytics: Manage post comments and track performance metrics in one dashboard.
- LinkIt & Sellit: Bio-link tool and in-app selling features for seamless social commerce.
Strengths
- Visually intuitive grid: Helps maintain aesthetic feed alignment and content coherence.
- Affordable pricing tiers: Free plan plus paid options suit individuals and small teams.
- Multi-platform scheduling: Supports Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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
- Limited analytics depth: Performance insights are basic, lacking robust engagement tracking.
- Some features are Instagram-only: Tools like hashtag generator, Sellit, and templates are restricted to Instagram.
- Fewer third-party integrations: Lacks RSS, content recycling, and broader app integrations.
Kaia 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 Visual Planner offers an intuitive grid-style interface that lets creators preview and rearrange posts to craft a cohesive aesthetic. Its AI-Caption Generator alleviates writer’s block by suggesting caption ideas, while LinkIt & Sellit transform your bio and feed into seamless commerce portals in just a few clicks.
Pricing
Planoly’s paid plans start at $16/month (billed annually) with unlimited uploads and advanced features, while the free plan includes basic tools and a 10-upload monthly limit.
Looking for more? Find more social media planner tools here.
Social Media Automation Tools
Best for:
Mid-sized Businesses, Mid-sized Agencies, and Enterprise.
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.6 on 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.
About Sendible:
Sendible is a social media management tool that streamlines brand marketing with features like multi-platform scheduling, content curation, and social listening. It offers real-time analytics, integrates with top platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and supports team collaboration for seamless campaign management.
Key Features:
- Smart Compose Box: Centralised composer to create, customise, and schedule posts quickly.
- Content Library: Store, tag, and reuse approved assets across client accounts.
- Bulk Scheduling & CSV Import: Plan months of posts using bulk upload and templates.
- Priority Inbox: Unified inbox for comments, DMs, and mentions across platforms.
- RSS Automation: Auto-publish and schedule RSS feed content to social channels.
- Reporting & UTM Tracking: Custom reports with UTM support for campaign performance tracking.
Strengths
- Agency-friendly collaboration: Clear approval flows and white-label options for clients.
- Easy multi-profile scheduling: Publish to many networks from one dashboard.
- Strong analytics: Exportable reports make client reporting quick and presentable.
Lolla L.
My favorite thing about Sendible is the ability to schedule in advance for multiple platforms. Posting constantly every day is a hassle, but when you can sit down and schedule it in advance, it makes things so much easier.
Areas to Improve
- Instagram limitations: Carousel and some story scheduling are still restricted by platform APIs.
- Learning curve: Many features require time to set up for optimal workflows.
- Advanced reporting gaps: Power users sometimes rely on third-party reporting tools.
Charles K D.
It doesn’t auto-rotate evergreen content. It doesn’t highlight posts with high engagement rates that can be reposted. It doesn’t have a way to integrate with other software.
What’s the Standout Feature of Sendible:
Sendible shines in end-to-end content workflow: the Smart Compose Box speeds multi-channel post creation, the Content Library keeps approved assets organised, and RSS Automation reduces manual curation by automatically queuing external content. These work together to save time while keeping brand voice consistent.
Pricing
Sendible offers a free trial plan for first-time users (for creators only), and paid plans at $29/month and $89/month. The highest-tier plan costs $750 per month, which might not be the best option if you’re focused on tracking Instagram performance. For those considering this tool, our Sendible pricing analysis provides a comprehensive overview of its cost, features, and overall value.
Best for:
Businesses, Publishers, Non-profits, Mid-stage startup teams, Solopreneurs, and E-commerce.
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.5 on 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.
About Buffer:
Buffer is a social media management platform that simplifies content creation and curation. With AI-assisted brainstorming, seamless integration with Canva and Dropbox, and a content calendar, it helps schedule posts across platforms. Its analytics and collaboration features enhance content performance and teamwork.
Key Features:
- Cross-Platform Scheduling: Schedule posts across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Threads, X, and YouTube Shorts.
- Queue & Calendar Views: Visual post calendar or queue lets you auto-publish or manually schedule.
- Analytics & Performance Insights: Deep insights on best times, formats, audience demographics, and post recycling.
- Content Import & AI Assistant: Import from Canva, Dropbox, Google + AI helps create and repurpose content.
- Team Collaboration Tools: Unlimited collaborators, role assignments, saved drafts, approvals, and notes.
- Engagement Dashboard: Manage and respond to comments on Facebook and Instagram efficiently.
Strengths
- Super user-friendly: Clean, intuitive interface that lowers learning curve and increases productivity.
- Reliable scheduling system: Queue, calendar, and auto-post ensure consistent, timely publishing.
- Meaningful analytics: Serious performance insights help refine social strategy.
Yulia L.
I work for a social media marketing agency, and we use Buffer to manage multiple accounts. I like how easy it is to schedule posts. Reports are probably the best out there. Plus, it’s relatively inexpensive.
Areas to Improve
- Limited advanced features: Less customizable than more heavyweight tools, fewer integrations.
- Gaps in platform support: Lacks auto RSS, bulk scheduling, and first comment for some platforms.
- Free plan restrictions: Limited account links, post count, and features compared to paid tiers.
Charles F.
If you’re using this platform from an agency perspective, meaning you have multiple clients and multiple internal and external stakeholders, this platform falls short. It lacks in critical areas including: not supporting multiple users, not having an option for client access, and not providing a useful view for routing or reviewing materials. Specifically, the preview function doesn’t show an accurate representation of how content will actually look once posted, which is extremely troublesome.
What’s the Standout Feature of Buffer:
AI-Assisted Content Creation & Multi-Platform Import brings a refreshing blend of creativity and efficiency. It enables seamless idea generation, repurposing, and imports from tools like Canva and Dropbox, all powered by intuitive AI guidance.
Pricing
Buffer offers four pricing options, each with a 14-day trial period. These include a free plan for beginners and paid plans ranging from $6 a month for one account to $120 a month for 10 accounts. For those considering a switch, a detailed breakdown of what’s included in each plan can be found in our Buffer pricing review.
Social Media Tools for Analytics
Best for:
Social media marketing agencies, big teams, and enterprises
Star Rating:
4.6 stars on G2 & 4.4 stars on Capterra
Apps:
Web version
Supported Social Media Networks
Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube
About Rival IQ:
Rival IQ is an analytics-driven platform that helps optimize content creation by highlighting top-performing posts, engagement trends, and competitor benchmarks. It offers hashtag analytics, influencer tracking, and custom reports, enabling teams to refine strategies and scale successful content.
Key Features:
- Competitive benchmarking: Always-on competitor benchmarks to compare performance across industries and peers.
- Social posts analysis: Deep post-level analytics showing engagement, reach, post types, and best-performing content.
- Custom Reporting & Exports: Custom-branded reports, automated exports, and PowerPoint/PDF-ready client reporting.
- Hashtag & influencer tracking: Track hashtags and influencers to spot trends and measure campaign impact quickly.
- Social listening & alerts: Real-time listening and alerts for mentions, spikes, and boosted post detection.
- Multi-channel coverage (incl. Ads): Aggregates metrics from major platforms and Facebook Ads for unified analysis.
Strengths
- Intuitive dashboards: Intuitive dashboards surface competitor context quickly, reducing manual data-wrangling time.
- Polished client reports: Custom-branded reports make client presentations polished and quick to produce.
- Cross-channel insight: Cross-channel insights (including TikTok, YouTube) help optimize content strategy holistically.
Brendan B. (5 stars)
The layout and ability to generate custom reports from all of our channels at once. My competitive nature also loves the ability to create landscapes and measure our efforts against our competition. An additional benefit is to be able to see breakout posts from our peers as well. Makes monitoring a lot easier.
Areas to Improve
- Higher cost for small teams: Pricing can be steep for small teams compared to simpler analytics tools.
- No native publishing workflow: No native publishing/editorial workflow—analytics-first, requires separate scheduling tools.
- Occasional cross-checks needed: Some advanced metrics (ad depth) may need manual cross-checks with platform dashboards.
Fernando D. (2 stars)
Rival IQ prices are out of the market, and even worse, they do not respect previous agreements with loyal users that have been with them for years.
What’s the Standout Feature of Rival IQ:
Rival IQ excels at competitor benchmarking, post-level analysis, and white-label reporting, all tied to industry benchmarks and periodic benchmark reports. Its listening/alerting and influencer/hashtag tracking add practical, tactical insights for campaign tweaks and trend spotting.
Pricing
Rival IQ offers three pricing plans that start at $239 per month for 10 companies and scale up to $559 per month for 40. That makes its pricing more accessible to brands and enterprises, but it is a bit of a barrier for small and medium-sized businesses.
Best for:
Marketing teams and agencies, Brand managers, and Large enterprises.
Star Rating:
4.4/5 (G2) & 4.2/5 (Capterra)
Apps:
Web version
Supported Social Media Networks
X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, TikTok, Blogs and News websites, Tumblr, and Forums
About Brandwatch:
Brandwatch is an AI-powered social media monitoring and analytics tool that tracks online conversations, brand sentiment, and trends. It offers real-time social listening, sentiment analysis, competitive insights, and trend prediction. Brandwatch also helps content strategists prioritize content and identify influencers, though onboarding and costs may be a consideration for smaller teams.
Key Features:
- AI-driven Consumer Research: Rapidly surfaces trends, sentiment, and topics from 100M+ online sources.
- Advanced Social Listening: Monitors brand, keywords, and industry conversations in real time at scale.
- Custom Dashboards & Exports: Build shareable dashboards and export PowerPoint, CSV, and images for stakeholders.
- Vizia Visual Reporting: Designer-ready visualizations to present insights and drive executive buy-in quickly.
- Content Management & Publishing: Schedule, publish, and analyze posts across major social networks.
- Influencer Identification & Segmentation: Find and segment influential authors and audience clusters for campaigns.
Strengths
- Deep, programmable analytics: Highly customizable queries let teams segment conversations and extract granular insights.
- Strong visualization & reporting: Ready-made visualizations simplify storytelling for leadership and clients.
- Wide integrations & exports: Connects to third-party platforms and exports into PowerPoint, CSV, and images.
Verified User
Few competitors can beat Brandwatch when it comes to being an easy-to-use social listening tool. Its query builder is clean and simple, as are the Brandwatch Academy resources which teach junior colleagues how to use it. The Quick Search function rivals Google Trends in being a ‘pick up and play’ insight finder. The dashboard templates, equally, are great for both seasoned pros and novice users.
Areas to Improve
- Enterprise pricing: Cost can be prohibitive for small teams or solo marketers.
- Steep learning curve: Advanced setup and query-building require onboarding and time investment.
- Occasional speed/support issues: Users report slow performance and problems during contract lock-ins.
Sarah K.
TikTok hasn’t been implemented into the platform. It takes a long time to load, the page is glitchy when I’m searching for my brand and keywords, I have to refresh constantly. I wish there were more filters when searching for keywords. It doesn’t pick up which sentiment is neutral vs negative very well. When categorizing sentiment, I have to click through each one instead of being able to click multiple for some reason.
What’s the Standout Feature of Brandwatch:
Brandwatch’s Consumer Intelligence combines proprietary and generative AI to scan 100M+ sources, delivering sentiment trends, topic clustering, and influencer signals — all within customizable dashboards. Vizia adds designer-grade visualizations and easy PowerPoint export, making insights shareable across teams and executives.
Pricing
Brandwatch offers three custom-priced plans designed for specific needs.
Social Media AI Tools
Best for:
SMBs, Digital Marketing Teams, Enterprises, and Agencies.
Star Rating:
4.7 stars on G2 & 4.7 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Google Business Profiles, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
About Canva:
Canva’s AI tools, including Magic Media, Edit, and Eraser, streamline content creation by allowing users to generate, tweak, and reformat visuals quickly. With features like Magic Write for captions and Magic Switch for multi-platform designs, it helps maintain brand consistency. Canva also enables easy video creation and offers privacy controls through Canva Shield.
Key Features:
- Magic Media: Generate images or videos from text prompts—no stock searches required.
- Magic Edit: Replace or add image elements with simple text-based descriptions.
- Magic Eraser: Remove unwanted objects or blemishes cleanly and quickly.
- Magic Grab: Isolate and reposition image elements as movable, resizable “stickers.”
- Magic Expand: Extend image borders to change framing or fit new formats seamlessly.
- Magic Switch: Auto-reformat designs into multiple formats or languages with one click.
Strengths
- Ultra-efficient creation: Saves hours on design tasks like layout, edits, and resizing.
- Beginner-friendly accessibility: Allows non-designers to create high-quality content easily and reliably.
- Brand-consistent scaling: Keeps your visuals uniform across formats and platforms effortlessly.
Nikhil D.
Canva is easy and fun to use, and the customer support is great as well. The user interface is very much optimized. The wide range of templates available helps in saving time and effort. The drag-and-drop interface makes designing simple and fast.
Areas to Improve
- Limited free-tier usage: Some AI features restrict access or use without a Pro plan.
- Occasional AI inaccuracies: Complex backgrounds or requests can result in imperfect outputs.
- Dependency risks: Overreliance on AI may dilute unique, handcrafted design sensibility.
Juana V.
The only thing it’s on the mobiles—this software can be slow sometimes and hard to use—and also they can add the basic Google fonts because some of the fonts are on Canva but some of the basics are not there.
What’s the Standout Feature of Canva:
Canva stands out with Magic Write™, which crafts brand-aligned captions, descriptions, and long-form copy in your voice. Its Create a Video Clip feature, powered by Google Veo-3, delivers stunning 8-second, audio-synced videos perfect for social media. Backing all this is Canva Shield, ensuring enterprise-grade privacy, data safety, and opt-in AI training for secure, responsible creativity.
Pricing
Canva has two types of pricing plans: individuals and teams, and education. While the education plans are custom, the individuals and team plans have four price variations. The Canva Free plan has no cost for one user, Canva Pro is available for $15 per person each month, and the Canva Teams plan is priced at $10 per user per month. In addition, it also has a custom Canva Enterprise plan.
Best for:
Agencies, Multi-brand Businesses, and Enterprise Marketing Teams
Star Rating:
4.9 stars on G2 & 4.8 on Capterra
Apps:
Android, iOS Mobile App, and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Threads, Pinterest, TikTok, WhatsApp, and Google Business Profile
About Statusbrew:
Statusbrew combines AI-powered creativity with workflow tools to streamline content creation and curation. Its Brew AI assistant generates captions, paraphrases copy, and transforms articles into social media snippets. The platform supports multi-network scheduling, content curation, brand monitoring, and collaboration tools to ensure efficient and high-quality content management.
Key Features:
- Brew AI (AI Composer): Generates, rewrites, and translates post captions and content ideas instantly.
- Multi-channel Publishing & Scheduling: Schedule posts, reels, stories, and bulk CSV uploads across major networks.
- Unified Engage Inbox: Central inbox with auto-routing, quick replies, and moderation for comments/messages.
- Analytics & Reports: Performance dashboards, post-level metrics, and exportable reports for campaign analysis.
- Team Collaboration & Approval Workflows: Shared calendar, approval flows, and role-based permissions for smooth reviews.
- Auto-moderation & Listening: Sentiment tagging, auto-hide/auto-moderate comments, and keyword-based social listening.
Strengths
- Time-saver for publishing: Powerful bulk scheduling and recurring posts reduce manual posting significantly.
- AI-assisted creativity: Brew AI accelerates caption, hashtag, and content idea generation with minimal effort.
- Strong team workflows: Clear approvals and a collaborative calendar streamline agency and in-house processes.
Chris D. (5 stars)
The best part about Statusbrew is its ease of use for managing and scheduling content across multiple platforms in one place. The analytics provide detailed insights that make it easier to understand what works, helping us boost engagement and growth. The mobile app is also a huge plus, allowing us to keep up with interactions on the go!
Areas to Improve
- Learning curve for advanced features: Full power requires time to configure automations and workflows.
- Occasional UI clutter: Multiple modules can feel overwhelming for very small teams or beginners.
- Feature parity varies by plan: Some advanced analytics and AI capabilities are reserved for higher tiers.
Gary B W. (3 stars)
I would like to have larger data downloads per day. Our units are limited to 50k lines of data per day. I would like to see a more comprehensive historical data pull.
What’s the Standout Feature of Statusbrew:
Brew AI speeds content ideation and caption creation, turning article links or prompts into ready-to-post copy, translations, or rewrites. The Engage Inbox centralizes messages with auto-routing and sentiment tagging to prioritize and resolve conversations faster, while the collaborative calendar + approval workflows keep teams aligned from draft to publish.
Pricing
The Premium Plan costs $229/month for six users and 15 profiles, including AI-powered automation, reporting, approval workflows, and integrations. The Enterprise Plan offers custom pricing with audit logs, SSO, and multi-workspace support. A 14-day free trial is available.
Social Media Collaboration Tools
Best for:
Businesses, Publishers, Non-profits, Mid-stage startup teams, Solopreneurs, and E-commerce.
Star Rating:
4.5 stars on G2 & 4.5 stars on 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.
About Loomly:
Loomly is a team-focused social media management platform with a calendar-first interface for planning, drafting, and previewing posts. It offers a Content Library for easy asset reuse, Post Ideas for creative inspiration, and integrations with Unsplash and Canva to streamline workflows. Loomly also supports recurring posts and RSS imports for efficient content curation.
Key Features:
- Visual Content Calendar: Plan, drag-drop, and preview posts across platforms in a month-view.
- Collaboration & Approvals: Multi-tier workflows, comments, and client approvals to streamline sign-offs.
- Post Ideas & Optimization Tips: AI/algorithmic prompts and platform-specific suggestions to spark content.
- Content Library & Asset Management: Centralize visuals, templates, Unsplash + Canva integrations for reuse.
- Loomly Studio (Editor): Simple image/video editing and platform-specific post previews before publishing.
- Analytics & Reporting: Post and account performance metrics with exportable reports for stakeholders.
Strengths
- Intuitive UX: Easy onboarding and a clean interface speed up team adoption.
- Strong approval workflows: Batch approvals, notifications, and role controls reduce review friction.
- Built-in inspiration: Post Ideas and ready templates help teams overcome creative blocks fast.
Melissa M.
All in one space and the amount of platform options it gives—this makes it great for my agency, which is why I chose it. I also like the fact you can schedule FB Reels, not just videos, as many schedulers only allow for FB videos. I love that I can schedule to Google Business as well!
Areas to Improve
- Limited social listening: Not as robust for brand monitoring or deep social listening.
- Calendar view quirks: Some users miss more flexible multi-week views and navigation.
- Feature gaps for power users: Advanced reporting and automated insights are less granular than competitors.
Verified User in Marketing and Advertising
I don’t like that we have to pay additional to add more collaborators even if the previous collaborators no longer work for our agency. I was charged to upgrade my package to add a new prop stylist to our collaborator because we lost our other one.
What’s the Standout Feature of Loomly:
Loomly shines for team workflows: its visual calendar, multi-tier approval engine, and integrated content library (Unsplash + Canva) let teams create, iterate, and approve a month’s worth of posts quickly. Built-in Post Ideas and platform optimization tips make brainstorming and adaptation effortless, while Loomly Studio helps polish images and videos inside the same workspace.
Pricing
Loomly offers four pricing plans: Free, Starter ($65/month/3 users), Beyond ($332/month/Unlimited users), and Enterprise (Custom Quote/Unlimited users). A 15-day free trial is available. For a comprehensive breakdown of features and value across all plans, take a look at our Loomly pricing analysis to find the plan that best matches your needs.
Explore our carefully curated list of Loomly alternatives.
Best for:
Multi-locational brands, Agencies, and multi-brand teams
Star Rating:
4.6 on G2 & 4.5 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Google My Business, Threads.
About Planable:
Planable simplifies social content creation with a visual calendar for drafting, feedback, and approval flows. It helps teams keep content, comments, and history in context, making collaboration seamless. The platform also supports content curation, asset management, basic analytics, and transparent client-facing approvals for multi-brand setups.
Key Features:
- Visual Calendar & Feed View — Drag-and-drop calendar and feed previews for accurate, editorial planning before publishing.
- Approval Workflows — Multi-stage approval flows, approver inbox, and automatic scheduling after approval.
- Real-time Collaboration & Comments — Threaded feedback, in-context comments, and instant edits to reduce back-and-forth.
- Multi-channel Scheduling — Schedule posts across platforms and accounts with platform-specific previews.
- Engagement & Moderation — Monitor, reply to comments, and manage community interactions inside the tool.
- Basic Analytics & Top-Post Insights — Channel metrics and quick “top posts” view to guide content choices.
Strengths
- Very intuitive UI — Clean, visual interface that teams adopt quickly and use daily.
- Streamlined approvals — Clear approver flows and inbox reduce bottlenecks and missed reviews.
- Great for agencies & multi-brand teams — Organizes many accounts, clients, and workflows in one place.
Connor L.
Planable has been the most reliable of all the social media scheduling software we’ve tested and we’ve now been using it for a few years. It always felt like other platforms were missing at least 1 core feature we needed and finally we haven’t had that issue with Planable. Support is prompt and reliable.
Areas to Improve
- Pricing concerns — Some users report that the paid tiers are expensive for small teams.
- Feature limits on plans — Advanced capabilities (analytics, certain integrations) are gated behind higher plans.
- Occasional scheduling/Instagram limitations — Users mention platform-specific limits and rare scheduling quirks.
Verified User in Civic & Social Organization.
Planable doesn’t support scheduling and auto post for videos more than 60sec especially instagram & TikTok, also its a bit pricy compared to the competitors
What’s the Standout Feature of Planable:
Standout features include a highly visual content calendar and feed preview, robust approval workflows that auto-schedule once content is approved, and an engagement area so teams can reply to comments without leaving the platform.
Pricing
Planable uses workspace-based pricing, not per user. The Free plan offers 50 posts, Basic costs $39/month, and Pro is $59/month with multi-level approvals. Enterprise plans are custom-made for larger teams with specific requirements.
If you are an agency looking for more tools to help strengthen your workflow and management, explore our top social media tool for agencies.
Social Media Engagement Tools
Best for:
Small Businesses, Marketing Agencies, Retail, Large Enterprises, and E-commerce
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.6 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (Twitter), YouTube, Google Business Profile, and TikTok.
About Agorapulse:
Agorapulse simplifies content creation and curation with a visual calendar, content library, and bulk upload features. It helps plan and recycle posts, mix original content with curated UGC, and track engagement through a unified inbox. Approval workflows and role controls ensure quality for teams and agencies.
Key Features:
- Unified Social Inbox — Collects comments, DMs, mentions across channels into one actionable stream.
- Visual Content Calendar — Drag-and-drop calendar to plan, preview, and schedule cross-platform posts.
- Queue Categories & Recycling — Organize post types into reusable queues for consistent, automated publishing.
- Analytics & Presentation Reports — Exportable, client-ready reports with reach, engagement, and post metrics.
- Team Workflows & Collaboration — Assign conversations, approve posts, and manage roles for agency teams.
- Social CRM & Audience Notes — Build follower profiles, add notes, and track key contacts over time.
Our in-depth review of Agorapulse
Strengths
- Great unified workflow — Cuts time by consolidating all social replies, mentions, and DMs.
- Strong reporting — Create polished, exportable reports useful for clients and internal stakeholders.
- Team-friendly features — Approval flows, role controls, and assignable inbox items for agency use.
Sandra H.
Agorapulse is incredibly intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy for me to schedule posts, engage with our audience, and track performance across multiple platforms. The reporting features are also robust, providing valuable insights.
Areas to Improve
- Occasional API limitations — Some native platform actions (e.g., Instagram Reels posting) have restrictions.
- No generous free plan — Lacks a fully free tier; paid plans required for heavier use.
- Minor UI lags reported — A few users mention small delays when loading or responding.
Verified User in Computer Games
I dislike that Agorapulse regularly fails to publish scheduled social media posts. I dislike that Agorapulse regularly loses connection with our multiple social media accounts. I dislike that Agorapulse cripples its features, like Listening to the point of making it useless, then has the audacity to try and upsell me an even more premium account just to make it functional.
What’s the Standout Feature of Agorapulse:
Agorapulse shines because its Unified Social Inbox, visual content calendar, and robust analytics work together to turn engagement into measurable outcomes. Teams can assign conversations, approve content, and export client-ready reports, all from a single, collaborative workspace.
Pricing
Agorapulse offers three main pricing plans. The Standard plan is $99 per user per month, ideal for growing teams. The Advanced plan costs $199 per user per month and includes more robust features. For larger businesses, a Custom plan is available with tailored solutions to meet specific needs. For a complete breakdown, check out our Agorapulse pricing analysis to discover what suits you best.
Explore our top Agorapulse alternatives
Best for:
Customer support teams, Marketing agencies, Mid-sized businesses, and Enterprises
Star Rating:
4.3/5 (G2) & 4.2/5 (Capterra)
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Snapchat, and Google My Business
About Emplifi:
Emplifi streamlines content creation with its Content Hub for asset management, performance analysis, and scheduling across channels. It automates UGC collection and rights management for authentic campaigns, while AI tools help prioritize content and craft responses. Unified analytics links content performance to engagement and commerce metrics for fast optimization.
Key Features:
- Unified Inbox — Centralises DMs, comments, and mentions across channels for faster responses.
- Content Hub — Store, analyse, and repurpose assets; discover competitor and campaign inspiration.
- UGC Curation — Collect, filter, and approve user-generated content with rights-management workflows.
- AI & Sentiment Analytics — Automated topic detection, sentiment scoring, and crisis flags for teams.
- Omnichannel Scheduling — Customize and publish posts across multiple networks with platform-specific variants.
- Unified Analytics & Dashboards — Custom reports tying care, commerce, and marketing performance together.
Strengths
- Scales for enterprises — Handles complex, multi-team workflows and large-volume social operations.
- Strong UGC support — Streamlines rights, curation, and republishing of customer content.
- AI-enabled efficiencies — Automates routing, sentiment scoring, and intent generation for faster triage.
Verified User.
The customer service is the best part of Emplifi. We are always notified of upcoming changes, our feedback is taken into consideration for new features, and we have a team of experts at the ready willing to help us make the most out of the tool. Whether it’s a simple user setting question or building analytics dashboards, we’re supported in a way no other tool could offer.
Areas to Improve
- Enterprise pricing — Cost may be high for small teams or tight budgets
- Learning curve — Feature-rich UI requires onboarding time for new users
- Occasional overkill for simple needs — Smaller brands may prefer leaner tools.
Verified User in Computer Games
Their reporting is convoluted and confusing. Getting correct numbers on reports takes multiple check-in’s with my success manager. The onboarding process didn’t make my team feel prepared and we’re having to do a lot of extra work to get things up and running.
What’s the Standout Feature of Emplifi:
Emplifi’s Unified Inbox and AI-driven moderation dramatically reduce response times while surfacing high-priority issues; the Content Hub + UGC platform together lets teams find, store, approve, and repurpose authentic customer content at scale for campaigns and commerce. Its unified analytics then links engagement to business outcomes, making optimization more actionable.
Pricing
Emplifi offers custom pricing based on the needs of each business, focusing on providing tailored solutions for enterprise-level organizations.
Free Social Media Tools
Best for:
Digital marketers, SEO specialists, businesses, and content marketers.
Star Rating:
4.5 on G2 & 4.7 on Capterra
Apps:
Android and iOS Mobile App and Web Version.
Social Media Platforms Supported:
All social media networks
About Google Analytics:
Google Analytics provides in-depth social media tracking, helping creators measure which platforms and posts drive engagement, sign-ups, or clicks. With UTM parameters, it tracks campaigns precisely, offering insights like engagement time, bounce rate, and conversions. Custom dashboards in Google Analytics or Looker Studio centralize content performance data for better strategy optimization.
Key Features:
- Traffic Source Attribution – Identifies which social media platforms send traffic to your site.
- Conversion Tracking – Measures specific actions from social referrals, like signups or purchases.
- Engagement Metrics – Reports engagement rate, average session time, and key embedded events.
- Content Performance Insights – Highlights which posts or pages get the most social traffic.
- UTM Tag Tracking – Enables precise campaign performance through customizable UTM parameters.
- Looker Studio Dashboards – Collates GA and social data into clear, shareable visual presentations.
Strengths
- Holistic ROI Measurement – Shows true ROI by linking social traffic to real conversion events.
- Deep Behavior Insight – Reveals what users do beyond likes—time on page, further actions, etc.
- Custom Reporting & Visuals – Build tailored dashboards and reports for deeper analysis.
John C.
What I like best about Google Analytics is the detailed insights it provides. It helps me understand user behavior, track website performance, and make data-driven decisions.
Areas to Improve
- Missing Referrer Data – Some platforms strip referral info, causing under-tracking of traffic.
- Attribution Complexity – Multi-touch journeys can misattribute conversions across campaigns.
- Steep Learning Curve – GA can be overwhelming for beginners to navigate and set up.
Sergio A.
Google Analytics each time is more difficult to understand and work with. Before GA4, it was more intuitive, and now you need to read many tutorials to create panels to get the information in a more easy way. If you want to get all the possible information you need a more advanced implementation, which for some websites needs higher skills.
What’s the Standout Feature of Google Analytics:
UTM Tag Tracking ensures campaign links are tagged for precise source and medium identification across GA, eliminating guesswork. Content Performance Insights show which social posts drive the most visits or conversions, guiding strategic content creation. Custom Reporting & Dashboards, especially via Looker Studio, let you visualize and share cross-platform insights in a polished, actionable format.
Pricing
Google Analytics is a free platform that offers various basic plans. However, the premium 360 version costs roughly $150,000 per year, based on the volume of data you need. Google Analytics Premium 360 contains many high-end features suitable for larger enterprises.
Best for:
Solopreneurs, creators, social media marketers, agencies, SMB, and mid-sized businesses
Star Rating:
4.7/5 (G2) & 4.5/5 (Capterra)
Apps:
Web version, Android, and iOS
Social Media Platforms Supported:
All social media networks
About ChatGPT:
ChatGPT’s free Social Media tool streamlines content creation with AI-driven features like the Content Ideation Generator, Caption Writer, and Influencer Finder. It helps generate fresh post ideas, write platform-ready captions, and discover relevant creators for collaborations. While it automates repetitive tasks, editing and brand alignment are still essential. It’s a time-saving ally for boosting creativity and engagement.
Key Features:
- Content ideation generator – Suggests creative post ideas based on your brand’s details.
- Caption writer – Creates engaging captions tailored to your brief and tone.
- Influencer-finding assistant – Recommends niche influencers and partners aligned to your brand.
- Ad strategy planner – Crafts targeted social ad copy and promotional campaign ideas.
- Efficiency booster – Automates repetitive writing tasks, freeing your time for strategy.
- Repurposing pro – Transforms content (e.g., blogs) into social-friendly posts or visuals.
Strengths
- Accelerates creativity – Quickly generates fresh ideas to overcome writer’s block and spark inspiration.
- Saves time – Automates ideation and captioning, streamlining content creation.
- Supports influencer discovery – Helps you find aligned influencers, reducing manual research effort.
Simon R.
I appreciate the sheer level of information that Chatgpt is able to provide. This has been most valuable when generating marketing contents.
In my department, we have leveraged the above capability of Chatgpt as the groundwork for most of our marketing contents. Basically, we provide Chatgpt with the guideline to generate the content , while we modify and develop the content generated by Chatgpt to meet our taste.
Areas to Improve
- Occasionally off-brand – Outputs may not always match your voice or tone.
- Requires oversight – Needs fact-checking and edits; AI draft isn’t publish-ready.
- Creativity limits – Can produce generic ideas; still needs human originality.
Verified User in Legal Services.
It’s very glitchy and makes a lot of mistakes. For example, it will tell me I’m missing something grammatically that is already there, or will give misinformation about a certain topic. This program should NOT be used to replace an actual person (such as a marketer). It is very clear when Chat GPT is being used solely. Real people are needed to verify validity, make the message sound less “formal,” and provide the right context for your target audience. I’d recommend using this as an additional resource, not a crutch.
What’s the Standout Feature of ChatGPT:
The standout Content ideation generator, Caption writer, and Influencer-finding assistant make this tool uniquely powerful—sparking content ideas, crafting platform-ready captions, and tackling what usually drags social planning: finding the right influencers. Together, they elevate strategy, creativity, and efficiency in one AI-powered suite.
Pricing
There are three paid pricing plans: Plus ($20/month), Team ($30/month), and Enterprise (custom pricing). There is also a free plan with limited credits and limited access to GPT-4o.
More Free Tools
In addition to Google Analytics and ChatGPT for content tracking and creation, SocialPilot’s Free Social Media Tools provide a wide range of valuable features to enhance your social media management.
Here’s what you can access:
- Instagram Bio Generator: Quickly create personalized, engaging Instagram bios tailored to your brand and audience.
- Instagram Caption Generator: Generate captivating captions for your Instagram posts to boost engagement and creativity.
- Instagram Hashtag Generator: Find trending and relevant hashtags to expand your reach and improve discoverability.
- Facebook Post Generator: Easily craft engaging Facebook posts that resonate with your audience and drive interactions.
- YouTube Video Description Generator: Effortlessly write SEO-friendly video descriptions with tailored keywords and CTAs.
- Instagram Optimal Post Time Checker: Analyze your audience’s activity to find the best times to post on Instagram for maximum engagement.
Platform-Specific Social Media Tools
While general social media management platforms like SocialPilot, Hootsuite, and Sprout Social provide a broad solution for managing content across various platforms, platform-specific tools are designed to optimize the unique features and functionalities of each social network.
These tools offer a more targeted approach by enhancing content creation, engagement, and analytics based on the specific demands of each platform.
Here’s how platform-specific tools improve social media marketing:
1. Facebook Tools
These tools help businesses optimize ad campaigns, track page performance, and manage engagement efficiently on Facebook. They enable better audience targeting, content scheduling, and performance analysis to improve ROI.
Examples: Meta Business Suite and SocialPilot’s Facebook Tools
2. Instagram Tools
Instagram tools are designed to help businesses schedule posts, track analytics, and manage multiple Instagram accounts. These tools help with visual planning, hashtag optimization, and improving engagement by identifying the best times to post.
Examples: SocialPilot’s Instagram Tools and Edits by Meta
3. LinkedIn Tools
LinkedIn tools assist with content scheduling, managing company pages, tracking engagement, and optimizing outreach efforts. These tools also enable businesses to generate leads and track the performance of LinkedIn ads.
Examples: SocialPilot’s LinkedIn Tools and LinkedIn Sales Navigator
4. Twitter Tools (X Tools)
These tools help businesses manage their Twitter accounts by scheduling tweets, tracking mentions, and analyzing follower behavior. They can also help optimize Twitter ad campaigns and improve engagement with users.
Examples: SocialPilot’s Twitter Tools and Tweetdeck now X Pro
5. TikTok Tools
TikTok tools focus on scheduling and managing TikTok content, analyzing performance, and discovering trends. They enable businesses to track engagement metrics and optimize videos for maximum reach on the platform.
Examples: SocialPilot’s TikTok Scheduling Tool and InShot
6. YouTube Tools
YouTube tools are designed for managing video content, tracking views and performance, and optimizing SEO on the platform. These tools help with content scheduling, audience growth, and maximizing video engagement.
Examples: SocialPilot’s YouTube Scheduling Tool, VidIQ, and TubeBuddy
7. Pinterest Tools
Pinterest tools assist with scheduling pins, tracking analytics, and optimizing content for the platform’s visual search engine. These tools help businesses increase visibility, engage followers, and grow traffic to their Pinterest boards.
Examples: Tailwind and SocialPilot’s Pinterest Scheduling Tool.
How to Choose the Right Social Media Tool?
Choosing the right social media tools can make or break your online presence and marketing. Here are the key things to consider when choosing social media tools:
1. Ease of Use
A user-friendly tool is key to smooth social media management. Look for a platform with an easy-to-use interface and minimal learning curve so your team can get up and running quickly and focus on creating content that matters.
2. Features and Functionality
Make sure the tool has the features you need, such as content scheduling, analytics, multi-platform support, and collaboration tools. Choose a platform that fits your social media strategy and simplifies managing multiple accounts.
3. Pricing and Value
Consider the pricing structure and make sure it fits your budget. Look for tools that have transparent pricing with flexible plans so you can scale as your social media needs grow without breaking the bank.
4. Customer Support
Good customer support is crucial for resolving issues quickly. Opt for a tool with easy-to-get-to and responsive support, whether it’s live chat, email, or phone support, especially during time-sensitive campaigns.
5. Analytics and Reporting
Most social media tools provide analytics of your performance. The best social media tools have in-depth analytics and customizable reports to track performance. This helps you measure engagement, optimize content, and measure ROI to make sure you’re on the right track with your campaigns.
Why Use Social Media Tools?
Use a social media tool to simplify, speed up, and supercharge your strategy. These tools have automation, analytics, and multi-account management to help you stay on top of your social media.
1. Time Saving
Social media tools automate tasks like scheduling and posting, so you save time. With these tools, you can plan posts in advance and not have to do manual updates all the time.
2. Consistency and Organisation
Using a social media tool helps you maintain a consistent posting schedule across multiple platforms. It organises your content calendar so posts are timely and aligned with your overall marketing strategy.
3. Analytics and Insights
Social media tools give you in-depth analytics on engagement, reach, and performance. These insights help you refine your strategy, optimize posts, and measure your ROI so you can keep growing.
4. Multi Account Management
Managing multiple accounts from different platforms is overwhelming. A social media tool consolidates all your accounts into one dashboard so you can post, engage, and monitor activity in one place.
5. Collaboration and Teamwork
Using a social media tool helps you maintain a consistent posting schedule across multiple platforms. With social media calendar tools on your side, you can organise your content calendar so posts are timely and aligned with your overall marketing strategy.
6. AI and Smart Features
Many modern social media tools now come equipped with AI and smart features that can help you with content creation, post scheduling, and performance analysis. These social media automation tools can reduce the manual effort required and improve the effectiveness of your social media strategy.
7. Comprehensive Social Media Marketing
Beyond basic scheduling, robust social media marketing tools can provide a complete marketing solution, including features for content discovery, competitor analysis, and team collaboration. This allows you to manage all aspects of your social media strategy from a single platform.
Conclusion
As AI continues to revolutionize social media marketing, the social media tools available today make it easier than ever to create, schedule, analyze, and optimize content with minimal effort. This revolution is driven by increasingly sophisticated social media AI tools that streamline content creation, scheduling, and optimization. With AI’s ability to predict trends, automate repetitive tasks, and provide deeper insights into audience behavior, marketers can focus on what truly matters—creating engaging content and building genuine connections.
SocialPilot is a prime example of how AI can be seamlessly integrated into social media management. Its AI-powered features streamline content creation, scheduling, and analytics, and help brands personalize content for their audience, all while saving time and improving results. Whether you’re an agency, a small business, or a solo entrepreneur, SocialPilot can be a great addition to your arsenal, giving you an added boost.Want to try? Take a 14-day free trial!
Frequently Asked Questions
How can social media tools streamline marketing efforts?
Social media tools automate content scheduling, track engagement, and analyze audience behavior, allowing brands to focus on creating meaningful content and strategic planning rather than manual tasks.
Which social media tool is best for improving content discovery and curation?
AI-driven tools like SocialPilot's AI Pilot assist in generating content ideas, optimizing posting times, and automating repetitive tasks, ultimately boosting productivity and engagement.
How do social media tools assist with multi-platform management?
Tools such as Socialpilot, Hootsuite, and Buffer allow businesses to manage multiple social media accounts from a single dashboard, ensuring consistency and saving time across platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
What makes platform-specific social media tools essential for businesses?
Platform-specific tools, like Meta Business Suite for Facebook or TikTok Ads Manager, offer tailored features for each platform, allowing businesses to maximize performance with features optimized for their audience and content type.
About the Author
