Later vs Metricool
Side-by-side pricing, platforms and features, with a verdict for each type of team.
Visual planner, link in bio and user-generated content tools, built around the Instagram grid.
Scheduling plus analytics and ad reporting in one dashboard, with a free tier that is actually useful.
Feature by feature
| Later | Metricool | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Free plan | Trial (14 days) | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $25 / mo | $18 / mo |
| Free trial | 14 days | Free plan |
| Pricing model | Per social set, billed monthly | Billed monthly; cheaper annually |
| Platforms | ||
| Posts, Reels, Stories, grid preview | Posts, Reels, Stories | |
| X / Twitter | Posts | Posts, threads |
| Pages and profiles | Pages and profiles | |
| TikTok | Direct publish | Direct publish |
| Pages | Pages | |
| YouTube | Shorts | Videos, Shorts |
| Pins | Pins | |
| Threads | Posts | Posts |
| Bluesky | No | Posts |
| Snapchat | Public Profiles | No |
| Google Business Profile | No | Updates |
| Other networks | — | Twitch |
| Features | ||
| Content calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Approval workflow | Growth plan+ | Advanced plan |
| AI caption writing | Yes | Yes |
| Best time to post | Advanced plan | Yes |
| Bulk upload (CSV) | No | Yes |
| Evergreen recycling | No | No |
| Analytics & reports | Yes | Advanced |
| Social inbox | Comments only | Yes |
| Link in bio page | Yes | Yes |
| First comment | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Browser extension | No | No |
| API access | No | Advanced plan |
| White-label reports | No | Advanced plan |
| Client workspaces | Agency plan | Yes |
| Details | ||
| Editorial score | 4.5 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best for | Instagram-first brands and creators | Anyone who needs analytics with their scheduler |
| Apps | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Founded | 2014 | 2015 |
Which should you choose?
Metricool scores 4.6 against 4.5 for Later. Later is visual planner, link in bio and user-generated content tools, built around the Instagram grid. Metricool is scheduling plus analytics and ad reporting in one dashboard, with a free tier that is actually useful. On price, Metricool starts lower at $18 / mo. Later publishes to 9 networks and Metricool to 11.
Later grew up as an Instagram planner and it still shows in the best way: the visual grid preview, the media library and the link-in-bio page are the most polished in the category. It now covers TikTok, Pinterest, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, Threads and Snapchat, so it works as a general scheduler for brands where Instagram comes first.
Read the full Later review →Metricool is the best value tool in the directory. The free plan gives you one brand with scheduling and real analytics; the Starter plan adds competitor tracking, best-time heatmaps and ad reporting for Meta, Google and TikTok ads at a price most competitors charge for scheduling alone.
Read the full Metricool review →