Later vs Metricool 2026: Which Social Planner Wins?
Quick verdict: Metricool is our overall pick for Later vs Metricool.
Metricool leads on rating, free tier and feature depth; Later is the paid visual grid. Later: paid from $18.75/mo (annual); Metricool: free plan, paid from $20/mo (annual). Prices checked 2026-09-18.
| Tool | Rating | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Later | 3.8/5 | $18.75/mo (annual) | Later is a social-first scheduler built around a visual Instagram-first grid. It has no fr… |
| Metricool Best overall Best free Best for teams | 4.2/5 | Free $20/mo (annual) | Metricool is an all-in-one social planner plus analytics platform: schedule across network… |
Bottom line: Metricool (4.2/5, cluster top) wins on three axes — a real free tier (1 brand, 20 posts/mo, 30-day analytics), built-in analytics and competitor tracking, and brand-based billing from $25/mo monthly ($20 annual); X/Twitter and LinkedIn are add-ons. Later (3.8/5) is the visual Instagram grid with no free plan — a 14-day card-required auto-charging trial, Social Set billing (Starter $18.75/mo annual), and no X/Twitter since 2025. Pick Metricool to schedule and measure in one affordable seat; pick Later only for the visual grid and a willingness to pay from day one.
Pricing and details
Later · 3.8/5
14-day trial (credit card required, auto-charge at expiry) · $18.75/mo (annual)
Later has no free plan — only a 14-day trial that requires a credit card and auto-charges at expiry. It bills by 'Social Set' (1 set = 8 profiles, 30 posts/profile). Starter $25/mo monthly ($18.75 annual) = 1 set, 1 user. Growth $50/mo ($37.50 annual) = 2 sets, 2 users, 180 posts. Scale $110/mo ($82.50 annual) = 6 sets, 4 users, unlimited posts. Extra set $11.25/mo, extra user $3.75/mo. X/Twitter support was removed on 2025-08-28.
Starter $18.75/mo · Growth $37.50/mo · Scale $82.50/mo (annual)
Later is a social-first scheduler built around a visual Instagram-first grid. It has no free plan — only a 14-day trial that requires a credit card and auto-charges — and bills by 'Social Set' (a bundle of profiles and posts) rather than per user.
Score breakdown
Pros
- Visual grid is the best in-class tool for image-led planning (ease 4/5)
- Clean week-planning interface for Instagram-first teams
Cons
- No free plan — evaluation starts on a 14-day card-required, auto-charging trial
- Social Set billing can exceed a set's 30-post cap and add surcharges
- X/Twitter support removed in 2025; smaller vendor than Hootsuite
Pricing verified 2026-09-18
Metricool · 4.2/5
Free plan available · $20/mo (annual)
Metricool bills by brand, not by seat. Free $0 forever: 1 brand, all networks except X/LinkedIn, 20 posts/mo, 5 competitor tracking, 30-day analytics. Starter $25/mo monthly ($20 annual) up to 5 brands (10 brands $36/$45). Advanced $67/mo monthly ($53 annual) up to 15 brands (25 brands $107). X/Twitter costs extra at $10/account/mo. Annual saves up to 24%.
Starter $20/mo · Advanced $53/mo (annual)
Metricool is an all-in-one social planner plus analytics platform: schedule across networks, run a content calendar and get built-in analytics and competitor tracking. It bills by brand and has a genuinely useful free tier.
Score breakdown
Pros
- Highest rating in the cluster (4.2/5)
- Scheduling plus native analytics and competitor tracking in one bill
- Most capable free tier in the set (1 brand, 20 posts/mo, 30-day analytics)
- Brand-based billing with multi-brand support
Cons
- X/Twitter and LinkedIn are add-ons, not in the base plans
- Analytics and extra networks add complexity versus a pure scheduler
Pricing verified 2026-09-18
Frequently asked questions
Which is better overall, Later or Metricool?
Metricool is our overall pick (4.2/5 vs 3.8/5). Metricool leads on rating, free tier and feature depth; Later is the paid visual grid. Later: paid from $18.75/mo (annual); Metricool: free plan, paid from $20/mo (annual). Prices checked 2026-09-18.
Do Later and Metricool offer free plans?
Metricool has a free tier. Later paid plans start at $18.75/mo (annual); Metricool paid plans start at $20/mo (annual).
What does Metricool cost?
$20/mo (annual) — Metricool bills by brand, not by seat. Free $0 forever: 1 brand, all networks except X/LinkedIn, 20 posts/mo, 5 competitor tracking, 30-day analytics. Starter $25/mo monthly ($20 annual) up to 5 brands (10 brands $36/$45). Advanced $67/mo monthly ($53 annual) up to 15 brands (25 brands $107). X/Twitter costs extra at $10/account/mo. Annual saves up to 24%. Prices were last verified on 2026-09-18.