If you're running a small business, you already know how quickly social media can fall to the bottom of the to-do list. You mean to post, but the day gets busy and suddenly a week has gone by.
A social media scheduling tool can make a real difference. Instead of logging in every time you want to share something, you set aside a block of time, plan your content ahead, and let the tool do the posting for you.
Here's a straightforward look at five of the most popular options, what they cost, and who each one suits best.
1. Buffer
Free Plan available. Paid plans from around £4 per channel per month.
Buffer has been around for years and has built a strong reputation for being simple and reliable. If you're new to scheduling tools, it's one of the easiest to get started with.
The free plan lets you connect up to three social channels and keep up to ten posts queued per channel at a time. That's enough for most small businesses testing the water. Paid plans start at around £4 per channel per month (billed annually), which keeps costs predictable as you add more accounts.
Pros
Clean, easy-to-use interface
Generous free plan with no time limit
Straightforward per-channel pricing with no hidden user fees
Covers Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, X and more
Cons
Free plan limits you to three channels
Analytics are fairly basic unless you upgrade
Collaboration features and approval workflows only available on the higher-tier Team plan
Best for: Solo business owners who want a simple, no-fuss starting point.
2. SocialPilot
14-day free trial available. Paid plans from around £20 per month (billed annually).
SocialPilot packs a lot in at a competitive price. You get scheduling across ten platforms, built-in analytics, content approval workflows, bulk scheduling and Google Business Profile support, all under one roof.
The Essentials plan covers seven social accounts and suits solo business owners. The Standard plan, at around £33 per month on annual billing, adds team members and is a better fit for businesses working with a colleague or VA. No credit card is needed to start the trial.
Pros
Strong value for money compared to many alternatives
Covers ten platforms including Google Business Profile
Bulk scheduling useful if you plan content in batches
Analytics and reporting included across all plans
Content approval workflows available on paid plans
Integrates with Canva
Cons
No permanent free plan, only a 14-day trial
Essentials plan is single user only
Interface can feel busier than simpler tools
Best for: Small businesses that want a capable, well-priced tool with good analytics and broad platform coverage from the start.
3. Metricool
Free plan available. Paid plans from around £19 per month (billed annually).
Metricool stands out for offering genuinely useful analytics even on its free plan — something most tools reserve for paid tiers. It covers a wide range of platforms and includes Google Business Profile alongside your social channels.
The free plan covers one brand and allows up to 50 posts per month, which works well for businesses just starting out. Worth noting: LinkedIn and X (Twitter) aren't available on the free plan.
Pros
Analytics included on the free plan — most tools reserve this for paid tiers
Wide platform coverage including Google Business Profile
Free plan allows up to 50 posts per month for a single brand
Content approval workflows available, though these require the higher-tier Advanced plan
Cons
LinkedIn not available on the free plan
X (Twitter) requires a paid add-on on top of the monthly plan
Interface takes a little getting used to
Best for: Businesses that want solid analytics alongside scheduling without having to upgrade to access them.
4. Planable
Free plan available (50 posts total). Paid plans from around £26 per workspace per month.
Planable takes a different approach to the others on this list. It's built around getting content planned, reviewed and signed off before it goes out. You can draft posts, leave comments, get approval from a colleague or client, and schedule, all within one workspace.
The free plan gives you 50 posts in total rather than per month, so it's more of a trial than a long-term option. Paid plans include unlimited users, which is good value when several people need access.
It supports Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, YouTube, TikTok, Pinterest, Google Business Profile and Threads.
Pros
Built around a clear approval process from the ground up
Unlimited users on paid plans
Clean visual preview of how posts will look before publishing
Supports Google Business Profile alongside social channels
Cons
Free plan 50-post limit is a total allowance, not monthly
Analytics cost extra as an add-on
Better suited to teams than solo users
Best for: Small business owners who work with a VA, colleague or anyone else who helps with their social media and needs a simple way to review and sign off content before it goes out.
5. Canva
Free plan available (no scheduling). Scheduling included with Canva Pro from around £10 per month.
Canva is already one of the most widely used design tools among small businesses. Its built-in content planner lets you schedule posts directly from your designs, which removes the need to download and re-upload graphics into a separate tool.
You'll need Canva Pro to access scheduling, which costs around £10 per month on annual billing and covers up to eight social platforms. The scheduling feature is fairly basic compared to dedicated tools, so it works best when design is your main priority rather than in-depth planning or analytics.
Pros
Design and scheduling in one place
If you're already on Canva Pro, scheduling is included at no extra cost
Easy to use if you're already familiar with Canva
Cons
Scheduling only available on Canva Pro, not the free version
Analytics are limited compared to dedicated tools
Best for: Businesses already using Canva Pro who want to schedule posts without switching to a separate tool.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right tool depends on how you work and what you need most.
Buffer suits those who want to keep things simple and start for free. SocialPilot is worth considering if you want more capability and value across multiple platforms. Metricool is worth a look if you want solid analytics included from the free plan upwards. Planable stands out if content needs to be approved before it goes out. And if you're already a Canva user, its built-in scheduler removes a step from your workflow.
All five offer a free plan or free trial, so it's worth testing before you commit.
We're a local web design company working with businesses across Windsor, Ascot, Maidenhead, Bracknell, Slough, Staines and the surrounding areas. If you'd like to find out how we can help your business online, get in touch today.
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