13 of the Best Instagram Scheduling Tools for 2024

A good Instagram scheduling tool is essential to keeping your campaign on track. One of the toughest parts of running a successful Instagram profile is staying on schedule. A great Instagram account doesn’t just have great content, it also has excellent timing.

Using an Instagram scheduling tool, you can ensure you’re always active and posting on social media when your followers are online. You can even plan campaigns weeks in advance, so you’re never left without a post if your calendar gets away from you.

The question is, which Instagram scheduling tool is best?

Today, we’re going to compare some of the top Instagram scheduling tools according to reputation, performance, and features. Let’s dive in.

1. SocialBee

Created to empower social media marketers, SocialBee gives you more control over your Instagram posts. You can build out an entire calendar of images, carousels, and Stories for your Instagram profile. The service even comes with a dedicated mobile app.

Unlike most Instagram scheduling tools for scheduling posts, SocialBee also allows for repeat posting. This means you can re-queue the same stories to publish again in the future – just in case. To ensure you can make the most of your social media strategy, you can even align multiple channels.

Aside from Instagram scheduling, you’ll also have support for Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Whenever you create a post on the platform, you can preview how it’s going to look on your feed. Plus, SocialBee allows you to add hashtags to posts too.

Key Features:

• Post images and videos directly, or carousels and stories via reminders.
• Schedule an initial comment on your Instagram posts.
• Grid view previews to show you how your feed will look.
• Create and publish hashtag collections with your posts.
• Schedule one-off posts or recurring content.
• Integrate with tools like Quuu, Canva, and Xara.
• Create entire workspaces to align your team on social media collaborations.

Pricing:

SocialBee offers both standard and “Agency” pricing. If you’re an individual user, you can access the Bootstrap package for $19 per month. “Accelerate” supports up to 10 social profiles and 50,000 posts for $39 per month. The “Pro” package supports up to 25 social profiles and unlimited posts.

2. Iconosquare

One of the better-known tools for Instagram scheduling, Iconosquare combines calendaring with analytics. It’s an all-in-one software for social media management that comes with a free 14-day trial. Schedule your Instagram posts to appear at the perfect time for your audience. It also helps you to find out when that time is.

Social media listening and analytics give you behind-the-scenes views of your audience. You can even collect insights from multiple social media platforms at once. Once you know when your customers are most active online, you can create your content calendar.

When using Iconosquare to publish directly to Instagram, you can schedule a first comment and hashtags alongside it. Iconosquare also suggests frequently-used hashtags to get you started. A separate caption library allows you to store captions to use later.

Key features:

• Bulk image upload with OneDrive or Dropbox
• Suggested hashtags and a comprehensive caption library.
• View your upcoming schedule in a visual calendar.
• Link Instagram management with a range of other social platforms.
• Free link-in-bio tool.
• Random comment picker for Instagram contests.
• Analytics and immersive insights.

Pricing:

Users can access Iconosquare for free for 14 days. After this, pricing starts at £49 per month billed annually for 3 social profiles. The “Advanced” package for £79 per month supports 5 profiles. You can also access a custom package by contacting the team.

3. Hootsuite

Well-known around the world for its social media management features, Hootsuite is a top contender. If you’re looking for a tool that combines Instagram analytics with scheduling posts, this could be it. You can schedule single image and video posts directly to your Instagram account. You’ll need to use notifications for Stories and personal Instagram posts.

HootSuite makes it quick and easy to upload and schedule hundreds of posts at once. You can even schedule Instagram stories through the iOS app. When inside the Hootsuite interface, you can view, edit, and reschedule your posts. The planner gives you a great view of what you’re sharing with other Instagram users.

Hootsuite is one of the best Instagram scheduler tools for busy companies. If you’re struggling to fill your social media calendar, the AutoSchedule feature is very useful. This Instagram scheduler can suggest posts to fill gaps in your routine. Don’t worry, Hootsuite offers custom settings so you choose how often you publish posts.

Key features:

• Post video or photo posts directly. Schedule carousel posts and stories via notifications.
• Arrange multiple posts at once on a simple calendar interface.
• Fill your schedule with Autoscheduler to automatically post for you.
• Edit and adjust your scheduled Instagram posts whenever you choose.
• Get an instant overview of your content with the visual calendar.
• Helpful analytics on each Instagram post.

Pricing:

There is a range of plans for the Hootsuite Instagram post scheduler. They start at $29 per month for one user and go up to $89 per month for a Team. The more social media accounts you need to manage, the more you’ll pay. Enterprise users can also access custom pricing.

4. Agorapulse

A leading social media scheduling tool, Agorapulse has thousands of users. The software allows users to upload images and videos directly to an Instagram profile. Alternatively, you can schedule Carousel posts via reminders and push notifications. Reminders are also how you schedule Instagram Stories.

Agorapulse is a great third-party app for making the most of Instagram. You can increase engagement on your posts by tagging users or adding location tags. There’s also the option to instantly add hashtags to each post. To make life easy, you can also bulk upload content from other social media platforms, RSS feeds, or your desktop.

Agorapulse users can schedule posts via queues at specific time slots, or load content into queue categories so the system can post for you. Agorapulse also helps with a range of other social media management tasks. There’s a social inbox for managing Instagram comments and in-depth analytics. You’ll even have access to social listening features.

Key features:

• Schedule image and video posts with direct publishing.
• Increase your reach and audience engagement with a hashtag manager.
• Bulk upload posts from desktops or RSS feeds.
• Load content into queue categories for posting later.
• View video posts and pictures in a visual planner.
• Align teams with collaboration tools.
• Track the success of your campaigns with analytics.

Pricing:

There are three pricing packages for Agorapulse. The first option, “Pro” starts at $79 per month when billed annually for 10 social profiles and 2 users. “Premium” is available for $159 per month for 20 social profiles. There’s also an enterprise version with custom pricing. An “add-on” is available in the form of “Power Reports”. This add-on is ideal for agencies who want to show their social media success.

5. Later

Later is often considered one of the most popular Instagram scheduling tools. Like most of the top apps for scheduling Instagram posts, you can publish videos and photos directly. Users can also enhance direct posts with hashtags and user tags. For Instagram stories and carousels, you can schedule posts via push notifications.

Later simplifies the art of mastering your social media accounts with quick scheduling. You can create weekly time slots for your campaigns and drag and drop content into the right moments. There’s also the option to schedule the first comment alongside your post.

Later’s visual planner is one of the best on the market. The intuitive design helps you to visualize your social media calendar. This means you can ensure your Instagram marketing grid matches your brand. There’s even an option to flick between weekly and monthly views. For multiple accounts, you can view calendars all at once, or individually.

Key features:

• Schedule Instagram posts directly or via push notifications.
• Easy-to-use with a quick schedule feature.
• Preview how posts will look on your Instagram feed.
• Create scheduled posts for multiple accounts at once.
• Access analytics for better social media scheduling.
• Upload and store content for easy access later.

Pricing:

Like other Instagram scheduling tools, Later offers various pricing options. There’s a free plan for one user and up to ten posts per profile. Paid plans start at $8 per month for 30 posts per profile. The “Starter” package at $15 per month supports 60 posts per profile. “Growth” is $25 for 150 posts per profile. The “Advanced” plan is $40 per month for unlimited posts.

6. Sendible

Sendible is a social media management tool built for agencies. Ideal for busy social media managers, this Instagram scheduler makes scheduling Instagram posts easy. You can share single photos and videos directly. Plus, like most Instagram scheduling apps, there are post push notification options too.

Depending on the kind of posts you want to create, Sendible has a range of features to offer. You can add locations and hashtags to each of your images in the caption. There’s also the option to add the first comment to your Instagram posts. What’s more, Sendible shows you exactly what your media library will look like on your feed.

Sendible supports various social media platforms. You can manage multiple accounts from one place and see a calendar view of all your social content. It’s also easy to set up automatic posting for a cross-channel campaign. The built-in image editor is particularly useful. It means you can enhance the quality of your Instagram content before posting.

Key features:

• Included photo editor to enhance your posts.
• Drag and drop posts into a visual calendar easily.
• Schedule single video and photo posts directly or set reminders.
• Add locations and hashtags to every post and include a first comment.
• Preview posts to enhance your Instagram bio.
• Manage uploading posts for multiple channels in one place.

Pricing:

All Sendible plans include a free trial for 14 days. The first premium plan is the “Creator” package for $29 per month and 6 social profiles. “Traction” is $89 per month for 24 social profiles. “Scale” is $199 per month for 49 social profiles. The largest “Expansion” package is $399 per month for 105 social profiles.

7. Tailwind

Tailwind is one of the top scheduling tools for visual content. Like many social media scheduling apps, you can schedule video and image posts directly. Carousel and Story posts are available to schedule via push notifications.

There’s also an intelligent “SmartSchedule” feature. This makes social media scheduling easy by helping you to post at the times when your audience are most engaged. As you create your scheduled posts over time, SmartSchedule learns about audience engagement. The more you post, the smarter your Instagram scheduler becomes.

Social media managers can use Tailwind to publish content across a variety of channels. You can create an optimized queue and spread posts out using intervals. There’s also access to a range of hashtags to add to your posts for discovery purposes. Tailwind’s convenient drag-and-drop calendar is a breeze to use. Plus, you can get bonus ideas with content plans.

Key features:

• Intelligent scheduling advice improves your engagement.
• Schedule images, videos, and other posts directly or via push notifications.
• Plan scheduled content with a drag-and-drop calendar.
• Preview all of your posts in a 9-grid visual interface.
• Get easy access to captions, hashtags, and content ideas.
• Upload images from your desktop in bulk.

Pricing:

Tailwind is a very affordable app. The service offers a free forever package, for up to 20 posts per month. You can also access 100 posts a month for $9.99 on the “Pro” package. The “Advanced” package for $19.99 per month offers 1,000 posts per month. The “Max” package offers unlimited posts for $39.99 per month.

8. Buffer

Well-known in the social media world, Buffer is a very popular app. Buffer allows teams to plan Instagram posts, collaborate over campaigns, and schedule posts automatically. With this comprehensive social media management tool, you can schedule videos and photos directly. Carousels and Stories are published via push notifications.

You can schedule hashtags to appear alongside your post in a dedicated caption, or add them to the first comment with your post. There’s also the option to save, reuse, and manage hashtag groups too. The comprehensive social media ecosystem makes it easy to plan your campaigns.

The user-friendly desktop service provided by Buffer is ideal for beginners, allowing you to schedule and manage your content seamlessly on both desktop and mobile devices. Buffer also helps you to drive customers to your shop too. With a range of collaboration tools like Approvals and account management, it’s easy to align teams.

Key features:

• Comprehensive collaboration tools to keep teams in sync.
• Visual calendar for tracking your Instagram grid.
• Include hashtags in your captions or in the first comment.
• Schedule posts either directly or via push notifications.
• Use your hashtag manager to expand your brand reach.
• Examine analytics and insights for each social network.

Pricing:

Buffer offers a free service for managing up to 3 social channels. You even get a landing page builder included. The premium packages start at $5 per month, per channel for “Essentials”.  The “Team” package is $10 per month per social channel. Agency is $100 per month per channel.

9. MeetEdgar

MeetEdgar is a social media management platform that was launched in 2010. It’s known for its ease of use and ability to recycle content. The app helps users save time by allowing them to schedule posts in advance and automatically reposting content that’s performed well in the past. It was made with entrepreneurs in mind, so it’s perfect for small businesses.

Key features:

• A library of evergreen content
• Automation time slots
• Anti-writer’s block tools: finding quotes in articles
• History and performance tracking

Price: plans start at $24.91/month

Free trial: 7 days

10. Post Planner

Post Planner was launched in 2011 and is a social media management tool that helps you plan, publish, and analyze your posts. It’s perfect for small businesses and bloggers who want to save time. With Post Planner, you can easily find popular content on social media and schedule it for later. This tool also gives you valuable insights into what’s working and what’s not.

Key features:

• Automated posting calendar
• Content recycle option
• Platform-specific post creation
• Content discovery: finding popular articles, videos, and images
• A library of branded content

Price: plans start at $5/month

Free trial: 7 days

11. Preview

Preview is a social media scheduling tool that lets you schedule posts for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. It also has a built-in image editor so you can quickly edit your photos before posting them. Preview integrates with other apps like Google Sheets and Canva, which makes it easy to create and manage your content.

Key features:

• Unlimited scheduling of posts, Reels, and Stories
• Automated posting for different time zones
• Built-in photo-editing tools
• Hashtag suggestions and caption ideas

Price: plans start at $6.67/month

Free trial: a free plan with limited features is available

12. Onlypult

Another popular tool is Onlypult. It offers a content planner where you can drag and drop your posts to schedule them in advance. The platform also provides analytics so you can track your performance over time. With Onlypult, you can manage multiple accounts and create content for Instagram, Facebook, and other social networks. It’s a relatively new platform on the market, but it’s quickly gaining popularity for its ease of use and robust features.

Key features:

• Multiple accounts management
• Support for photos and videos
• Team access
• Competitor analysis

Price: plans start at $10/month

Free trial: 7 days

13. Planoly

With Planoly, you can plan, manage, and optimize your Instagram posts from a desktop or mobile device. The platform offers a built-in image editor and allows you to schedule posts for specific times and dates. You can also track the performance of your posts with analytics tools provided by Planoly.

Key features:

• Shoppable gallery feature
• Designer templates for posts and Stories
• Drag-and-drop grid calendar
• Content repurposing for Facebook and Twitter

Price: starts at $11.25/month

Free trial: 7 days

Tips for Making Great Content

Now that you know why you need an Instagram scheduler, let’s talk about making great content. Here are a few tips:

Know Your Audience

First, you need to consider your audience. Who are you trying to reach with your content? What kind of content will they be interested in? When you know the answers to these questions, you will be able to create content that appeals to your target audience.

Use High-Quality Images and Videos

People are more likely to engage with posts that have attractive pictures and well-edited brand videos. Use trusted photo and video editing tools to make your content look its best.

Keep Your Posts To-the-Point

People on Instagram have a short attention span, so it’s important to keep your posts brief and to the point. If you want to share more information, link to another website or article in your post.

Use Hashtags Wisely

Hashtags help you reach a wider audience and get more engagement on your posts. When you use hashtags, make sure they’re relevant to your post and that you’re using them correctly. Don’t use too many hashtags, or your post will look spammy.

The 13 Best Instagram Scheduling Tools: Compared

There are plenty of Instagram scheduling tool options on the market today. Each option allows users to schedule Instagram posts and manage wider social media posts on other channels. The best Instagram scheduler tools will be the ones capable of supporting the most complex marketing needs.

Some tools will allow you to align content across multiple social networks. The best Instagram tools are specific for Instagram scheduling with built-in photo editing in addition to Instagram presets. Keep in mind you will need an Instagram business account to use any of the tools above.

If you’re not sure which the best Instagram tool for you might be, consider checking out a trial. Most platforms above will offer either a free plan or a demo account. This is a great way to see which tools you feel most comfortable with.

Want to create a page with all your links for your profile? Check out this collection of the best Instagram bio link tools.

Having trouble growing your followers on IG? Check out our full Kicksta review to see how it can help you.

Instagram Scheduling Tools FAQ: