Why You Should Use a Social Media Scheduler (Even If Experts Say Not To)
Apr 07, 2025
Some social media experts say not to use a scheduling platform to publish your content, but we use one anyway (and recommend you do, too).
- Consistency – It keeps your posts flowing even when life gets busy.
- Boundaries – Scheduling ahead of time helps you separate work and personal time.
- Sustainability – With a reliable scheduler, you can maintain a consistent posting schedule without burning out.
- The algorithm prioritizes content edited and published directly from the app.
That's it; that's the only con. Do with that information what you will.
Now that we’ve addressed the elephant in the room, let's talk about how to choose the best social media scheduler for your business.
How to Pick the Right Scheduler for Your Business
With so many options out there, it can be overwhelming to choose. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. By the end of this blog, you’ll know which scheduler we recommend, and why.
- How much does it cost? – Everyone’s budget is different, but remember: free schedulers might not offer all the features you’ll need.
- How many accounts can it manage? – If you’re juggling multiple clients or brands, you’ll need a platform that can handle several accounts.
- Which platforms does it support? – Do you post only to Facebook and Instagram, or do you need a wider range like X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, or TikTok?
- How user-friendly is it? – You don’t have time to wrestle with a complicated system. Look for something intuitive.
- What’s the customer support like? – When issues arise (and they will), you need reliable support — especially when you’re getting started.
- Does it Offer Analytics? - It's important to gather insight into how your posts perform on each channel. You'll want a platform that offers detailed but easy-to-follow reporting.
We researched the top social media schedulers, so you don’t have to. Here’s a breakdown of the best options:
- Cost: $41-$291/year
- Number of accounts: Starts at 7 accounts per client; can go up to unlimited
- Platforms supported: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Google My Business, Threads
- User-friendly? Yes, most users find it intuitive. The visual content calendar makes it easy to learn.
- Customer Support: Dedicated account manager and phone support.
- Analytics: Studio and Agency plans include reporting. These analytics provide insights into follower growth, engagement, and exposure. You can track the performance of your posts, identify what works best, and determine optimal times for posting. Custom reports can be created for clients based on this data.
- Cost: Free–$1,599.96/year (extra features available for purchase)
- Number of accounts: 1-6 accounts depending on your plan
- Platforms supported: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads, Snapchat
- User-friendly? Very user-friendly for basic features, though advanced options can be tricky. Some features may not work on all platforms. The free version is difficult to find to sign up for the first time.
- Customer Support: Access to their help center or email support.
- Analytics: Track content performance, including engagement, likes, clicks, and comments. Identify the best times to post and evaluate overall content success. For Meta (Instagram and Facebook) analytics, you need a creator/business profile on Instagram and at least 100 followers on Facebook. The type and depth of analytics depend on your plan.
- Cost: Free–$120/year
- Number of accounts: 1 account with free plan; unlimited accounts with the "team" plan
- Platforms supported: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Threads, Bluesky, YouTube Shorts, Pinterest, Google My Business, Mastodon, X
- User-friendly? Yes, Buffer is praised for its clean, easy-to-navigate interface.
- Customer Support: Help center and email support.
- Analytics - Create reports on follower growth, impressions, engagement rates, and optimal posting times. Buffer also provides insights into your audience demographics. Analytics features vary depending on your plan.
- Cost: $900/year–$2,388/year (enterprise pricing not listed)
- Number of accounts: 5 accounts on the basic plan; unlimited with higher plans
- Platforms supported: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads
- User-friendly? Can be a bit complex, but offers solid features, especially for beginners.
- Customer Support: Help center and email support. Higher-tier plans offer more direct customer service options.
- Analytics: Offers detailed tracking across organic, owned, and earned metrics. Measure business impact, and competitor performance, and analyze conversations around your brand and industry. Advanced analytics allow tracking of social media ROI and ad performance. Analytics options depend on your plan.
- Cost: $2,388/year–$4,788/year (enterprise pricing unlisted)
- Number of accounts: 5 for the basic plan; unlimited with higher plans
- Platforms supported: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, X, YouTube
- User-friendly? Generally praised for its intuitive interface and small learning curve.
- Customer Support: Onboarding support, live phone or chat assistance, and access to training resources.
- Analytics: Monitor reach, engagement, and impressions. Compare your performance with competitors and link to Google Analytics to track how posts drive website traffic. Advanced plans offer additional reporting features, including analysis of keywords and tags.
- Cost: Free
- Number of accounts: Link up to 10 profiles
- Platforms supported: Facebook, Instagram
- User-friendly? Many find it hard to navigate, and constant updates require frequent relearning.
- Customer Support: Chat, email, or call support available.
- Analytics: Use the Insights tab to pull visual reports and trends, helping you understand your audience, refine advertising strategies, and pinpoint areas for improvement.
Our Recommendation
We get it — picking the right scheduler can be a tough decision. But here's the scoop: we’re Cloud Campaign fans through and through.
Why? Because it’s easy to navigate, efficient, and fairly priced for all the features you get. But what really sets it apart is their customer support. Having an account rep who is proactive, supportive, and always ready to help us get the most out of the platform has been a game-changer. We always feel like we have a solid support system, whether we’re troubleshooting or just getting started.
Got Questions?
If you’re still unsure about which social media scheduler is right for you, don’t hesitate to reach out! We’re happy to help. Drop us an email at [email protected].