Buffer ◆
Buffer is a social media scheduling and management tool with a free plan and paid plans from $6/mo.
Free·Free · from $6/mo
About Later
Later is a social media management platform built for brands, agencies, and creators who want to plan visually cohesive feeds, schedule posts automatically, and track performance. It goes beyond basic scheduling with influencer marketing tools in the same dashboard.
What it does
Later solves the problem of messy multi-platform scheduling by letting you drag-and-drop images and videos onto a visual calendar that previews your Instagram feed layout. It auto-publishes to Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Threads, YouTube, and Snapchat. Built-in analytics show best posting times, engagement, and follower growth. A link-in-bio tool turns Instagram traffic into trackable conversions.
Best for
- Social media managers planning visually cohesive Instagram feeds
- Small businesses scheduling posts across multiple platforms from one dashboard
- Influencers and creators managing brand collaborations and content calendars
Use cases
- Schedule a month of Instagram Reels and Stories in advance, previewing the grid layout before publishing
- Collaborate with team members on post approvals and assign tasks using permission controls
- Run influencer campaigns with creator matching, brand risk checks, and ROI tracking
Key features
- Visual calendar — Drag and drop posts onto a calendar that previews your feed layout
- Auto-publish — Schedule and automatically post to Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Threads, YouTube, and Snapchat
- Analytics — Track engagement, best posting times, and follower growth
- Link in Bio — Create a shoppable landing page for Instagram traffic
- Collaboration tools — Approve posts, assign tasks, and manage permissions with team members
- AI content tools — Generate post ideas and captions using AI (credits-based)
- Media library — Store and organize images, videos, and user-generated content
Later Pricing
Later pricing: from $18.75/mo. Billing model: Freemium.
Starter — $18.75/month (billed yearly)
1 social set (8 profiles total), 1 user, Instagram/Facebook/TikTok, Best Time to Post, schedule up to 30 posts per profile, 5 AI credits/month, platform analytics (up to 3 months), Link in Bio, basic support. Free 14-day trial available.
Growth — $37.50/month (billed yearly)
2 social sets (16 profiles total), 2 users, everything in Starter plus multi-profile Best Times to Post, Smart Scheduling with Future Trends, internal & external collaboration and approvals, social inbox, schedule up to 180 posts per profile, 50 AI credits/month, platform analytics (up to 1 year), UGC collection, custom roles and permissions. Extra social sets $11.25/month each; extra users $3.75/month each.
Scale — $82.50/month (billed yearly)
6 social sets (48 profiles total), 4 users, everything in Growth plus custom analytics, competitive benchmarking, future industry insights, Brand Health, Brand Mentions, unlimited posts, 100 AI credits/month, platform analytics (up to 2 years), priority support. Extra social sets $11.25/month each; extra users $3.75/month each.
All plans include a free 14-day trial. Prices are USD and exclude taxes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Later cost?
Later’s paid plans start at $18.75/month (billed yearly) for the Starter plan. The Growth plan is $37.50/month, and the Scale plan is $82.50/month. A free 14-day trial is available for all plans.
Is Later free?
Later does not have a permanent free plan, but it offers a 14-day free trial for all paid tiers. You can use the trial without a credit card.
What platforms does Later support?
Later supports Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Threads, YouTube, and Snapchat for scheduling and auto-publishing.
Who is Later best for?
Later is best for social media managers planning visually cohesive Instagram feeds, small businesses scheduling across multiple platforms, and influencers managing brand collaborations and content calendars.
What are the top alternatives to Later?
Top alternatives include Buffer, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and Planoly. Buffer is simpler and cheaper; Hootsuite offers broader team features; Sprout Social is enterprise-focused; Planoly is similar for visual planning.
Does Later have an influencer marketing feature?
Yes, Later offers influencer marketing software with creator matching, brand-fit and risk checks, campaign management, and ROI tracking alongside its social media scheduling tools.
