Metricool Alternatives (2026): 5 Free and Paid Options
Updated: October 25, 2026 · 4 min read
Metricool is a scheduling tool with strong analytics, priced per brand instead of per channel. Still, the plan you need changes quickly once you want a team, client approvals, or LinkedIn on the free plan. This post covers Metricool's current plans, who tends to look elsewhere, and five alternatives. Prices were taken from each tool's own site in October 2026. The IZY Social team wrote this post, and our own tool is on the list.
Metricool's plans
The free plan covers 1 brand and 20 scheduled posts a month. It connects Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and Pinterest, but not LinkedIn or X, and keeps 30 days of analytics.
Starter begins at $20 a month billed yearly, with up to 5 brands, unlimited publishing, LinkedIn, PDF reports and unlimited analytics history. Adding team members, roles and post approvals takes Advanced, which starts at $53 a month billed yearly for 15 brands.
Quick comparison
- Buffer: free plan (3 channels). Team and approvals on the Team plan. Priced per channel.
- Later: no free plan, 14-day trial. Approvals on Growth.
- Hootsuite: no free plan, 14-day trial. Priced per user, the most expensive option.
- Meta Business Suite: completely free, but Facebook and Instagram only.
- IZY Social: no free plan, 14-day trial with no card. 8 networks and 5 users on the Corporate Brand plan.
Who looks for an alternative
- Teams: Starter is built for one person, and approvals and roles sit on Advanced.
- People who want LinkedIn for free, since the free plan doesn't connect it.
- Anyone posting more than 20 times a month who doesn't want to pay yet.
- People who need to create content faster more than they need deep reports.
1. Buffer
For a simple interface. The free plan has 3 channels with up to 10 scheduled posts each. Paid plans are per channel: Essentials is $5 per channel per month for one user, and Team, with collaboration and approvals, is $10 per channel per month. With few channels it can cost less than Metricool, and it gets pricier as you add more.
2. Later
For brands that want to preview their Instagram and TikTok grid. No free plan, a 14-day trial. Starter is $18.75 a month billed yearly for one user. Approvals and a shared inbox are on Growth at $37.50 a month billed yearly.
3. Hootsuite
For large teams that want brand monitoring and an advanced inbox on top of analytics. No free plan, a 14-day trial, and pricing from $99 per user. It costs more than Metricool and is usually chosen for enterprise needs.
4. Meta Business Suite
A free starting point if your accounts are only on Facebook and Instagram. Scheduling, messages and basic insights are in one place. It doesn't connect other networks, and its reporting is limited next to Metricool.
5. IZY Social
Our own tool for small businesses and agencies. Team features aren't locked to the top plan: the Corporate Brand plan adds 4 helpers, and agency plans keep each client in a separate space with one-link approvals. Also, the Business plan covers Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, and the Corporate Brand and agency plans add LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads and X for all 8 platforms. AI writes posts in your brand's voice, so content gets done faster too. The business plan is $49 a month, or $29 a month billed yearly, with a 14-day trial and no card. Details are on the pricing page.
Is there a free Metricool alternative?
Two options are completely free: Buffer's free plan (3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel) and Meta Business Suite (unlimited, but only Facebook and Instagram). Buffer's free plan does connect LinkedIn, as one of the 3 channels. Later, Hootsuite and IZY Social aren't free; each has a 14-day trial.
For coaches, consultants and freelancers
If you work alone and grow a personal brand, what matters most is usually planning LinkedIn and Instagram together and spending less time writing. Buffer's free plan can be enough to start. If you also want help writing, a tool whose AI writes in your brand's voice saves time.
Which one should you pick?
- If detailed reports and competitor analysis matter most, staying on Metricool can make sense.
- Working alone with a few channels? Buffer may cost less.
- An agency or a team? Check which plan includes approvals and roles; on IZY Social they come with the agency plans.
- Only Facebook and Instagram? Meta Business Suite is free.
Download your Metricool reports as PDFs before you switch. Analytics history doesn't move between tools.
Frequently asked questions
Is Metricool free?
There's a free plan with 1 brand and 20 scheduled posts a month. LinkedIn and X can't be connected on it.
Which Metricool plan do you need for a team?
Team and client management, roles and post approvals are on Advanced, which starts at $53 a month billed yearly as of October 2026.
What's a cheaper Metricool alternative?
For a few channels, Buffer's per-channel plans can cost less. For Facebook and Instagram only, Meta Business Suite is free.
Who are Metricool's competitors?
The tools it's most often compared with are Buffer, Hootsuite, Later, Sprout Social and Meta Business Suite. IZY Social is another option for small businesses and agencies.
Metricool or Hootsuite?
Metricool is cheaper with strong analytics, enough for small teams and freelancers. Hootsuite is priced per user and aimed at large teams, with enterprise features like brand monitoring and an advanced inbox.