12 Best Social Media Scheduling Tools for Streamlined Content Management

Social media scheduling tools might just about be the only thing keeping social media managers sane these days.

As a social media manager, there’s always so much on your plate, from new social media channels and new trends to new expectations. Just when you get used to the typical Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, and more recently, TikTok rotation, Threads pops up. You probably feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day. We’ve all been there. And the pressure of numbers—impressions, reposts, and more, doesn’t help.

We feel your pain. Juggling between multiple pages and accounts, hopping from one social media platform to another, desktop to phone, copying and pasting stuff from a spreadsheet, then double-checking the content, making tweaks until you finally getting the content approved by your supervisor… While no tool can slow the world down completely, there are certainly ways to reduce some of the issues social media managers face, and a content calendar is one of them.

Social media is now one of the most important facets of a brand’s identity. It’s easy for consumers to access and they expect you to create the best impression. So let’s help you do just that.

The tools we’re about to explore make it easy to plan and schedule social media posts ahead of time, so that you give off efficient vibes throughout the work week. You’ll be able to batch-create content, set posts to go live at the best times, and keep your accounts active even when you’re tied up with other tasks. Going for the right scheduling tool is like bringing on the perfect team member—your social media will thank you for it.

What is a social media scheduling tool?

A social media scheduling tool is a time-saving sidekick that enables social media managers or any other user to plan and post content across different social media platforms, including Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, and more.

The right tool will not only help you manage multiple accounts effortlessly (being able to create posts in advance and setting them to go live at specific dates and times), but also collaborate with your team with ease.

Most social media scheduling tools work with popular social media platforms like:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• X (previously Twitter)
• LinkedIn

Many tools also offer bulk scheduling, allowing you to schedule multiple posts at once, saving you even more time.

A key part of every true marketer’s arsenal, some key features of scheduling tools often include:

• Content calendar views: Visualize your posting schedule and tap into the large picture.
• Post previews: Get an idea of what your social media posts will look like on different platforms.
• Team collaboration options: Eliminate silos and work seamlessly with your team.
• Analytics reports: Gain data-led insights into how your posts perform.

Maintaining a consistent posting schedule becomes a piece of cake when you leverage scheduling tools. Doesn’t matter how busy you get.

Purpose of social media scheduling tools

Social media scheduling tools enable users to plan, create, and schedule social media posts in advance, ensuring consistent and timely content delivery. The primary purpose of social media scheduling tools is to streamline social media management, save time, and increase productivity.

In essence, these tools act as your social media command center, allowing you to schedule social media posts across various platforms. By automating the posting process, you can maintain a consistent social media presence without the need to be online 24/7. This not only saves time but also ensures that your content reaches your audience at the optimal times, boosting engagement and visibility. This is particularly helpful if some of your audience resides outside of your team's time zone.

Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or part of a large marketing team, social media scheduling tools can significantly enhance your social media management efforts. They provide a centralized platform where you can plan your content, collaborate with team members, and analyze your performance.

This all makes managing multiple social media accounts a breeze, allowing you to focus on the important stuff – creating high-quality content and engaging with your audience.

Why use social media scheduling tools?

Without a good tool, social media managers can end up with some super inefficient processes. Instead of opening up all these different apps and copying and pasting captions from your work laptop to your phone, try a social media scheduler which lets you sit in a single dashboard and perform all these tasks.

Take your time to upload all your assets (pictures, videos, gifs), triple-check your copy, and make sure you’ve got stuff set to be published at regular intervals. The last bit is especially important because algorithms tend to favor accounts that post consistently, which usually leads to more eyes on your posts, and by extension your account.

Scheduling tools also lean into data to identify the best times for posting based on when your followers are the most active. This will depend on your individual audience, but there is some guidance as to the best times to post on social media. For example, we recently found that Wednesday and Thursday tend to be the times when audiences are most active.

A lot of these tools also offer team collaboration tools, encouraging you to constantly loop all your team members into the planning / scheduling process so that errors are reduced as much as possible and the right sign off workflow is in place. Additionally, many scheduling tools offer content curation features, helping you discover and share relevant content with your audience.

If you’re still on the fence about why you should invest in a scheduling tool, have a read of what Meghan Meeker, Brandwatch’s Director of Social Media, has to say.

Benefits of using a social media scheduling tool for content management

Using a social media scheduling tool can bring numerous benefits to content management, including:

• Time-saving: Scheduling social media posts in advance saves time and reduces the manual effort required to post content regularly. Instead of logging into each platform multiple times a day, you can batch-create content and schedule it to go live at the best times.
• Increased productivity: By automating social media posting, users can focus on other tasks, such as content creation, engagement, and analytics. This allows you to allocate your time more efficiently and work on strategies that drive growth.
• Improved consistency: Social media scheduling tools ensure that content is posted consistently, maintaining a fresh and active social media presence. Consistency is key to building a loyal audience and keeping your followers engaged.
• Enhanced engagement: By posting content at optimal times, users can increase engagement, reach a wider audience, and drive more traffic to their website. These tools often provide insights into the best times to post based on your audience’s activity, maximizing your reach.
• Better analytics: Social media scheduling tools often provide analytics and insights, helping users track their performance, identify areas for improvement, and adjust their content strategy accordingly. This data-driven approach allows you to make informed decisions and continuously refine your social media strategy.

Checklist: How to choose the best social media scheduling tool

No pressure, but choosing the right social media scheduling tool for you and your business can make or break all your efforts. Let these factors guide you:

Platform compatibility

Choose a tool that's compatible with all your apps. So if you're active on Facebook, X (Twitter), and LinkedIn, for example, make sure your chosen tool definitely supports posting on all three. You'll want to make sure any social networks you plan to create a presence on are also supported.

Key features

Figure out which features matter most to you. For instance, a post preview feature can help you see how your posts will look on different platforms before they go live. Do you need a visual content calendar? Content curation tools? Team collaboration features? Analytics? Writing up a list of must-haves will go a long way. And don’t forget to take into account factors like how often you’d like to post across all your platforms and how many accounts you want to connect (price becomes a factor very quickly). You'll find a list below of some of the features you'll want to consider.

Usability

You might also want to ensure that the tool has an intuitive / user-friendly interface, so you don't spend ages learning how to navigate the platform. It's best to try out the interface before you commit, whether through a demo, a free trial, or a free plan.

Pricing

Compare plans that fit within your budget. There's no point paying loads for a tool if you won't need more than half of its features. Shop around, but remember that free tools will likely be limited.

Data

Good data helps you level up. Go with a tool that prides itself on powerful reporting features so that you can always gauge how your content is doing.

Integration

Check whether the tool you’re looking into integrates with other apps you currently use or might begin to use in the future. Think about stuff like your customer relationship manager (CRM) systems like Salesforce, or employee advocacy tools like Sociuu.

Customer support

Good customer support is the backbone of any SaaS. As far as tech goes, glitches and hiccups are almost inevitable, so you'll always benefit from having a reliable support team on standby for the days you run into technical issues or if you simply have questions about the tool's functionalities.

Top features to look for in a social media scheduling tool

When selecting a social media scheduling tool, consider the following essential features:

• Content calendar: A visual calendar that allows users to plan and organize their social media content in advance. This feature helps you see the big picture and ensure a balanced content mix.
• Collaboration and approval workflow: Features that enable team members to collaborate on content creation, review, and approval. This is crucial for maintaining quality and consistency, especially in larger teams.
• Analytics and reporting: Tools that provide insights into social media performance, engagement, and audience growth. These analytics help you understand what works and what doesn’t, allowing you to optimize your strategy.
• Content curation: Features that help users discover and curate content from various sources, including news articles, blogs, and social media platforms. This ensures you always have fresh and relevant content to share with your audience.
• AI: Some social media management tools will include innovative AI technology that helps you identify trends or write or improve responses to customers. You should definitely ask your vendor what they've got planned and what's currently available when it comes to AI.
• Influencer marketing: Not all social media scheduling platforms will have influencer marketing built in, but it's worth considering this option if influencer campaigns are a part of your strategy.

The 12 best social media scheduling tools in 2024

Ready to shake up your social media management? We've compiled a list of the top dozen tools that can help you schedule social media posts and be more time efficient in 2024:

1. Brandwatch: Best for advanced planning and scheduling, social listening, managing large-scale social media campaigns, and for enterprise-level needs.
2. Sprout Social: Good for team collaboration, analytics, and social media listening.
3. Hootsuite: Reliable for scheduling, publishing posts, and managing multiple social media channels.
4. SocialBee: Good for social media planning and content recycling.
5. Sendible: Helpful for client collaboration (agency-friendly) and bulk scheduling solutions.
6. Later: Visual-forward features for platforms like Instagram.
7. Buffer: Simple and affordable scheduling tools— a small business favorite.
8. Loomly: Helps with collaborative planning and streamlining publishing workflows.
9. SocialPilot: Offers value scheduling posts for multiple social media accounts and a helpful content library.
10. CoSchedule: Integrating content calendars with your overarching marketing calendar.
11. Tailwind: Specializes in content planning specifically for Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook.
12. Sprinklr: A solution for large marketing teams offering good social listening.

Each of these social media tools has its strengths, so research, research, research. And consider your specific (business) needs when you decide.

1) Brandwatch

If you’re looking for a social media scheduling tool that goes well beyond the basics, Brandwatch is your go-to. Its centralized social media calendar allows you to plan, edit, and publish your campaigns without breaking a sweat.

What sets it apart? The AI-powered Iris Writing Assistant, which helps speed up the process of crafting social media posts. It’s like having a personal content writer by your side, so you can focus more on engaging your audience rather than staring at a blank screen.

The platform supports multiple social networks, making juggling tasks and wearing multiple hats (you know, all the social media manager clichés) a lot simpler. And when it comes to analytics, you're covered—Brandwatch is known as the ultimate insights HQ, giving you the data you need to devise actionable strategies.

Oh, and an end-to-end influencer marketing tool that sits alongside your social media scheduling functionality is a great Brandwatch feature that not all platforms are able to offer, so make sure to check that out too.

The tool's UI is pretty impressive, making it an intuitive option for SMM newcomers and OGs alike. If collaboration is a non-negotiable for you, Brandwatch is the way to go for facilitating teamwork. Need to streamline your approval workflows and maintain a consistent brand voice? Not an issue. That's also less campaign alignment meetings for you. You're welcome.

Sound like an offer you can't refuse? We think so too. Brandwatch is the perfect match for businesses of all sizes looking to step up their social media game. Knowing how busy social media managers can get, it's only right that we kick off the list with a scheduling tool that juices up your output. It'll be smooth sailing, meeting all your deadlines and producing high-quality content consistently from here on out.

The only thing you should be aware of really, is that the software's extensive features might be more than what smaller businesses require.

2) Sprout Social

Sprout Social can help take the guesswork out of managing your social media presence. With its social calendar, you can plan out your content weeks (or even months) ahead, so no more scrambling to create last-minute posts you hope your manager will greenlight on the first look.

Something that stands out is the platform’s analytics, where all the core metrics work together to break down how much (or how little) love you're getting on social media.

On top of that, they also offer social listening tools. From monitoring brand mentions to tracking relevant hashtags and industry trends, you'll be able to plug into the conversations that matter.

Recognizing the importance of teamwork to making the dream work, the tool offers good collaboration features, especially for large marketing teams / those working across different time zones.

This tool is probably best suited to medium to large businesses who need a comprehensive social media scheduling tool.

3) Hootsuite

Hootsuite has been a long-running tool in the social media management world.

Their scheduling tool allows you to visualize your entire social calendar, helping you spot gaps and ensure you’re always posting regularly and on time.

Some of its highlights include its bulk scheduling feature, which allows you to schedule up to 350 social media posts at once, and its collaboration features, where team members can assign tasks, approve posts, and work on social media campaigns as a cohesive unit.

Social media analytics are also a good point here, giving you clear insights into how your content is performing. And with many integrations, you can connect Hootsuite with other tools to create smooth workflows.

The downside? Its interface can feel a bit cluttered at first, and some may find the pricing touch after outgrowing the free plan. That said Hootsuite remains a popular for social media managers.

4) SocialBee

If you like structure in your social media management, SocialBee’s content categorization feature is helpful. You can organize posts into different categories or “buckets,” ensuring that your feed (on TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Threads, etc) stays balanced and engaging.

The tool also comes with a content library, making it easy to store and organize your social media assets, and a visual social media calendar, letting you map out your content with ease. If you’re using Canva to create visuals, you’ll like the integration that allows you to design posts without leaving the platform.

SocialBee does have a learning curve, especially for first-time users, which is worth keeping in mind.

5) Sendible

Sendible packs in a bunch of stuff you need to manage your social media presence, from advanced scheduling to bulk importing. You can map out months of content in advance, freeing up your time to focus on big-picture strategy.

Their AI assistant is a draw, offering content ideas and helping generating social media posts for you. And with the content library feature, which keeps all your social media assets organized and easily accessible, you’ve got a tool that makes repurposing content simple.

Sendible is suited for marketing agencies and teams who need to collaborate on content creation, approval, and scheduling.

6) Later

If your social media strategy relies heavily on visuals, particularly for Instagram, Later is worth checking out. Its drag-and-drop feature lets you map out your Instagram grid, schedule stories, and handle carousel posts. You also get to preview your feed before going live, ensuring everything looks cohesive and Instagram-worthy.

For those who need a quick way to edit photos, Later includes a basic photo editor and even has a stock photo library to pull from. And if you’re looking to drive traffic through Instagram, their link in bio feature is a handy add-on.

Later’s free plan covers the basics, but if you’re managing multiple accounts or need more advanced features, you'll need a paid plan. While it’s best suited for small businesses, bloggers, and influencers focused on Instagram, it does have its limitations across other social media platforms.

7) Buffer

Buffer has been something of a favorite for social media scheduling since it launched in 2010. What keeps social media marketers coming back is its simplicity—its interface is clean and intuitive, making it accessible to just about anyone, regardless of experience.

But Buffer doesn’t just do scheduling – it also does well at content curation, allowing you to quickly add articles or other relevant content to your queue, keeping your social feeds engaging without the extra effort.

Buffer’s free plan lets you connect up to three social media accounts and schedule 10 posts per account, which works for personal use or small projects. If you need more advanced features or manage multiple accounts, their paid plans unlock more social profiles, additional posts, and analytics that help you understand what’s working and how to adjust your social media strategy.

8) Loomly

Be it by sparking new ideas with content suggestions based on trending topics or offering hashtag recommendations to boost a post's reach, Loomly works well for social media managers who like to stay creative.

With support for major social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, as well as smaller ones like Pinterest, Loomly covers a range of needs, including standard social media scheduling, collaboration, and analytics features.

Loomly’s price starts at $26 a month. Although there’s no free plan, they offer a 15-day trial to let you test the waters. 

9) SocialPilot

SocialPilot comes with features like bulk scheduling, an AI assistant that helps craft posts, and a content library that makes it easy to repurpose your best-performing assets.

For teams working together, SocialPilot provides a smooth experience with its collaboration tools, ensuring everyone stays on the same page. It’s also competitively priced, making it a solid choice for small teams or individuals managing multiple accounts.

While it may take a little time to get familiar with all of the features, the interface is user-friendly, and the platform comes with customer support.

10) CoSchedule

CoSchedule stands out by blending social media scheduling with broader marketing activity management, making it something of an all-rounder

Unique feature 'ReQueue; automatically fills in any content gaps by re-sharing your best-performing posts, ensuring your social feeds stay active without constant oversight.

Integrating with tools like WordPress, Google Docs, and Evernote, CoSchedule is good for workflow and helps centralize marketing efforts.

On the analytics side, it delivers engagement data that measures the performance of your social posts so you can improve continuously.

The platform does have a bit of a steep learning curve for users unfamiliar with super comprehensive marketing tools.

11) Tailwind

Tailwind is tailor-made for users focused on visual content, particularly for Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. With a smart scheduler that suggests the best times to post based on audience engagement patterns, Tailwind helps you maximize engagement.

For quick content creation, Tailwind offers customizable templates to produce visually appealing posts quickly. Plus their unique community feature creates a safe space for like-minded creators to share and promote each other’s content.

Tailwind’s analytics make it clear what’s worked / working and how to improve. However, it doesn’t support platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or TikTok, so if those are key to your strategy, you may need to look elsewhere.

They offer a free plan that allows for up to 20 posts per month, with paid plans offering more features and higher limits.

12) Sprinklr

Sprinklr is a popular tool in the social media management world, designed for large brands navigating complex campaigns across multiple platforms.

Like Brandwatch, Sprinklr enables users to leverage AI to improve efficiency. Its AI-powered scheduler optimizes posting to maximize engagement, and its interface makes handling even campaigns simple.

Sprinklr has good social listening capabilities which track mentions, hashtags, and trends relevant to your brand. This helps keep you plugged into the conversations that matter most to your audience. Meanwhile, their analytics provide a comprehensive look at your social media performance, allowing you to make data-driven decisions.

Sprinklr is best suited for large companies or agencies handling multiple big brands, which may put it out of reach for smaller businesses.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What are the top features to look for in a social media scheduling tool?

Start with the basics and work your way up to the more complex features.

So, content calendars (for planning, visualizing, and more), bulk scheduling, collaboration features, and comprehensive analytics.

Then you can look into stuff like stock libraries, integrations, and influencer marketing.

Platforms like Brandwatch provide these essential functions.

How can social media scheduling tools increase efficiency for small businesses?

Social media schedulers give you one command centre to get all your tasks done. By planning and creating content in batches, and without having to use several apps, you're saving time and your sanity.

What are some affordable social media schedulers that are currently popular?

Take a look at some of the tools above that offer a free plan or basic plan for solo entrepreneurs or small teams. Of course, these will have their limitations. Buffer might be a good place to start,

How does a social media content planner differ from a scheduler?

As the name indicates, a content planner will help you plan— think brainstorming, organizing your ideas, strategy, and content creation. In contrast, a social media scheduler will quite literally schedule all the stuff you've planned, down to the date and time.

Can you recommend a social media scheduler that supports multiple accounts?

Brandwatch is a great choice for managing multiple social media accounts. It allows you to seamlessly switch between profiles and schedule posts across different platforms, which comes in handy when you manage personal and business accounts or oversee multiple brands.

We hope you learnt something new

There's no doubt that (the best) social media scheduling tools have more to offer than native apps, especially for brands that manage multiple social media accounts.

The 12 tools we’ve looked into offer various features to help you perform better and achieve your social media goals, whatever they may be. Happy shopping!