Later vs SkedSocial
What’s Better in 2024?
What is Later?
Later is a visually-centered social media planning tool that is tailored mainly for Instagram but also offers support for other platforms. Known for its drag-and-drop functionality and visually appealing calendar layout, Later is the go-to for businesses and influencers who prioritize aesthetics in their social media strategy.
Later stands out with its user-friendly interface, making it excellent for both beginners and specialists in social network administration. The application offers a simple visual content calendar that allows users to schedule their social media postings with clarity and convenience.
The platform now supports major social networks other than Instagram, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. This versatility enables users to handle a wide variety of social network content from a single interface, easing the content scheduling and posting process.
If you’re seeking alternatives to Later, there are other social media planning tools available that offer similar or different features to meet your specific needs and preferences.
What is Sked Social?
Sked Social, previously known as Schedugram, is a comprehensive platform that facilitates scheduling, posting, and analytics. Its robust feature set is designed to handle everything from image cropping and hashtag suggestions to competitor analysis, making it a holistic tool for brands aiming for growth.
Sked Social recognizes the value of collaboration and makes it simple for teams of all sizes. Invite your colleagues, brainstorm ideas like digital dreamers, and delegate work with precision. Keep track of who is responsible for what, offer real-time input on drafts, and keep everyone on the same page. Collaboration becomes a well-oiled engine with Sked Social, transforming your social media strategy into a work of art created by the entire team.
With its built-in analytics, Sked Social allows you to see what’s working and what’s not. Track engagement like a data detective, assess reach with pinpoint accuracy and get to know your audience like never before. Use these insights to fine-tune your plan, create material that your fans will enjoy, and watch your social media presence skyrocket.
Overview
Having personally used Later and SkedSocial for managing various social media accounts, I’ve explored their features, encountered challenges, and experienced the benefits they bring to the table. Both tools are powerful in their own ways, but they cater to distinct audiences and use cases. This comparison is based on my hands-on experience and highlights the scenarios where one tool outshines the other.
Later vs Skedsocial: User Rating
Rating Categories | Later | Sked Social |
Star Rating (Out of 5) | 4.6 | 4.4 |
Meets Requirements (Out of 10) | 8.8 | 8.7 |
Ease of Use (Out of 10) | 9.1 | 8.9 |
Ease of Setup (Out of 10) | 9.3 | 9.0 |
Ease of Admin (Out of 10) | 9.0 | 8.8 |
Quality of Support (Out of 10) | 9.2 | 9.1 |
Business Partnership (Out of 10) | 8.4 | 8.3 |
Product Direction (% positive) | 8.5 | 8.4 |
Later: G2 Rating: 4.5/5 (300+ reviews) | Capterra Rating: 4.4/5 (300+ reviews)
SkedSocial: G2 Rating: 4.3/5 (70+ reviews) | Capterra Rating: 4.4/5 (70+ reviews)
Summary: Later slightly edges out Sked Social in most user rating categories, particularly in terms of ease of use and setup. However, Sked Social remains a formidable competitor, competing closely in all aspects.
Later vs Skedsocial: Feature Comparison
Features | Later | Sked Social |
Pricing (per month in USD) | 12$ | 25$ |
Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
Platforms Supported | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and more | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and more |
Bulk Scheduling | Yes | Yes |
RSS feeds | No | Yes |
Recurring Posts | Yes | Yes |
Social Inbox | No | Yes |
AI Content Generation | No | No |
Hashtag Storage | Yes | Yes |
Caption Customization | Yes | Yes |
AI Images | No | No |
Advanced Analytics | Yes | Yes |
White Label Reports | No | Yes |
URL Shortener | Yes | Yes |
Unlimited Workspaces | No | Yes |
Team Management | Yes | Yes |
When using Later, I found its drag-and-drop scheduling calendar incredibly intuitive for planning Instagram posts. The visual nature of the tool makes it easy to see how your feed will look before scheduling, which is a huge plus for brands focused on aesthetics. The Smart Scheduling feature helped me identify optimal posting times, boosting engagement on Instagram and Pinterest. However, I faced a limitation when I needed to automate recurring posts, as Later doesn’t support this feature. SkedSocial’s automation capabilities go beyond Later’s. During a campaign for an e-commerce brand, I relied on auto-publishing Instagram carousels and stories, which saved me hours of manual posting. The ability to bulk-upload and schedule content across multiple accounts was a game-changer. Unlike Later, SkedSocial supports recurring posts, which made it easier to maintain a consistent presence for evergreen content. Example: For a month-long promotional campaign, Later was great for visually planning the Instagram grid. However, SkedSocial outperformed when I needed to automate daily Instagram story posts, ensuring I could focus on other priorities without worrying about manual uploads. Later supports popular platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok. While this breadth of platform support is ideal for businesses managing diverse channels, I found it limiting when it came to advanced features for Instagram stories or carousels. SkedSocial’s focus is primarily on Instagram, with strong support for features like carousel scheduling and story auto-publishing. While it supports Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, these are more secondary to its core Instagram capabilities. Example: If managing Pinterest content alongside Instagram is crucial, Later is a better fit. However, for businesses with Instagram-heavy strategies requiring features like auto-publishing reels, SkedSocial is unmatched. Later’s analytics are straightforward, providing insights into engagement rates, follower growth, and post performance. I found this helpful for quick overviews but lacking depth for creating detailed campaign reports. For example, while it shows top-performing posts, it doesn’t dive into audience demographics or long-term trends. SkedSocial offers more advanced analytics, especially for Instagram. The tool provided detailed metrics like engagement heatmaps, helping me identify the best posting times. Its client-ready reports made it easier to share results with stakeholders, which was invaluable during a campaign where ROI needed to be tracked. While Later is suitable for solo marketers needing basic metrics, SkedSocial stood out during a brand collaboration project, where detailed reports showcasing Instagram growth and engagement trends were essential. Later’s drag-and-drop interface is perfect for beginners and visually-focused marketers. The ability to preview your Instagram grid before publishing posts is a standout feature. However, I faced challenges when trying to manage larger campaigns due to the lack of advanced collaboration tools. SkedSocial’s interface is slightly more complex but designed with team collaboration in mind. During a multi-user project, the platform’s ability to assign roles and track changes was a huge benefit. That said, it required a learning curve, particularly for users unfamiliar with advanced scheduling tools. e.Pricing comparision Later provides a Free Plan with essential features and a Starter Plan starting at $16.67/month. SkedSocial starts at $59/month, offering advanced scheduling tools for teams and agencies, making it suitable for larger campaigns.a. Scheduling and Automation
b. Supported Social Media Platforms
c. Analytics and Reporting
d. User Interface and Experience
Pros and Cons of Using Later
Pros
- User-friendly drag-and-drop scheduling
- Strong multi-platform support
- Affordable for beginners
Cons
- Lacks advanced Instagram features (e.g., story automation)
- Limited analytics for detailed reporting
Conclusion: Which Tool is Best?
Both Later and SkedSocial bring unique strengths to social media management. Based on my experience:
Later is ideal for small businesses or creators managing multiple platforms who prioritize ease of use and affordability.
SkedSocial is better suited for Instagram-focused businesses or agencies that need advanced scheduling, reporting, and collaboration features.
Example: For a content creator managing posts across Instagram and Pinterest, Later is a clear winner. However, for an agency handling Instagram campaigns requiring auto-published stories and carousels, SkedSocial is the more robust choice.
If you’re looking for a multi-platform solution with advanced features at an affordable price, RecurPost is worth considering. It combines the simplicity of Later with the advanced scheduling and reporting capabilities of SkedSocial, making it a versatile choice for businesses of all sizes.
Feature | RecurPost | Later | Sked Social |
Pricing (per month in USD) | $25 | 12$ | 25$ |
Free Trial | Yes | Yes | 7 days |
Bulk Scheduling | Yes | Yes | Yes |
AI Content Generation | Yes | No | No |
Advanced Analytics | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Team Management | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Platform Support | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, YouTube, TikTok | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, (Visual Planner for IG) |
Caption Customization | Yes | Yes | Yes |
URL Shortener | Yes | No | Yes |
White Label Reports | Yes | No | No |
Visual Content Calendar | No | Yes | Yes (Visual Planner) |
How RecurPost Solves Common Challenges
- Limited Platform Support: Unlike SkedSocial, RecurPost supports Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and more.
- Advanced Features: RecurPost offers content recycling, which ensures your evergreen posts remain active and relevant.
- Affordable Pricing: RecurPost provides feature-rich plans at a fraction of the cost of SkedSocial.
Choosing between Later and SkedSocial depends on your priorities. For multi-platform management, Later’s affordability and ease of use shine. For Instagram-heavy campaigns, SkedSocial’s advanced automation and analytics are unbeatable. If you’re looking for a balance of features and price, RecurPost offers a strong alternative, ensuring your social media strategy is both efficient and cost-effective.