Planoly vs Later
Which To Pick?
Overview of Planoly
Founded in 2016, Planoly was created to simplify the process of planning and scheduling visual content, particularly on Instagram and Pinterest. Its mission is to help users manage their social media strategy with a focus on visual aesthetics. Planoly offers intuitive tools for content scheduling, analytics, and growth, making it a go-to platform for influencers, small businesses, and marketers who rely on strong visual branding.
Who it’s best suited for:
Planoly is ideal for solo entrepreneurs, small businesses, and social media influencers who primarily focus on Instagram and Pinterest. It works especially well for brands and creators who need a user-friendly platform to manage visual content and maintain a cohesive social media presence.
Overview of Later
Later, originally called “Postcron,” was founded in 2014 and rebranded in 2016. The company’s mission is to help users visually plan, schedule, and analyze their social media content with ease. While it specializes in Instagram marketing, Later also supports multiple other platforms. It offers a streamlined approach to social media scheduling, combining content planning with visual organization tools. The platform is designed to save time and enhance social media efficiency.
Who it’s best suited for:
Later is well-suited for marketers, agencies, and small businesses that want to visually plan and schedule content across multiple social media platforms, particularly Instagram. It’s also a great fit for businesses that manage a more varied social media presence beyond Instagram.
Overview
In this comparison, I’ll take a deep dive into Planoly and Later, sharing my firsthand experience with both tools. Whether you’re just getting started with social media or managing multiple accounts for a growing business, I’ll break down the features that matter most—such as scheduling, platform support, and user experience. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clearer understanding of which tool can save you time, streamline your workflow, and help you achieve your social media goals with ease.
User Testimonials and Reviews
| Rating | Planoly | Later |
| Star Rating (Out of 5) | 4.3 | 4.5 |
| Meets Requirements (Out of 10) | 8.5 | 8.7 |
| Ease of Use (Out of 10) | 9.0 | 9.2 |
| Ease of Setup (Out of 10) | 9.0 | 9.1 |
| Ease of Admin (Out of 10) | 9.1 | 9.3 |
| Quality of support (Out of 10) | 8.7 | 8.9 |
| Good Business Partner? (Out of 10) | 8.8 | 9.0 |
| Product Direction (% positive) (Out of 10) | 8.4 | 8.6 |
I’ve spent a lot of time testing both Planoly and Later, but it’s always valuable to hear what other users have to say. Reviews from reputable sources like G2 and Capterra provide additional insights into the overall user experience and highlight strengths or areas for improvement that I might not have noticed.
Users on G2 rave about Planoly’s intuitive interface, particularly for Instagram scheduling. Many highlight the ease of use, especially for beginners, and the platform’s ability to maintain a visually cohesive feed.
Later is frequently praised for its visual scheduling and the ability to plan posts across multiple platforms. G2 users appreciate its seamless integration with Instagram, while others specifically mention the drag-and-drop content calendar, which simplifies post scheduling.
Planoly vs Later: Feature Comparison
| Features | Planoly | Later |
| Pricing (per month in USD, pricing is set for the baseline of managing 5 social media accounts) | $15 | $18 |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms supported | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok |
| Bulk scheduling | No | No |
| RSS feeds | No | No |
| Recurring posts | No | No |
| Social inbox | Yes | Yes |
| AI content generation | No | No |
| Hashtag storage | Yes | No |
| Caption Customization | Yes | Yes |
| AI images | No | No |
| Advanced analytics | Yes | No |
| White label reports | No | No |
a. Scheduling and Automation
When testing Planoly for Instagram scheduling, the visual aspect stood out immediately. The drag-and-drop content calendar made it easy to plan posts and maintain a cohesive feed. For Instagram, this is a game-changer, especially when visual aesthetics are key. However, Planoly’s automation features were found to be a bit limiting. Recycling evergreen posts for platforms beyond Instagram or Pinterest wasn’t as seamless.
Later offers a more flexible scheduling system across multiple platforms. It allows users to plan content for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and more. The visual scheduling is also strong here, with a drag-and-drop calendar similar to Planoly’s, but Later extends its capabilities to support additional platforms. This makes Later a better fit for users who need to schedule across multiple networks.
b. Supported Social Media Platforms
Planoly is primarily built for Instagram and Pinterest. It excels at managing Instagram feeds, stories, and carousels, and the visual calendar is particularly useful for organizing Instagram content. Planoly is clearly designed for users focused on Instagram-heavy social strategies.
Later supports a broader range of platforms—Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn. For businesses or agencies managing multiple accounts across various social media sites, Later becomes a more robust tool. The ability to schedule content across several platforms from a single dashboard is one of Later’s standout features. G2 users praise Later for its ability to manage multiple networks without the need for multiple tools. Later’s cross-platform support makes it a versatile choice for users with varied social media strategies.
c. Analytics and Reporting
Planoly provides solid analytics for Instagram, offering insights into engagement, follower growth, and post performance. However, its analytics are more limited compared to other tools like Later or Hootsuite. The reporting is not as comprehensive, and users may need additional tools to get more detailed insights.
Later excels with more robust reporting capabilities. Users appreciate the ability to track performance across multiple platforms. Later provides detailed insights on engagement, reach, and performance for all scheduled posts, not just Instagram. For example, Later’s Instagram analytics provide actionable data, including the best times to post and top-performing content.
d. User Interface and Experience
Planoly’s user interface is highly praised for its simplicity and visual focus. The platform’s layout, particularly the visual calendar, is designed to make scheduling Instagram content easy and intuitive. However, when tested for managing Facebook or Twitter, the experience felt less fluid.
Later also offers a user-friendly interface that makes managing multiple social media accounts easy. The clean, drag-and-drop calendar is visually appealing, and it supports scheduling across several platforms. The dashboard is straightforward and intuitive, making it easy for users to stay organized and manage content across different networks.
e. Pricing Comparison: Planoly vs Later
If you’re looking for a cost-effective, user-friendly solution for managing visual content, Planoly’s Starter Plan at $14/month is a great choice. However, for teams or those managing multiple platforms, Later’s Growth Plan at $30/month provides the flexibility and additional features needed. For larger teams or agencies, Later’s Advanced Plan at $53.33/month offers robust features across platforms, while Planoly’s Pro Plan at $36.50/month is a strong option for businesses focused on Instagram and Pinterest.
Pros and Cons of Using Planoly
Pros
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- Intuitive and aesthetically pleasing interface.
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- Hashtag storage and caption customization.
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- Advanced analytics.
Cons
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- Limited to four social media platforms.
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- Lacks features like bulk scheduling and recurring posts.
Pros and Cons of Using Later
Pros
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- User-friendly and supports a broad range of platforms.
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- Visual content calendar.
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- Social inbox for better engagement tracking.
Cons
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- Lacks advanced analytics.
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- Does not support bulk scheduling.
Conclusion: Planoly vs Later Comparison
After exploring the features, pricing, and user experiences of Planoly and Later, it’s clear that both tools offer unique advantages depending on your social media needs. Planoly excels at Instagram and Pinterest scheduling, with a focus on visual content and ease of use. It’s perfect for solo entrepreneurs and small businesses that prioritize visual aesthetics and Instagram-centric strategies. On the other hand, Later provides more flexibility with multi-platform support, making it ideal for businesses or agencies managing a range of social media accounts. Its comprehensive features and robust analytics set it apart for users looking for a more scalable solution across platforms. Ultimately, the choice between Planoly and Later comes down to your specific needs: Planoly for simplicity and Instagram-focused content, and Later for broader social media management and detailed analytics.
While Planoly and Later are great options, I highly recommend considering RecurPost as an alternative, especially if you’re looking for a more flexible and cost-effective solution for your social media management. After testing both Planoly and Later, I found RecurPost offers a unique blend of automation, multi-platform support, and affordability. Whether you’re an individual or a business managing multiple accounts, RecurPost can streamline your social media strategy, saving you time while maximizing content engagement.
Planoly vs Later vs RecurPost
| Features/Tools | Planoly | Later | RecurPost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Rating (Out of 5) | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| Meets Requirements (Out of 10) | 8.6 | 8.7 | 9 |
| Ease of Use (Out of 10) | 8.7 | 9.2 | 9.1 |
| Ease of Setup (Out of 10) | 9.1 | 9.1 | 9.2 |
| Ease of Admin (Out of 10) | 8.9 | 9.3 | 9.7 |
| Quality of Support (Out of 10) | 9 | 8.9 | 8.3 |
| Product been a good partner (Out of 10) | 7.8 | 8.6 | 9.5 |
| Product Direction (Out of 10) | 8.1 | 8.6 | 8.1 |
| Pricing (per month in USD, 5 accounts) | 13$ | 18$ | 25$ |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms Supported | Instagram, Tiktok, Pinterest | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Tik Tok | Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Youtube, Tik Tok |
| Bulk Scheduling | Yes | No | Yes |
| RSS feeds | No | No | Yes |
| Recurring Posts | No | No | Yes |
| Social Inbox | No | Yes | Yes |
| AI Content Generation | No | No | Yes |
| Hashtag Storage | No | No | Yes |
| Caption Customization | No | No | Yes |
| AI Images | Yes | No | Yes |
| Advanced Analytics | No | No | Yes |
| White Label Reports | No | No | Yes |
| URL Shortener | No | No | Yes |
| Unlimited Workspaces | No | No | Yes |
| Team Management | Yes | No | Yes |
How RecurPost Addresses Common Pain Points
- Limited Automation in Planoly and Later: Both Planoly and Later have limitations when it comes to automating recurring posts, especially across multiple platforms. RecurPost solves this by offering content libraries and automatic content recycling, allowing you to keep your feeds active without manually reposting content.
- High Pricing for Advanced Features: While Later offers advanced features, its pricing can get steep, especially for small businesses. RecurPost’s Pro Plan starts at $12.99/month, providing advanced scheduling, analytics, and multi-platform support at a fraction of the cost of Later’s Growth or Advanced Plans.
- Complicated Interfaces: Planoly and Later have user-friendly interfaces, but they can feel overwhelming when managing multiple accounts. RecurPost’s intuitive drag-and-drop calendar and clean dashboard make it easy to navigate, whether you’re managing one account or several.
Feature Highlights of RecurPost
- Scheduling and Automation: RecurPost offers robust scheduling options with recurring post automation. I’ve personally used this feature to keep my social media pages consistently active, automatically recycling evergreen content at optimal times—something both Planoly and Later lack in their full capacity.
- Supported Platforms: RecurPost supports major social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, and Google My Business. This extensive support, combined with RSS feed integration and Zapier integration, gives you greater flexibility in managing content across platforms.
- Analytics and Reporting: RecurPost offers detailed analytics for all supported platforms, giving you insights into post performance, engagement, and audience growth. Unlike Planoly and Later, these features are available even on lower-tier plans, making it more accessible for small businesses.
- User Interface and Experience: RecurPost stands out for its simplicity and intuitive design. The dashboard is easy to use, and the content calendar is a breeze to navigate. I found it particularly helpful for staying organized and maintaining a consistent posting schedule without feeling overwhelmed.