Alternatives
Later alternatives in 2026
Five tools worth a look if you're leaving Later, most with a link-in-bio page, and all of them posting to X and Bluesky.
Last checked:
We make PublishBuddy, which is one of the 5 tools on this page. Each price was checked on that tool's own pricing page on the date in the sources list at the end.
The short version
People leave Later when they need X or Bluesky, when Social Sets push 10 accounts to $95 a month or more, or when they want more AI. The right alternative depends on which one it is.
Buffer is the simple swap with a link-in-bio page. Vista Social packs in the most. Metricool is the analytics pick. PublishBuddy, which we make, covers 10+ networks with 10 accounts for $29. Publer is cheapest per account.
Why people look for a Later alternative
No X, Bluesky or Telegram. Later ended X support on August 28, 2025.
Social Sets make the price hard to predict. A set holds one profile per network, so several accounts on one network need several sets.
The cheaper plans cap posts: Starter allows 30 per profile a month.
There's little AI. Caption Writer runs on 5 to 100 credits a month, there's no API or MCP server, and the trial needs a card.
The options at a glance
| Tool | Cheapest paid plan | 10 accounts | Free plan | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffer | $6/month per channel | $60/month (Essentials, 1 user) | Yes, 3 channels | Simple posting for a few channels |
| Vista Social | $99/month (15 accounts, 2 users) | $99/month (Professional) | No | The most features per plan: inbox, reviews, listening, AI |
| Metricool | $25/month (Starter, up to 5 brands) | $25 to $45/month, depending on brands | Yes, 1 brand (no LinkedIn or X) | Analytics, reports and ads on a budget |
| PublishBuddy | $29/month (Pro, 10 accounts) | $29/month | Yes, 3 accounts | An AI agent that writes and schedules, and 10 to 20 accounts on one plan |
| Publer | $5/month (1 account) | $36/month, or $63 with analytics (Business) | Yes, 3 accounts (no X) | Low price per account, lots of networks |
Monthly billing, in US dollars. Most tools charge less per month when you pay for a year.
Buffer: simple posting with link in bio
Cheapest paid plan: $6/month per channel. 10 accounts: $60/month (Essentials, 1 user). Free plan: Yes, 3 channels.
Good fit if you want a tool as simple as Later, with a link-in-bio page (Start Page) and X, Threads and Bluesky. It costs $6 a month per channel.
Less good if you run lots of accounts or need approvals, which need Team at $12 a channel.
Metricool: Instagram analytics on a budget
Cheapest paid plan: $25/month (Starter, up to 5 brands). 10 accounts: $25 to $45/month, depending on brands. Free plan: Yes, 1 brand (no LinkedIn or X).
Good fit if stats matter most: unlimited history on paid plans, competitor tracking and SmartLinks link in bio, from $25 a month.
Less good if you want AI images or video, or more than 1 user on a cheap plan.
PublishBuddy: more networks and an AI agent
Cheapest paid plan: $29/month (Pro, 10 accounts). 10 accounts: $29/month. Free plan: Yes, 3 accounts.
Good fit if you post beyond Instagram, X and Bluesky included, and want any 10 accounts for $29 a month with AI that writes and schedules posts.
Less good if an Instagram grid preview or a link-in-bio page is a must. PublishBuddy has neither yet.
Publer: the lowest price per account
Cheapest paid plan: $5/month (1 account). 10 accounts: $36/month, or $63 with analytics (Business). Free plan: Yes, 3 accounts (no X).
Good fit if you want Linkie link in bio and a long list of networks, Mastodon included, from $4 an account.
Less good if you need analytics or AI, which need Business at $7 an account.
How to choose
If you'll miss link in bio, Buffer (Start Page), Vista Social (Vista Page), Metricool (SmartLinks) and Publer (Linkie) all have one. PublishBuddy doesn't yet.
If X or Bluesky is why you're leaving, all five post to both, though Metricool charges $10 a month per X account and Vista Social $29.
If AI is the reason, PublishBuddy and Vista Social both have agents that schedule posts, and both make images and video.
Want the wider view? The buyer's guide sorts 16 tools by how you work.
Before you leave Later
- Write down what you use Later for: the networks, how many accounts, who posts, who approves, and which reports you send. That list rules most tools in or out.
- Copy your scheduled posts out. Later has no export for scheduled posts, so open each one and copy it into a spreadsheet.
- Download the reports you want to keep. Stats stored in Later don't move to another tool.
- Check when Later renews, so you don't pay for a month you won't use.
- Try your top two picks on the same accounts for a week. Most tools here have a free trial, and several don't ask for a card.
- Move what's still scheduled, then delete it from Later so nothing posts twice. Cancel once its queue is empty.
Frequently asked questions
Which Later alternatives post to X?
All five on this page. Buffer and PublishBuddy include X, and Publer includes it on paid plans. Metricool charges $10 a month per X account, and Vista Social $29.
Which alternatives have a link-in-bio page?
Buffer (Start Page), Vista Social (Vista Page), Metricool (SmartLinks, from Starter) and Publer (Linkie). PublishBuddy doesn't have one yet.
What's the cheapest Later alternative?
For a few accounts, Publer ($4 an account from three) and Buffer ($6 a channel). For 10 accounts, PublishBuddy costs $29 a month, and Metricool $25 to $45 depending on how many brands you need. Prices were checked on each tool's site on October 25, 2026.
Can I export my posts from Later?
Later has no export for scheduled posts, so copy them into a spreadsheet before you go. Its analytics export as a CSV on Starter and up.
Which alternatives make images or video with AI?
PublishBuddy and Vista Social make both. Publer makes images on Business. Buffer and Metricool's AI writes text only.
Sources
- Later pricing page, checked
- Buffer pricing page, checked
- Vista Social pricing page, checked
- Metricool pricing page, checked
- Publer pricing page, checked
Want to see if PublishBuddy fits?
Scheduling, analytics, and an AI agent that writes and schedules for you. 10+ platforms. From $29/mo with 10 accounts included.
14-day free trial. No credit card required.