Best for scheduling posts: Buffer
The free plan allows you to schedule up to ten posts.
Add multiple images or videos to your post.
Access past reminders.
Prepare and schedule Instagram stories.
Schedule a comment.
You'll need to upgrade to a paid plan to get more scheduled posts and social accounts.
Posting at the right time of day can increase the number of followers who view, like, and interact with your content. Buffer makes it easy to schedule posts to appear on the specific days and times you want. The buffer also includes default post times based on the times when Instagram traffic is highest.
Buffer is simple and easy to use. Select an image or video file, create a caption, and add it to the queue for immediate publishing. Or, schedule it to be published at a time you specify. Customize your queue and reset scheduled times at any time.
Buffer is a set-and-forget tool. Schedule posts ahead of time, pause publishing, tag people and locations, set first comments, use emojis in captions, and more. Use Buffer with Instagram and other social networks, including X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, LinkedIn and Pinterest.
Buffer is free to download and use on iOS or Android mobile devices, but you're limited to three social accounts and ten scheduled posts. Pay $15 per month to upgrade to the Pro version, which allows you to schedule up to 100 posts. Buffer can also be used in a browser on the desktop. The free version is not accessible in the browser, but you can try the Pro version with a 14-day free trial.
download:
02 out of 05Best for Social Media Management: Later
Search and repost user-generated Instagram content.
Easy to use scheduling calendar.
Unlimited media library storage.
Use filters on your photos.
You need a paid plan to post videos.
Later (formerly Latergramme) is another top Instagram app for post scheduling, but this app is a more complete Instagram management solution. Use it on your iOS or Android mobile device or through the website. Like Buffer, Later can also be used with other social networking sites.
With a free account, schedule up to 30 photo posts and collect user-generated Instagram content to repost to your profile. Search the hashtag and the original, high-quality photo will be scraped for you to repost later.
It can be downloaded and used for free in the future. However, Later’s paid plans offer more features. View, manage, and reply to comments from the Later dashboard so you never miss a thing. Schedule video posts, plan and schedule stories, tag locations and users, and optimize post times.
Later's paid plans include Starter ($12.50 per month), Growth ($20.50 per month), and Advanced ($49.50 per month). The higher the level, the more features you get.
download:
03 out of 05Best for Instagram Analytics: Iconosquare
Preview posts before publishing.
Track competitors and compare with them.
Monitor conversations.
Detailed analysis and reporting.
You need a monthly subscription, starting at $29.
Instagram users who are serious about increasing their engagement know that statistics provide important information about what content is or isn’t working. Iconosquare provides comprehensive social media management for Instagram as well as advanced analytics so you can gain a deeper understanding of your followers and how they interact with your content.
Track your competitors to see how you stack up against them, view your post reach and impressions, understand your video views, check your story analytics, and get follower demographic information such as age and gender . Iconosquare also has traditional engagement tools, including scheduling posts, managing comments, and tracking hashtags.
Iconosqure is designed to make a big impact, so take advantage of its 14-day free trial and see if you need all its features. Download the tool for free, then pay $29 per month for the Pro version or $59 per month for the Advanced version.
Iconosquare runs on Android and iOS mobile devices, as well as on the desktop in a browser or via a Chrome extension. This tool also works with Facebook.
download:
04 out of 05Best for professional photo posts: Canva
It's simple and intuitive to use.
A range of visual elements (free and paid) that can be added to your designs.
Instagram post templates available.
The best visual elements cost money.
There are no photo-specific editing features.
Use Canva to add visual elements to your photo posts to inform and inspire your followers and capture their attention. This free graphic design tool has almost no learning curve and comes packed with stunning, high-quality elements to use.
Upload your own photos to Canva or use one of its pre-made templates. Search Canva's vast library for elements to add, including stock photos, illustrations, shapes, lines, arrows, symbols, frames, and more. Many images are free, but premium images are available for a fee. Once finished, download your design now.
Canva is not as advanced as Photoshop. Still, it's a powerful free graphic design tool for creating professional-looking Instagram posts in minutes.
Use Canva's iOS or Android apps, or use it on your desktop at Canva.com. Canva has a lot of free features. If you want more customization options and more templates and images, consider Canva Pro ($9.95 per month).
download:
05 out of 05Best for Instagram graphics and video posts: Adobe Creative Cloud Express
Photo and video post templates.
Intuitive video editor to create videos easily.
An attractive selection of visual icons for photo design.
You need to pay to upgrade to remove Adobe watermarks.
There is no vertical full screen template option for videos.
Limited music library.
If you want to spruce up your video posts and Instagram Stories, Adobe Creative Cloud Express is a great tool for creative and engaging content. It also integrates graphic design features, similar to Canva.
When you start a new project and select a video , choose from existing video templates or create a custom template. Add as many clips as you like and use the video editor to edit each scene with text overlays, music, or other content.
Adobe CCE is easy to learn and use, and you'll quickly create dazzling videos and other content.
If you have an Adobe Creative Cloud subscription plan, you can access the premium version of Adobe Spark.
