2 Best Later Alternatives in 2025
Last updated: February 2026 • 7 min read
Later is a popular tool for instagram-focused creators and visual brands. While it offers a free tier (5 posts/profile/mo), its paid plans start at $25/mo. Whether you're looking for a cheaper option, better features, or an open-source solution, we've compiled the 2 best Later alternatives to help you find the right fit.
📋 Quick Summary
- Total alternatives: 2
- Free alternatives: 1 (Buffer)
- Best overall: Buffer
- Best free: Buffer
Why Look for Later Alternatives?
People commonly look for Later alternatives for several reasons:
- Cost: While Later has a free tier, its paid plans starting at $25/mo can add up quickly for growing teams.
- Feature gaps: Instagram-centric and limited analytics on lower plans are common complaints.
- Simplicity: Some users find Later overly complex for their needs and prefer simpler solutions.
- Data ownership: Organizations wanting data sovereignty prefer open-source, self-hosted alternatives.
- Better fit: Different tools excel at different use cases — you may find a tool that's specifically built for your workflow.
📊 Quick Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Rating | Open Source | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Later | ✓ 5 posts/profile/mo | $25/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Instagram-focused creators and visual brands |
| Buffer | ✓ 3 channels, 10 posts/channel | $6/channel/mo | ⭐ 4.3 | No | Small businesses and solopreneurs wanting simple social scheduling |
| Hootsuite | ✗ No | $99/mo | ⭐ 4.1 | No | Enterprises and agencies managing multiple social accounts at scale |
Detailed Reviews of Each Alternative
Buffer
Simple, affordable social media scheduling and analytics tool for small businesses and creators.
Buffer is one of the original social media management tools, known for its clean interface and focus on simplicity. It lets you schedule posts across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, and Mastodon. Buffer's analytics show you which posts perform best and when your audience is most active. The Start Page feature lets you create a simple landing page for your social bio links.
Pros
- ✓ Extremely simple to use
- ✓ Affordable per-channel pricing
- ✓ Great free tier
- ✓ Clean analytics
Cons
- ✗ Limited compared to Hootsuite/Sprout
- ✗ No social listening
- ✗ Basic reporting
- ✗ No inbox management on free
Hootsuite
Enterprise social media management platform with scheduling, monitoring, analytics, and team collaboration.
Hootsuite is the most established social media management platform, used by enterprises and agencies worldwide. It supports every major social network and offers comprehensive features including bulk scheduling, social listening, ad management, and detailed analytics. The unified inbox lets you manage all social conversations in one place. Hootsuite's strength is scale — managing dozens of accounts and large teams with approval workflows.
Pros
- ✓ Most comprehensive platform
- ✓ Excellent for large teams
- ✓ Strong social listening
- ✓ Wide platform support
Cons
- ✗ Expensive entry point
- ✗ UI feels cluttered
- ✗ Removed free plan
- ✗ Steep learning curve
🏆 Our Recommendations
❓ FAQ
What is the best free alternative to Later?
The best free alternative to Later is Buffer, which offers 3 channels, 10 posts/channel.
Is there an open-source alternative to Later?
There are no widely-used open-source alternatives to Later at this time, but several affordable options exist.
What is the cheapest alternative to Later?
The cheapest alternatives are the free options: Buffer. For paid alternatives, prices start from as low as $6/mo.
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