Is the scheduling tool no longer meeting your needs? You might want to check out some alternatives that might be a better fit for your budget, workflow, and your specific use cases.
We’ve done the dirty work for you by researching the best tools currently on the market. Below is a roundup of the best 7 paid and free alternatives to consider in 2026, covering different feature sets and pricing options so you can find a scheduling tool that better fits how you manage your (or your clients’) social media.
What Is ?
is a social media and influencer marketing platform that helps brands, creators, and small businesses plan, schedule, and manage content across multiple channels.
Alongside its scheduling tools, it also offers influencer campaign management, analytics, and social listening features in one place. This makes it a single platform for managing content, tracking performance, and running influencer-led campaigns at scale.
Why Users Love
is popular with brands, creators, and small teams because it keeps social media planning simple without feeling limited. It covers the basics well, while also offering more advanced tools for teams that need them, including:
- Easy-to-use content calendar and scheduling tools
- Support for multiple social platforms in one dashboard
- Built-in social media analytics to track post performance
- Influencer and creator campaign features for growing reach
Why Users Look for Alternatives
is known for its visual content calendar and ease of use, especially for creators and small teams managing day-to-day scheduling. It is often praised for making social media planning feel straightforward. That said, as usage grows or workflows become more demanding, some users begin to run into recurring limitations. Some of these limitations are:
- Reliability issues with posting and account connections: Users report occasional bugs, including posts failing to publish and social accounts disconnecting without clear warnings.
- Inconsistent experience across devices: Features can vary between desktop, mobile, and tablet versions, which can make it harder to manage content on the go.
- Limited analytics on lower-tier plans: While the reporting is easy to understand, some users feel it lacks depth unless they upgrade to higher-priced plans.
7 Best Alternatives in 2026: A Quick Overview
| Tool | Best for | Free trial? |
| Gain | Agencies that need structured client approvals | ✅ |
| Sendible | Teams that rely on collaborative reviews and approvals | ✅ |
| Zoho Social | Small businesses using the Zoho ecosystem | ✅ |
| Pally | Solo creators and small teams | ✅ |
| Hootsuite | Large teams managing many channels | ✅ |
| Buffer | Creators who want simple and lightweight scheduling | ✅ |
| Planable | Teams that rely on collaborative reviews | ✅ |
1. Gain – Best Alternative for Agencies Needing Client Approvals
Built specifically for agencies, Gain is designed to handle client approvals and collaboration without adding complexity to your workflow. Rather than treating content approvals as a secondary feature, the platform is structured around dedicated client workspaces that keep calendars, channels, and permissions clearly separated. Content moves through defined review stages, with clients able to approve or request changes directly from their email in a single click.
Every comment, revision, and approval is tracked automatically, creating a clear audit trail and reducing mistakes. For agencies managing multiple brands, stakeholders, and timelines, Gain provides a far more structured and reliable alternative to .
Key features
- Dedicated workspaces for each client with separate calendars
- Fully automated and custom content approval workflows
- Auto-scheduling and publishing once the content is approved
- Native content previews and one-click client approvals
✅ Pros:
- Excellent content approval and client collaboration experience
- Scales well for agencies managing multiple clients
- Reduces manual follow-ups and admin work
❌ Cons:
- Analytics lean toward the lighter side
Gain pricing: Plans start at $99/month for small teams managing up to six workspaces, with unlimited reviewers included on all plans. Agency plans range from $199/month to $399/month as team size, storage, and white-label options increase. Enterprise pricing is custom for agencies with advanced security, billing, and onboarding needs. A 14-day free trial is available with no credit card required.
2. Sendible – Best Alternative for Agencies and Growing Teams
Sendible is built for teams that need more structure around social media scheduling, collaboration, and reporting. It brings publishing, monitoring, and analytics together in one dashboard, making it a strong option for agencies and brands managing multiple accounts or clients.
Key features
- Bulk scheduling and direct publishing across major social platforms
- Unified inbox for comments, replies, and messages
- Client-friendly analytics and reporting tools
- Integrations with tools like Canva, Google Drive, and Zapier
✅ Pros:
- Strong collaboration workflows
- Reliable scheduling and bulk publishing features
- Detailed reporting suited for agencies and client work
❌ Cons:
- No free plan, only a limited trial
- Can feel more complex for solo creators or small teams
Sendible pricing: Plans start at $29/month for solo users, which includes one user, six social profiles, and unlimited scheduling. Team plans scale with users and profiles, with Traction at $89/month, Scale at $199/month, and Advanced at $299/month, adding collaboration tools, approval workflows, and more advanced reporting. Enterprise plans start at $750/month for large agencies managing high volumes of users and social profiles. All plans include a 14-day free trial with no contract.
3. Zoho Social
Zoho Social is a social media management tool designed for businesses that want reliable scheduling, monitoring, and reporting in one place. It is especially well-suited to teams already using Zoho products, with built-in integrations that connect social activity to CRM and customer support workflows.
Key features
- Unlimited post scheduling with a visual content calendar
- Social monitoring and inbox for comments and messages
- Custom reports and audience analytics
- Native integrations with Zoho CRM, Desk, and other Zoho apps
✅ Pros:
- Affordable pricing with a generous free plan
- Strong analytics and reporting for the price
- Deep integration with the wider Zoho ecosystem
❌ Cons:
- Interface can feel busy compared to simpler tools
- Best value, mainly if you already use Zoho products
Zoho Social pricing: A free plan is available for one brand and limited channels. Paid plans start at $15/month for Standard, $40/month for Professional, and $65/month for Premium, with higher tiers adding team members, advanced analytics, approval workflows, and CRM integrations. A 15-day free trial is available with no credit card required.
4. Pallyy – Best Alternative for Solo Creators and Small Teams
As a social media management platform built with freelancers, solopreneurs, and small teams in mind, Pallyy focuses on straightforward scheduling, publishing, and inbox management without unnecessary complexity, making it a good fit for creators who want everything in one place.
Key features
- Easy-to-use scheduling and publishing across major platforms
- Unified inbox for messages, comments, and reviews
- Social media analytics with post-level insights
- Built-in bio link tool for link-in-bio pages
✅ Pros:
- Clean interface that is easy to learn
- Strong feature set for solo creators and small teams
- Responsive product updates driven by user feedback
❌ Cons:
- Limited advanced reporting compared to enterprise tools
- Fewer native integrations than larger platforms
Pallyy pricing: Plans start at $15/month for light usage with limited posts and accounts. The Pro plan costs $25/month and includes unlimited posts for one user. Agency pricing starts at $99/month for multiple clients, while the Scale plan costs $199/month for larger teams with higher usage. A 14-day free trial is available with no credit card required.
5. Hootsuite – Best Alternative for Enterprise and Large Teams
Long-established social media management platform Hootsuite is built for teams that need advanced analytics, approvals, and social listening at scale. It goes beyond basic scheduling, with tools designed to connect social performance to broader business and revenue goals.
Key features
- Unlimited post scheduling across major social platforms
- Unified inbox for messages, comments, and mentions
- Advanced analytics, benchmarking, and reporting
- Social listening and trend tracking tools
✅ Pros:
- Strong analytics and reporting capabilities
- Built-in social listening and competitor tracking
- Large ecosystem of integrations
❌ Cons:
- Pricing scales quickly for teams
- Can feel heavy for solo creators or small businesses
Hootsuite pricing: Plans start at $149 per user/month for the Standard plan, which includes scheduling, inbox, and basic analytics. The Advanced plan costs $399 per user/month and adds custom reports, approval workflows, and expanded listening features. Enterprise pricing is custom, with additional security, integrations, and support options. A 30-day free trial is available.
6. Buffer – Best Alternative for Creators Who Want A Lightweight Scheduling
Buffer is a simple, well-known social media management tool focused on helping individuals and small teams publish consistently without added complexity. In particular, Buffer is known for putting scheduling, engagement, and basic analytics into a single workspace that is easy to get started with.
Key features
- Post scheduling across major social platforms
- Visual content calendar and publishing queue
- Community inbox for managing comments
- Built-in analytics and AI writing assistant
✅ Pros:
- Generous free plan for light usage
- Clean interface that is easy to learn
- Strong focus on creators and small businesses
❌ Cons:
- Advanced features require paid plans
- Analytics are limited compared to enterprise tools
Buffer pricing: A free plan is available, allowing up to three channels with limited scheduled posts. Paid plans start at $6/month per channel for Essentials, with Team plans from $12/month per channel adding collaboration and approval workflows. Pricing scales based on the number of channels you connect.
🔍 Want to see how Buffer stacks up against other social media management tools? Explore our in-depth guide comparing 7 top Buffer alternatives and find the platform that best fits your workflow, budget, and team needs.
7. Planable – Best Alternative for Teams and Approval Workflows
Designed for collaboration-heavy workflows, Planable works best when multiple people need to review, comment on, and approve social media content before it goes live. Rather than focusing on automation, the emphasis is on visibility and control, making it a strong option for agencies and in-house teams working with clients or internal stakeholders.
Key features
- Visual content views, including feed, calendar, grid, and list
- In-context comments, annotations, and suggestions
- Content organization with labels, campaigns, and workspaces
✅ Pros:
- Excellent approval and feedback workflows
- Clean interface that feels close to native social platforms
- Easy for clients and non-technical users to review content
❌ Cons:
- Engagement and analytics require paid add-ons on lower plans
- Less automation compared to scheduling-first tools
Planable pricing: A free plan is available with limited posts and no analytics or engagement features. Paid plans start at $39/month per workspace for Basic and $59/month per workspace for Pro, increasing post limits, approvals, and collaboration features. Enterprise pricing is custom, with advanced approvals, SSO, and dedicated account management.
📚 Curious how Planable compares to other social media management tools? Dive into our guide reviewing 6 Planable alternatives to help you find the right fit for your business.
FAQs
For agencies managing multiple clients, content approvals, and brand calendars, Gain is one of the strongest alternatives available. It is built specifically for client-facing workflows, with dedicated workspaces, structured approval processes, and automated reminders that reduce manual follow-ups. Clients can review and approve content directly from their email, which removes friction and keeps projects moving. While tools like Planable or Sendible also support collaboration, Gain is particularly well-suited to agencies that prioritize clean content approvals and scalable client management.
If you are looking for a free option, tools like Buffer and Pallyy offer free plans that cover basic scheduling and light analytics. These can work well for solo creators or small teams with simple needs. For those who want to test more advanced features before committing, platforms such as Gain, Planable, and Zoho Social provide free trials, allowing you to explore collaboration, content approvals, and reporting without an upfront cost.
The right choice depends on how you manage content day to day. If visual planning and simple scheduling are your main priorities, lighter tools may be enough. If your workflow involves multiple stakeholders, frequent revisions, or client sign-off, a platform with strong content approval and collaboration features will save time quickly. Consider how many brands you manage, who needs access, and how much manual follow-up you are doing, then choose the tool that removes the most friction from that process.
Which Alternative Is Right for You?
works well for visual scheduling and creator-first workflows, especially for individuals and small teams. But once your setup includes more clients, more collaborators, or more approvals to manage, the platform can start to feel limiting.
The good news is that there are plenty of tools designed to handle those gaps. If you want a lighter setup, options like Buffer or Pallyy keep things simple. For teams that need clearer collaboration and structured reviews, Planable adds more control.
If your day-to-day involves managing client approvals, chasing feedback, and keeping multiple brand calendars running smoothly, Gain offers the most purpose-built platform for agencies.
👉 Start your free trial of Gain and take the friction out of client approvals.
