Metricool vs Later Compared (2026)

Metricool and Later solve overlapping problems from different angles: Metricool leads with a free plan, deep analytics, and a full API, while Later leads with a more polished Instagram-first visual grid and link-in-bio tool, at a similar starting price once you're both on paid tiers.

Pricing Side by Side

Plan tier	Metricool	Later
Free	1 brand, most networks (not LinkedIn/X), 20 posts/month	No permanent free plan; 14-day trial only
Entry paid	Starter, priced by brand count	$25/month (Starter): 1 social set, 30 posts/profile
Mid	Advanced, priced by brand count: team management, full API	$50/month (Growth): 2 social sets, 2 users, 180 posts/profile
Top	Advanced, priced by brand slider up to 50 brands	$110/month (Scale): 6 social sets, custom analytics

Metricool charges an extra $5 a month per connected X/Twitter account on every tier, an add-on cost Later doesn't have since X isn't part of Later's core platform focus.

Metricool or Later on Features

Metricool's strength is breadth: deep analytics, Looker Studio reporting, and a full API (including Zapier, Make, and MCP support) at its Advanced tier, which matters for agencies and data-driven teams. Later's strength is depth on a narrower use case: the visual grid preview and drag-to-rearrange content calendar are more refined than Metricool's equivalent, which matters if Instagram planning is your primary daily workflow.

Metricool Compared to Later, in Practice

If you manage multiple brands or clients and want reporting and API access without paying for a premium visual planner, Metricool's free-to-paid path is the more cost-effective route, X add-on aside. If your main job is planning a cohesive Instagram feed and you don't need heavy analytics or an API, Later's more polished grid tool justifies its price for that specific workflow.

A Straightforward Third Option

If neither tool's specialization (deep analytics vs. visual grid planning) is the actual priority, and the real goal is reaching all your platforms from one place without add-on fees or post caps, Posted Once covers all 10 major platforms starting at $29 a month with a 7-day free trial. Start free →.