Later vs Planoly

Later vs Planoly: Pick the Right Social Media Management Tool

Picture of Written by Andra
Written by Andra

Content Writer at SocialBee

Later vs Planoly: each platform stands out in the social media management space, offering unique tools and features for businesses and marketers. 

In this article, we compare and contrast these platforms, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses. Our aim is to guide you in choosing the tool that best fits your social media strategy.

As we delve into the specifics, we’ll examine key aspects such as user interface, scheduling capabilities, analytics, and pricing. Understanding these differences will empower you to select the tool that not only aligns with your current needs but also supports your future social media endeavors.

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Discover how SocialBee compares to other popular social media management tools.

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Short Summary

  • Later and Planoly are two important social media management tools. Unlike Later, Planoly supports posting on YouTube besides Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. 
  • Both platforms offer analytics, social inbox tools, and collaboration features, but Later provides more detailed analytics and advanced team collaboration options. 
  • Pricing for Later starts at $25/month, while Planoly starts at $13/month, catering to different budget and feature needs.
  • SocialBee is recommended as an alternative with advanced features like AI content generation, broader social network support, evergreen posting, content categories, and competitive pricing, providing a comprehensive solution for social media management.

Later vs Planoly: Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Features

SocialBee

Later

Planoly

Social Media Profiles

Post On

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Business Profiles, TikTok, YouTube, and Bluesky

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok

LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter

Import Content

CSV Upload

RSS Feeds

Social Media Management

AI Content Generation

AI Social Media Manager

Content Scheduling

Bulk Scheduling

Content Publishing

Evergreen Posting

List View

Social Media Calendar

Mentions Management

DMs Management

Comments Management

Content Categories

Hashtag Collections

Hashtag Generator

Team Collaboration

Client Workspaces

Content Approval

Analytics

Social Media Analytics

Analytics On Schedule Set Up

Content Category Analytics

Export PDF Reports

Integrations

Canva Integration

Unsplash Integration

GIPHY Integration

Multiple Shortlink Tools

Pocket Integration

QUUU Content Curation

Customer Support

Help Documentation

Email Support

Chat Support

Support Calls

UTM Customization

Category Based UTM Settings

Custom URL and Tracking

Additional Tools

Mobile App

Chrome Extension

Additional Services

Migration / Onboarding

Pricing Plans

Monthly Plans

Yearly Plans

Price

Starting at $29/month

Starting at $25/month

Starting at $13/month

Later vs Planoly: How to Choose the Best Social Media Management Software

Choosing the right social media management tools is essential for businesses, but the vast array of choices can make it challenging to identify the one that aligns most effectively with your company’s goals. Opt for a tool that enhances and supports your social media strategy optimally.

Here’s what to look for when assessing whether to use Planoly vs Later:

  1. Supported social media platforms 
  2. Content creation features 
  3. Social media planning and scheduling 
  4. Social media analytics 
  5. Social inbox and engagement tools 
  6. Team collaboration features 
  7. User experience and ease of use 
  8. Integrations 
  9. Pricing 
  10. Customer support

1. Supported Social Media Platforms

Planoly supports a wide range of platforms including LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, Facebook, and Twitter. This extensive support makes Planoly a versatile tool for businesses and content creators looking to manage and coordinate their social media strategy across various channels.

Later offers support for Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. While it covers most of the major social media networks, the absence of YouTube as a supported platform places it as a disadvantage compared to Planoly.

Later’s platform support is still comprehensive, catering to a broad audience and a variety of social media management needs.

The platform is mainly known, however, for being an Instagram management tool, aimed for Instagram post scheduling, as well as for planning ahead your Instagram Stories.

2. Content Creation Features

Planoly’s editing features are primarily focused on Instagram and are accessible through its mobile app, making it ideal for mobile-centric Instagram users.

Later’s editing features, while available for multiple platforms, are more web-centric, especially for video editing, and offer more advanced options like cropping, trimming, and thumbnail selection for platforms like Instagram and Pinterest.

3. Social Media Planning and Scheduling

Planoly’s user interface is designed for simplicity and efficiency, featuring a drag-and-drop interface, schedule preview, and auto-posting capabilities.

This setup is particularly advantageous for businesses looking for a straightforward and quick way to plan and schedule their content, especially on platforms like Instagram and Pinterest.

Later offers a more detailed approach to planning and scheduling with features like a visual preview, bulk upload, and a content calendar.

The platform also provides caption suggestions and the ability to schedule posts both on desktop and mobile, making it a more comprehensive tool for businesses managing content across multiple social media platforms.

4. Social Media Analytics

Planoly offers essential basic analytics features like best posting times, follower data, and engagement overviews, only for Instagram.

These tools are beneficial for businesses seeking basic insights into Instagram content performance and audience engagement. 

Later goes a step further with its analytics, providing a comprehensive suite that includes link in bio analytics, story impressions, demographic data, and hashtag performance.

This level of detail is especially valuable for businesses looking to delve deeper into their social media strategy and understand the nuances of their audience interactions across different platforms.

Unlike Planoly, Later also provides valuable insights for Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Pinterest.

5. Social Inbox and Engagement Tools

Both Planoly and Later provide functionalities for managing social interactions, such as viewing and responding to comments. This feature is crucial for maintaining active engagement with the audience. 

While Planoly only allows users to reply to Instagram comments, Later provides social inbox options for both Instagram and TikTok.

However, neither platform offers direct message (DM) management, which could be a limitation for businesses that rely heavily on DMs for customer interactions.

Later enhances its offering with additional capabilities like post view and user view, which can be advantageous for businesses looking to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their audience’s interactions and behaviors on social media platforms.

6. Team Collaboration Features

Planoly’s collaboration features are somewhat basic, with the option to add additional users on its higher-tier plans. This setup is suitable for smaller teams or businesses that require a simple structure for team collaboration and content management.

Later offers more advanced team collaboration features, including the ability to create access groups with different levels of permissions. This functionality is ideal for larger teams or agencies needing a more sophisticated system for managing multiple users and their access to various social media channels.

7. User Experience and Ease of Use

Planoly is praised for its clean, straightforward interface, making it user-friendly, especially for businesses that prioritize ease of use and quick content management. Its focus on visual elements aligns well with its target platforms like Instagram and Pinterest.

Later also boasts a clean and organized interface, but with additional features that provide more control and customization.

Although this might require a slight learning curve, it’s beneficial for businesses looking for a more comprehensive approach to social media management across multiple platforms.

8. Integrations

When it comes to integrations, both platforms have partnered with Unsplash and Canva.

The Unsplash integration provides access to a wide range of high-quality images for content creation.

The partnership with Canva is meant for easy access to graphic design tools, simplifying the process of creating visually appealing content. 

9. Pricing

Pricing is a crucial factor when choosing between Later and Planoly. Later’s pricing starts at $25/month, which caters to users looking for a more feature-rich platform with broader platform support and advanced analytics.

Planoly, with its starting price of $13/month, is more budget-friendly and is an excellent option for users who prioritize ease of use and visual content management, particularly on platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. 

Later Prices

Planoly Prices

  • 7-day free trial
  • Starter: $13.00/month
  • Growth: $23.00/month
  • Professional: $43/month

10. Customer Support

Later provides a tiered customer support structure, with support levels varying based on the user’s subscription plan. All users have access to the Later Help Center, which offers 24/7 article support, and a chatbot for guided assistance.

Paid plan users additionally receive human customer service after the first 30 days, with Advanced plan users benefiting from live chat support during business hours.

However, Later does not provide phone support. The platform also encourages community-based support through its social channels and the Later Community forum, where users can exchange tips and solutions.

Planoly’s customer support, while less structured in its presentation, includes options like direct email support for troubleshooting and queries.

The platform also provides educational resources through the Planoly Academy, offering video tutorials that can serve as self-help guides for users. This approach indicates a focus on empowering users to resolve issues independently.

However, unlike Later, Planoly does not explicitly mention a chatbot or live chat service, nor does it detail a tier-based support system, suggesting a more streamlined but possibly less diverse range of support options.

When to Choose Later

Later is the go-to choice for businesses and social media managers who need a comprehensive, multi-platform management tool. 

Here’s when you should choose Later:

  • If your social media strategy involves extensive cross-platform management across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Pinterest, but not YouTube.
  • If advanced analytics and detailed insights into audience engagement and content performance are crucial for your brand’s success.
  • If you require robust customer support with options like live chat for immediate problem-solving.
  • If a comprehensive, all-in-one platform for creating, scheduling, and analyzing content across multiple social networks aligns with your workflow.
  • If you need sophisticated collaboration tools for a team, with features like different access levels and detailed content planning.

When to Choose Planoly

Planoly is an excellent choice for businesses and content creators who primarily focus on visual storytelling, particularly on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Pinterest. 

Here’s when you should choose Planoly:

  • If your social media presence includes YouTube, alongside key platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
  • If you prioritize a user-friendly interface with straightforward tools for scheduling and managing visual content.
  • If you are looking for a cost-effective solution with a straightforward pricing model that suits smaller businesses or individual content creators.
  • If your team collaboration needs are simpler, focusing on basic content creation and scheduling without the need for complex role management.

What Is a Good Later and Planoly Alternative?

If you’re pondering which social media management tool is ideal for your strategy and finding it challenging to decide between popular options like Later and Planoly, consider exploring SocialBee.

Our platform emerges as a standout choice, especially for entrepreneurs, content creators, agencies, and businesses of all sizes seeking a comprehensive solution.

Here are the features that give SocialBee an edge over Later and Planoly:

1. AI Post Generator

Elevating your content creation process becomes effortless with SocialBee’s AI Post Generator. This tool stands out from Later and Planoly by utilizing advanced AI technology to quickly generate high-quality posts. It’s designed to reduce the time and effort typically required in content creation.

The AI Post Generator can craft engaging captions, generate creative content ideas, and even suggest layouts for your posts. This is especially useful for users who are looking to streamline their content creation workflow without compromising on the quality and originality of their social media posts. 

SocialBee AI caption generator

Generate more social media captions and ideas than ever before with SocialBee’s 1000+ AI prompt collection.

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With SocialBee’s AI Post Generator, you can effortlessly produce compelling and diverse content, suitable for various social media platforms, which sets it apart from the more manual content creation processes in Later and Planoly.

SocialBee blog CTA box visual with the supported platforms

SocialBee: Your AI-powered social media management tool

Create posts, publish, analyze, engage and collaborate, all from SocialBee.

2. Support for More Social Networks

SocialBee shines in its ability to support a broader array of social media platforms compared to Later and Planoly. While Later and Planoly focus mainly on platforms like Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

SocialBee extends its capabilities to a more diverse range of networks. It includes support for Facebook, Instagram, Threads, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Pinterest, Bluesky, Google Business Profile, TikTok, and YouTube.

This wide-ranging support makes SocialBee a more versatile choice for businesses and individuals looking to manage their presence across a variety of social media channels.

SocialBee's main app dashboard

Manage all your social media accounts with ease from one place with SocialBee.

Start your 14-day free trial today!

Whether it’s a professional network like LinkedIn or a video-centric platform like YouTube, SocialBee ensures that users can maintain a cohesive and comprehensive social media strategy across all their channels, something that Later and Planoly do not fully offer.

3. Evergreen Posting

One of SocialBee’s standout features is its capability to manage evergreen content effectively. Unlike Later and Planoly, which offer more limited options in this area, SocialBee allows for the creation, scheduling, and recycling of evergreen content – material that remains relevant and valuable over time. 

From all the features, this one is essential for businesses looking to maintain a consistent online presence without the need to constantly create new content. By reusing evergreen posts, such as client testimonials, informative articles, or timeless tips, SocialBee helps keep your social media feeds active and engaging, ensuring your audience always has access to your best content.

4. Content Categories

SocialBee’s content categorization is a step ahead of what Later and Planoly offer. It allows users to organize their social media posts into distinct categories based on topics, themes, or any other relevant criteria.

Now you can separate your fun promotional posts from your fun and educational content, for example, and monitor your best-performing posts with ease.

SocialBee's content categories

Create a content category for every type of social media post you plan to share on your accounts and stay organized while planning your content with ease.

Start your 14-day free trial at SocialBee today!

This organization tool is particularly useful for businesses and content creators who manage a wide range of content types. It enables a more strategic approach to posting, ensuring a balanced and varied content mix across your social media channels.

This structured categorization helps in maintaining a coherent and diverse social media strategy, something that can be more challenging with the basic categorization options in Later and Planoly.

With SocialBee, you can also track and analyze specific categories, like educational content, promotional posts, or user-generated content, to see which resonates most with your audience.

5. Social Inbox

With SocialBee’s Social Inbox, you can manage all your social interactions, from comments to direct messages, in one unified inbox.

The social media management tool allows you to respond to your followers promptly, track conversations, and never miss a beat.

6. 14-Day Free Trial

This trial period is a significant advantage, as it allows users to explore and evaluate the full range of features without any initial financial commitment.

For businesses managing multiple social media accounts, this combination of affordability and the opportunity to try before buying makes SocialBee particularly appealing.

The platform’s comprehensive suite of tools, which includes scheduling, analytics, content creation, and categorization, are all accessible during the trial, providing a thorough understanding of its capabilities and value.

7. Hashtag Collections

SocialBee elevates the process of creating Instagram posts and other social media content by allowing users to create and manage collections of frequently used hashtags.

This feature significantly enhances efficiency, especially when dealing with multiple accounts or similar content across various platforms.

SocialBee's hashtag collections

Save all your hashtags in dedicated collections and add them to your posts with just a few clicks.

Start your 14-day free trial at SocialBee today!

While Later and Planoly have some hashtag functionalities, they are not as developed as SocialBee’s comprehensive collections. This capability simplifies the task of tagging, ensuring that relevant and effective hashtags are always at hand for enhancing the visibility and reach of your posts.

8. Hashtag Generator

The hashtag generator in SocialBee is a valuable tool, particularly for those managing Instagram posts and other social media content where hashtags play a crucial role.

Unlike the more manual processes of creating hashtags in Planoly, SocialBee’s generator automatically suggests relevant hashtags based on the content of your posts. 

This feature is a time-saver for businesses managing multiple accounts, as it provides instant, tailored hashtag suggestions that align with the content, making it easier to engage with the intended audience and increase post visibility.

9. Client Workspaces

SocialBee stands out for agencies and businesses managing multiple clients through its dedicated client workspaces. This feature offers a level of organization and collaboration that is more advanced than similar features in Later and Planoly.

Each workspace can be tailored to a specific client, maintaining a separate visual content calendar and distinct content strategies. 

This segmentation is particularly beneficial for maintaining clarity and focus when managing various accounts, ensuring that each client’s unique social media needs and branding are appropriately addressed.

The ability to switch between workspaces seamlessly adds to the efficiency and effectiveness of managing multiple clients’ social media strategies.

10. First-Class Customer Support 

At SocialBee, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional customer support, ensuring a smooth transition and ongoing assistance, which can be more comprehensive compared to the support offered by Later and Planoly.

In essence, SocialBee is positioned as a versatile and feature-rich alternative to Later and Planoly, catering to a broad range of social media management and marketing needs.

11. Canva Integration

While Later and Planoly only allow you to export visuals from Canva, SocialBee takes the process one step further, allowing you to edit your projects directly from the social media scheduling app.

SocialBee integrations with Canva and Unsplash

Design and import your social media visuals with Canva directly from SocialBee’s post editor.

Start your 14-day free trial at SocialBee today!

Here’s how to design & import your Canva visuals from SocialBee:

  • Select your profile from the post editor
  • Add your caption
  • Click the “Canva” button to open the integration
  • Search through templates or browse your folders to create a new visual
  • Click the “Add in SocialBee” button once you’re done

SocialBee vs Later & Planoly: Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Features

SocialBee

Later

Planoly

Social Media Profiles

Post On

Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Business Profiles, TikTok, YouTube, and Bluesky

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok

LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest , Facebook, and Twitter

Import Content

CSV Upload

RSS Feeds

Social Media Management

AI Content Generation

AI Social Media Manager

Content Scheduling

Bulk Scheduling

Content Publishing

Evergreen Posting

List View

Social Media Calendar

Mentions Management

DMs Management

Comments Management

Content Categories

Hashtag Collections

Hashtag Generator

Team Collaboration

Client Workspaces

Content Approval

Analytics

Social Media Analytics

Analytics On Schedule Set Up

Content Category Analytics

Export PDF Reports

Integrations

Canva Integration

Unsplash Integration

GIPHY Integration

Multiple Shortlink Tools

Pocket Integration

QUUU Content Curation

Customer Support

Help Documentation

Email Support

Chat Support

Support Calls

UTM Customization

Category Based UTM Settings

Custom URL and Tracking

Additional Tools

Mobile App

Chrome Extension

Additional Services

Migration / Onboarding

Pricing Plans

Monthly Plans

Yearly Plans

Price

Starting at $29/month

Starting at $25/month

Starting at $13/month

Streamline Your Social Media Planning with SocialBee

If you’ve been exploring alternatives to Later and Planoly and have discovered SocialBee, transitioning to our platform is straightforward with our Migration service.

This service is ideal for those looking to enhance their social media planning and management with SocialBee’s comprehensive features. The migration process is designed to be hassle-free and efficient.

During this transition, we will meticulously transfer all your important content from your previous platform, including your posting schedules, RSS feeds, and settings for your shortlink provider.

Once the migration is complete, you’ll receive a detailed email report outlining everything that has been successfully transferred to SocialBee. So why not give it a try and see how SocialBee can elevate your social media management experience?

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the Difference Between Later and Planoly?

The differences between Later and Planoly in social media management tools are nuanced and cater to different needs:

  • Scheduling: Planoly has straightforward scheduling; Later offers more customizable content but is more time-consuming.
  • Inbox Management: Both allow comment management but lack direct message handling.
  • Analytics: Planoly offers basic Instagram analytics; Later provides more comprehensive analytics across all profiles.
  • Team Management: Planoly has limited team management features; Later allows more control over team access and management.
  • Pricing: Planoly is generally more affordable; Later’s plans are higher priced but offer more features.
2. Which Platform Is Better for Small Businesses?

For small businesses, the choice between Later and Planoly depends on specific needs:

Planoly is ideal for solopreneurs and part-time entrepreneurs, especially those focusing on Instagram. It’s user-friendly and suitable for individual users or small-scale operations.

Later is more suitable for startups and small teams needing to manage multiple social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, alongside Instagram. Its broader platform support makes it a better fit for small businesses with diverse social media engagements.

3. Is Planoly Approved by Instagram?

Yes, Planoly is approved by Instagram. It is an official Instagram Partner tool, ensuring that its use complies with Instagram’s guidelines and policies. This approval is significant as it guarantees that using Planoly will not jeopardize your Instagram account’s security or integrity.

Choose the Best Social Media Marketing Solution for You

In conclusion, both Later and Planoly offer unique features that cater to different social media management needs.

If your priority is a user-friendly platform that focuses on visual content scheduling and straightforward Instagram management, Planoly is an excellent choice. It’s particularly suited for those who value simplicity and visual-centric tools for platforms like Instagram and Pinterest.

On the other hand, if you’re looking for a tool that offers broader platform support, including advanced analytics, and a more comprehensive approach to scheduling and content management across various social media channels, then Later is the ideal choice. 

Furthermore, SocialBee emerges as a robust alternative, combining key features of both Later and Planoly into a single platform. It’s a versatile option for those seeking extensive platform support, AI-driven content creation, and efficient content categorization.

To see how well SocialBee fits your social media management needs, start your 14-day free trial!

SocialBee blog CTA box visual with the supported platforms

SocialBee: Your AI-powered social media management tool

Create posts, publish, analyze, engage and collaborate, all from SocialBee.
Manage your social media with SocialBee: publishing, AI assistance, Canva magic, analytics, unified inbox, and more.
SocialBee Supported Social Platforms with Round Logos
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Alexandra

Content writer at SocialBee

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