Checked 26 September 2026
Social media schedulers compared
Twelve schedulers and Hookpost on the things that decide the bill: the cheapest paid plan, how it is priced, whether there is a free plan, and whether you get an API, an MCP server for AI agents, or the source code. Every figure was read off the vendor's own pricing page, linked on each comparison.
| Tool | Cheapest paid plan | Pricing model | Free plan | API | MCP / AI agents | Open source | Rupee prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hookpost | ₹599 / mo | flat tiers | Yes | Yes | Yes | AGPL-3.0 | Yes, UPI Autopay |
| Buffer | $5 / channel (annual) | per channel | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No, USD |
| Hootsuite | $99 / user (annual) | per user | 14-day trial | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (localised) |
| Later | $18.75 / mo (annual) | flat tiers | 14-day trial | Not stated | Not stated | No | No, USD |
| Sprout Social | $79 / user (annual) | per user | 30-day trial | Yes | Yes | No | No, USD |
| Metricool | $20 / mo (annual) | flat tiers | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No, USD |
| Publer | $4 / channel (annual) | per channel | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (localised) |
| SocialPilot | $25.5 / mo (annual) | flat tiers | 14-day trial | Yes | Yes | No | Yes (localised) |
| Agorapulse | $79 / user (annual) | per user | 30-day trial | Yes | Yes | No | No, USD |
| Postiz | $23 / mo (annual) | flat tiers | 7-day trial | Yes | Yes | AGPL-3.0 | No, USD |
| Mixpost | $299 one-time | self-hosted licence | Yes | Yes | Yes | MIT | No, USD |
| Zoho Social | $10 / mo (annual) | flat tiers | Yes | Not stated | Yes | No | Yes (localised) |
| Sendible | $30 / mo (annual) | flat tiers | 14-day trial | Yes | Not stated | No | No, USD |
USD prices are the cheapest plan as listed; annual means billed yearly. Several vendors change prices and currency by country. Confirm on the vendor's page before you buy.
Head-to-head comparisons
- Postiz vs Buffer
- Postiz vs Mixpost
- Postiz vs Hootsuite
- Postiz vs Publer
- Mixpost vs Buffer
- Publer vs Buffer
- Metricool vs Buffer
- Metricool vs Later
- SocialPilot vs Buffer
- Zoho Social vs Buffer
- Sendible vs Hootsuite
- Publer vs Later
- Buffer vs Hootsuite
- Later vs Buffer
Looking for a replacement rather than a matchup? See alternatives, free plans compared and open-source schedulers. Buying from India? Schedulers compared in rupees. Want an AI assistant to post? MCP servers compared.
Questions
- Which social media scheduler has the best free plan?
- It depends on your networks. Buffer's free plan gives 3 channels with 10 queued posts per channel and includes its AI assistant. Metricool's free plan allows 20 posts a month but leaves out X and LinkedIn. Hookpost's free plan gives 2 channels and 30 posts a month including X and LinkedIn, without AI. Hootsuite, Later, Sprout Social and SocialPilot have trials, not free plans.
- Which schedulers are open source?
- Hookpost and Postiz are AGPL-3.0 and can be self-hosted. Mixpost Lite is MIT-licensed; Mixpost Pro is a paid self-hosted licence. Buffer, Hootsuite, Later, Sprout Social and the others are closed source.
- Which schedulers have an MCP server for AI agents?
- Most of them now do. Of the twelve tools checked, ten list an MCP server or AI-agent integration, including Buffer (on its free plan), Hootsuite, Postiz and Metricool. Hookpost has one too, on Standard and above.
- Can I pay for a social media scheduler in rupees with UPI?
- Hootsuite, Zoho Social, Publer and SocialPilot show rupee prices to Indian visitors, but none of the twelve lists UPI. Hookpost bills in rupees with UPI Autopay: Standard is ₹599 a month for 5 channels.