Starts atPaid from $18.75/mo billed yearly
- No free plan
- Free trial14-day free trial (billing info may be required)
Head-to-head
Later vs Metricool: which scheduler is better for Shorts and TikTok?
At a glance
Starts atFree plan · paid from $20/mo billed yearly
- Free plan1 brand and 1 web/blog
Metricool is the better start for most new creators because it has a free plan: 1 brand and 20 scheduled posts a month. Later has no free plan listed. Its Starter plan is $18.75/mo billed yearly and covers 1 social set of 8 profiles, with 30 posts per profile. Pick Later if you plan visually for Instagram and TikTok. Pick Metricool for free posting, analytics and several brands.
Quick verdict
Side-by-side comparison
| Detail | Later | Metricool |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | None listed | 1 brand, 20 scheduled posts/mo, 30 days of analytics, no LinkedIn or X |
| Entry paid plan | Starter: $18.75/mo billed yearly; monthly price not shown on Later's pricing page (checked 16 Oct 2026) | Starter: from $20/mo billed yearly, or $25 monthly |
| What the entry plan covers | 1 social set (8 profiles), 30 posts per profile, 1 user | 5 brands, unlimited posts (fair use), unlimited analytics history |
| Middle plan | Growth: $37.50/mo billed yearly; 2 sets, 180 posts per profile, 2 users | Advanced: from $53/mo billed yearly, or $67 monthly; 15+ brands, team roles, approval, API |
| Top listed plan | Scale: $82.50/mo billed yearly; 6 sets, unlimited posts, 4 users | Enterprise options not covered here |
| Analytics | Analytics history up to 2 years on Scale | Unlimited history from Starter, plus competitor tracking |
| Pricing notes | Only yearly prices shown | Prices exclude VAT; X and advanced analytics are add-ons on Starter |
How the prices compare
Later Starter is $18.75/mo and Metricool Starter is $20/mo, both billed yearly. The limits are very different. Later Starter caps you at 30 posts per profile. Metricool Starter has unlimited posts under fair use and covers 5 brands. If you post a Short every day, 30 posts per profile is about one month of daily posts.
Free plan
Metricool has a free plan for 1 brand with 20 scheduled posts a month. Later does not list a free plan on its pricing page, so you pay from day one.
Planning and analytics
Later is built around a visual calendar and link-in-bio, which helps if your feed look matters. Metricool's edge is analytics: competitor tracking and unlimited analytics history on paid plans.
Which one for a Shorts creator?
- Just starting, $0 budget: Metricool Free.
- Posting daily to TikTok, Shorts and Reels: Metricool Starter, since Later Starter stops at 30 posts per profile.
- Instagram-first with a planned grid look: Later.
- Managing several creator brands: Metricool.
Common questions
Does Later have a free plan?
No. Later pricing: From $18.75/mo. Prices change, so check the official site.
Does Metricool have a free plan?
Yes. Metricool pricing: Freemium, from $20/mo yearly ($25 monthly). Prices change, so check the official site.
Which is better, Later or Metricool?
Pick Later if you want a visual calendar and link-in-bio, and you are fine paying from $18.75/mo billed yearly. Pick Metricool if you want to start free, then get 5 brands and unlimited posts (fair use) for $20/mo billed yearly.
Related: Metricool alternatives, Buffer vs Later, Buffer vs Metricool, tools to schedule posts.
Sources: later.com/pricing, metricool.com/pricing. Checked on 11 October 2026. Based on published plans, not a hands-on test.