If you’re trying to compare Planoly vs Later and choose the perfect tool for you and your business, you’ve come to the right place.
Later and Planoly are among the more popular online tools for scheduling your Instagram posts. But how good are they? And is it worth paying for them? Which is the better of the two – Planoly or Later?
We’ve previously talked about the strengths and weaknesses of the social media scheduling tools Hootsuite and Buffer. Now we’ll look into how Planoly and Later compare with each other as a tool.
This article will hopefully provide you with all the necessary information to make the right decision on which tool is best for you and your brand.
| Features | Planoly | Later | Hopper HQ |
| Pricing starts at | $14/month | $16.67/month | $16/month |
| Social Platforms | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkrfIn,YouTube shorts,X, | Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Youtube | Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube shorts, LinkedIn, Bluesky |
| Users | 1 | 1 | Unlimited |
| Accounts | 1 social set | 1 social set | 1 social set |
| Scheduled Posts | 60 | Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube | Unlimited |
| Strategy Planner | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Split Captions | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| AI Assitance | ✅ | ✅(Limited) | ✅ |
| Link-in bio | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Bulk Scheduling | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Visual-grid Planner | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Approval Workflows | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Analytics | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Inbox | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
What is the difference between Later and Planoly?
Like most other scheduling apps in the market, Later and Planoly are both targeted at the Instagram marketing audience. However, there are still some significant differences in the type of Instagram audiences they’re trying to reach.
Later is targeted at agencies and teams
Later positions itself as an Instagram-first app that lets small businesses “visually plan” their calendar, and is built to share photos, videos, and stories on Instagram. It also comes with team management features like content approval workflows, comments, and notes as well as an activity log.
With Later I found that the analytics provided were more robust and detailed when compared to Planoly, yet another feature most teams would look for.
Planoly is targeted at agencies and teams
Planoly is not too different, but instead, their target market is creators and influencers by letting users visually plan their social media calendar. Planoly also comes with unique tools like Sellit, StoriesEdit, and LinkIt.
With Planoly, you can also create customized link-in bio landing pages with shopable products and even a checkout page. Proving to be a great tool for not only creators but also solo entrepreneurs and enthusiasts hoping to start a business.
In some ways, both these tools offer a product that is very similar to what Hopper HQ has. HopperHQ, is another social media scheduling tool popular for its simplicity and is perfect for social media managers trying to save time with automation.
Having said that, each of these tools connects with a bunch of different social media platforms. Both Planoly, Later, and Hopper HQ connect to Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.
Why consider HopperHQ?
Hopper HQ is a robust social media management platform built to simplify content planning while helping you stay consistent across multiple channels. It supports Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Bluesky, and YouTube Shorts—making it a great choice for brands and creators managing multiple accounts.
A key strength of Hopper HQ is its visual-first approach. The drag-and-drop calendar planner and Instagram grid preview make it easy to map out your content visually, ensuring your feed stays cohesive and on-brand. This is especially helpful for creators who want their aesthetic to shine through every post.
Additional features like bulk post creation, split captions (perfect for handling long-form captions in a clean, engaging way), and collaboration tools help streamline your workflow. The split-caption feature is particularly handy for breaking up text into digestible parts, enhancing readability and engagement on platforms like Instagram.
Another standout is the AI-powered Strategy Planner, which builds a fully customized posting schedule for you. It analyzes your audience, niche, and industry trends to deliver a ready-to-use content calendar packed with post ideas and optimal posting times—helping you save time and maximize engagement with minimal effort.
Top Features:
- Strategy Planner
- Split Captions
- Bulk Create and Schedule
- Instagram Grid Planner
- AI Assistance
Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube Shorts, and BlueSky
Pricing: Provides a 14-day free trial and then has one plan at $16 a month on the yearly plan
Planoly Vs. Later Onboarding Process
Like most users, do you compare products merely on their pricing and stated features? This can be a big mistake. This is why – it does not matter how advanced a product’s features are. What matters is how easy it is for a layman user to know how to use them.
So how do Later and Planoly fare on this aspect?
Later signup/onboarding process
Later’s sign-up is quite straightforward. You click on the ‘Create Account’ button on the homepage and enter your name, email, and password on the next screen. You are signed up.
Later does not disrupt your workflow with a request to verify an email. Instead, they ask you to connect your account with your Instagram profile in the next window. You click on the ‘Connect Instagram Profile’ button, authorize the app, and voila, you are done.
But here is why some users may find this process confusing.
If you are a business that does not have an Instagram account yet, or if you are someone who is here on the app for Pinterest or Facebook instead, there is no way to complete your sign-up process.
You have to either connect to your Instagram account right away or abort the signup.
While it is true that most people looking for an app like Later are interested in its Instagram scheduling features, I can see use cases where one may not have an Instagram account yet.
Planoly signup/onboarding process
Planoly has a more traditional sign-up process. Once you key in your name, email, and password on the account registration page, you are taken to their pricing page where you are supposed to pick a plan. By default, the user is set to the free plan.
One gripe I have with this step is that for users who wish to proceed with the free plan, there is no visual cue to indicate how they proceed. There is a link to ‘Plan’ at the top right of the window – something that most users are likely to miss.
If they do, the only way to proceed is by picking a paid plan to proceed.
So, how does Hopper HQ fare against these two platforms?
Hopper HQ signup/onboarding process
Firstly, there is no way one could miss the messaging and sign-up window on the homepage.
Enter the details, and you are taken to the ‘Plan Select’ page. You’ll first have to select the amount of social sets you’d like to have, then enter your card details, and you are done!
Your free trial has now officially begun!
Want to give this a try yourself? Sign up for a 14-day free trial now.
Planoly Vs. Later Pricing plans
There are two ways to price a SaaS product. You either have a free trial and offer only paid plans once the trial period is over; or you have a freemium where users can enjoy a free version of the product, albeit with limited features.
So which one is better for you, the user?
There is no right answer. But here is the thing – a free trial exposes the user to the entire gamut of features. If you are a business looking for ways to grow your social media marketing campaign as an online marketer expert, a free trial lets you experience the power of the product before the trial period is over.
Free versions are great for personal use. But from a business user’s perspective, they do not help you grow your business. So it is difficult to know if you need any of the features in the paid version or not.
Later pricing plan review
There are three tiers in Later’s pricing plan. You can choose between the Starter Plan, the Growth Plan, and the Advanced Plan.
The pricing is based on the number of “social sets” and users you sign up for. A social set is a bundle of four social media profiles; one each for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
In the first plan, at $16.67 a month, you can connect 1 social set, and publish 30 posts per profile with only one user. You may also try any of the plans in a 14-day free trial.
If you select the Growth plan, you will be able to post 150 times per social profile, have an additional 2 users and access to the platforms full analytics.
Planoly pricing plan review
Similar to Later, Planoly has 3 plans with similar names, Starter, Growth, and Pro. Also, Plonaly uses social sets just like Later and Hopper HQ.
On the first plan, for $14 a month, you have access to one social set, one user, and 60 uploads a month. You can try and of Plonalys subscriptions for free with a 7-day free trial.
As you increase subscription costs, you gain access to up to 6 users, unlimited uploads, and one more social set if selecting the pro plan.
Hopper HQ pricing plan review
Unlike Later or Planoly, there is absolutely no feature-gating on Hopper. All features are available to all users in their one subscription plan of $16 a month.
With HopperHQ, you will have access to unlimited posts and users, as well as the use of AI assistance. HopperHQ is known for its visually-first approach with a dynamic calendar and a visually appealing Instagram grid planner.
Planoly Vs. Later Features Comparison
Speaking of features, Planoly and Later come packed with a lot of features. Which is better for you? Let’s take a look.
Later key features:
- Provides a creator community you can collaborate with
- Manage both Instagram and TikTok comments
- Work together as a team with its team management features
Later is feature-gated. So, a lot of great features are only available to the higher versions of the paid plan.
For instance, basic analytics isn’t provided to all users. However, if you want to track clicks on Twitter or Pinterest, you will need to be signed up for the Growth or Advanced plan. The same is true with Instagram Hashtag analytics or analytics export.
Again, if you want to collaborate with other team members, the Growth and Advanced plan offer unlimited access. However, the Starter pack only has one Access group.
Customer support, too, is based on the plan you subscribe to. Live chat support is only available to Advanced plan users. People with lower-paid plans can only get email support.
Planoly key features:
- Provides extensions, trends, and templates for content inspiration
- Leverage its customizable link-in bio for products with a checkout
- Utilize its unlimited caption generator to help with post creation
Planoly has several features that make it useful for Instagram and Pinterest marketers. You can post photos, videos, GIFs, and create thematic grids with the app. You also have other features like the best time to post, first comment auto-posting, and analytics.
Free-tier users do not get the quick schedule feature that is available to paid plans.
Hopper HQ key features
At the outset, Hopper HQ has all the features that are expected of a social media scheduling app. But what truly separates Hopper HQ from the rest of the pack is it’s visual focus.
1) Strategy Planner
Hopper HQ’s Strategy Planner is an AI-powered tool designed to generate a tailored posting schedule aligned with your brand’s niche and audience behavior. By analyzing your industry and target demographics, the Strategy Planner suggests a structured content calendar filled with relevant post ideas and optimal posting times. This not only saves you the effort of manual planning but also enhances consistency and engagement by aligning your posts with your audience’s interests and peak activity periods.
2) Bulk Create and Schedule
Bulk Create and Schedule feature allows users to upload and schedule multiple posts simultaneously. This functionality supports bulk uploading of up to 50 images and videos directly from your computer or cloud storage, facilitating efficient content planning across platforms.
For spreadsheet enthusiasts, Hopper HQ offers a CSV Bulk Create option, enabling the preparation of captions and media links in a single spreadsheet for quick scheduling. Additionally, users can set preferred posting times for each account, ensuring that bulk-uploaded content aligns with optimal engagement periods.
3) AI Assistance
Hopper HQ integrates AI assistance to simplify and enhance your social media content creation.
Key features include:
- AI Text Transform: This tool refines your captions by correcting grammar, adjusting tone, and adding elements like hashtags or emojis. Simply input your draft, select ‘AI’ > ‘Text Transform,’ and choose your desired tone. The AI will present multiple caption suggestions tailored to your input.
- AI Caption Generator: Craft engaging captions effortlessly. Click on ‘AI’ > ‘Generate Caption,’ select a tone that aligns with your content, and the AI will provide several curated caption options based on your image and chosen tone.
- AI Hashtag Generator: Optimize your posts with relevant hashtags. Navigate to ‘AI’ > ‘Generate Hashtags,’ specify the number of hashtags you need, and the AI will suggest appropriate hashtags based on your content.
4) In App content Editing
On Hopper HQ, you can quickly and easily edit images before you schedule them on your calendar.
You can add custom filters, texts, or other overlays to the image. You can also adjust brightness and saturation levels, and do a ton of image editing before you schedule it for posting.
This is so important to you as a social media marketer. Other scheduling apps do not offer this feature. Due to this, you will be required to pay for another image editing application in addition to paying for the app itself.
It’s a hidden cost that you don’t realize till it is time to start posting.
With Hopper HQ, the money you pay for the application is inclusive of the image editing bits as well. And that is what makes it unique and better.
5) Priority support
Another differentiator between Hopper HQ and a tool like Later is that priority support is open to all users. Earlier in this article, I mentioned how you get live chat support on Later only if you are an Advanced plan user.
With Hopper HQ, this feature is available to everyone, regardless of how many bundles you are signed up for.This is a pattern you will notice on Hopper HQ – there are simply no restrictions on the features you get access to. If you are a customer, you get access to features regardless of how big or small you are.
Conclusion
Planoly and Later both have a ton of features in their application. But before you pick one, I would urge you to check out the features on Hopper HQ. You get a 14-day free trial to explore the product exhaustively before deciding how you want to proceed.
Which is your favorite among the three? Tell us in the comments.