Which is cheaper, Metricool or Later?

Both offer free plans. Metricool paid plans start at $22/month and Later paid plans start at $25/month (Starter). They are similarly priced, but Metricool includes ad analytics on all paid plans while Later focuses more on visual scheduling features.

Metricool vs Later (2026): Which Social Media Tool Is Better for Creators?

By ToolVS Research Team · Updated April 10, 2026

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Quick verdict: Later wins for visual Instagram planning — its grid preview and Linkin.bio tools are the best in class for visual creators. Metricool wins for analytics-first teams that also track Google Ads and Facebook Ads performance alongside organic social.

Metricool

8.4/10

Best for analytics + multi-platform management

Later

8.2/10

Best for visual Instagram planning

Feature Comparison

Feature	Metricool	Later
Pricing	Free plan; $22/mo (Starter)	Free plan; $25/mo (Starter)
Visual Grid Preview	Basic preview	Excellent drag-and-drop Instagram grid preview
Link in Bio	Linktree-style page on all plans	Later.com/link landing page (native)
Ad Analytics	Google Ads + Facebook/Instagram Ads	Not included
Competitor Analysis	Basic competitor tracking	Not available
Auto-Publishing	Yes across all platforms	Yes, Instagram and all major platforms
Best Time to Post	AI-powered recommendations	AI-powered recommendations
Best For	Analytics-focused marketers, agencies with ad clients	Visual content creators, Instagram-first brands

Which do you use?

Metricool

Later

Who Should Choose What?

→ Choose Metricool if:

You run paid social campaigns alongside organic. You need Google Ads and Facebook/Instagram Ads analytics in the same platform. You want competitor benchmarking and a more data-driven approach to social media management.

→ Choose Later if:

You're an Instagram-first brand or creator. You care deeply about your feed aesthetic and want the best grid preview tool. You want a native Linkin.bio solution built into your scheduler. Your content is primarily visual.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Metricool or Later better for Instagram?

Later is better for pure Instagram visual planning — its drag-and-drop grid preview and native Linkin.bio are the best available for Instagram-first creators. Metricool is better if you also run Instagram ads and want all analytics in one dashboard alongside other platforms like TikTok and LinkedIn.

Does Metricool track paid ads?

Yes — this is one of Metricool's biggest differentiators. It connects to Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads to show you paid and organic performance together. Later does not offer this. For agencies managing both organic and paid social, Metricool is much more valuable.

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Last updated: April 10, 2026