Let’s be honest: social media marketing is a lot more than just posting pretty pictures and hoping for likes! (You knew that, right?)
With over 4.2 billion users, social media is a crowded space where making an impact requires strategic planning, creativity, and the right tools.
Social media management tools simplify the process, helping you handle everything from content planning and post-scheduling to engaging with your audience and analysing results.
If premium tools are out of reach, don’t worry... we’ve gathered a list of the 9 best free social media management tools that keep your budget in check without sacrificing functionality.
Summary: Best Free Social Media Management Tools
| Tool | Best For | Free Plan Highlights | Supported Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hootsuite | Overall social media management | 30 Day Trial 1 user10 social accounts* | Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest |
| Later | Scheduling and visual planning | 1 account per platform, 30 posts/month per profile | Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Facebook |
| Buffer | Managing multiple accounts | 3 accounts, 10 posts per account | Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X |
| Agorapulse | Community management and social CRM | 3 accounts, 40 posts/month | Facebook, Instagram, X |
| Crowdfire | Content curation and planning | 3 accounts, 10 posts per account | Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X |
| Canva | Visual content creation | Unlimited templates, 5GB storage, team collaboration | Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter |
| Tailwind | Visual platforms (Pinterest and Instagram) | 1 Pinterest and 1 Instagram account, 20 posts/month | Instagram, Pinterest |
| CoSchedule | Overall marketing calendar management | 2 profiles, 5 scheduled posts | Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn |
| SmarterQueue | Automating evergreen content and recycling | 3 accounts, 10 posts per account | Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn |
Best Free Social Media Management Tool for Overall Management
#1. Hootsuite:
Hootsuite is a well-rounded solution for managing social media accounts. It offers a streamlined way to schedule and monitor posts. It supports Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.
What We Love:
- All-in-One Social Media Management Software: Plan, post, and analyse content across two accounts.
- Streams & Boards: View interactions like comments and mentions in a central inbox, allowing for easy engagement with followers.
Free Plan Perks: The free plan allows a 30-day trial. It’s a great starting point for small businesses that need to test out SMMS and maintain a basic social media presence without spending hours manually posting.
Best Free Social Media Management Tool for Scheduling Posts
#2. Later:
Later started as a visual Instagram planner and has since expanded to support multiple platforms like TikTok, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
What We Love:
- Visual Planner: Drag-and-drop feature for designing a cohesive Instagram feed before scheduling.
- Media Library: Store and organise photos and videos in one place for easy access when planning content.
Free Plan Perks: Later’s free plan allows users to add one account per social media platform (Instagram, TikTok, etc.) and schedule up to 30 posts per profile each month. This is perfect for visually focused brands looking to curate their content
Best Free Social Media Management Tool for Multiple Accounts
#3. Buffer:
Buffer offers a user-friendly way to maintain consistency across several social media accounts, making it ideal for small businesses and solo entrepreneurs.
What We Love:
- Multi-Account Management: Supports Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more, making it easy to keep multiple profiles active and extremely helpful for marketing consultancy's like Youbee Media.
- Content Suggestions: Get hashtag recommendations and tag suggestions for better reach.
Free Plan Perks: Users can manage up to 3 social accounts and schedule up to 10 posts per account in the free plan. It’s a simple yet effective solution for maintaining a regular posting schedule
Best Free Social Media Management Tool for Small Business
#4. Agorapulse:
Agorapulse focuses on community building with a social CRM that helps brands deepen their relationships with followers.
What We Love:
- Social CRM: Track and rank your most engaged followers, and take notes on interactions.
- Campaign Labels: Organise posts to monitor the performance of different campaigns.
Free Plan Perks: With 3 social accounts and 40 posts per month on the free plan, it’s a good option for small businesses that want to manage engagement alongside scheduling
Best Free Social Media Management Tool for Content Planning
#5. Crowdfire:
Crowdfire goes beyond basic scheduling by offering content curation tools and helping brands find articles and images that will resonate with their audience.
What We Love:
- Curated Content: Discover relevant articles, videos, and images to share with your audience across multiple social media channels.
- Customisable Posts: Tailor each post for specific platforms and preview them before scheduling.
Free Plan Perks: Manage up to 3 social accounts and schedule 10 posts per account while enjoying unlimited access to curated content. This makes it great for keeping your feeds active without needing to create all the content yourself
Best Free Social Media Management Tool for Creating Visuals
#6. Canva:
Canva is the go-to platform for creating visually engaging social media content, perfect for crafting everything from Instagram posts to infographics.
What We Love:
- 250,000+ Templates: Endless options for every type of social media content.
- Team Collaboration: Work with teammates on designs in real time.
Free Plan Perks: Free users gain access to Canva’s template library, design tools, and 5GB of storage, making it easy to create eye-catching visuals that stand out on social media
Best Free Social Media Management Tool for Visual Platforms
#7. Tailwind:
Tailwind is a go-to tool for anyone focused on Pinterest and Instagram marketing, with features that cater to visual content creators. Its easy-to-use design and scheduling features make it perfect for businesses looking to enhance their visual branding on these platforms.
What We Love:
- Smart Scheduling: Automatically suggests the best times to post based on when your audience is most active, helping you maximise engagement.
- Visual Planning: Offers an Instagram grid planner, allowing you to design a cohesive feed before scheduling posts.
- Hashtag Finder: Recommends relevant hashtags for better reach on Instagram.
Free Plan Perks: The free plan allows 1 user to connect up to 2 accounts (Instagram and Pinterest), with the ability to schedule up to 20 monthly posts. It’s ideal for small businesses that rely on these visual platforms
Best Free Social Media Management Tool for Overall Marketing
#8. CoSchedule:
CoSchedule is more than just a social media scheduler; it’s a comprehensive marketing calendar. It’s a perfect choice if you want to integrate your social media strategy with other marketing tasks like blog posts or email campaigns.
What We Love:
- Unified Calendar: Manage your social media, blog, and email marketing from a single dashboard, making it easy to plan and execute integrated campaigns.
- Evergreen Content Management: Automatically reshuffle and reschedule evergreen content to keep your feed active without constant updates.
- Easy Import: Import past social media posts to re-analyse and re-share content that worked well before.
Free Plan Perks: With the free plan, you can manage 2 social profiles and schedule up to 5 posts. It’s an excellent option for users who need a basic but effective way to keep their content organised across different channels
Best Free Social Media Management Tool for Content Recycling
#9. SmarterQueue:
SmarterQueue excels at keeping your social media feeds active by allowing you to recycle your best posts. This feature is especially valuable for brands that want to keep high-performing content in circulation without manually reposting it.
What We Love:
- Content Categories: Organise posts by theme to ensure a balanced and diverse content calendar.
- Evergreen Content Recycling: Automatically reposts evergreen content, keeping your feed active even during slow periods.
- Detailed Analytics: Track the performance of recycled posts to understand what works best with your audience.
Free Plan Perks: The free plan lets you manage up to 3 social accounts and schedule up to 10 posts per account. It’s ideal for those looking to automate content republishing while maintaining a steady online presence
Comparison Table: Detailed Overview of Free Social Media Management Tools
| Tool | Free Plan | Scheduling Limit | Platforms Supported | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hootsuite | 2 accounts, basic scheduling | 5 posts at a time | Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube | Unified dashboard for monitoring and engagement |
| Later | 1 account per platform, media library | 30 posts/month per profile | Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Facebook | Visual Instagram Planner |
| Buffer | 3 accounts, basic analytics | 10 posts per account | Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X | Easy-to-use interface and content suggestions |
| Agorapulse | 3 accounts, social CRM | 40 posts per month | Facebook, Instagram, X | Social CRM for relationship management |
| Crowdfire | 3 accounts, unlimited content curation | 10 posts per account | Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X | Content curation and hashtag suggestions |
| Canva | Unlimited design templates, team collaboration | N/A | Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter | Easy design tools for branded content |
| Tailwind | 1 Instagram and 1 Pinterest account | 20 posts per month | Instagram, Pinterest | Smart scheduling with a focus on visuals |
| CoSchedule | 2 profiles, integrates with blogs | 5 posts total | Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn | Marketing calendar for multi-channel management |
| SmarterQueue | 3 accounts, content recycling | 10 posts per account | Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn | Automates reposting of evergreen content |
Why These Free Tools Are Worth a Try
Social Media Platforms are competitive, but these free tools offer powerful features to help you keep up without the price tag.
From visual scheduling with Tailwind to integrated marketing planning with CoSchedule and automated recycling with SmarterQueue, there’s a tool for every need and platform focus.
Need a Helping Hand?
If managing these tools still feels like a lot, Youbee Media is here to support your business with planning, curating and scheduling valuable content! We handle everything from crafting engaging posts to building a tailored social media strategy. Contact us or join one of our marketing workshops to see how we can elevate your social presence while you focus on growing your business.
