The Best Social Media Management Tools for Every Need (Agencies, Small Businesses & Free Options)
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Why Social Media Management Tools Matter
“Social media is about the people! Not about your business. Provide for the people and the people will provide you.” — Matt Goulart
Social media is relentless. New platforms, shifting algorithms, and rising expectations mean you need to be everywhere, all the time. If you’re still posting manually, you’re not just wasting time—you’re missing out on growth, engagement, and real business results.
Social Media Management Tools are the answer. They let you schedule posts, monitor conversations, analyze performance, and collaborate with your team—all from one dashboard. Whether you’re a solo founder, a bustling agency, or a small business owner, the right tool can be a game-changer.
Want to understand the bigger picture? Start with our complete guide to social media management for a deep dive into strategy, roles, and best practices.
What to Look for in Social Media Management Tools
Before you pick a tool, ask yourself:
- Platform Support: Does it connect with all the social networks you use now—and the ones you might use next year?
- Analytics: Are the reports deep enough to prove ROI and guide your strategy?
- Collaboration: Can your team (or clients) review, approve, and comment on posts?
- Scalability: Will the price stay reasonable as you add more accounts or users?
- Special Features: Does it offer unique tools for agencies, small businesses, or creators?
For a full breakdown of what social media managers do and the skills required, see Social Media Management Roles and Social Media Management Skills.
Top Social Media Management Tools for Every Need
Crosspostify: The Affordable, User-Friendly Choice
If you want a Social Media Management Tool that’s powerful, affordable, and dead simple to use, Crosspostify is your new best friend. Designed for everyone—from solo creators to agencies—Crosspostify lets you schedule, post, and manage content without a steep learning curve or a hefty price tag.
- Schedule posts across all major platforms (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, and more)
- Visual content calendar for easy planning
- Bulk upload and cross-posting to multiple channels in one click
- Real-time analytics to track what’s working
- Team collaboration with approval workflows
- Mobile-friendly dashboard
Pricing: Starts at just $6 per month—one of the most affordable Social Media Management Tools available.
Best for: Small businesses, agencies, freelancers, and anyone who wants to save time and stay organized.
Actionable tip: Start with Crosspostify’s free trial. Set up your main social accounts, schedule a week’s worth of posts, and check the analytics after a few days. You’ll see the time savings immediately.
Want to see how Crosspostify compares to other tools? Check out Top Social Media Management Software (Including Open Source & Paid Solutions).
Buffer: Simplicity for Small Businesses
Buffer is a classic Social Media Management Tool for Small Business. It’s perfect for those who want a no-fuss way to schedule posts, analyze performance, and engage with their audience.
- Schedule posts for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and more
- “Start Page” for a customizable link-in-bio landing page
- Ideas app to store content inspiration
- Chrome extension for quick sharing
- Analytics and reporting
Pricing: Free plan for up to 3 channels; paid plans start at $6/month per channel.
Best for: Small businesses, solopreneurs, and creators who want a Social Media Management Tool for Small Business with a gentle learning curve.
Pro tip: Use Buffer’s “Ideas” feature to jot down post ideas as they come. You’ll never run out of content inspiration.
Hootsuite: The Powerhouse for Agencies
Hootsuite is the OG of Social Media Management Tools for Agencies. It’s packed with features for scheduling, analytics, social listening, and team collaboration.
- Manage 10+ social networks from one dashboard
- Advanced analytics and competitor benchmarking
- Social listening to track brand mentions and trends
- Unified inbox for all messages and comments
- Team roles and granular permissions
- AI-powered content suggestions
Pricing: No free plan, but a 30-day free trial is available. Paid plans start at $99/month for 10 social profiles.
Best for: Agencies managing multiple clients and platforms, or teams needing advanced analytics and reporting.
Actionable tip: Set up custom streams in Hootsuite to monitor keywords, competitors, and industry trends. You’ll spot opportunities (and crises) before anyone else.
SocialPilot: Scalable for Agencies and Brands
SocialPilot is built for agencies and growing brands. It’s affordable, scalable, and packed with features that make managing multiple clients a breeze.
- Manage up to 50 social accounts
- White-label dashboards for client branding
- Bulk scheduling (500+ posts at once!)
- Approval workflows for clients (no logins needed)
- Advanced analytics and reporting
- Team collaboration and role management
Pricing: No free plan, but a 14-day free trial is available. Paid plans start at $30/month for 10 accounts.
Best for: Agencies needing Social Media Management Software for Agencies with client-facing features, or brands managing multiple products or locations.
Pro tip: Use SocialPilot’s white-label feature to impress clients with branded dashboards and reports.
Planable: Collaboration Made Easy
Planable is all about teamwork. If you need to collaborate, get approvals, and keep everyone on the same page, this is your tool.
- Real-time collaboration on posts (think Google Docs for social)
- Customizable approval workflows (none, optional, required, multi-level)
- Visual content calendar and feed mockups
- Internal and external comments for feedback
- Analytics and reporting
Pricing: Free for up to 50 scheduled posts; paid plans start at $33/month per workspace.
Best for: Agencies and teams who need seamless collaboration, or brands with multiple stakeholders in content creation.
Actionable tip: Set up multi-level approvals to ensure every post is reviewed by the right people before going live.
Later: Visual Scheduling for Creators
Later started as an Instagram scheduler and has grown into a full-fledged Social Media Management Tool for Small Business and creators.
- Visual drag-and-drop content calendar
- Schedule posts for Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube
- Linkin.bio for shoppable Instagram feeds
- Analytics and best time to post suggestions
- User-generated content management
Pricing: Free plan with 10 posts/month; paid plans start at $18/month.
Best for: Visual brands, influencers, and creators, or small businesses focused on Instagram and Pinterest.
Pro tip: Use Later’s “Best Time to Post” feature to maximize engagement on every platform.
Zoho Social: Best for Zoho Users
If your business already uses Zoho products, Zoho Social is a natural fit. It integrates seamlessly with Zoho CRM and Desk, making it easy to manage marketing and customer service in one place.
- Schedule and publish posts across major platforms
- Custom social listening dashboards
- Automated reposting of top-performing content
- Integration with Zoho CRM and Desk
Pricing: No free plan, but a 15-day free trial is available. Paid plans start at €15/month.
Best for: Businesses already using Zoho products, or teams needing CRM integration.
Actionable tip: Connect Zoho Social to your CRM to track leads and customer interactions from social media.
Sprout Social: All-in-One for Large Teams
Sprout Social is a premium Social Media Management Tool for agencies and large teams. It combines social media management, analytics, and influencer marketing in one platform.
- Schedule, publish, and analyze posts across all major platforms
- Influencer marketing tools
- Employee advocacy features
- Beautiful, interactive reports
- Advanced team collaboration
Pricing: No free plan. Paid plans start at $249/seat/month.
Best for: Large agencies and enterprises, or teams managing both social media and influencer campaigns.
Pro tip: Use Sprout Social’s employee advocacy feature to amplify your brand’s reach through your team’s networks.
Free Social Media Management Software
Not ready to invest? There are excellent Free Social Media Management Software options to get you started.
- TweetDeck: Manage unlimited Twitter accounts, schedule tweets, build lists, and monitor conversations. 100% free.
- Canva: Create stunning visuals and schedule posts directly. Free plan with access to thousands of templates.
- Planable (Free Tier): Collaborate and schedule up to 50 posts for free.
- Buffer (Free Tier): Manage up to 3 social accounts with 10 scheduled posts per channel.
- Later (Free Tier): Schedule up to 10 posts per month.
- Facebook Creator Studio: Manage Facebook and Instagram posts for free.
Actionable tip: Start with a free tool to get a feel for what features matter most to you. Upgrade only when you need more power.
For more on building a workflow, see How to Build an Efficient Social Media Management Workflow.
How to Choose the Right Tool
- List Your Must-Have Features: Do you need analytics, collaboration, or just simple scheduling? Write down your non-negotiables.
- Consider Your Team Size: Solo? Small team? Agency? Some tools charge per user, others per account.
- Think About Your Growth: Will you need to add more accounts or users soon? Choose a tool that scales with you.
- Test Drive with Free Trials: Most Social Media Management Software offers free trials. Use them! Set up your accounts, schedule posts, and explore the analytics.
- Check the Budget: Don’t just look at the starting price. Calculate the cost as you grow—some tools get expensive fast.
For more on how these tools fit into business strategy, see What Are Social Media Management Services and Why Your Business Needs Them.
FAQs
- What’s the difference between Social Media Management Tools for Agencies and for Small Businesses?
Tools for agencies usually offer features like client dashboards, white-labeling, advanced analytics, and multi-user collaboration. Tools for small business focus on simplicity, affordability, and ease of use. - Are there good Free Social Media Management Software options?
Absolutely! Tools like Buffer, Later, TweetDeck, and Canva offer robust free plans. They’re perfect for getting started or managing a few accounts. - How do Social Media Management Tools help agencies?
They streamline workflows, centralize client management, automate reporting, and make collaboration seamless. Social Media Management Software for Agencies is essential for scaling without chaos. - Can I use these tools for personal brands or side hustles?
Yes! Many Social Media Management Tools are perfect for personal brands, freelancers, and side hustles. Start with a free or low-cost plan and upgrade as you grow.
For more on the future of social media, see The Future of Social Media: Ad-Free Platforms, Algorithms, and Mental Health.