In 2026, a cohesive Instagram grid isn't just nice to have—it's essential for brand perception and audience retention. Two of the most popular tools for planning that perfect feed are Later and Planoly. Both offer visual grid previews, scheduling, and analytics, but they cater to slightly different audiences and workflows.
This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which Instagram scheduling app is right for your 2026 strategy. We'll dive deep into features, pricing, user experience, and real-world performance so you can make an informed choice.
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📋 Table of Contents
- 1. What Are Later and Planoly?
- 2. Grid Preview & Visual Planning
- 3. Auto-Publishing & Stories
- 4. Analytics & Reporting
- 5. Link-in-Bio Features
- 6. Pricing & Plans (2026)
- 7. Pros & Cons at a Glance
- 8. Real Creator Case Studies
- 9. Decision Guide: Which Should You Choose?
- 10. Top Alternatives for 2026
- 11. Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Later and Planoly?
Both Later and Planoly are cloud-based social media management tools primarily designed for Instagram, though they now support other platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter. They help creators and brands visually plan their feed, schedule posts, analyze performance, and manage engagement.
Later
Founded 2014Later started as a simple Instagram scheduler and has grown into a full-featured visual marketing platform. Known for its intuitive drag-and-drop calendar, Later emphasizes visual content planning and has strong e-commerce integrations (like Shopify) for shoppable posts.
Planoly
Founded 2016Planoly began as a visual planner specifically for Instagram and has evolved into a comprehensive social commerce tool. It offers robust analytics, user-generated content management, and a built-in "Linkin.bio" alternative. Planoly is especially popular among e-commerce brands and influencers who need detailed insights.
Grid Preview & Visual Planning
The core feature of both apps is the ability to drag and drop images to see how they'll look together on your Instagram grid before they go live. This is critical for maintaining a cohesive aesthetic.
| Feature | Later | Planoly |
|---|---|---|
| Drag-and-drop grid | ✅ Smooth, intuitive | ✅ Smooth, intuitive |
| Multiple grid layouts | 3, 4, 5 column previews | 3, 4, 5 column previews + custom |
| Color palette suggestions | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (AI-powered color harmony) |
| Reorder scheduled posts | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Mobile app grid preview | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Winner: Planoly edges ahead with AI color palette suggestions, but both offer excellent visual planning. If you rely heavily on aesthetic color coordination, Planoly's extra tool is valuable.
Auto-Publishing & Stories
Instagram's API restrictions mean neither app can fully auto-post (you still get a notification to confirm), but they streamline the process significantly.
- Later: Supports direct publishing for feed posts, carousels, and videos. For Stories, Later sends a push notification to your phone with the media ready to post—you tap and it opens Instagram with the content pre-loaded.
- Planoly: Similar functionality: feed posts are scheduled with a reminder; Stories can be scheduled with a notification. Planoly also offers a "Story Templates" feature to create stories within the app.
📱 2026 Update: Both apps now support TikTok and Reels scheduling natively
Later allows direct publishing to TikTok (video + caption). Planoly also supports TikTok scheduling and cross-posting to multiple platforms from one dashboard.
Analytics & Reporting
Understanding your audience and post performance is key to growth.
| Metric | Later | Planoly |
|---|---|---|
| Engagement rate per post | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Follower growth tracking | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Story analytics (views, exits) | ✅ Basic | ✅ Detailed (including completion rate) |
| Hashtag performance | ❌ No | ✅ Yes (tracks which hashtags drive reach) |
| Exportable reports | ✅ PDF/CSV on higher plans | ✅ PDF/CSV on higher plans |
| Best time to post predictions | ✅ AI-powered recommendations | ✅ Based on your audience activity |
Winner: Planoly offers more granular analytics, especially for Stories and hashtags, making it a better choice for data-driven marketers.
Link-in-Bio Features
Both apps provide a "link in bio" landing page to overcome Instagram's single-link limitation.
- Later’s Linkin.bio: Creates a mobile-optimized page that mirrors your Instagram grid. You can add clickable links to individual posts, making it ideal for driving traffic to products or articles. Later's Linkin.bio now supports video and product tags.
- Planoly’s Linkin.bio alternative: Similar concept, but Planoly offers more customization (fonts, colors, layout) and the ability to add "buy now" buttons directly. It also integrates with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other e-commerce platforms for seamless shopping.
📊 Case Study: Fashion Blogger @StylebyMia
"I switched from Later to Planoly specifically for the link-in-bio analytics. I could see exactly which product links were getting clicks, and that helped me negotiate better affiliate deals. The Shopify integration means my followers can buy without leaving the page."
Pricing & Plans (2026)
Both tools offer free plans with limitations, and paid plans that scale with features.
| Plan | Later | Planoly |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 1 social set, 30 posts/mo, basic analytics, 1 Linkin.bio page | 1 account, 30 posts/mo, basic analytics, 1 page, limited stories scheduling |
| Starter/Plus | $18/mo (billed annually): 3 social sets, unlimited posts, advanced analytics, multiple Linkin.bio pages | $15/mo (billed annually): 2 accounts, unlimited posts, advanced analytics, hashtag tracking, story templates |
| Pro/Business | $40/mo: 6 social sets, team collaboration, custom reports, Shopify integration | $35/mo: 5 accounts, UGC management, advanced e-commerce tools, white-label reports |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Custom pricing |
Note: Both platforms frequently offer discounts for annual subscriptions. Planoly's pricing is slightly lower at entry-level paid plans, while Later's higher tiers include more social sets (accounts) which may benefit agencies.
Pros & Cons at a Glance
✅ Later Pros
- Intuitive, clean interface – great for beginners.
- Strong e-commerce integrations (Shopify, BigCommerce).
- Excellent visual calendar and media library.
- Robust free plan for individuals.
- "Best time to post" AI predictions.
❌ Later Cons
- Lacks hashtag performance tracking.
- Story analytics are basic compared to Planoly.
- Linkin.bio less customizable.
✅ Planoly Pros
- Superior analytics – especially for Stories and hashtags.
- AI color palette suggestions for grid harmony.
- More customizable link-in-bio with direct shopping buttons.
- Built-in story templates and UGC curation.
- Better for e-commerce and data-driven creators.
❌ Planoly Cons
- Slightly steeper learning curve due to more features.
- Mobile app can feel cluttered compared to Later's.
- Free plan restrictions on stories.
Real Creator Case Studies
📸 Photographer & Educator: @VisualStories
Tool used: Later
Why they chose Later: "I needed a simple drag-and-drop to plan my feed around my latest shoots. Later's visual calendar is the cleanest I've tried, and the free plan covered my needs for months. The Shopify integration lets me tag products from my print store directly in posts."
🛍️ E-commerce Brand: @EcoChic
Tool used: Planoly
Why they chose Planoly: "As a growing sustainable fashion brand, we needed deep analytics to see which products resonated. Planoly's hashtag tracking helped us refine our strategy, and the link-in-bio with buy buttons increased our conversion rate by 18% in three months."
Decision Guide: Which Should You Choose?
🎯 Choose Later if:
- You're a beginner or solo creator who wants a simple, visual planning experience.
- You run an e-commerce store and need seamless product tagging from platforms like Shopify.
- You prefer a generous free plan to test the waters.
- You don't need advanced hashtag or story analytics.
🎯 Choose Planoly if:
- You're a data-driven marketer, agency, or brand that needs detailed analytics (hashtag performance, story completion).
- You want to maintain a highly curated, color-coordinated grid and appreciate AI suggestions.
- You need a customizable link-in-bio with direct shopping capabilities.
- You manage multiple accounts and want more flexibility in reporting.
Top Alternatives for 2026
If neither Later nor Planoly feels right, consider these popular alternatives:
- Buffer: Excellent for multi-platform scheduling, but lacks the visual grid preview.
- Hootsuite: Comprehensive enterprise tool, but can be overwhelming for Instagram-only planning.
- Tailwind: Strong for Pinterest and Instagram, with a focus on hashtag communities.
- Preview.app: Another visual planner similar to Planoly, with good analytics and link-in-bio.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Due to Instagram's API restrictions, neither app can publish posts completely automatically. Both send a push notification to your phone with the content pre-loaded; you tap and confirm. This is the same for all third-party schedulers.
Yes. Both Later and Planoly fully support single images, videos (up to 10 minutes), and carousels (multiple images/videos in one post). They also support Reels scheduling with reminders.
Later's paid plans include "social sets" (e.g., 3 sets on Starter), each set can include one Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc. So you can manage multiple accounts. Planoly's paid plans specify a number of "accounts" (e.g., 2 on Plus). Compare your needs: if you only manage Instagram accounts, Planoly might be cheaper per account; if you also need other platforms, Later's social sets may be better value.
Yes, both have added TikTok scheduling in 2026. Later can auto-publish to TikTok directly (video + caption). Planoly also supports TikTok scheduling and cross-posting. Always check the latest API capabilities.
Later offers a 14-day money-back guarantee on annual plans. Planoly does not advertise a money-back guarantee, but you can cancel anytime and continue using the service until the end of your billing period. Both have free plans to test before committing.
Final Verdict: Later vs Planoly in 2026
Both Later and Planoly are excellent tools that will help you maintain a beautiful, consistent Instagram presence. Your choice ultimately depends on your priorities:
- If you value simplicity, visual planning, and e-commerce integrations — go with Later.
- If you need advanced analytics, hashtag tracking, and a highly customizable link-in-bio — go with Planoly.
We recommend starting with both free plans to see which interface feels more natural for your workflow. In 2026, the best tool is the one you'll actually use consistently.