9 of the best social media calendar tools

Social media can be a powerful marketing tool for any size business, but managing different social accounts can be time-consuming and complicated. This is where social media management software comes in.

Social media calendar tools are designed to seamlessly integrate with popular social channels like Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram. They let users schedule posts, collaborate with teams, and manage multiple social accounts in one central location. However, there are many options out there, and it can be challenging to figure out which one would work best for your business.

That’s why we’ve rounded up nine of the top social media management platforms available, including a mix of free and paid options. In this post, we share the features and pricing of each so you can compare your options and make the right choice for your brand.

1. Jotform Tables

Jotform Tables is an all-in-one tool that allows you to map out your social media posts and provides robust spreadsheet-database functionality. With key features like advanced search filtering, formulas, and full column and tag customization, you can easily sync your social media calendar in the same place as your entire editorial calendar.

You can also tap into Jotform’s growing suite of products, including the Form Builder, PDF Editor, and Mobile Forms.

What’s the best part? Access to Jotform Tables is provided with every plan, even the free Starter plan.

2. Buffer

Buffer got its start in 2010 and offers a robust social media management software solution for a variety of businesses.

Buffer allows users to plan and schedule their social content while actively engaging with their audiences. The publishing function of the software enables users to collaborate on content with team members, tailor posts for each social network, and view content at a glance with a user-friendly calendar.

Pricing for Buffer’s Publish tool starts at $6 per month and includes one user, eight social channels, and up to 100 scheduled posts. Each plan comes with a free 14-day trial.

3. Sprout Social

Sprout Social is a powerful social management platform that has been helping large and small businesses grow their brands since 2010. The tool is designed to simplify reporting, publishing, social media management, and engagement. Social management features include content publishing and scheduling capabilities, conversation management, and customizable reporting tools.

A 30-day free trial is available for new users. Plans begin at $249 per user, per month. The standard plan includes five social profiles, and users can scale as they grow.

4. CoSchedule

CoSchedule launched its product in 2013 and has since grown into one of the top marketing software providers. The software lets users manage all of their marketing efforts, including social media, in one central hub. Social features include automated publishing, post scheduling, social media monitoring, collaboration capabilities, and reporting. Additionally, the tool enables users to organize their blogging schedule.

The blog and social calendar plan begin at $19 per user, per month. New users can try the software risk-free for 14 days before committing.

5. X Premium

X Prremium (formerly TweetDeck) got its start in 2008, and Twitter (now X) acquired it shortly after. For those relying solely on X for their social strategy, X Premium is a solid option. Advanced features include longer posts and video uploads, reduced ads, media studio and more.

X Premium offers three tiers: Basic, Premium, and Premium+, each with additional features compared to the previous tier. X’s Help Center provides detailed guidance on getting started with X Premium.

6. Hootsuite

Hootsuite has grown to one of the most popular social media management platforms since its start in 2008. More than 18 million users worldwide rely on it to execute their social strategies. Social media management features for Hootsuite include automated publishing, social media monitoring, reporting and analytics, brand tracking, collaboration tools, and content management.

However, the company has come under fire in recent years with a round of layoffs and a controversial contract with ICE, which the company recently announced it would cancel.

Hootsuite offers a limited free plan that includes three social profiles and 30 scheduled messages for a single user. Premium plan pricing starts at $99 per month for a single user. Team plans begin at $249 per month. Paid plans include a 30-day free trial.

6. Zoho Social

Zoho added Zoho Social to its suite of offerings in 2015. Today, this tool is intended to be the easiest way to manage a brand on social media.

Zoho Social allows users to schedule unlimited posts and features an automated publishing calendar with drag-and-drop functionality. Through content queues, users can create posting schedules with unique time slots, or they can rely on SmartQ predictions to publish content when viewers are most active.

Bulk scheduling, live stream engagement, direct messaging, team collaboration and permissions, and custom reports are all bonuses to using this platform for social media management.

Pricing for individuals and small businesses begins at just $10 per month for two members. Each plan allows add-ons for extra brands or team members for additional flexibility.

8. Salesforce Marketing Cloud

Salesforce was founded in 1999 and has since made a name for itself as one of the top CRM platforms in the world. Its robust Marketing Cloud software offers users a lot more than automated publishing and post scheduling. Social media marketing features include content management, customer targeting, multi-account management, analytics, and conversion tracking.

Marketing Cloud pricing runs on the more expensive side; the corporate plan with base-level features starts at $1,250 per organization each month.

9. HubSpot Marketing Hub

HubSpot has established itself as a leader in marketing software since its inception in 2006. Its signature product — HubSpot Marketing Hub — lets users monitor social media marketing efforts and leverage its powerful marketing automation and analytics features. If your business is already using HubSpot Sales Hub and/or Service Hub, adopting the Marketing Hub will make it easier to collaborate across the entire organization.

However, just like SalesForce Marketing Cloud, this is enterprise software — which means it’s not exactly cheap. The Professional plan for the Marketing Hub starts at $792 per month.

It’s important to think about what you want to accomplish with a social media management platform before determining which one to use. For example, consider features important to you, such as team collaboration capabilities, scale potential, and the number of social accounts allowed.

Whenever possible, take advantage of free trials and try the software before committing. No matter how simple or complex your social strategy is, there’s a software option that can streamline the process for you.