Later vs Planoly 2026: Which Instagram Scheduler Is Better?
TL;DR - Quick Answer
10 min readPlanoly 2026 offers better value with more features at a lower price. Later excels in simplicity but costs more for similar functionality.
Quick answer: Both are Instagram-first visual planners. Planoly has better grid preview. Later has better Linkin.bio. Neither has AI content generation.
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Quick Comparison
Bottom line: Planoly for grid aesthetics. Later for link-in-bio and analytics.
Pricing Comparison
Annual savings: Both offer ~15-25% off for yearly billing.
Planoly is cheaper at every tier. But Later includes more features per tier.
You want the best Instagram grid preview at the lowest price. Which tool?
💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!
Grid Preview Comparison
Planoly
- Original grid planner - Pioneered the feature
- Best drag-and-drop - Smooth rearrangement
- Color coordination - See aesthetic harmony
- Most polished - Years of refinement
Later
- Good grid preview - Solid implementation
- Visual planning - See posts before publishing
- Decent interface - Gets the job done
- Not as refined - Second to Planoly
Winner: Planoly. Grid preview is their signature feature.
Linkin.bio Comparison
Later
- Advanced Linkin.bio - Their standout feature
- Clickable grid - Tap posts for links
- Analytics - Track clicks and sales
- Shopify integration - Direct ecommerce
Planoly
- Basic link-in-bio - Functional but limited
- Standard features - Links and basic tracking
- No ecommerce focus - Not built for selling
- Adequate - Works for simple needs
Winner: Later. Linkin.bio is their flagship feature.
You sell products through Instagram and need link-in-bio analytics. Which tool?
💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Instagram Features
Winner: Planoly for grid, otherwise tie.
Multi-Platform Support
Winner: Tie. Both Instagram-first, other platforms secondary.
Analytics
Winner: Later. More detailed analytics.
AI Features
Winner: Planoly (barely). Caption writer is limited but exists.
Reality: Neither has meaningful AI. For AI content, consider SocialRails.
You need unlimited AI content generation plus visual planning. Which is better?
💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!
Use Case Comparison
Choose Later if you:
- Sell products through Instagram
- Need advanced link-in-bio
- Want detailed analytics
- Value ecommerce features
- Budget allows $25+/month
Choose Planoly if you:
- Prioritize grid aesthetics
- Want best visual planning
- Need caption writing help
- Prefer cheaper entry price
- Focus purely on Instagram looks
Choose Neither (Consider SocialRails) if you:
- Need AI content generation
- Want video templates
- Manage multiple platforms equally
- Need unlimited creative tools
Pricing Deep Dive
Solo Creator Comparison
Winner: Planoly saves $132/year at entry level.
Growing Creator Comparison
Winner: Planoly saves $252/year with unlimited posts.
The Better Alternative
Both Later and Planoly are Instagram-first and lack:
- AI content generation
- Video templates for TikTok/Reels
- True multi-platform parity
SocialRails Comparison
Value proposition: Pay $13/month more than Planoly, get AI content and video templates neither offers.
Quick Answers
Is Later or Planoly better for Instagram? Planoly for grid aesthetics, Later for link-in-bio and analytics. Both solid for Instagram-only strategies.
Which is cheaper? Planoly at every tier. Starter is $9/month less than Later.
Do either have AI content generation? No. Planoly has a caption writer but neither generates full content.
Which is better for TikTok? Neither. Both are Instagram-first. Consider SocialRails for true multi-platform.
Can I try both free? Later offers 14-day trial. Planoly has a very limited free plan (30 uploads total).
Final Verdict
Later wins for: Ecommerce, link-in-bio, analytics.
Planoly wins for: Grid preview, price, visual aesthetics.
Neither wins for: AI content, video templates, multi-platform.
For most Instagram creators: Planoly offers better value at lower price.
For Instagram sellers: Later's Linkin.bio justifies higher cost.
For modern multi-platform needs: Consider SocialRails instead.
Done comparing? Try SocialRails instead
Post images, videos & carousels to 9 platforms. AI helps with captions. One flat price.
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