Comparisons

Best Metricool Alternatives 2026: Top Social Media Tools Compared

Matt
Matt
8 min read

TL;DR - Quick Answer

16 min read

Quick tool comparison. Features, pricing, and what works best for your needs.

Metricool's analytics are solid. But it lacks content creation tools.

If you need AI writing, video templates, or content recycling, here are your best options.

Better alternative

Why compare? Get more for less with SocialRails

Post images, videos & carousels to 9 platforms. AI helps with captions.

Metricool
$18/month
Basic AI
SocialRails
$29/month flat
Unlimited AI
Unlimited AI content
Image, video & carousel
9 platforms
Start free trial

Cancel anytime

Quick Answer

NeedBest AlternativeWhy
AI contentSocialRailsUnlimited AI generation
Video templatesSocialRails350+ templates included
15 platformsOnlySocialBluesky, Mastodon, Telegram
Content recyclingSocialBeeEvergreen automation
Enterprise analyticsHootsuiteSocial listening
Simple schedulingBufferFree plan, easy UI
Visual grid planningPallyyInstagram-first focus
Per-account pricingHopper HQ$6/account model
Per-calendar agency pricingHeyOrcaUnlimited users per calendar
B2B with employee advocacyOktopostNative advocacy + CRM
European GDPR schedulingPostPickr€19/month with EU servers
Video creation focusRipl$14.99/month with templates

Why People Leave Metricool

Three reasons come up constantly:

1. No AI content generation Metricool schedules content but doesn't help create it.

2. No video templates You'll need external tools for video creation.

3. Limited free plan No LinkedIn or Twitter/X without paying.


Quick Quiz
Easy

You need AI to write social media captions. What's the problem with Metricool?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Top 5 Metricool Alternatives

1. SocialRails — Best for Content Creation

Price: $29-99/month

Solves Metricool's biggest gaps: AI content and video templates.

FeatureMetricoolSocialRails
Starting priceFreeTrial
Paid from$18/month$29/month
AI contentNoneUnlimited
Video templatesNone350+
AnalyticsAdvancedBasic

Best for: Anyone who spends hours writing content.

Try SocialRails free

2. Hootsuite — Best for Enterprise Analytics

Price: $99-739/month

Has enterprise features Metricool doesn't match:

  • Social listening (monitor brand mentions)
  • OwlyWriter AI
  • Advanced compliance tools
  • 150+ integrations

Trade-off: Much more expensive. Complex interface.

Full comparison

3. SocialBee — Best for Content Recycling

Price: $29-99/month

Automatic content recycling that Metricool lacks:

  • Create once, post forever
  • Category-based scheduling
  • Evergreen automation
  • AI Copilot included

Trade-off: Basic analytics compared to Metricool.


Quick Quiz
Medium

Which Metricool alternative has automatic content recycling?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


4. Buffer — Best Free Option

Price: Free to $120/month

Simpler than Metricool with a better free plan:

  • 3 channels free forever
  • $6/channel for more
  • Basic AI assistant
  • Easiest learning curve

Trade-off: Much weaker analytics than Metricool.


5. Sprout Social — Best for Agencies

Price: $249-499/month per user

Enterprise-grade analytics and CRM:

  • Deep cross-platform analytics
  • CRM integration
  • Team performance tracking
  • Social listening

Trade-off: Very expensive. Per-user pricing.


Feature Comparison

FeatureMetricoolSocialRailsHootsuiteSocialBeeBuffer
Free plan1 brandTrialNoNo3 channels
AI contentNoUnlimitedOwlyWriterAI CopilotBasic
Video templatesNo350+NoNoNo
AnalyticsAdvancedBasicAdvancedBasicBasic
Competitor trackingYesNoYesNoNo
Content recyclingNoNoNoYesNo
Starting paid$18/mo$29/mo$99/mo$29/mo$6/ch

Quick Quiz
Easy

You're a 3-person team with a $60/month budget. Which tool offers the best value?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Quick Quiz
Medium

You're switching from Metricool. What feature is hardest to match elsewhere?

💡 Tip: Think carefully before selecting your answer!


Best Alternative by Use Case

You Need AI Content Creation

Choose: SocialRails

What You GetBenefit
Unlimited AI contentStop writing from scratch
350+ video templatesCreate videos in minutes
Team collaborationShare with team at $49/mo

Metricool: $18/month, no AI. SocialRails: $29/month with AI and video.


You Need Better Enterprise Analytics

Choose: Hootsuite

What You GetBenefit
Social listeningMonitor brand mentions
Advanced dashboardsEnterprise reporting
OwlyWriter AICaption generation

Metricool: Good analytics, no listening. Hootsuite: Full enterprise suite at $99+/month.


You Want Content Recycling

Choose: SocialBee

What You GetBenefit
Evergreen recyclingPosts repeat automatically
Category schedulingBalanced content mix
AI CopilotSome AI assistance

Metricool: No recycling. SocialBee: Automatic evergreen from $29/month.


You Need WordPress/YouTube Automation

Choose: Nuelink

What You GetBenefit
Auto-import from WordPressBlog posts become social content
YouTube auto-shareNew videos posted automatically
E-commerce integrationShopify/Etsy products shared

Metricool: Manual content only. Nuelink: Content automation from $18/month.


You Need Free Scheduling

Choose: Buffer

What You GetBenefit
3 channels freeNo cost for basics
Simple interfaceQuick to learn
Browser extensionEasy sharing

Metricool: Free for 1 brand, limited. Buffer: Free for 3 channels, simpler.


You Want Open-Source with AI

Choose: Postiz

What You GetBenefit
Open-source codeSelf-host for free
AI image generationCreate visuals automatically
Niche platformsBlueSky, Mastodon, Reddit

Metricool: No AI content, closed source. Postiz: Open-source AI scheduler from $23/month.


How to Switch from Metricool

Step 1: Export your data

Metricool allows data export. Download your analytics and scheduled content.

Step 2: Pick your alternative

Your situationChoose
Need AI contentSocialRails
Need video templatesSocialRails
Need enterprise listeningHootsuite
Want content recyclingSocialBee
Want free optionBuffer

Step 3: Set up your new tool

Most alternatives take 30-60 minutes to configure. Analytics migration may take longer.


When to Stay with Metricool

Metricool still wins if you:

  • Prioritize analytics over content creation
  • Need competitor tracking on budget
  • Want SmartLinks (link in bio)
  • Generate client reports regularly
  • Don't need AI or video tools

No alternative matches Metricool's analytics at $18/month.


Quick Answers

Best free Metricool alternative? Buffer with 3 free channels. Metricool's free plan is also solid for 1 brand.

Best for AI content? SocialRails with unlimited AI at $29/month.

Which has Metricool's analytics quality? Hootsuite matches or exceeds at $99+/month. Sprout Social at $249+/month.

Best for teams? SocialRails at $49/month or Hootsuite at $249/month.


Bottom Line

Metricool's analytics and competitor tracking are excellent. But if you need AI content or video templates, alternatives deliver more creation value.

Our picks:

  • Content creation: SocialRails ($29/month)
  • Enterprise analytics: Hootsuite ($99/month)
  • Content recycling: SocialBee ($29/month)
  • Free option: Buffer
3-day free trial

Done comparing? Try the Metricool alternative that does more

Post images, videos & carousels to 9 platforms. AI helps with captions. One flat price.

$29
per month
AI content
9
platforms
Start free trial

Metricool Content:

Budget Alternatives:

Metricool Comparisons:

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Content Recycling Tools:

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