How do I plan what to post on social media?

Set your themes and posting rhythm, map a month of posts on one calendar, and fill it before the week starts. Tools that do it: Metricool, Sprout Social, Buffer, Hootsuite, Sendible, SocialBee, Later.

Plan your posts on one calendar: guide, DIY and tools

Start here

The guide Social Media Content Calendar: How to Plan a Month of Posts How it works and how to do it well Read → Do it yourself Content Calendar Template: Build a Free One in Sheets or Excel Build it in Excel or Google Sheets Read → The tools Content Calendar Tool: How 7 Planners Solve Social Planning Which apps do it for you, and where each stops Read →

Tools that do it

Each one's way of doing it, and the point where it stops.

Metricool Does it

The Planner holds a drag-and-drop calendar with previews, a feed preview and notes, with Best Times, autolists and recurring posts in the same view. Import or export the calendar as CSV. Where it stops: Free and Starter have one user; the mobile app has no Social Calendars.

See Metricool → checked Oct 2026

Sprout Social Does it

The Publishing Calendar shows List, Week and Month views with filters and color-coded internal notes, and shares a calendar link with people who have no seat. Where it stops: No free plan.

See Sprout Social → checked Oct 2026

Buffer Does it

Collect ideas, tags, templates and content feeds in the Create space, then drag drafts onto the calendar. An empty calendar suggests posting slots from your Posting Goal. Where it stops: Free holds 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time, so a full month cannot be queued.

See Buffer → checked Oct 2026

Hootsuite Does it

The Planner shows scheduled and published posts across networks, lists holidays and trending events, and exports up to 365 days as CSV with approval history and internal comments. Where it stops: Standard is capped at 10 social accounts; no free plan.

See Hootsuite → checked Oct 2026

Sendible Does it

Each workspace has its own calendar with monthly, weekly and daily views, a holiday calendar of post ideas, and export as PDF, HTML or CSV. Where it stops: Core has no content library, campaigns or approvals.

See Sendible → checked Oct 2026

SocialBee Does it

Set a weekly posting schedule by content category; each slot pulls the next post from its category, so the mix stays balanced. Copilot can draft categories, a schedule and starter posts from your website. Where it stops: No self-serve export of content; support emails a CSV.

See SocialBee → checked Oct 2026

Later Does it

Plan on a drag-and-drop calendar beside a visual media library, and check the Instagram grid preview before posts go out. Paid plans see the calendar a year back and forward. Where it stops: The Free plan (help center only) sees two weeks back and forward; Share Calendar is Instagram only and expires after 48 hours.

See Later → checked Oct 2026

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