Planning to boost your posting schedule? Looking for a social media calendar tool to help automate the process?
As a content creator, I’m sure you’ll agree - Hardly any other aspect of your business is more important to you than social media.
It’s where you publish your content, after all. It’s where you connect with the audience. Build your personal brand. Increase visibility. Get people engaged with your content…
But it’s also so much work, isn’t it?
That’s even more true if you’re trying to plan and manage your social queue by hand.
Luckily, various social media calendar tools help scale and automate the process. And in this guide, I’ve collected 15 of the absolutely best ones for content creators like you.
Before we get to the good stuff, though, let’s quickly recap something…
What exactly is a social media calendar?
The reason we talk about this is that the term - social media calendar - is often used to describe two things.
The first one is the actual schedule of all your upcoming social media posts across all platforms on which you’re present.
These posts are organized by date and time, just like you’d do with a traditional calendar.
In fact, most social calendars use the typical calendar format to show you a bird-eye view of your entire posting schedule per week, month, year, or custom timeframe.
Here’s one example of a busy social media schedule set as a calendar.
Note how easy it is to quickly see what posts are scheduled per day, on what networks, and so on.
But, and this is the important thing, in this understanding of the term - the actual calendar can be anything:
- A spreadsheet that lists your upcoming posts by date and time
- A list of the content you want to publish, again, with publication dates for each post or
- A digital calendar, very much like the one in the screenshot above.
The key thing here is that a social media calendar helps you organize your posting, plan your content ahead of time, and clearly see which posts need to go live, when, and to which platform.
The other meaning of the term social media calendar is a tool for planning and organizing a social media posting schedule.
Such a social media calendar tool is nothing else but a software platform where you manage the posting schedule.
In fact, the screenshot I showed you above is from such a tool - Postpone (a social media calendar tool created specifically for content creators.)
And so, with such a tool, you can:
- Schedule all your posts per social account for a specific date. In fact, most social media calendar tools allow you to bulk schedule your posts far into the future.
- Set custom posting schedules per account so that you don’t have to pick times for posts manually each time you create new content.
- Edit, update, and move them around the calendar should you need to reschedule some.
- Include the first comment if you want to feature a link to another resource there.
- Define what happens with those posts after submission,
- Provide you with performance data so that you know what’s working and what’s not, and so on.
Here’s another screenshot of a social media calendar tool. This one, however, shows a custom posting schedule for a specific subreddit. This means that all content added to the calendar for this subreddit will automatically be scheduled across those times.
Why bother with creating a social media calendar?
Fair question. After all, it’s entirely possible to just keep on publishing content to each network manually.
It’s not entirely manageable, at least not when you begin scaling your campaigns, though.
And so, content creators typically turn to social media calendar tools for these reasons:
#1. To save time
I’m sure you’ve experienced it too - You promise yourself that you will plan social posts for each day or week, but usually, stuff gets in the way:
- Other things continuously take your attention away from focusing on the schedule
- You also run out of ideas. Or time to fully focus and brainstorm ideas.
- You’re also finding it difficult to prioritize what to post and when. Not to mention that keeping track of when to promote your content and on which social platform quickly gets out of hand.
A social media calendar gives you the opportunity to plan all your content together into the future.
In fact, with the calendar, doing so is actually a child’s play.
You can book a day or two into your schedule, plan the next 60 days of social media content, write those posts, schedule them and … let the calendar tool manage posting those for you.
In other words, with the calendar tool, managing social media strategy turns from frantically trying to catch up with the posting schedule to setting and forgetting about it.
#2. To gain additional insights
Let’s face it; it’s almost impossible to keep track of all the data points across all networks by hand.
And yes, sure, you could create a complex and robust spreadsheet to help with that. But realistically, how long until you stop updating performance data and your analytics become far out of date?
Exactly!
Social media calendar tools track content performance automatically. They collect, report, and even analyze it for you.
As a result, instead of chasing and updating the data, you can focus on turning those insights into actions that push your performance.
#3. To speed up the process further with AI
Not all social media calendar tools offer AI capabilities, but many do, and those can help streamline various aspects of the social media campaign even further.
For example, AI tools can help brainstorm new content ideas. Of course, they can help write the content, too.
But to me, the biggest benefit of using AI in social media automation tools is that it can help you, the human, overcome writer's block and think up new ways to say something.
Many social media calendar tools use AI to help identify the best time to post content or reschedule it to maximize its impact.
Another common use case for AI is repurposing content. Many social media calendar tools use artificial intelligence to analyze past content performance, identify high-engagement posts, and repurpose them for different platforms and formats.
Finally, AI also helps analyze performance data faster. From generating high-level overviews of content’s performance to detailed analytics for each piece of content, AI can quickly identify winners and losers and suggest how to improve the campaign further.
What are the core features of a social media calendar tool?
We’ve covered quite a lot of information about those tools already, and I mentioned several capabilities, too. So, before we look at all the various social media calendar tools, let’s look at their core capabilities more closely.
Social media calendar
Naturally, social calendar - the ability to plan and schedule all social media posts in advance -is at the core of such tools, and we’ve covered much of that functionality already.
Ability to post to multiple social media networks
Most social media calendar tools allow you to schedule content across several social media platforms.
However, while most social media scheduling tools would support the big platforms - X, Instagram, or TikTok, only some focus on the emerging ones, like Mastodon or Bluesky. Therefore, when selecting the tool, review whether it supports the networks where your audience hangs out the most.
For example, Postpone supports eight social media platforms, and you get to connect to the ones you use right after signing up.
A content library
The Content Library is where your social media content—images, videos, gifs, and more—lives before you publish it.
It’s where you store and organize all your assets and even keep track of the social media platforms you’ve submitted them to.
Data and analytics
Most social media content calendars provide you with insights and data to monitor and evaluate your content’s performance. You can see which posts engaged the audience the most, which ones rocked the social media algorithms, track likes, views, and comments, and more.
Needless to say, over time, these stats become the absolute source of truth for new ideas and strategies to take campaigns further and further.
(Post views data in Postpone)
Engagement capabilities
The last core functionality I want to highlight is various audience engagement capabilities.
Note I said various. That’s because, pretty much just like with AI, different tools include different features that help you engage the audience.
These might be the ability to respond to public comments or private DMs, automating replies to fans, hashtag suggestions, and more.
Best Social Media Calendar Tools for Content Creators
#1. Postpone
Overview:
Postpone (full disclaimer - this is my tool) is a social media calendar tool dedicated exclusively to content creators. Unlike many other social media calendars on this list, Postpone was created from the ground up to support the needs of content creators, not businesses, brands, or enterprises.
As a result, it does not include certain features that small, local businesses might need. But it includes everything that content creators like you require to post and promote your content across social media:
- Bulk scheduling content across all supported networks.
- Support for 10 networks, including Reddit, and also new entrants like Mastodon, Tumblr, or Bluesky.
- Universal posting across all platforms at once.
- AI capabilities to help you come up with new content ideas
- Powerful analytics
- Inbox and DM management to help you manage and engage your audience better,
- And so much more.
Social Media Calendar Features:
Bulk Scheduling: Yes
AI capabilities:
- AI assistant for content creation and enhancement
Supported networks
- Reddit,
- X (Twitter),
- Instagram,
- Facebook,
- TikTok,
- YouTube,
- Bluesky,
- Mastodon,
- Tumblr
Content Library: Yes
Analytics features
- Post performance tracking,
- Insights into likes and engagement,
- Top content discovery,
- Best time to post
#2. Google Calendar
Overview:
I know that including Google Calendar on this list may seem odd, but remember how I said that a social media calendar is basically just that, a calendar of your social media posts? And that it can really be anything, a spreadsheet, a list of content, etc.
Well, then, following that logic, you could, technically, use a tool like Google Calendar to organize and plan your social media queue.
I admit that it wouldn’t be the most perfect or efficient solution. For one, Google Calendar cannot automatically post your content to relevant networks.
But as a social media calendar, it could easily help you plan your posting schedule far into the future.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: No
AI capabilities: None
Supported networks: None
Content Library: No
Analytics features: None
#3. SocialBee
Overview:
SocialBee is an all-in-one social media platform created particularly for brands. However, when it comes to its social media calendar features, the tool seems to deliver most features that a content creator would need, too.
With SocialBee, you can bulk schedule your content, use AI to generate new posts (and also, plan the entire strategy), manage your assets, and so on.
The tool also features several capabilities for teams, specifically. And so, with SocialBee, you can run approval workflows, collaborate on content, and so on.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: Yes
AI capabilities
- Content generation with AI (including text and images)
- AI-based post customization
- AI-based social media strategy development
Supported networks
- Facebook,
- Pinterest,
- Instagram,
- TikTok,
- LinkedIn,
- YouTube,
- X (Twitter),
- Google Business,
- BlueSky
Content Library: Yes
Analytics features
- Audience insights
- Engagement reach
- Best time to post
- Category performance
#4. Later
Overview:
Later.com, better known as Later, is a social media management platform that includes a whole range of features to help you visually plan and schedule social media posts.
Users - and I think it’s worth noting that just like SocialBee, Later seems to focus more on social media managers and brands than content creators - can drag and drop their content on a calendar and quickly visualize their posting schedule.
But naturally, Later’s social media calendar features would deliver on the needs of content creators, too, and that’s why I’ve included it on my list.
Worth noting - For Later, the social media calendar is just one of the elements of the entire platform. The company also offers a separate tool for managing influencer marketing, and a tool to manage Link in Bio.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: Yes
AI capabilities
- Best time to post recommendations
- Instagram caption writer
Supported networks
- Facebook,
- Pinterest,
- Instagram,
- TikTok,
- LinkedIn,
- YouTube,
- X (Twitter),
- Google Business,
- BlueSky
Content Library: Yes
Analytics features
- Best time to post
- Post performance analytics
- Instagram Reels analytics
#5. CoSchedule
Overview:
CoSchedule is an interesting tool on this list. You see, it started as a social media content calendar but over time, evolved to encompass other channels (i.e., content, podcasts, videos, etc.). Today, the tool focuses on helping marketers plan and visualize almost every aspect of their strategies, coordinate the process, and collaborate with others (including clients and third parties.)
Having said that, CoSchedule still offers a robust set of social media planning tools, including social media calendar, campaign management, smart rescheduling, and AI-driven content creator.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: Yes
AI capabilities
- Content generation with AI
- MIA, a collaborative AI to help build and manage marketing campaigns
Supported networks
- Facebook,
- Instagram,
- LinkedIn,
- Pinterest,
- TikTok, X (Twitter),
- YouTube,
- Shopify,
- Mastodon,
- Bluesky
Content Library: Yes
Analytics features
- Social engagement and performance
- Social campaigns report
#6. Buffer
Overview:
Buffer is one of the first web-based social media calendar tools. There have been several sort-of successful attempts to create a similar desktop-based tool but I think it was Buffer that first did it successfully.
And Buffer remains a robust social media calendar. It’s focus is largely on small businesses and agencies, though. However, the tool offers many features that would work for content creators.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: Yes
AI capabilities
- Content generation with AI
- AI-based content repurposing
- Post inspiration
- Post variations
Supported networks
- Google Business
- Mastodon
- Shopify
- TikTok
- YouTube
Content Library: Yes
Analytics features
- Social engagement and performance
- Social campaigns report
#7. Sprout Social
Overview:
Another pioneer social media calendar tool, Sprout Social, has grown into a powerful platform, but it’s worth noting that it largely targets enterprise customers. That said, it still offers several features that any content creator would find handy.
From managing your content calendar to advanced engagement tools and robust analytics, Sprout Social covers every aspect of social media campaign.
RECOMMENDED READING: See other Sprout Social alternatives for content creators.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: Yes
AI capabilities
- Sentiment analysis
- AI-driven insights
- Best times to post
- Content generation
Supported networks
- TikTok
Content Library: Yes
Analytics features
- Reporting dashboards
- Interactive charts
- Paid and organic social media performance
#8. Sendible
Overview:
As the company’s slogan says, Sendible is all about social media at scale. In practice, this means that the company focuses largely on publishers and creators who manage a large volume of social media content - Social media management agencies, large publications, and content creators with large audiences or several separate profiles.
And for those, Sendible’s social media calendar offers quite a feature set - from social listening, calendar automations to automated reporting, trend analysis, and more.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: Yes
AI capabilities
- AI-driven social listening
- Automated reporting
- Sentiment Analysis
- Trend Analysis
Supported networks
- Twitter (X)
- Google Business Profile
- YouTube
- TikTok
Content Library: Yes
Analytics features
- Reporting dashboards
- Branded reports
- Engagement reports
- Google Analytics integration
#9. MeetEdgar
Overview:
MeetEdgar launched as a unique take on the social media calendar. Originally, the tool wasn’t focusing as much on helping creators bulk schedule content and manage the social queue. It helped them keep the audience engaged by automatically resharing their best content.
Over time, however, MeetEdgar also added features to help content creators plan, schedule, and manage their social calendars. However, it’s primary benefit is still how the platform re-purposes your evergreen content to continue engaging the audience without forcing you to continuously create new posts.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: Yes
AI capabilities
- AI-driven content ideas
- Content creation
Supported networks
- Twitter (X)
- Google Business Profile
- YouTube
- TikTok
Content Library: Yes
Analytics features
- Reporting dashboards
- A/B testing options and reporting
#10. Planoly
Overview:
Planoly is a social media content calendar primarily for Instagram with additional support for other networks. The tool offers a visual planner for Instagram and a social media calendar that works with Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, and TikTok.
And the tool does exactly what you’d expect from a social calendar. It allows you to bulk schedule your content, or get reminders to post the content from its mobile app, trends and ideas manager, access to stock photos, and more.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: Yes but auto-uploads limits on plans
AI capabilities
- AI caption writer
- Content creation
Supported networks
- Twitter (X)
- YouTube
- TikTok
Content Library: No
Analytics features
- Reporting dashboards
#11. Loomly
Overview:
Another large platform on the list. Loomly offers several tools to help creators manage their social media calendars. From scheduling, content planning, and library to content approval workflows that help teams create and manage social media content, Loomly covers all aspects of the process.
Its content library and calendar make it easy to centralize all visual assets. AI offers post suggestions and ideas to break writer’s block, image, and video editor helps prepare each asset for publication, and so on.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: Yes
AI capabilities
- Post ideas
Supported networks
- Twitter (X)
- YouTube
- TikTok
Content Library: No
Analytics features
- Audience insights
- Post performance
- Clicks tracking with a proprietary link shortener
#12. SocialPilot
Overview:
I’m sure you can see the trend among the social media calendar tools on my list - Most offer the social calendar as just one of its many features or capabilities. The situation is no different with SocialPilot, a large social media management platform.
And so, with SocialPilot, you can schedule and manage your social queue, bulk schedule your content to the calendar, and organize assets in a library. But you can also use a social inbox to engage your audience, use an AI assistant to generate content ideas, and review your content’s performance.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: Yes
AI capabilities
- AI-drive post ideas
- Trend analysis
- AI content creation
Supported networks
- Twitter (X)
- Google Business Profile
- YouTube
- TikTok
- Tumblr
Content Library: Yes
Analytics features
- Performance reports
- Post performance
- KPI tracking
#13. Levuro
Overview:
Levuro is a dedicated social media calendar tool. It allows you to plan and schedule your campaigns using a calendar-based editor, optimize posts and assets to different channels, include mentions, and then, evaluate post performance. This is exaclty what you need for a social media calendar too.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: Yes
AI capabilities
- AI-generated tags
Supported networks
- Twitter (X)
- YouTube
- TikTok
- Tumblr
Content Library: Yes
Analytics features
- Post performance
#14. Planable
Overview:
Planable is a tool dedicated entirely to streamlining the creation, planning, and publication of social media content. Its features cover all aspects of the usual social media content creation process, from ideation, content creation, reviews, and signoffs to scheduling and publication.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: Yes
AI capabilities
- AI-generated tags
Supported networks
- Twitter (X)
- YouTube
- TikTok
Content Library: Yes
Analytics features
- Post performance analysis and reports
#15. SEMrush Social Poster
Overview:
The final tool I want to tell you about isn’t a social media calendar at all. Hell, it’s not even a social media tool. But it does offer the social media calendar capability, and I think it’s worth mentioning, particularly if you also need a platform to manage other aspects of your marketing.
SEMrush is a complete digital marketing platform that offers tools to run your SEO, paid ads, social media, and more. Social Poster is actually an add-on that you need to activate and add to your account. But if you are already using SEMrush, or plan to use it to research keywords and topics, create better SEO content, and more, then it might be worth considering getting the add-on as well.
Social media calendar features:
Bulk Scheduling: No
AI capabilities
- None
Supported networks
- Twitter (X)
- Google Business
Content Library: Yes
Analytics features
- Post performance analysis and reports
And that’s it…
These are the 15 best social media calendar tools to help you manage the social posting queue.
All that’s left is to evaluate them more closely and try out the ones that fit your needs.
Good luck!