It is the end of October. Between now and Christmas Eve you want to post on Instagram and Facebook three times a week, and those are the same weeks your shop, studio or kitchen is busiest. Writing a post at 9 p.m. after close is how a posting plan quietly dies in the second week of December.
The short answer: three schedulers have a free plan that actually schedules. Buffer gives you 3 channels with up to 10 scheduled posts each, Publer gives you 3 social accounts (not X) with up to 10 scheduled posts each, and Metricool gives you one brand with 20 scheduled posts a month. Watch out for Zoho Social: its free plan connects six channels but, according to Zoho's own help page, does not support scheduling posts. If you outgrow free, the cheapest paid steps start at $5 a month per channel or account (currency not stated on the pages).
Key takeaways
- Buffer Free covers 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts per channel, and a slot reopens each time a post goes out, so a weekly top up keeps you posting for free.
- Metricool Free caps you at 20 scheduled posts a month across the brand. Three posts a week on two networks is about 26, so plan to post less or pay.
- Hootsuite has no free plan. Its Standard plan starts at $99 per user a month on annual billing (currency not stated), with a 14 day trial.
At a glance
| Tool | Best for | Free plan limit | Paid from | Canadian note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffer | Owners posting to 2 or 3 places, including Google | 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, 1 user | Essentials $5 a month per channel (currency not stated on the page) | No CAD pricing shown |
| Publer | Owners who write ahead and keep lots of drafts | 3 social accounts (not X), 10 scheduled posts per account at a time, 25 drafts, 1 user | Professional from $5 a month for one account (currency not stated on the page) | No CAD pricing shown |
| Metricool | Low volume posters who want analytics and competitor views | 1 brand, 20 scheduled posts a month, no LinkedIn or X, 1 month of analytics | Starter from $20 a month billed yearly, $25 monthly (currency not stated on the page) | Prices shown in euros and $, not CAD |
| Zoho Social | Watching six channels from one place, not scheduling | 1 brand, 1 user, 6 channels; no scheduling on the free plan | Not stated on the free edition page | No CAD pricing shown |
| Hootsuite | Teams with a real budget | No free plan; 14 day trial | Standard from $99 per user a month, annual billing (currency not stated on the page) | No CAD pricing shown |
How we chose
- Official pages only for every price, limit and rule: each company's own pricing page or help centre.
- Published features and pricing, not hands on testing.
- What matters to a small Canadian business: a free plan that really schedules, the networks local customers use (Instagram, Facebook and Google Business Profile), and a clear price before you hand over a card.
- Nobody pays to be included.
The three free plans that really schedule
Buffer
Buffer is a scheduling tool for small businesses and creators, with a free plan and two paid plans priced per channel.
Best for: a solo owner who posts to Instagram, Facebook and Google Business Profile and wants one simple queue.
- Channels: up to 3 on the free plan, from a long list that includes Instagram, Facebook Pages, Google Business Profile, TikTok business profiles, Threads, Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube Shorts and X.
- Queue: 10 scheduled posts per channel, and a slot reopens once a post publishes.
- Ideas: space for 100 saved post ideas.
- AI Assistant is included, with AI reply suggestions limited to 5 a week on the free plan.
Why it stands out: it is the only free plan here that lists Google Business Profile, which is where many local customers see you first.
Limits: one user only. Analytics on the free plan keep a 30 day history, and reports are paid. The page shows prices with a $ sign and does not name the currency.
Price: Free for up to 3 channels. Essentials is $5 a month per channel, or $60 a year per channel. Team is $10 a month per channel and adds unlimited team members and approvals. Both paid plans have a 14 day trial. See our Buffer tool page for more.
Publer
Publer is a social media scheduler with a free plan and paid plans priced per social account.
Best for: an owner who likes to write a batch of posts and keep many drafts waiting.
- Accounts: up to 3 social accounts on the free plan, excluding X.
- Queue: up to 10 scheduled posts at a time per account, plus up to 25 saved drafts.
- Built in extras: photo editing, a Canva integration, a link in bio page and link shortening with UTM tracking.
Why it stands out: the free plan includes design and link tools that other free plans leave out.
Limits: no X on the free plan, one user and one workspace, and only 24 hours of published post history. Advanced analytics and unlimited AI Assist prompts are listed on the paid Business plan.
Price: Free. Professional starts at $5 a month for one account and Business at $10 a month for one account, with 20% off yearly billing (currency not stated on the page). Trials are 7 days for Professional and 14 days for Business.
Metricool
Metricool is a scheduling and analytics tool that groups your accounts into "brands".
Best for: an owner who posts a few times a week and wants to see how a competitor's account is doing.
- One brand on the free plan, which can include Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, YouTube, Threads and Bluesky.
- 20 scheduled posts a month across the brand.
- Analysis of up to 5 competitor profiles and 1 month of analytics history.
- AI Assistant for writing captions.
Why it stands out: competitor tracking and analytics on a free plan.
Limits: LinkedIn needs a paid plan and X is a paid add on. Twenty posts a month runs out fast if you post to more than one network.
Price: Free. Starter is from $20 a month billed yearly or $25 monthly, and Advanced from $53 a month billed yearly or $67 monthly. The page also lists euro prices and does not say which dollar it means.
Free, but not for scheduling, or not free at all
Zoho Social
Zoho Social's free edition connects one brand to six channels: a Facebook Page, an Instagram business profile, a LinkedIn profile and company page, X and Google Business Profile. The catch is in Zoho's help centre, which says the free plan does not support scheduling posts. Use it to publish and watch your accounts from one screen; pick another tool if scheduling is the reason you are looking.
Hootsuite
Hootsuite has no free plan. Standard starts at $99 per user a month on annual billing, with 10 social accounts, and Professional from $199 (currency not stated on the page). The 14 day trial needs no credit card, but trials have a daily posting limit and no bulk scheduling. It makes sense for a team with a marketing budget, not for a solo owner looking for free.
Meta Business Suite
If you only post to a Facebook Page and Instagram, check Meta Business Suite before you sign up for anything. Meta's help centre has instructions for saving, scheduling and rescheduling posts there, and on the Business Suite mobile app. We could not load Meta's help pages for this guide, so we have not listed its limits here.
Will the free plan last through the holidays?
Here is a worked example for a café posting three times a week to Instagram and Facebook from November 2 to December 24, which is about seven and a half weeks.
- Posts needed: 3 posts × 2 networks = 6 a week, or about 26 a month.
- Metricool Free: 20 a month is not enough. You would have to drop to about two posts a week per network.
- Buffer Free or Publer Free: 10 posts per channel at a time covers just over three weeks at three a week. Top up the queue every second Sunday and you stay free.
- If you want to load the whole season at once: Buffer Essentials for 2 channels is 2 × $5 = $10 a month, or 2 × $60 = $120 a year (currency not stated on the page).
Not sure how often to post in the first place? Our guide on how often a small business should post gives a realistic rhythm.
Your one hour Sunday batch session
Copy this into your calendar. It works with any of the free plans above.
- 10 minutes: list this week's three moments: a product or service, a behind the scenes shot, and an offer or event.
- 20 minutes: take or pick the photos and short videos for all three.
- 15 minutes: write the captions. Start with what the customer gets, end with one action: book, call, visit or reply.
- 10 minutes: schedule each post to each channel and check the dates and times in the queue.
- 5 minutes: check how many free slots or monthly posts you have left, and note when you must top up.
For post ideas, our 30 day social media content calendar gives you a theme for every day.
Common problems and fixes
- "My queue is full." On Buffer and Publer the free cap is per channel or account at a time, so it frees up as posts go out. Schedule the next batch once a few have published.
- "I can't connect X." Publer's free plan excludes X and Metricool charges for it as an add on. Buffer's free plan lists X among its channels.
- "I can't connect LinkedIn." Metricool keeps LinkedIn for paid plans. Buffer lists LinkedIn pages and profiles.
Red flags before you sign up
- A price with no currency. None of these pricing pages shows Canadian dollars, and most show only a $ sign. Ask your bank or card provider about currency conversion fees before you pay.
- Per channel or per user pricing. Buffer and Publer charge per channel or account, Hootsuite per user. Count every account you plan to connect before you compare.
- Trial limits. Hootsuite's trial caps daily posts and leaves out bulk scheduling, so a trial week is not a full test.
Our take
This is a judgment based on the published features and pricing, not a hands on test.
Solo owner on Instagram and Facebook only: try Meta Business Suite first, then Buffer Free if you want one queue for more places later.
Local service business or shop that relies on Google: Buffer Free, because it is the only free plan here that lists Google Business Profile next to Instagram and Facebook.
Owner who writes in batches: Publer Free, for the 25 drafts and built in photo and link tools.
Low volume poster who wants numbers: Metricool Free, as long as you stay under 20 posts a month.
Small team with staff: Buffer Team at $10 a month per channel, for unlimited team members and approvals, before you look at Hootsuite.
When the pick changes: if you post daily to three or more networks, no free plan keeps up; pay for a per channel plan for the networks that bring customers and drop the rest. For more software picks by job, see the software hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free social media scheduler for a small business?
For most local businesses, Buffer's free plan is the simplest start: 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, and Google Business Profile among the supported channels. Publer is a close second if you want more drafts and built in photo editing.
Can I schedule Instagram posts for free?
Yes. Buffer, Publer and Metricool all include Instagram on their free plans, within each plan's post limits. Meta also offers scheduling for Instagram and Facebook Pages in Meta Business Suite.
Does Hootsuite have a free plan?
No. Hootsuite's plans page lists Standard, Professional, Advanced and Enterprise, with a 14 day free trial on the first three. Standard starts at $99 per user a month on annual billing (currency not stated on the page).
Does Zoho Social's free plan schedule posts?
No. Zoho's help centre says the free plan does not support scheduling posts. It connects one brand to six channels for one user.
Sources
- Buffer pricing (official)
- Publer Help: What are Publer's plans and pricing?
- Metricool: Free and paid plans explained (official)
- Metricool Help: Plans, add ons and API access explained
- Zoho Social free edition (official)
- Zoho Social Help: Free plan
- Hootsuite plans and pricing (official)
- Meta Business Help Centre: Save, schedule and reschedule posts in Meta Business Suite
