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Success on Pinterest requires you to stay consistent on the platform which of course, requires planning your strategy, analyzing results, and making sure you post. That’s where the magic of Pinterest schedulers shines. There are a ton of schedulers for Pinterest. Any scheduler or SaaS platform can apply to get Pinterest API but not all are approved partners of Pinterest.
I personally love Tailwind (and I’ll tell you why below), but I understand people have different needs. So, in this blog, I will review six Pinterest-approved schedulers you can start using today to save time and get the most out of this social media platform.
Table of Contents
Factors I Looked When Deciding the Pros and Cons of Each Tool
During my research and evaluation of each of these Pinterest scheduling tools, I looked at these 5 variables:
- Pricing: Is the tool affordable? Because let’s be real, most of us don’t have some huge marketing budget behind us so it needs to be something that won’t break the bank. I’ll be sure to let you know if the tool offers a free trial so you can try it out before going all in.
- Ease of Platform: If you’re like me, you want the process of uploading Pinterest pins to be as smooth as possible. Some tools make it a pain in the rear, while others make it painless.
- Content Optimization: If the tool makes it a hassle to optimize the relevant elements of your Pinterest points, I will knock off points.
- Scheduling & Repurposing: Pinterest scheduling is the name of the game, so this is another important factor I strongly considered when creating this list.
- Analytics: We also want to know how our scheduled pins are performing, so tools that provide analytics so you can make better-informed decisions is a major plus.
What is a Pinterest Scheduler?
In short, a Pinterest scheduler is a tool that lets you plan and automatically upload your pins at a specific time. Pinterest marketing success hinges on posting a lot and consistently. That’s where a scheduler is your best friend because you can automate your Pinterest calendar, gather data on your posts’ performance, and better capture the attention of your audience.
Now, this isn’t a comparison per se. However, I feel these 5 aspects will give you a good idea if the scheduling tool is a good fit for what you’re looking for.
Below I have sorted them in the order that I find them fit best based on what I teach in terms of my Growth to Greatness framework.
Tailwind App
I want to be transparent and say the Tailwind App is the one I use, and it’s hands down my favorite. It’s the one I recommend everyone use.
Pricing and Affordability
Tailwind’s pricing structure is straightforward, and they have a plan that fits everyone’s budget. You can use the free account if you’re a solopreneur and get access to all the awesome features they offer. But you only get 20 posts a month. If you need to scale up, their pro plans begin at $24.99 or $14.99 if you pay annually. Definitely a steal, if you ask me!
Ease of Platform
Tailwind makes it easy to upload your images for pins too. Plus, it will automatically crop them so they’re perfect for whichever platform you choose. You simply log into your account, click Upload, and select the social media you want to post to (e.g. Pinterest or Instagram). And you can upload posts in bulk.
Content Optimization
I love how seamless Tailwind makes optimization. Of course, you can easily pick your board, add a title, description, the alt text, and create a destination link too. Honestly, it’s difficult to get content optimization wrong these days, but I like the way Tailwind handles it.
Scheduling & Repurposing
Tailwind makes scheduling a breeze too. At minimum, you get 20 posts a month so that’s already double what the native scheduler offers. You have two ways to schedule posts with Tailwind.
First, you can set it to auto-post when on your specific time. And there’s a SmartSchedule feature that recommends dates if you need help. With the second option, you can set it to remind you on the days you want, but then you’d need to publish them manually.
Analytics
The reporting and analytics tools on Tailwind are awesome. You can see how many new followers you got, the number of pins or repins you made, your trending boards, impressions, how many people saved your pins, and the number of likes received. Of course, you shouldn’t only rely on these tools but also on Pinterest and Google Analytics to get the real picture.
Planoly
Next to Tailwind, Planoly comes in second. It’s one of the tools that started out with a focus on Instagram scheduling, but they later included Pinterest as well. It’s user-friendly, and it’s a decent option if you’re looking for something more robust than the native scheduler.
Pricing and Affordability
Planoly’s Starter plan starts at $16 a month or $14 if you pay by year. Then it goes up to $28/month ($24/year) for the Growth plan and $43/month ($36.50/year) for the Pro plan. If you go with the Starter plan, you get 60 posts every month. Picking any tier above that will get you unlimited posts. Either plan gives you access to both Pinterest and Instagram. All in all, I think it gives you a good bang for your buck.
Ease of Platform
Uploading is pretty simple with Panoly too. Plus, they have a Chrome extension you can upload to so you can easily work right within your browsing. There’s not much to say about it beyond that.
Content Optimization
When you select your Pinterest pins, you’ll see a box where you can enter all the info I discussed in earlier sections. Like I said, optimization is hard to mess up these days so Planoly has everything you’d need.
Scheduling & Repurposing
Planoly has a NEW (at the time of writing this) feature where you can choose multiple boards and dates when scheduling that one design. Now where tailwindapp will have a button that does this for you automagically this is a bit more manual but not so much that you have to duplicate the pin or re-upload like some of the other schedulers.
Planoly offers bulk scheduling so you can plan out your posts all at once. And you also get to schedule pins 1, 2, or 3 months out, which is a pretty cool feature. It does the job well, so you won’t complain in this regard if you go with this one.
Analytics
Now, analytics is where you might have buyer’s remorse. The reporting and analytics are pretty lackluster and miss a lot of the features I’d like to see. So, I’d recommend using Google Analytics if you decide Planoly is for you.
Pinterest Native Scheduler
First, let’s talk about the native scheduler built into the Pinterest platform. I’ll be frank, it’s not my favorite but it works in a pinch when you want to start scheduling. However, I think overall it’s pretty clunky and doesn’t offer many robust features.
Price
Pinterest’s native scheduler shines when it comes to affordability because it’s absolutely free if you have a business account. So, if you’re cost-conscious or just getting started, it makes it an attractive option. Of course, that means you won’t get a lot of the bells and whistles you’ll find with other Pinterest schedulers.
Ease of Platform
Uploading pictures and videos with the tool is relatively easy. It offers a drag-and-drop feature so that is really nice. It’s pretty intuitive so I will give it high marks for its simplicity here.
Content Optimization
It’s simple to optimize your content. Once you’ve uploaded, you can choose the Pinterest board, pick a title, add your description, create some alt text, and even the destination link.
Scheduling & Repurposing
Now, here is where we run into the problems with the native scheduler. While it’s a user-friendly experience, it’s very limited. You can only create one post at a time, and you only get a maximum of 10 posts.
Another point gets knocked off because you can only schedule out to 30 days at a time. Then I have to dock it again because it works exclusively with pins, meaning you can’t cross-schedule posts to other social media platforms like Instagram.
Analytics
Another area where the native scheduler lacks is analytics and reporting tools. So, it’s difficult to see how your posts are performing. Without the right data, you won’t be able to make informed decisions about what you need to do to grow.
Metricool
*NOTE* They are not fully approved yet but rummors are they are working on it so I included them for now. Will update if that changes
Leverage Metricool’s planner to get your content lineup ready in advance, complete with Alt text. This way, you’re always a step ahead, ensuring your Pinterest game is strong and seamless. I do think this platform is one that is “up and coming”, but I don’t think it is full ‘ready’ to handle a full pinterest strategy the way that works the best for my students and clients.
Price
This platform is pretty affordable, even with their stellar Free plan. With the free option you can create 50 posts, with analytics for historical data up to 3 months. Their starter tier is $18/month and you can schedule up to 2,000 posts. Then they go up from there based on what your needs are.
Ease of Platform
The platform is not hard to navigate but when it comes to scheduling for Pinterest it is a bit wonky compared to what you are used to seeing with other platforms and on Pinterest natively.
Content Optimization
You have all the options in terms of making your content set up with the best strategies forward. Optimizing your content is a breeze. After uploading, simply select the Pinterest board, craft a catchy title, compose your description, whip up some alt text, and add the destination link. Voila! Your content is ready to shine.
Scheduling & Repurposing
This is where we hit a snag with the native scheduler. Although it’s quite user-friendly, its capabilities are pretty narrow. The challenge comes with trying to pin at intervals; it’s not straightforward. You’d find yourself duplicating designs and keeping tabs manually on when to queue up the next post, all dependent on the timing of the last one. Quite the puzzle, isn’t it?
Analytics
With Metricool at your side, get ready to dive deep into the world of analytics made simple. Through clear, easy-to-grasp data and visuals, you’ll unlock the secrets of your strategy’s performance, get the inside scoop on what really resonates with your audience, and pinpoint exactly where to fine-tune for Pinterest success. It’s all about understanding your boards better so you can elevate them to new heights.
Later
Like Planoly, Later originally started as an Instagram scheduler and then later adopted Pinterest. Honestly, I think either of the top two options are the better option and you’ll see why once you’re done with this section.
Pricing and Affordability
It’s one of the more expensive options, with the Starter plan at $25/month and goes up to $80/month for the Advanced plan. What makes it worse is that you only get 30 posts a month. Then you need to spend $10 more if you want to add another social media platform. I give them a thumbs down in this category.
Ease of Platform
Uploading could be easier if you ask me. It takes a minute to learn how the platform works. But once you understand, it’s too much of a hassle. However, there’s a Chrome extension so I’ll give them a plus for that.
Content Optimization
Content optimization, on the other hand, is pretty straightforward once you get past the upload phase. Select your board, put in the usual info, and then you’re good to go. So Later does well in this department.
Scheduling & Repurposing
Like uploading, scheduling is more complicated than it needs to be when you first use it. But once you learn it, it’s smooth sailing from there. What I don’t like is that you have to schedule each individual pin per board. You can’t do them all in go, which is a bummer. Overall, I think it could be better.
Analytics
Yep, the analytics suck too. The features are extremely limited, so I can’t recommend Later. Pick one of the other schedulers on this list.
Canva
Okay so I LOVE Canva for design. I use it ALL THE TIME! I will be honest when I heard people were using it for scheduling on Pinterest I was very skeptical. I am going to leave the data here, as it is not horrible buuuut I still don’t think it is one of the top options out there for you.
Pricing and Affordability
Canva is pretty affordable in terms of everything you get for it on the pro plan along with being able to have some awesome design tools. Pro starts at $14.99/mo and then if you want to add in team members it will go up from there.
Ease of Platform
If you are already creating in Canva (which you have to be to use this as a scheduler) then it is already there for you to be able to schedule and no uploading or anything will be needed. Easy peasy.
Content Optimization
This is where I get a bit skeptical. You can choose your board first when going to schedule, then you have the ability to do a title, description and link. There is not much to it for optimization or adding alt text and with video category tags… forget it.
Scheduling & Repurposing
What I don’t like the most (like I have said many times for multiple platforms) is that you have to schedule each individual pin per board. You can’t do them all in go, which is a headache. OH and if you have a team member create the design for you, in your account – you still cant schedule it because you “didn’t design it” even though they are YOUR paid team member on your teams account. BLAH.
Analytics
Yep nothing here since I can’t find anything for analytics in Canva once the pin is scheduled.
Buffer
I think Buffer is a good choice if you’re new to Pinterest, scheduling, or don’t want Tailwind for some reason.
Pricing and Affordability
Buffer is by far one of the most affordable options starting at $6/month, and they offer a free 14-day trial. That’s half the price of Tailwind, so I give it props there. And if you add another platform for $6, it’s still one of the cheapest options out there.
Ease of Platform
Uploading is straightforward. I’d praise it more if the Chrome extension pulled the metadata from the images you upload. It just adds more steps that I could do without.
Content Optimization
This part is easy so I won’t rehash it. It does what you expect.
Scheduling & Repurposing
The scheduling process is simple too and much better for beginners than something like Later or Planoly. So I give it high regard in this category.
Analytics
The analytics are decent. You can get a snapshot of how your posts are doing so that’s good. I think there was a point when they didn’t offer analytics, so it’s nice to see developers worked to get this in there.
Hootsuite
I will make this as simple as possible: don’t use Hootsuite. I’d say any other tool on this list is a better option, even the native scheduler. I used Hootsuite like a decade ago, and even for just Facebook and X (twitter) it was SUPER CLUNKY. Any time I tried to set up a new client on it (when I worked as a virtual assistant) they always had issues of all sorts!
Pricing and Affordability
Hootsuite loses here because it’s the most expensive one of them all. It starts at $99/month. They offer a 30-day free trial so there’s that.
Ease of Platform
I don’t like the way uploads work either. It doesn’t simply have an option to create a pin, and there’s no Chrome extension. Uploading is the worst on this list.
Content Optimization
Then adding the info you need is a pain in the butt too. I know I said it’s impossible to mess this up, but Hootsuite proved me wrong.
Scheduling & Repurposing
Now, I give credit where credit is due. Scheduling is a breeze and you can do multiple boards at once. Too bad it’s overshadowed by all the other negatives.
Analytics
Hootsuite doesn’t have Pinterest analytics so there’s another category where they could do better. Like I said, I do not recommend Hootsuite at all.