Scheduling Facebook Posts

Posting on Facebook in 2025 can feel like a side-gig.

It isn’t just “write a caption, hit post.”

You need to plan images, edit videos, pick the best time, and stay active on your page - all while running your real work.

I used to rush every day, tweaking images and captions, then clicking “Publish” at random hours and hoping the algorithm liked me.

Then a friend said something simple that changed everything:

Stop chasing the clock. Build a posting system.

So I tested every Facebook scheduler I could find.
Native tools, free tools, paid tools, hidden gems.
Now I batch all my Facebook content once a week.
Posts go live while I’m having coffee, coding, or out for a run.

This guide will show you how to do the same.

We’ll cover:

Free option: Meta Business Suite (great for starters)
Paid options: the schedulers that save real time
How to schedule every post type — text, image, video, carousel
Why a connected Business Page is required and how to set it up fast
A quick workflow that keeps you posting while you’re away from Facebook

Ready? Let’s dive in and reclaim your schedule.

Option 1: Schedule Posts with Meta Business Suite (Free)

Meta Business Suite is Facebook's built-in planner. It costs nothing and works right inside your browser.

How to use it

Open Business Suite
Go to business.facebook.com and pick the Page you want to manage.
Click “Planner” (or “Content” > “Calendar”)
You'll see a weekly or monthly calendar of upcoming posts.
Create Post
Hit the blue “Create” button. Choose Text, Photo, Video, or Carousel.
Add caption + media
Upload your image, video, or multiple photos for a carousel. Write a short caption.
Pick date & time
Click the clock icon, select your slot, and save.
Review & Schedule
Double-check the preview, then click Schedule. Done!

What you get

100% free — no extra software.
Native analytics — reach, clicks, and basic engagement stats.
All post types — text, image, video, carousel.
Mobile + desktop — edit on the go if plans change.

What you don't

One Page at a time — no bulk scheduling across multiple brands.
No AI help — captions, hashtags, and repurposing are all manual.
Limited reminders — no smart suggestions for best post times.

If you only need to schedule a few Facebook posts each week, Business Suite is perfect.

But if you manage many pages, want AI captions, or need to post the same video to Instagram and TikTok, a third-party tool will save more time.

The next section breaks down those options.

Option 2: Third-Party Facebook Schedulers (Detailed Breakdown)

When you manage more than one Page, create posts for several social networks, or just want “extras” like AI captions and best-time suggestions, a dedicated scheduler saves hours each week.

Buffer

Free plan: Yes — 1 Facebook Page + 2 other socials, up to 30 queued posts total.
Strengths: Clean drag-and-drop calendar, built-in link-in-bio page, simple analytics.
Limitations: No built-in AI captions, bulk media upload capped on the free tier, team features locked behind paid plans.
Best for: Solo creators or very small businesses who need the basics without spending money.

Later

Free plan: Yes — 1 “social set” (Facebook Page, Instagram, X, TikTok, Pinterest) with 15 posts per profile each month.
Strengths: Media library with labels, automatic first-comment option for hashtags, strong Instagram tools that spill over to Facebook.
Limitations: AI caption suggestions cost extra; analytics on the free tier are limited; scheduling Facebook Reels isn’t fully automated (you still confirm via mobile).
Best for: Brands heavy on visuals who also live on Instagram.

Hootsuite

Free plan: None (14-day free trial only).
Strengths: Robust team collaboration, approval flows, social inbox, deep analytics dashboards.
Limitations: Pricing jumps quickly; interface can feel overwhelming if you only need simple scheduling; AI features in beta cost extra.
Best for: Agencies or marketing teams managing many clients and needing approvals.

Hootsuite Facebook Post Scheduling

Publer

Free plan: Yes — 3 social accounts total, 10 scheduled posts per account.
Strengths: Built-in link shortener, watermarking, Canva integration, auto-recycling evergreen posts.
Limitations: Advanced analytics and team roles require a paid tier; UI isn’t as polished as larger competitors.
Best for: Small shops that want solid features at a lower cost.

PostPlanify (7-day free trial)

(That’s us — quick recap so you know where we fit.)

What we cover: Text, image, video, and carousel posts for Facebook, plus Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, Threads, and LinkedIn — all in one workflow.
Standout perks:
- AI caption generator tuned to your brand voice (emojis, hashtags, tone toggles).
- Post previews — see how your post will look before it goes live.
- Canva integration — access your Canva library and create posts directly from PostPlanify.
- Batch once, post everywhere — pick media, select multiple platforms, schedule in seconds.
- True carousel & video support — no work-arounds.
- Calendar view — drag-and-drop rescheduling, color-coded by status (draft, scheduled, published).
Requirements: Like every third-party tool, you must connect a Facebook Page (Business or Creator) because that’s how Meta’s API works.

👉 Check out PostPlanify's Facebook Post Scheduler

Why pay for a scheduler when Meta Business Suite is free?

Batch power: Upload a week (or month) of images, videos, and carousels at once.
Cross-posting: Send the same video to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X without re-uploading.
AI helpers: Generate fresh captions, repurpose old posts, or auto-insert hashtags in seconds.
Optimal timing: Most paid tools analyse when your followers are online and slot posts automatically.
Team workflow: Comment threads, approvals, and user roles keep larger teams from stepping on each other’s toes.

If you’re just starting out, test the free plans or trials first. Schedule a handful of posts, watch how much time you save, and decide if the paid tier’s extras justify the cost.

📸 Take a look at how to cross post to Instagram with PostPlanify

Optimal Posting Times for Facebook (EST)

Quick note: Every audience is different, so test and tweak. These times come from two fresh 2025 studies—Sprout Social’s 2.5-billion-engagement dataset and Buffer’s analysis of 1 million posts.

Weekdays (Monday–Friday)

Early bird window: 5 a.m.–7 a.m.
Buffer’s heatmaps show a surge in reactions before most people start work, especially on Monday and Tuesday.
Morning core: 8 a.m.–noon
Sprout Social sees the highest, most reliable engagement here across every weekday. Aim for 9 a.m.–11 a.m. if you’re short on posts.
Bonus mid-week bump: 3 p.m.–5 p.m. on Wednesday
A mid-afternoon scroll spike gives a second chance if you missed the morning slot.

Weekends (Saturday & Sunday)

Best bet: 8 a.m.–10 a.m.
Users still check apps over coffee, but numbers dip after lunch.
Saturday tip: If you must post later, squeeze another shot at noon; evenings drop fast.
Sunday caution: Engagement is lowest all week - stick to the early window or reschedule for Monday.

How to use these windows

Batch-schedule: Load your posts for the whole week on Sunday night.
Mix formats: Alternate text, image, video, and carousel - Facebook's algorithm loves variety.
Check Insights: After a month, look at your own Page's "Most active times" and refine.
Leverage AI (optional): Tools like PostPlanify can auto-slot posts into your best-performing hours.

Stick to the windows above, measure results, then dial in your unique sweet spots.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I connect my Facebook Page to a scheduler?

Open your scheduler and choose Add account.
Sign in with Facebook and allow the tool to see your Pages.
Pick the Page you want, finish the consent prompts, and you're done.
In Meta's own Business Suite you do this under Settings → Business Assets.

2. How far ahead can I schedule content?

Regular posts, photos, videos, carousels: up to 90 days in Meta Business Suite or any tool that follows the same API rules.
Facebook Reels: the same 90-day limit applies in Business Suite and partner apps like Hootsuite.
Live video:
- "Go Live" streams - schedule 24 hours ahead.
- "Live Video Events" - schedule up to 1 year ahead.

3. Can I schedule Facebook Reels and Stories?

Yes. Business Suite and many third-party tools let you queue Reels and Stories just like normal posts. Reels must be ≤ 90 seconds; Stories videos must be ≤ 60 seconds.

4. What video size and length can I schedule?

Standard feed video: max 4 GB file size, 240 minutes length.
Reel: 90 seconds max. Uploading larger files is possible but slower; Facebook recommends MP4 or MOV.

5. How do I schedule a carousel post?

Create a new post, paste the link you want to feature (required), add up to 10 images or videos, switch the publish type to Carousel, then pick your date and time. Most schedulers follow the same flow.

6. Can I bulk-schedule to several Pages at once?

Yes. Tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, Later, Publer, and PostPlanify let you pick multiple Pages, drop in your media, and push all posts live on a single calendar.

7. How do I edit or reschedule a post that’s already queued?

In Business Suite go to Planner → Scheduled, click the post, and hit Edit or Delete. Third-party tools show a similar "Scheduled" list where you can drag the post to a new slot or change the caption.

8. Does Facebook punish posts from third-party tools?

No. Recent studies by Buffer, Agorapulse, and Sprout Social found no reach penalty for content published through approved scheduling apps. Consistency and quality matter far more than the posting method.

9. How do I handle different time zones?

Most schedulers let you set a default time zone per Page. If your audience spans multiple regions, batch posts in EST (or your own zone) and rely on each platform’s “optimal time” suggestions to adjust automatically. Sprout’s 2025 study confirms timed posting boosts engagement.

10. Do hashtags still help on Facebook in 2025?

Yes, but keep it light. One to three targeted hashtags can improve search visibility; stuffing 10+ looks spammy and offers no extra reach. Sprout’s reach guide still lists “smart hashtag use” as a top tactic.

Wrap-Up

Scheduling Facebook posts isn’t rocket science.
Pick a tool, connect your Page, batch the week’s content, and let it run.

Key takeaways

Meta Business Suite is perfect if you need a free, one-Page solution.
Third-party schedulers unlock AI captions, cross-posting, and smart timing.
Early mornings (5 a.m.–11 a.m. EST) win on weekdays; 8 a.m.–10 a.m. is safest on weekends.
Test, tweak, and watch your Insights - every audience is unique.

If you want the quickest way to schedule text, image, video, and carousel posts across Facebook and the rest of your socials, give PostPlanify a spin. The 7-day free trial lets you batch a week of content, turn on AI captions, and see the calendar fill itself.

👉 Start your 7-day free trial here

Ready to drop the daily posting stress?
Start scheduling now and get back to creating.

How to Schedule Facebook Posts in 2025 (Free & Paid Tools)