Later and Vista Social sit at opposite ends of the social media management spectrum. Later was designed for individual creators and small brands who want to plan beautiful Instagram feeds, schedule posts visually, and drive traffic through Linkin.bio. Vista Social was built for agencies and enterprises that need to manage dozens of profiles across 12+ platforms, automate DMs, manage online reviews, and monitor brand mentions through social listening. Comparing them is less about which is "better" and more about which problem you are trying to solve.
If you are a solo creator wondering whether Vista Social's feature density justifies the price jump, or an agency evaluating whether Later can handle your client roster, this comparison will clarify the tradeoffs. We cover pricing and features in detail below. For a broader view, browse our full social media management alternatives guide.
Later vs Vista Social at a Glance
| Category | Later | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $25/mo (Starter) | $79/mo (Professional) |
| Free Plan | No | No |
| Social Profiles | 1 Social Set (Starter) | 15 profiles (Professional) |
| Post Limits | 30 posts/profile (Starter) | Unlimited (all plans) |
| Platforms Supported | 8 | 12+ social + 5 review sites |
| AI Credits | 5 (Starter), unlimited (Growth+) | 500-unlimited by plan |
| AI Image Generation | No | No |
| Instagram Grid Preview | Yes | No |
| Link-in-Bio | Linkin.bio | No |
| DM Automations | No | Yes |
| Review Management | No | Yes |
| Social Listening | No | $75/mo addon |
| Employee Advocacy | No | $199/mo addon |
| Team Members | 1-6 by plan | 3-10 by plan |
| G2 Rating | 4.5/5 (347 reviews) | 4.8/5 (1,071 reviews) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 1.3/5 (329 reviews) | 4.1/5 (62 reviews) |
Note: Vista Social's G2 rating of 4.8/5 from 1,071 reviews is one of the highest in the social media management category.
Later Overview
Later is the tool creators reach for when they want their Instagram feed to look intentional. The visual content calendar shows post thumbnails in a grid layout, the Instagram grid preview lets you rearrange upcoming posts until the mosaic looks right, and Linkin.bio converts your feed into a clickable landing page that drives followers to product pages, articles, or sign-up forms. The media library stores all your visual assets in one place and even collects UGC from brand mentions.
Later supports 8 platforms and has added AI caption and hashtag suggestions, though credits are limited on the Starter plan. Best time to post analysis is locked behind the Growth plan. The tool works well for creators and small teams who publish primarily visual content, but it was never designed for agency-scale operations — managing 15+ client accounts, handling DMs, or monitoring brand reputation. For a deeper look, read our Later reviews analysis.
Vista Social Overview
Vista Social is an agency-grade platform that goes far beyond scheduling. The Professional plan alone covers 15 social profiles with unlimited posting, DM automations that trigger responses based on keywords or actions, and a unified social inbox that aggregates messages from every connected platform. Add review management to monitor and respond to Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Trustpilot, and Facebook reviews from one dashboard. Social listening ($75/mo addon) tracks brand mentions, competitor activity, and industry keywords across the web. Employee advocacy ($199/mo addon) lets you distribute approved content to team members' personal profiles for organic reach amplification.
The platform supports 12+ social networks plus 5 review sites — the widest coverage in this comparison. The catch: X (Twitter) integration is a paid addon, which is unusual and frustrating for teams that manage Twitter alongside other platforms. AI features include caption generation with 500-1,000 credits depending on plan, but there is no native AI image generation. Vista Social is not built for the solo creator who wants to preview their Instagram grid. It is built for the agency managing 30 accounts across 10 clients. Learn more in our Vista Social reviews breakdown.
Pricing Comparison
Later Pricing
Later keeps pricing straightforward with three tiers. Full analysis in our Later pricing guide.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Social Sets | Posts per Profile | AI Credits | Team Members |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $25/mo | 1 | 30 | 5 | 1 |
| Growth | $50/mo | 2 | 180 | Unlimited | 3 |
| Scale | $110/mo | 6 | Unlimited | Unlimited | 6 |
Example cost for a small creator (3 platforms): The Starter plan at $25/mo covers 1 Social Set with 30 posts per profile. To post daily on 3 platforms, you would need the Growth plan at $50/mo.
Vista Social Pricing
Vista Social pricing reflects its enterprise positioning. See our Vista Social pricing analysis.
| Plan | Monthly Price | Profiles | Users | AI Credits | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professional | $79/mo | 15 | 3 | 500 | DM automations, review management |
| Advanced | $149/mo | 30 | 6 | 1,000 | Everything in Pro + advanced analytics |
| Scale | $379/mo | 70 | 10 | Unlimited | Full suite + priority support |
Addons:
- Social Listening: $75/mo
- Employee Advocacy: $199/mo
- X (Twitter) Integration: Paid addon
Example cost for a mid-size agency (30 profiles, 5 users): The Advanced plan at $149/mo covers 30 profiles and 6 users with 1,000 AI credits. Add social listening ($75/mo) and the Twitter addon, and you are looking at $224+/mo.
Price Verdict
These tools are not competing on the same price axis. Later's entry point is $25/mo for creators who need visual scheduling on a few platforms. Vista Social's entry point is $79/mo for teams that need to manage 15 profiles with DM automations and review management. Comparing them on price alone is misleading — you are paying for fundamentally different capabilities. A solo Instagram creator would be overpaying for Vista Social. An agency managing 20 client accounts would quickly outgrow Later.
Feature Comparison
Scheduling & Publishing
| Feature | Later | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Visual Content Calendar | Yes (thumbnail drag-and-drop) | Yes (standard calendar) |
| Instagram Grid Preview | Yes | No |
| Auto-Publishing | Yes | Yes |
| Post Limits | 30-unlimited by plan | Unlimited (all plans) |
| Linkin.bio / Link-in-Bio | Yes | No |
| Media Library | Yes (with UGC collection) | Yes (asset library) |
| Best Time to Post | Growth+ ($50/mo) | All plans |
| Bulk Scheduling | Yes | Yes (CSV import) |
| Content Approval Workflow | Scale only ($110/mo) | All plans |
Winner: It depends on who you are. Later wins for visual planning and creator-specific features (grid preview, Linkin.bio, UGC media library). Vista Social wins for volume (unlimited posts on all plans), approval workflows included at every tier, and the sheer breadth of publishing options across 12+ platforms.
AI Tools
| Feature | Later | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| AI Caption Generation | Yes (5-unlimited credits) | Yes (500-unlimited credits) |
| AI Hashtag Suggestions | Yes | Yes |
| AI Image Generation | No | No |
| AI Content Calendar | No | No |
| Credit Limits | 5 on Starter, unlimited on Growth+ | 500 on Pro, 1,000 on Advanced |
Winner: Draw. Both offer AI caption and hashtag tools with credit-based systems. Later gives unlimited credits starting at $50/mo (Growth); Vista Social gives 500 credits at $79/mo (Professional). Neither offers AI image generation. The AI capabilities are comparable — this is not a differentiator between these tools.
Analytics & Reporting
| Feature | Later | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Post Performance | Growth+ | All plans |
| Audience Analytics | Growth+ | All plans |
| Custom Reports | Scale only | Advanced+ |
| Competitor Analysis | No | Limited |
| Review Monitoring | No | Yes (5 review sites) |
| Social Listening | No | $75/mo addon |
| White-Label Reports | No | Scale plan |
Winner: Vista Social. The analytics are broader at every price point, and the addition of review monitoring and optional social listening gives agencies a more complete picture of brand health. Later's analytics are limited to the Growth plan and above and lack the depth agencies need.
Team Collaboration
| Feature | Later | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Team Members | 1 (Starter) to 6 (Scale) | 3 (Pro) to 10 (Scale) |
| Approval Workflows | Scale only ($110/mo) | All plans |
| Roles & Permissions | Basic | Granular (agency-level) |
| Unified Social Inbox | No | Yes |
| DM Automations | No | Yes |
| Employee Advocacy | No | $199/mo addon |
| Client Management | No | Yes |
Winner: Vista Social, clearly. This is the category where the gap is widest. Vista Social was built for teams — DM automations, unified inbox, approval workflows on every plan, client management, and optional employee advocacy. Later's collaboration features are minimal by comparison, with approval workflows locked behind the most expensive plan.
Platform Support
| Platform | Later | Vista Social |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| X (Twitter) | Yes (included) | Paid addon |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| TikTok | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Google Business Profile | No | Yes |
| Review Sites (Google, Yelp, etc.) | No | Yes (5 sites) |
| No | Yes | |
| Telegram | No | Yes |
Winner: Vista Social for sheer breadth — 12+ social platforms plus 5 review sites. However, the fact that X (Twitter) is a paid addon is a notable drawback. Later includes Twitter in every plan and covers 8 platforms, which is sufficient for most creators and small brands.
What Real Users Say
Later Reviews
G2: 4.5/5 (347 reviews) — Users praise the visual planning workflow, grid preview, and Linkin.bio as standout features that no competitor replicates as well. Common criticisms include post limits on lower plans, recent price increases, and limited analytics compared to dedicated measurement tools.
Trustpilot: 1.3/5 (329 reviews) — Later's Trustpilot score is the lowest in this comparison and one of the lowest among social media management tools. Reviews cite billing issues, difficulty cancelling subscriptions, and slow customer support. The volume of negative reviews (329) makes this hard to dismiss as an outlier.
Vista Social Reviews
G2: 4.8/5 (1,071 reviews) — Vista Social has one of the highest G2 ratings in the entire social media management category. Users highlight the breadth of features, the unified inbox, and the value relative to competitors like Sprout Social and Hootsuite. Agency users specifically appreciate the client management and reporting capabilities. Criticisms focus on the learning curve and the addons (social listening, Twitter) that increase total cost.
Trustpilot: 4.1/5 (62 reviews) — The Trustpilot score aligns with the G2 sentiment, though the review volume is modest. Users who review on Trustpilot tend to focus on the customer support quality and the platform's regular feature updates as positives.
Review Verdict
Vista Social has the stronger review profile by a significant margin — 4.8/5 on G2 with over 1,000 reviews and a consistent 4.1 on Trustpilot. Later's 4.5 G2 score is respectable, but the 1.3 Trustpilot score raises legitimate concerns about billing practices and support. If user satisfaction is a factor in your decision, Vista Social has a clear edge.
Who Should Use Later?
Explore Later alternatives and our Later vs Zoho Social and Later vs Iconosquare comparisons for more context.
- Instagram and TikTok creators who want to visually plan and preview their feed
- Influencers who use Linkin.bio as their primary link-in-bio and traffic driver
- Solo creators or small teams (1-3 people) managing a handful of social profiles
- Visual-first brands that prioritize feed aesthetics and content curation over engagement management
- Pinterest-focused marketers who need strong visual scheduling for pin content
- Creators on a tight budget who need a functional scheduler starting at $25/mo
Who Should Use Vista Social?
Check out Vista Social alternatives and our full alternatives directory.
- Agencies managing multiple clients who need 15-70 profiles under one platform
- Enterprise teams that require DM automations and a unified social inbox
- Brands that manage online reviews across Google, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and more
- Marketing teams that need social listening to monitor brand mentions and competitor activity
- Organizations using employee advocacy to amplify reach through team members' personal networks
- Teams that need approval workflows included at every price point, not just premium tiers
A Simpler Path: Full Features Without Enterprise Complexity
Later lacks the team tools agencies need. Vista Social has the power, but the price (plus addon costs) adds up fast. PostPlanify delivers unlimited scheduling, full AI capabilities, and team collaboration without forcing you to choose between simplicity and functionality.
| Feature | Later (Growth, $50/mo) | Vista Social (Pro, $79/mo) | PostPlanify (Growth, $39/mo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Accounts | 2 Social Sets | 15 profiles | 6 accounts |
| Post Limits | 180/profile | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| AI Captions | Unlimited credits | 500 credits | Unlimited |
| AI Image Generation | No | No | Yes (7 models) |
| Link-in-Bio | Linkin.bio | No | Yes |
| DM Automations | No | Yes | No |
| Review Management | No | Yes | No |
| Canva Integration | No | No | Yes |
| Google Drive Integration | No | No | Yes |
| X (Twitter) Included | Yes | Paid addon | Yes |
| Platforms | 8 | 12+ (Twitter extra) | 9 (incl. X/Twitter) |
PostPlanify starts at $19/mo for 3 social accounts with unlimited scheduling, unlimited AI captions, and AI image generation across 7 models. No credit limits, no post caps. The Growth plan ($39/mo) covers 6 accounts with Canva and Google Drive integration built in. For teams that need approval workflows, full analytics, and unlimited members, the Premium plan at $99/mo includes everything — still less than Vista Social's entry price and without paid addons for core platforms like X (Twitter). View all plans or get started now.
FAQ
Is Later or Vista Social better for a solo creator?
Later is the clear choice for solo creators. It is designed around the individual creator workflow — visual planning, grid preview, Linkin.bio, and AI-assisted captions. At $25/mo, it covers the basics. Vista Social's entry point of $79/mo includes agency features like DM automations and review management that a solo creator will not use, making it a poor value fit for individual users.
Can Vista Social replace Later for Instagram planning?
Vista Social supports Instagram publishing and scheduling, but it does not offer Instagram grid preview or a Linkin.bio equivalent. If visual feed planning is central to your workflow, Vista Social is not a direct replacement for Later's Instagram-specific tools. You would lose the visual curation experience that defines Later's appeal.
Why does Vista Social charge extra for X (Twitter)?
Vista Social requires a paid addon for X (Twitter) integration due to the platform's API pricing changes. X significantly increased API access costs for third-party tools, and Vista Social chose to pass this cost to users who need the integration rather than raising prices for everyone. This is unusual — most competitors like Later and PostPlanify include Twitter in their base plans.
Is Vista Social worth it for a small team of 3-5 people?
If your team manages more than 10 social profiles and needs DM automations, review management, or a unified inbox, Vista Social's Professional plan ($79/mo for 15 profiles and 3 users) offers strong value. If you are managing fewer profiles and do not need those enterprise features, you are paying for capabilities you will not use. Consider PostPlanify's Premium plan at $99/mo for unlimited accounts, unlimited team members, and approval workflows.
Does Later have social listening or review management?
No. Later focuses exclusively on content scheduling, visual planning, and Linkin.bio. It does not offer social listening, review management, DM automations, or any of the engagement management features that Vista Social includes. If brand monitoring is a requirement, you will need Vista Social, a dedicated tool, or one of the social media management alternatives that includes it.
Which tool has better customer support?
Based on user reviews, Vista Social has stronger customer support sentiment. Its 4.8 G2 rating and 4.1 Trustpilot score both reflect positive support experiences. Later's 1.3 Trustpilot score includes numerous complaints about support responsiveness and billing dispute resolution. G2 reviews of Later are more positive about support, suggesting the experience may vary depending on plan level.
Can I use both Later and Vista Social together?
Technically yes, but it is not practical. There is no integration between them, and managing the same accounts across two scheduling tools creates confusion around publishing queues and analytics attribution. If you need Later's visual planning plus Vista Social's engagement features, it is more efficient to choose one primary tool and supplement with standalone solutions for specific gaps — or choose a platform like PostPlanify that covers both scheduling and link-in-bio without the complexity.
How many platforms does each tool support?
Later supports 8 platforms: Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, and Threads. Vista Social supports 12+ social platforms including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Threads, Google Business Profile, Reddit, and Telegram, plus 5 review sites (Google Reviews, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Trustpilot, Facebook Reviews). However, Vista Social's X (Twitter) support requires a paid addon, while Later includes it at every tier.
