Metricool and Publer are two of the most affordable social media tools on the market — both offer free plans, both cover a wide range of platforms, and both punch above their weight on features. But they have very different strengths. Whether you choose Metricool or Publer, you are prioritizing one superpower over another: Metricool is an analytics powerhouse built around competitor tracking and reporting, while Publer is a scheduling powerhouse built around bulk publishing, automations, and broad platform support.
Both tools offer strong free plans and affordable paid tiers — but they specialize in different things. One is analytics-first; the other is platform-coverage-first. This 2026 comparison helps you pick based on what matters to your workflow. Want more options? Browse all social media scheduling alternatives.
Metricool vs Publer at a Glance
Here's a quick side-by-side overview before we dive deeper:
| Category | Metricool | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/mo (free plan) | $5/mo (Professional) |
| Free Plan | Yes (1 brand, 50 posts/mo) | Yes (3 accounts, no X/Twitter) |
| Platforms Supported | 9+ | 13 |
| Unlimited Scheduling | Yes (Starter+, Fair Use) | Yes (Professional+) |
| AI Tools | AI assistant | AI Assist (Business only, GPT-4 + DALL-E 3) |
| AI Image Generation | No | Yes (Business only, DALL-E 3) |
| Bulk Scheduling | No | Yes (CSV import) |
| Competitor Analysis | Yes (5-100 profiles) | Business plan only |
| Team Collaboration | Advanced plan ($54/mo) | Business plan |
| Approval Workflows | Advanced plan | Business plan |
| Analytics | 3 months to Unlimited | Business plan only |
| Canva Integration | Yes (Starter+) | Yes (VistaCreate too) |
| G2 Rating | 4.5/5 (83 reviews) | 4.7/5 (486 reviews) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.2/5 (519 reviews) | 4.8/5 (863 reviews) |
| Best For | Analytics-driven teams and agencies | Budget-conscious schedulers and bulk publishers |
Metricool Overview
Metricool is a social media analytics and scheduling platform built around data. It combines publishing tools with deep competitor analysis, reporting, and a link-in-bio builder — making it a strong choice for data-driven teams and agencies.
Metricool supports 9+ platforms: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads, Google Business Profile, and Twitch.
Key features:
- Competitor analysis (5-100 profiles)
- Customizable PDF and PPT reports
- AI social media assistant
- Link-in-bio builder (multiple profiles)
- Google Drive and Canva integration
- Unlimited analytics history (Starter+)
- Looker Studio connector and API (Advanced)
Metricool targets agencies and analytics-focused teams that need deep reporting, competitor tracking, and brand-based pricing. For more on leveraging data in your strategy, see our guide to social media reporting. Read real user reviews of Metricool from G2 and Trustpilot.
Publer Overview
Publer is a social media scheduling platform built around efficiency. It focuses on getting content published fast — with bulk scheduling via CSV, RSS feed automations, auto-scheduling, and support for 13 platforms including niche ones like WordPress, Telegram, and Mastodon.
Publer supports 13 platforms: Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter (paid plans only), LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, YouTube, TikTok, WordPress, Telegram, Mastodon, Threads, and Bluesky.
Key features:
- Bulk scheduling via CSV import
- RSS feed automations
- AI Assist with GPT-4 and DALL-E 3 (Business only)
- Auto-scheduling
- Canva and VistaCreate integration
- Watermark support
- Analytics and competitor analysis (Business only)
Publer targets solo creators, small businesses, and budget-conscious teams who need to publish across many platforms without spending much. If you are a small business exploring your options, see our guide to social media management for small business. Read real user reviews of Publer from G2 and Trustpilot.
Pricing Comparison
Both tools are affordable and offer free plans, but their pricing structures differ. Metricool charges per brand, Publer charges per social account.
Metricool Pricing
Metricool uses per-brand pricing that scales with the number of brands you manage. See the full Metricool pricing breakdown for details.
| Plan | Price | Brands | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | 1 | 50 posts/mo, 5 competitors, 3-month analytics |
| Starter | From $22/mo | Up to 10 | Unlimited posts, 100 competitors, PDF/PPT reports, Canva |
| Advanced | From $54/mo | Up to 50 | Team management, approvals, API, Looker Studio |
| Custom | Custom | Unlimited | White label, dedicated manager |
Example costs:
- 5 brands on Starter = $22/month
- 10 brands on Starter = $38/month
- 15 brands on Advanced = $54/month
Publer Pricing
Publer uses per-account pricing with a low base cost and add-on fees per additional social account. See the full Publer pricing breakdown for details.
| Plan | Price | Accounts | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | 3 | 10 pending posts/account, no X/Twitter |
| Professional | From $5/mo | 1 (+$4/acct) | Unlimited posts, auto-scheduling, bulk scheduling |
| Business | From $10/mo | 1 (+$7/acct) | AI Assist (GPT-4 + DALL-E 3), analytics, competitor analysis |
Example costs (3 accounts):
- 3 accounts on Professional = ~$12/month
- 3 accounts on Business = ~$21/month
- 5 accounts on Professional = ~$20/month
Price Verdict
Both are very affordable, but Publer is cheaper for scheduling-only needs. At ~$12/month for 3 accounts on Professional, Publer undercuts Metricool's $22/month Starter plan for basic scheduling. However, Metricool's free plan is more generous (50 posts/month vs 10 pending posts per account), and Metricool includes analytics and competitor tracking at every paid tier — features Publer locks behind the more expensive Business plan.
If you only need to schedule posts, Publer is cheaper. If you need analytics and competitor tracking, Metricool offers better value.
Feature Comparison
Scheduling & Publishing
| Feature | Metricool | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited scheduling | Yes (Starter+, Fair Use) | Yes (Professional+) |
| Post limits (free) | 50 posts/month | 10 pending posts/account |
| Bulk scheduling (CSV) | No | Yes |
| RSS automations | No | Yes |
| Auto-scheduling | No | Yes |
| Best time to post | No | No |
| Content calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Draft saving | Yes | Yes |
| Watermarks | No | Yes |
Winner: Publer — bulk CSV scheduling, RSS automations, auto-scheduling, and watermarks make Publer the stronger publishing tool. Metricool covers the basics but lacks these power-user scheduling features. For tips on streamlining your publishing workflow, see our guide on how to schedule social media posts.
AI Tools
| Feature | Metricool | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| AI caption generation | Yes (AI assistant) | Yes (Business only, GPT-4) |
| AI image generation | No | Yes (Business only, DALL-E 3) |
| AI post ideas | Yes | Yes (Business only) |
| AI credits/limits | No credit limits | Unlimited (Business only) |
| Included on free/starter | Yes | No |
Winner: Tie — depends on what you need. Metricool includes AI on all plans with no credit limits. Publer's AI is more powerful (GPT-4 + DALL-E 3 image generation) but locked behind the Business plan. If you want AI included from day one, Metricool wins. If you want AI image generation and are willing to pay for Business, Publer wins. Explore more options in our roundup of AI social media tools.
Analytics & Reporting
| Feature | Metricool | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| Basic analytics | All plans | Business only |
| Analytics history | 3 months (free) to Unlimited | Business only |
| Competitor analysis | Yes (5 free, up to 100) | Business only |
| Custom reports | Yes (Advanced) | No |
| PDF/PPT reports | Yes (Starter+) | No |
| Looker Studio connector | Yes (Advanced) | No |
| API access | Yes (Advanced) | No |
Winner: Metricool — this is not close. Metricool offers competitor analysis starting on the free plan, unlimited analytics history from Starter, PDF/PPT reports, and Looker Studio integration. Publer only offers basic analytics on the Business plan and has no report export or API. If analytics matter to you, Metricool is the clear choice. For a broader look at reporting options, check our guide to social media analytics tools.
Team Collaboration
| Feature | Metricool | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple users | Advanced plan | Business plan |
| Approval workflows | Advanced plan | Business plan |
| Custom roles | Advanced plan | No |
| Client management | Advanced plan | No |
Winner: Metricool — the Advanced plan ($54/mo) includes custom roles and client management. Publer's Business plan offers basic team features but lacks the agency-oriented tools.
Content & Creative Tools
| Feature | Metricool | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| Link in Bio | Yes (multiple profiles) | No |
| Canva integration | Yes (Starter+) | Yes |
| VistaCreate integration | No | Yes |
| Google Drive import | Yes (Starter+) | No |
| Watermarks | No | Yes |
| RSS automations | No | Yes |
Winner: Tie. Metricool has link-in-bio and Google Drive integration. Publer has VistaCreate, watermarks, and RSS automations. Different strengths for different workflows.
Platform Support
| Platform | Metricool | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| X/Twitter | Yes | Paid plans only |
| Yes | Yes | |
| TikTok | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Google Business | Yes | Yes |
| Twitch | Yes | No |
| WordPress | No | Yes |
| Telegram | No | Yes |
| Mastodon | No | Yes |
| Bluesky | No | Yes |
Winner: Publer — supports 13 platforms vs Metricool's 9+. Publer covers WordPress, Telegram, Mastodon, and Bluesky, which Metricool does not. However, Publer locks X/Twitter behind paid plans, while Metricool includes Twitch — a unique offering. For sheer breadth of platforms, Publer wins.
What Real Users Say
Metricool Reviews
G2: 4.5/5 (83 reviews) — Users highlight multi-platform support, centralized management, and ease of use. Complaints mention poor customer support, scheduling issues, and the platform being expensive at scale.
Trustpilot: 4.2/5 (519 reviews) — Notably high Trustpilot rating. Users consistently praise Metricool's customer service responsiveness, ease of use, and the intuitive interface. Metricool replies to 100% of negative reviews.
Publer Reviews
G2: 4.7/5 (486 reviews) — Users praise the affordable pricing, ease of use, bulk scheduling, and wide platform support. Complaints mention occasional bugs, limited analytics on lower plans, and the learning curve for automations.
Trustpilot: 4.8/5 (863 reviews) — Exceptionally high Trustpilot rating from a large review base. Users highlight outstanding customer support, regular feature updates, and great value for money. Publer is one of the highest-rated social media tools on Trustpilot.
Review Verdict
Publer leads on both platforms — 4.7/5 on G2 (486 reviews) vs Metricool's 4.5/5 (83 reviews), and 4.8/5 on Trustpilot (863 reviews) vs Metricool's 4.2/5 (519 reviews). Both tools have excellent user sentiment, but Publer's larger review base and higher scores across both platforms make it the crowd favorite. That said, Metricool's 4.2/5 on Trustpilot is still well above average for this space. Review counts and ratings are as of February 2026 and are updated periodically.
Who Should Use Metricool?
If Metricool sounds right, check out our best alternatives to Metricool for other options. You can also see how Metricool stacks up against Buffer, Hootsuite, Later, Sprout Social, Agorapulse, and SocialBee.
In a Metricool vs Publer matchup, Metricool is the better choice if you:
- Are an agency or data-driven team that needs deep analytics and reporting — see our guide to social media management for agencies
- Want competitor analysis tracking up to 100 profiles
- Need PDF/PPT report generation for clients
- Want Canva and Google Drive integration built in
- Need API access and Looker Studio for custom dashboards
- Want AI tools included on all plans without upgrading
Who Should Use Publer?
If Publer is on your shortlist, you may also want to see our top alternatives to Publer before committing. You can also see how Publer compares to Buffer, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Later, and SocialBee.
When comparing Metricool or Publer for scheduling needs, Publer is the better choice if you:
- Are a budget-conscious creator or small business that needs low-cost scheduling
- Want to publish across 13 platforms including WordPress, Telegram, Mastodon, and Bluesky
- Need bulk scheduling via CSV to upload content in batches
- Want RSS feed automations to auto-publish content — learn more about social media automation strategies
- Need AI image generation with DALL-E 3 (Business plan)
- Prefer per-account pricing that starts at just $5/month
Final Verdict
Metricool is the better choice if you are an agency or analytics-driven team that needs competitor tracking, detailed PDF/PPT reports, and deep data insights alongside your scheduling workflow.
Publer is the better choice if you are a budget-conscious creator or small business that needs to publish across 13 platforms with bulk CSV scheduling, RSS automations, and AI image generation at a low per-account price.
For most small businesses and growing teams, the decision comes down to analytics vs. publishing power. If neither tool fully meets your needs, PostPlanify offers AI-powered content creation, unlimited scheduling, and Canva integration at a flat $19-99/month with no per-account or per-brand pricing math -- see how it compares.
Why Settle for One Strength?
Metricool leads on analytics. Publer leads on platform count and affordability. But neither gives you AI image generation, Canva integration, and team approval workflows at an accessible price. PostPlanify combines scheduling simplicity with the features both tools gate behind higher tiers — all at a flat $19-99/month.
| Feature | Metricool | Publer | PostPlanify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/mo (free) | $5/mo | $19/mo flat |
| AI Caption Generation | Yes | Business only | Yes (unlimited) |
| AI Image Generation | No | Business only (DALL-E 3) | Yes |
| Canva Integration | Yes (Starter+) | Yes | Yes |
| Google Drive Import | Yes (Starter+) | No | Yes |
| Competitor Analysis | Yes (free+) | Business only | No |
| Bulk Scheduling | No | Yes (CSV) | No |
| Unlimited Scheduling | Starter+ (Fair Use) | Professional+ | All paid plans |
| Approval Workflows | $54/mo (Advanced) | Business plan | $99/mo (Premium) |
| Platforms Supported | 9+ | 13 | 9 |
PostPlanify starts at $19/month for 3 accounts with unlimited scheduling and AI tools included. The Premium plan at $99/month includes unlimited accounts, unlimited team members, approval workflows, and analytics — without the per-account pricing math of Publer or the tiered brand limits of Metricool. See all plans on the PostPlanify pricing page.
See all features — start your free trial
FAQ
Is Metricool cheaper than Publer?
It depends on what you need. For scheduling only, Publer is cheaper — Professional starts at ~$12/month for 3 accounts vs Metricool's $22/month Starter. But Metricool's free plan is more generous (50 posts/month vs 10 pending posts per account), and Metricool includes analytics at every paid tier. For analytics-heavy workflows, Metricool is the better value.
Does Publer have a free plan?
Yes. Publer's free plan includes 3 social accounts with 10 pending posts per account. It supports most major platforms but notably excludes X/Twitter, which requires a paid plan. The free tier is useful for testing Publer's interface and auto-scheduling features, but the 10-post-per-account cap means most active users will outgrow it quickly and need to upgrade to Professional at $5/month.
Does Metricool have a free plan?
Yes. Metricool's free plan includes 1 brand, 50 posts per month, 5 competitor profiles, and 3 months of analytics history. It is one of the most feature-rich free plans in the social media tools space. Unlike most competitors, Metricool includes competitor analysis and analytics even on the free tier, making it genuinely useful for solo creators or freelancers who need data-driven insights without paying for a subscription right away.
Which has better analytics — Metricool or Publer?
Metricool has significantly better analytics. Competitor analysis starts on the free plan (5 profiles), with unlimited analytics history, PDF/PPT reports, and Looker Studio integration on paid plans. Publer only offers basic analytics on the Business plan and has no report export or API access.
Which supports more social media platforms?
Publer supports 13 platforms (including WordPress, Telegram, Mastodon, and Bluesky). Metricool supports 9+ platforms (including Twitch). Publer has wider platform coverage, but locks X/Twitter behind paid plans.
Does Publer have bulk scheduling?
Yes. Publer supports bulk scheduling via CSV import on the Professional plan and above. This is a major differentiator — Metricool does not offer bulk scheduling. If you regularly need to upload large batches of content, Publer is the better choice.
Can I switch from Publer to Metricool?
Yes. You can reconnect your social accounts to Metricool and start scheduling at any time. The biggest change you will notice is Metricool's much stronger analytics and competitor tracking, but you will lose Publer's bulk scheduling via CSV, RSS automations, and some niche platform support (WordPress, Telegram, Mastodon, Bluesky). Keep in mind that scheduled posts and content history will not transfer between platforms, so plan your switch around your content calendar.
Which has better user reviews — Metricool or Publer?
Publer leads on both G2 (4.7/5 from 486 reviews vs 4.5/5 from 83 reviews) and Trustpilot (4.8/5 from 863 reviews vs 4.2/5 from 519 reviews). Both tools have excellent ratings, but Publer's scores and review volumes are higher across the board.
Does Publer have AI image generation?
Yes, but only on the Business plan. Publer's AI Assist includes GPT-4 for captions and DALL-E 3 for unlimited image generation. Metricool does not offer AI image generation. If AI-generated images are important to your workflow, consider Publer's Business plan or PostPlanify which includes AI image generation on all paid plans.
Is Publer good for agencies?
Publer can work for small agencies, but its analytics are limited to the Business plan and it lacks report exports, client management tools, and API access. Metricool's Advanced plan ($54/mo) is better suited for agencies that need competitor analysis, PDF/PPT reports, Looker Studio integration, and client management. Both Metricool and PostPlanify offer more agency-friendly features. For a deeper look at agency-specific tools, see our guide to social media management for agencies.
Is Metricool worth it in 2026?
Metricool is worth it in 2026 if analytics and competitor tracking are core to your social media strategy. Its free plan is one of the most generous in the space, and paid plans starting at $22/month offer unlimited analytics history, PDF/PPT report exports, and Canva integration. The main limitation is that Metricool lacks advanced scheduling features like bulk CSV import and RSS automations that tools like Publer provide. If data-driven decision-making is your priority, Metricool delivers strong value for the price.
What is the best alternative to Publer?
The best alternative to Publer depends on your priorities. If you want similar bulk scheduling and automation features, SocialBee is a strong option with content categories and recycling. If analytics is more important, Metricool offers far deeper reporting and competitor tracking. For a balanced option with AI image generation, unlimited scheduling, and Canva integration at a flat rate, PostPlanify starts at $19/month. See our full list of social media management tools for more alternatives.
Does Publer offer a free trial?
Yes. Publer offers a 7-day free trial on its Professional and Business plans, giving you access to unlimited scheduling, bulk CSV import, and AI features before committing. Metricool does not offer a traditional free trial but its free plan (1 brand, 50 posts/month, 5 competitors) is generous enough to serve as an extended evaluation period. Both approaches let you test the core workflow before paying, though Publer's trial gives you a more complete preview of premium features.
