Metricool and SocialBee approach social media management from opposite directions. Metricool is analytics-first -- built around competitor tracking, heatmaps, and detailed reporting. SocialBee is automation-first -- designed around category queues, evergreen content recycling, and hands-off publishing.
Data-driven scheduling versus category-based automation — two philosophies for managing social media. Which approach actually saves you more time? We answer that with pricing breakdowns, feature comparisons, and insights from 500+ user reviews. Want the full picture? Browse all social media scheduling alternatives.
Metricool vs SocialBee at a Glance
Here's a quick side-by-side overview before we dive deeper:
| Category | Metricool | SocialBee |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/mo (Free plan) | $29/mo (Bootstrap) |
| Free Plan | Yes (1 brand, 50 posts/mo) | No (14-day free trial) |
| Platforms Supported | 9+ | 10 |
| Unlimited Scheduling | Yes (Starter+) | Yes (all plans) |
| AI Tools | AI social media assistant | AI Copilot, AI captions, AI image generation (DALL-E 3) |
| AI Image Generation | No | Yes (DALL-E 3) |
| Bulk Scheduling | Yes | Yes (CSV import) |
| Team Collaboration | Advanced plan ($54/mo+) | Pro plan ($99/mo) |
| Approval Workflows | Advanced plan only | Pro plan only |
| Competitor Analysis | Yes (5-100 competitors) | No |
| Analytics | Advanced with unlimited history | Basic to 2-year history |
| G2 Rating | 4.5/5 (83 reviews) | 4.8/5 (472 reviews) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.2/5 (519 reviews) | 4.0/5 (43 reviews) |
| Best For | Data-driven marketers, agencies needing reports | Content-focused creators, teams needing automation |
Metricool Overview
Metricool is an analytics-first social media management platform that combines scheduling with deep performance tracking, competitor analysis, and reporting. Launched in Spain, it has grown into a popular tool among agencies and data-driven marketers who need more than just post scheduling.
Metricool supports 9+ platforms: Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter (add-on), LinkedIn (Starter+), TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, and Threads.
Key features:
- Detailed analytics with unlimited history (Starter+)
- Competitor tracking (5-100 profiles depending on plan)
- PDF and PPT report exports
- Customizable report templates (Advanced)
- Looker Studio connector (Advanced)
- Google Drive and Canva integration
- Link-in-bio builder
- AI social media assistant
- Heatmaps for best posting times
Metricool is especially popular among agencies that need to deliver client reports and track competitor performance. Its analytics depth is well ahead of most scheduling tools in this price range. For a deeper look, see what users say about Metricool on G2 and Trustpilot.
SocialBee Overview
SocialBee is a content-focused social media management tool built around category-based scheduling and evergreen content recycling. It is designed for creators, solopreneurs, and small teams who want a structured, automated approach to publishing.
SocialBee supports 10 platforms: Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Google Business Profile, Threads, and Bluesky.
Key features:
- Category-based scheduling with content queues
- Evergreen content recycling (auto-repost top content)
- AI Copilot for content strategy
- AI caption generation
- AI image generation (DALL-E 3)
- Canva integration
- RSS feed auto-posting
- Bulk import (CSV)
- Approval workflows (Pro plan)
- Best time to post suggestions
SocialBee is popular among solopreneurs and small businesses who want to set up content categories once and let the tool handle the publishing cadence automatically. Read real user reviews of SocialBee from G2 and Trustpilot.
Pricing Comparison
Pricing is where Metricool and SocialBee differ significantly. Metricool prices by brand count and offers a free plan. SocialBee prices by profile count with no free tier.
Metricool Pricing
Metricool uses brand-based pricing -- you pay based on how many brands (business accounts) you manage. We break this down further in our Metricool pricing guide.
| Plan | Price | Brands | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | 1 | 50 posts/mo, 5 competitors, 3 months analytics |
| Starter (5 brands) | $22/mo | Up to 5 | Unlimited publishing, 100 competitors, PDF/PPT reports, unlimited analytics history |
| Starter (10 brands) | $38/mo | Up to 10 | Same as above with more brands |
| Advanced (15 brands) | $54/mo | Up to 15 | Team management, approval workflows, Looker Studio, API access |
| Advanced (25 brands) | $88/mo | Up to 25 | Same as above with more brands |
| Advanced (50 brands) | $172/mo | Up to 50 | Same as above with more brands |
Example costs:
- 1 brand (solo creator) = $0/month (Free plan)
- 5 brands with reports = $22/month (Starter)
- 15 brands with team workflows = $54/month (Advanced)
SocialBee Pricing
SocialBee uses profile-based pricing with fixed tiers. See the full SocialBee pricing breakdown for details.
| Plan | Price | Profiles | Users | Workspaces | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bootstrap | $29/mo | 5 | 1 | 1 | Category scheduling, AI tools, 3-month analytics |
| Accelerate | $49/mo | 10 | 1 | 1 | 2-year analytics, everything in Bootstrap |
| Pro | $99/mo | 25 | 3 | 5 | Approval workflows, team collaboration |
Add-ons:
- +5 profiles: $15/month
- +1 user: $10/month
- +1 workspace: $10/month
Example costs:
- 5 profiles (solo creator) = $29/month (Bootstrap)
- 10 profiles with deep analytics = $49/month (Accelerate)
- 25 profiles with 3 team members = $99/month (Pro)
Price Verdict
Metricool is cheaper for solo users and small teams thanks to its free plan and $22/month Starter tier. A solo creator pays $0/month on Metricool vs $29/month on SocialBee. Even managing 5 brands, Metricool's Starter at $22/month undercuts SocialBee's Bootstrap at $29/month for 5 profiles.
However, SocialBee's pricing is more predictable at scale. Its fixed tiers are easy to understand -- $29, $49, or $99 -- with optional add-ons. Metricool's brand-based tiers jump more sharply: $54 for 15 brands, $88 for 25, and $172 for 50.
For budget-conscious solo users, Metricool wins. For teams needing straightforward pricing with content automation included, SocialBee is competitive.
Feature Comparison
Scheduling & Publishing
This is where SocialBee's automation-first approach really shines against Metricool's analytics-first design.
| Feature | Metricool | SocialBee |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited scheduling | Yes (Starter+) | Yes (all plans) |
| Bulk scheduling | Yes | Yes (CSV import) |
| Best time to post | Yes (heatmaps) | Yes |
| Content calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Category-based scheduling | No | Yes |
| Evergreen content recycling | No | Yes |
| RSS feed auto-posting | No | Yes |
| First comment scheduling | No | No |
| Post queue management | Basic | Advanced (category queues) |
| Draft saving | Yes | Yes |
Winner: SocialBee. Category-based scheduling, evergreen recycling, and RSS feeds give SocialBee a clear edge for teams that want to automate their publishing workflow. Metricool handles basic scheduling well, but it is not built for hands-off content automation.
AI Tools
| Feature | Metricool | SocialBee |
|---|---|---|
| AI caption generation | Yes (AI assistant) | Yes (AI Copilot) |
| AI image generation | No | Yes (DALL-E 3) |
| AI content strategy | No | Yes (AI Copilot) |
| AI post ideas | Yes | Yes |
| AI content rewriting | Basic | Yes |
Winner: SocialBee. SocialBee's AI Copilot covers caption generation, content strategy, and image generation via DALL-E 3. Metricool's AI assistant handles basic text assistance but does not generate images or provide strategic content recommendations.
Analytics & Reporting
This is Metricool's strongest category -- and where it pulls far ahead of SocialBee.
| Feature | Metricool | SocialBee |
|---|---|---|
| Basic analytics | All plans | All plans |
| Analytics history | 3 months (Free), unlimited (Starter+) | 3 months (Bootstrap), 2 years (Accelerate+) |
| PDF/PPT reports | Starter+ | No |
| Custom report templates | Advanced | No |
| Looker Studio connector | Advanced | No |
| Scheduled reports | No | No |
| Export reports | Yes | Limited |
| Heatmaps | Yes | No |
Winner: Metricool -- and it is not close. Unlimited analytics history, PDF/PPT exports, custom report templates, Looker Studio integration, and heatmaps make Metricool the clear choice for data-driven teams and agencies that deliver client reports. SocialBee's analytics are functional but basic.
Content Management
| Feature | Metricool | SocialBee |
|---|---|---|
| Content categories | No | Yes (core feature) |
| Evergreen recycling | No | Yes |
| Content library | Basic | Yes (category-organized) |
| RSS feed import | No | Yes |
| Bulk CSV import | Yes | Yes |
| Canva integration | Yes (Starter+) | Yes |
| Google Drive integration | Yes (Starter+) | No |
| Link-in-bio builder | Yes | No |
Winner: SocialBee for content organization and automation. SocialBee's category system, evergreen recycling, and RSS feeds make it stronger for managing ongoing content pipelines. Metricool wins for asset management with Google Drive integration and link-in-bio.
Competitor Analysis
| Feature | Metricool | SocialBee |
|---|---|---|
| Competitor tracking | Yes (5-100 profiles) | No |
| Competitor benchmarking | Yes | No |
| Industry insights | Yes | No |
| Hashtag tracking | Yes | No |
Winner: Metricool. SocialBee has no competitor analysis at all. Metricool lets you track up to 100 competitor profiles on paid plans, benchmark your performance, and monitor industry trends. This is one of Metricool's defining features.
Platform Support
| Platform | Metricool | SocialBee |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| X/Twitter | Add-on (Starter+) | Yes |
| Starter+ | Yes | |
| TikTok | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Google Business | Yes | Yes |
| Bluesky | No | Yes |
Winner: SocialBee -- supports 10 platforms including Bluesky, with all platforms available on every plan. Metricool gates LinkedIn behind the Starter plan and requires an add-on for X/Twitter, which reduces the effective platform count on lower tiers.
What Real Users Say
Metricool Reviews
G2: 4.5/5 (83 reviews) -- Users praise Metricool for centralized management, multi-platform support, and helpful scheduling suggestions. Common complaints include poor customer support in some cases, multi-brand switching inconvenience, and occasional scheduling issues.
Trustpilot: 4.2/5 (519 reviews) -- Overwhelmingly positive, with users praising the customer service team's responsiveness, the intuitive interface, and the reliability of the platform. A few negative reviews mention technical issues and pricing concerns. Metricool replies to 100% of negative reviews within 48 hours.
SocialBee Reviews
G2: 4.8/5 (472 reviews) -- One of the highest-rated scheduling tools on G2, with 412 five-star reviews. Users love the customer service (33 mentions), post scheduling simplicity, ease of use, and time savings. Common complaints include layout issues, occasional scheduling glitches, and a learning curve with the category system.
Trustpilot: 4.0/5 (43 reviews) -- Consistent satisfaction among small teams and entrepreneurs. Users praise the helpful support, easy setup, and intuitive workflows. Some mention limited analytics and features that feel basic for agency-level needs.
Review Verdict
SocialBee has the edge on G2 with a significantly higher rating (4.8/5 vs 4.5/5) and a much larger review base (472 vs 83). Metricool dominates on Trustpilot with more reviews (519 vs 43) and a slightly higher score (4.2/5 vs 4.0/5). Both tools are well-regarded overall -- SocialBee for its simplicity and customer service, Metricool for its analytics depth and responsive support team.
Who Should Use Metricool?
If Metricool sounds right for you but you want to explore other options first, check out our best alternatives to Metricool. You can also see how Metricool stacks up against Buffer, Hootsuite, Later, and Publer.
Metricool is the better choice if you:
- Are a data-driven marketer or agency that needs detailed analytics and client reports
- Want competitor tracking with up to 100 profiles monitored
- Need PDF/PPT report exports or Looker Studio integration for client deliverables
- Prefer an analytics-first tool where reporting is the core feature, not an afterthought
- Want a free plan to get started without any commitment
- Need Google Drive integration alongside Canva for asset management
Who Should Use SocialBee?
If SocialBee is on your shortlist, you may also want to see our top alternatives to SocialBee before committing. Also compare SocialBee with Buffer, Hootsuite, Later, and Publer.
SocialBee is the better choice if you:
- Are a content creator or solopreneur who wants to automate posting with category queues
- Need evergreen content recycling to keep your best posts in rotation automatically
- Want AI image generation (DALL-E 3) built into your scheduling workflow
- Prefer category-based scheduling over manual calendar-based planning
- Need RSS feed auto-posting to share curated content hands-free
- Want to post on 10 platforms including Bluesky without add-on fees
Powerful Scheduling Without the Complexity
Metricool's analytics dashboard has a learning curve. SocialBee's category queue system takes time to set up. If you want to start publishing quality content across platforms today — with AI assistance, team collaboration, and actionable insights — without spending a week learning the tool, PostPlanify gets you there faster. From signup to first scheduled post in under 5 minutes.
| Feature | Metricool | SocialBee | PostPlanify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $0/mo (limited) | $29/mo | $19/mo |
| Unlimited Accounts | $38/mo (10 brands) | $99/mo (25 profiles) | $99/mo (Premium) |
| AI Caption Generation | Basic | Yes | Yes |
| AI Image Generation | No | Yes (DALL-E 3) | Yes |
| Canva Integration | Yes (Starter+) | Yes | Yes |
| Google Drive Import | Yes (Starter+) | No | Yes |
| Approval Workflows | $54/mo (Advanced) | $99/mo (Pro) | $99/mo (Premium) |
| Competitor Analysis | Yes (core feature) | No | No |
| Content Calendar | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms Supported | 9+ | 10 | 9 |
| Unlimited Scheduling | Starter+ | All plans | All paid plans |
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 -- features that cost $54-$172/month on Metricool or require SocialBee's top-tier Pro plan. See all plans on the PostPlanify pricing page.
Get started in minutes — try PostPlanify free
FAQ
Is Metricool cheaper than SocialBee?
Yes, for solo users. Metricool offers a free plan (1 brand, 50 posts/month) and a Starter plan at $22/month for up to 5 brands. SocialBee's cheapest plan is $29/month for 5 profiles with no free tier. However, at scale (15+ brands or profiles), pricing becomes comparable depending on your specific needs.
Does Metricool have a free plan?
Yes. Metricool's Free plan includes 1 brand, up to 50 scheduled posts per month, 5 competitor profiles, 3 months of analytics, and an AI assistant. LinkedIn and X/Twitter are not included on the Free plan.
Which has better analytics -- Metricool or SocialBee?
Metricool wins by a wide margin. It offers unlimited analytics history (Starter+), competitor tracking for up to 100 profiles, heatmaps, PDF/PPT report exports, custom report templates, and Looker Studio integration. SocialBee's analytics are functional but limited to basic performance metrics with up to 2 years of history.
Does SocialBee have competitor tracking?
No. SocialBee does not offer any competitor analysis or benchmarking features. If competitor tracking is important to your workflow, Metricool is the better choice -- or you can pair SocialBee with a standalone competitor analysis tool.
Which supports more social media platforms?
SocialBee supports 10 platforms including Bluesky, with all platforms available on every plan. Metricool supports 9+ platforms but gates LinkedIn behind the Starter plan and requires an add-on for X/Twitter on some tiers.
Can I recycle evergreen content with Metricool?
No. Metricool does not have evergreen content recycling. SocialBee is built around this feature -- you create content categories, and the tool automatically re-queues and publishes your best-performing posts on a schedule. If content recycling is a priority, SocialBee is the clear choice.
Which is better for agencies -- Metricool or SocialBee?
It depends on your agency's priorities. Metricool is better for agencies focused on reporting and competitor analysis -- its PDF/PPT exports, Looker Studio connector, and multi-brand management (up to 50 brands) are built for client deliverables. SocialBee is better for agencies focused on content production -- category queues and evergreen recycling streamline high-volume publishing across multiple clients.
Which is easier to use -- Metricool or SocialBee?
Both have learning curves, but in different areas. Metricool's interface is analytics-heavy, which can feel overwhelming if you mainly want to schedule posts. SocialBee's category-based system requires initial setup time to organize content into categories, but once configured, day-to-day scheduling becomes largely automated. Most users find SocialBee simpler for publishing and Metricool simpler for reporting.
