6 Best Planable Alternatives to Consider in 2025 (Free and Paid)

Looking for Planable alternatives? Explore 6 top tools in 2025—both free and paid—to simplify client approvals and boost your social media workflow.

Planable is a great tool, but it’s not the perfect fit for every social media team. Maybe you’ve outgrown its workflows, or maybe the pricing doesn’t quite make sense for your setup. For some teams, Planable’s strength in client collaboration can also feel like overkill when all they really need is a simple scheduling tool.

The good news? There’s no shortage of Planable alternatives. From lightweight, free options to advanced platforms with deeper analytics and integrations, there are plenty of tools that can help you plan, publish, and manage content more smoothly.

Before we get into the alternatives, let’s take a quick look at what Planable actually brings to the table.

What is Planable?

Planable is designed for teams that want to collaborate on social content before it goes live. Think of it as a visual sandbox where marketers, clients, and stakeholders can see posts exactly how they’ll appear on different platforms,  then comment, suggest edits, and approve with a single click.

Key features:

• Real-time feedback and approvals built directly into post previews
• Multi-channel content calendar with feed, grid, and list views
• AI-powered copywriting, built-in media library, and performance analytics

Planable pricing: Free covers 50 posts but excludes X (Twitter) and analytics. Basic ($33/workspace/month) allows 60 posts, unlimited users, and 4 social pages. Pro ($49) raises limits to 150 posts, 10 social pages, and 10 campaigns. Enterprise is custom with unlimited posts, SSO, and dedicated support, with analytics and engagement sold as add-ons.

Why Look for Planable Alternatives?

Planable is great for content previews and quick approvals, but it isn’t always the right long-term fit. Its free plan is capped at just 50 posts, which makes it tough for growing teams to rely on. The platform also lacks some deeper integrations with third-party tools, limiting its flexibility in larger marketing stacks. 

If your agency is managing multiple clients or brands, Planable’s workspace and pricing structure can feel restrictive, pushing you to look for more scalable, cost-effective solutions.

💬 What users think about Planable:

Jiwan, a business founder, shared his frustration:

“If I archive a post and never use it, it still counts towards my monthly posts.” He added, “Videos don’t automatically save to Reels on Instagram.”

Adding to this, Jim S., CEO of a small business, highlighted broader issues:

“There is a lack of analytics with no performance tracking or basic metrics. Loading times are slow, with lag when switching views or calendars. There is no content library to store reusable assets or evergreen posts, and approval flows are inflexible, with no customization for different teams or clients.”

Best Free and Paid Planable Alternatives in 2025

Tool	Best for	Free trial?
Gain	Best for agencies that need client collaboration & approvals	✅
Buffer	Small teams wanting affordable, simple scheduling	✅
Hootsuite	Enterprise-level analytics & multi-brand management	✅
Sprout Social	Advanced reporting and customer engagement	✅
ContentStudio	AI-powered content discovery & curation	✅
SocialPilot	Small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) on a tighter budget	✅

1. Gain—Best for Agencies That Need Client Collaboration and Approvals

Of all the Planable alternatives, Gain stands out as the platform built specifically for agencies. Both tools focus on visual content previews and streamlined approvals, but Gain builds in automation and flexibility that make a real difference once you’re managing multiple clients.

Client approvals are where the gap is clearest. Planable offers one-click approvals and even multi-level workflows on its Enterprise plan, but every approver must be added as a user with the right permissions. That means clients need accounts, which can slow things down. Gain removes that friction entirely: clients get native previews via email and can approve or request changes in a single click, no login required. Even better, Gain includes unlimited approvers on every plan, so you can invite as many clients as you need without worrying about costs climbing.

Gain removes that friction entirely: clients get native previews via email and can approve or request changes in a single click, no login required. 

In addition, automated reminders keep projects moving, and every revision is tracked in a detailed log that doubles as an audit trail, something most other tools don’t offer.

Gain also excels at organization. Each client gets a dedicated workspace with its own content calendar, social channels, and permissions. That’s a major advantage over other popular tools, where everything sits in one environment.

✅ Pros:

• One-click approvals with no client login required
• Automated reminders and detailed revision logs
• Dedicated workspaces to keep brands separate
• Auto-scheduling across 8 major social platforms, such as Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, Facebook, X (Twitter), TikTok, Pinterest, and Google Business Profile.

❌ Cons:

• Analytics are lighter than enterprise-focused tools

Gain pricing: Gain offers four plans that scale with your agency: Starter ($99/month, billed yearly) with 3 team members and 6 workspaces, Agency ($199/month) with 6 team members, 12 workspaces, and white-label branding, and Agency Premium ($399/month) with 20 team members, 30 workspaces, 500 GB of storage, and priority support. Enterprise is custom, with SSO, SLAs, and unlimited scale.

Every plan includes unlimited reviewers and unlimited social media accounts, plus unlimited approval workflows and publishing. Agencies also get one-click client approvals, AI writing assistance, Canva integration, and native post previews. A 14-day free trial lets you test everything before committing.

💬 What users think about Gain:

“First and foremost is the ease of the approval process. All of my clients, regardless of how tech-savvy they are, are able to utilize Gain’s approvals easily. That guarantees the process is efficient and the client knows exactly what they are getting before any piece of content goes live.

The second thing is how great the customer service is. They are always open and willing to listen, able to help with a concern, and are constantly working to upgrade and improve their platform both to serve the users’ needs and to keep things working smoothly with each social media platform.” – Phillip S.

2. Buffer—Best for Small Teams Wanting Simple Scheduling

Buffer has long been a go-to tool for creators and small businesses thanks to its clean interface and transparent pricing. It makes scheduling content across 10+ platforms effortless, from Instagram and TikTok to LinkedIn and even Threads. Teams can draft, schedule, and analyze posts in one workspace, while the built-in AI assistant helps repurpose content quickly.

✅ Pros:

• Supports 11 major social platforms, including newer ones like Threads and Bluesky
• Straightforward scheduling with calendar and queue views
• Affordable entry plan, plus a free forever option

❌ Cons:

• Advanced analytics and engagement features require higher plans
• Limited automation compared to enterprise tools

Buffer pricing: Buffer offers a Free plan that connects up to 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts per channel. Essentials ($5/month per channel) unlocks unlimited posts, advanced analytics, engagement inbox, and hashtag tools. Team ($10/month per channel) adds unlimited users, content approval workflows, and access controls. All paid plans include a 14-day free trial.

💬 What users think about Buffer:

“My go-to app for basic social media management. I’ve been using Buffer for years (free plan) to automate social media postings, and it’s been working really well for basic features (without using advanced features or AI).” – Mate K.

3. Hootsuite—Best for Enterprise-Level Analytics & Multi-Brand Management

Next up, we have Hootsuite—one of the most established names in social media management, trusted by large companies and agencies for its depth of analytics and ability to manage multiple brands at scale. It supports all major networks, plus robust features like social listening, employee advocacy, and ad management, making it a true all-in-one platform.

✅ Pros:

• Advanced analytics and customizable reports
• Supports dozens of social platforms and integrations
• Strong features for large teams, including approvals and governance tools

❌ Cons:

• Priced per user, so costs climb fast
• Heavier UI than lighter schedulers

Hootsuite pricing: Hootsuite offers a Standard plan ($99/user/month) with up to 5 social accounts, unlimited scheduling, AI tools, and competitor benchmarking. Advanced ($249/user/month) adds unlimited accounts, advanced analytics, approval workflows, and bulk scheduling. The Enterprise Suite is custom-priced with SSO, 100+ integrations, and dedicated support. Both Standard and Advanced include a 30-day free trial.

💬 What users think about Hootsuite:

Rina Bharath, M., shared her experience after 10 years of using the platform:

“I have always found Hootsuite easy to use and have seen many updates to features over the years. The spelling checker and reminders to tag accounts or attach graphics (for LinkedIn) are great. I also like the scheduling facility and ease of editing scheduled posts.”

4. Sprout Social—Best for Advanced Reporting and Customer Engagement

Known for its polished interface, Sprout Social is a powerful analytics and customer engagement tool. It combines publishing, reporting, social listening, and even influencer marketing, making it one of the most comprehensive social media platforms available in 2025. AI-powered features like AI Assist speed up responses and enhance posts, while advanced sentiment analysis helps brands understand audience perception in real time.

✅ Pros:

• Deep analytics and competitor benchmarking
• Strong customer engagement inbox with AI-assisted replies
• Enterprise-ready with integrations into CRM and helpdesk tools

❌ Cons:

• Among the most expensive tools on the market
• Pricing is per seat, which adds up quickly for larger teams

Sprout Social pricing: Sprout Social offers a Standard plan ($199/seat/month) with 5 profiles, monitoring, AI alt text, reviews, and reporting. Professional ($299/seat/month) adds unlimited profiles, tagging, competitor insights, and optimal send times. Advanced ($399/seat/month) includes AI sentiment, API integrations, and spike alerts. Enterprise is custom with SSO and dedicated support. All plans include a 30-day free trial.

💬 What users think about Sprout Social:

“The data for social media posts is readily available, and the productivity of team members managing the accounts is clearly visible. The platform is also easy to use and offers user-friendly navigation for a seamless experience.” – Airene D.

5. ContentStudio—Best for AI-Powered Content Discovery & Curation

ContentStudio is an all-in-one social media management platform that combines publishing, analytics, engagement, and powerful AI-driven content discovery. It’s especially popular with marketers who want to find, curate, and repurpose trending content without juggling multiple tools. Built-in approvals, white-label reporting, and EasyConnect for clients make it a strong choice for scaling teams.

✅ Pros:

• AI-powered captions, hashtags, and content discovery
• Multi-view calendar with approval workflows for agencies
• White-label reporting and client-friendly workspaces

❌ Cons:

• Interface can feel busy for solo users
• Advanced analytics and white-label features are only on higher plans

ContentStudio pricing: ContentStudio offers a Standard plan ($19/month) with 5 accounts, 1 workspace, and 1 user. Advanced ($49/month)adds 10 accounts, 2 workspaces, 2 users, plus inbox and analytics. Agency Unlimited ($99/month) includes unlimited users, 25+ accounts, and client management. All plans include a 14-day free trial.

💬 What users think about ContentStudio:

“The service is easy to use, highly intuitive, and packed with a wide range of features. I’m especially impressed by the ability to thoroughly plan posts, analyze content performance, and automate tasks that used to take up so much time. The interface is extremely user-friendly, making it a pleasure to work with.” – Elpida H.

6. SocialPilot—Best for Small to Medium-sized Businesses on a tighter budget

SocialPilot positions itself as the affordable alternative to the big players, offering a wide range of features, such as publishing, analytics, collaboration, and even review management, at a fraction of the cost. Agencies love its ability to handle large volumes of accounts and posts without inflating budgets. White-label options make it a strong fit for service providers looking to offer branded client dashboards.

✅ Pros:

• Cheaper than most enterprise tools while still being feature-rich
• Bulk scheduling of 500+ posts at once
• White-label dashboards and branded reports for agencies

❌ Cons:

• Lacks some of the polish and advanced listening tools of higher-priced platforms
• AI credits are capped by plan tier

SocialPilot pricing: SocialPilot offers Essentials ($25.50/month) with 7 accounts and 1 user. Standard ($42.50/month) adds 15 accounts, 3 users, inbox, and analytics. Premium ($85/month) includes 25 accounts, 6 users, bulk scheduling, and white-label reports. Ultimate ($170/month) expands to 50 accounts with unlimited users and dedicated support. All plans include a 14-day free trial.

💬 What users think about SocialPilot:

“A reliable tool for streamlined social media management. It makes managing multiple social media accounts seamless, especially with its drag-and-drop calendar and bulk scheduling feature. I have also appreciated the detailed analytics and reporting tools, which help track performance, optimize content, and are easy to access for teams.” – Charles A.

FAQs

Which Planable Alternative Are You Going With? 

Planable has its strengths, but marketing teams and agencies often run into the same roadblocks: capped free plans, rigid approval flows, and scattered feedback that slows everything down. Buffer, Hootsuite, and Sprout Social each fill parts of the gap, but if your day-to-day revolves around managing multiple clients, these tools can still feel clunky.

That’s where Gain stands out as the best Planable alternative for agencies. Instead of forcing clients into logins or endless email chains, Gain gives them native previews and one-click approvals. Automated workflows handle the chasing for you, while dedicated client workspaces keep each brand’s content, calendars, and feedback neatly organized.

👉 Try Gain for free and see how much smoother client approvals can be.