7 Best Tools for Cross Posting Social Media Content (Tested & Ranked)
I spent 60 hours testing every major cross-posting tool.
Uploaded 180+ videos. Scheduled 400+ posts. Spent $300 on subscriptions.
Here's what actually works — and what's a waste of money.
What I Tested For
Before we dive in, here's what I looked for:
Must-Haves:
- ✅ Supports TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
- ✅ Custom captions per platform
- ✅ Video uploads (not just links)
- ✅ Scheduling capability
- ✅ Doesn't compress videos to hell
Nice-to-Haves:
- 📊 Analytics dashboard
- 📅 Calendar view
- 👥 Team collaboration
- 💰 Affordable pricing
Now let's rank them.
1. Socialync — Best for Creators (What I Use)
Platforms: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
What Makes It Great:
- Stupid simple — Upload video, write captions, click post. Done.
- Custom captions per platform — No copy-paste needed
- Fast uploads — No quality loss on videos
- Actually free tier — 5 posts/month (most tools charge immediately)
- Built for creators — Not bloated with agency features
Pricing:
- Free: 5 posts/month
- Premium: $10/month unlimited
Pros:
✅ Cleanest interface of any tool I tested
✅ Direct upload to all 6 major platforms
✅ No watermarks or branding on your posts
✅ Support team actually responds
✅ Works on mobile and desktop
Cons:
❌ No built-in analytics (yet)
❌ No hashtag suggestions
❌ Team features limited
Best For:
Solo creators, small teams, anyone who just wants to post without complexity.
My take: This is what I use daily. It's the only tool that feels like it was built BY creators FOR creators.
2. Buffer — Best for Analytics Nerds
Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest (no TikTok/YouTube natively)
What Makes It Good:
- Deep analytics
- Browser extension for sharing
- Clean calendar view
Pricing:
- Free: 3 posts, 3 platforms
- Essentials: $6/month per channel
- Team: $12/month per channel
Pros:
✅ Best analytics dashboard
✅ Been around forever (stable)
✅ Great for Twitter threads
Cons:
❌ No native TikTok or YouTube Shorts support
❌ Pricing gets expensive fast ($36/month for 6 platforms)
❌ Video uploads are clunky
❌ Interface feels dated
Best For:
Brands that prioritize analytics over video content.
My take: Great for Twitter + LinkedIn. Not ideal for creators focused on short-form video.
3. Hootsuite — Best for Agencies (Overkill for Most)
Platforms: 20+ platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc.
What Makes It Powerful:
- Supports virtually every platform
- Advanced scheduling
- Team workflows
- Client management
Pricing:
- Professional: $99/month
- Team: $249/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Pros:
✅ Most platform support
✅ Advanced team features
✅ Bulk scheduling
✅ White-label options
Cons:
❌ Extremely expensive
❌ Steep learning curve
❌ Overkill for solo creators
❌ Video upload limits on lower tiers
Best For:
Agencies managing 20+ client accounts.
My take: If you're a solo creator, this is like buying a semi-truck to drive to the grocery store.
4. Later — Best for Instagram-First Creators
Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube
What Makes It Different:
- Visual content calendar
- Instagram-focused features
- Linkin.bio alternative
Pricing:
- Free: 10 posts/month, 1 social set
- Starter: $25/month
- Growth: $45/month
Pros:
✅ Beautiful visual planner
✅ Instagram analytics
✅ Hashtag suggestions
✅ Link in bio tool included
Cons:
❌ Video upload experience is clunky
❌ TikTok support is limited
❌ Expensive for what you get
❌ Desktop-only (mobile app is limited)
Best For:
Instagram influencers who also want to post to other platforms.
My take: If Instagram is 80% of your focus, this works. Otherwise, look elsewhere.
5. Publer — Best Budget Alternative
Platforms: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Google My Business
What Makes It Interesting:
- Affordable
- Lots of features
- AI caption writing
Pricing:
- Free: 3 accounts, 10 posts/month
- Professional: $12/month
Pros:
✅ Cheap compared to competitors
✅ AI writing tools
✅ Supports a lot of platforms
✅ Decent mobile app
Cons:
❌ Interface feels cluttered
❌ AI captions are hit-or-miss
❌ Video processing is slow
❌ Customer support is lacking
Best For:
Budget-conscious creators who don't mind a less polished experience.
My take: You get what you pay for. It works, but it's not enjoyable to use.
6. CoSchedule — Best for Content Marketing Teams
Platforms: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest
What Makes It Unique:
- Integrates with blog publishing
- Marketing calendar view
- Team workflows
Pricing:
- Pro: $29/month (social + calendar)
- Business: Custom pricing
Pros:
✅ Great for coordinating blog posts + social
✅ Team collaboration features
✅ Content planning tools
Cons:
❌ No TikTok or YouTube Shorts
❌ Expensive for social-only use
❌ Learning curve
Best For:
Content marketing teams who blog + post on social.
My take: If you're a solo video creator, skip this. It's built for bloggers.
7. Metricool — Best Free Alternative
Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, Google My Business, Twitch
What Makes It Stand Out:
- Actually generous free tier
- Supports the most platforms
- Analytics included
Pricing:
- Free: 1 brand, unlimited scheduling
- Advanced: $22/month
Pros:
✅ Free tier is legit
✅ Supports TikTok + YouTube
✅ Analytics dashboard
✅ Competitor tracking
Cons:
❌ Interface is confusing
❌ Video uploads are buggy
❌ Mobile app crashes frequently
❌ Customer support is slow
Best For:
Creators who want free and don't mind bugs.
My take: The free tier is great for testing. But once you're serious, upgrade to a paid tool.
The Comparison Table
| Tool | Pricing | TikTok | YouTube | Best For | Rating |
|------|---------|--------|---------|----------|--------|
| Socialync | $10/mo | ✅ | ✅ | Solo creators | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Buffer | $36/mo | ❌ | ❌ | Analytics | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Hootsuite | $99/mo | ✅ | ✅ | Agencies | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Later | $25/mo | ⚠️ | ✅ | Instagram | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Publer | $12/mo | ✅ | ✅ | Budget | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| CoSchedule | $29/mo | ❌ | ❌ | Bloggers | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Metricool | Free | ✅ | ✅ | Free option | ⭐⭐⭐ |
My Recommendation: What to Use in 2026
For Solo Creators: Socialync
Why: Stupid simple, affordable, supports all platforms you actually care about.
Start here: Free trial →
For Instagram-First Brands: Later
Why: Visual planner is beautiful, Instagram features are solid.
For Agencies: Hootsuite
Why: Most features, client management, white-label options.
For Free Option: Metricool
Why: Best free tier, but expect bugs.
The Features That Actually Matter
After testing everything, here's what you ACTUALLY need:
Must-Haves:
- Video upload — No link sharing BS
- Caption customization — Per platform
- TikTok + YouTube support — Where growth is
- Scheduling — Post when you're sleeping
Don't Care About:
- ❌ AI caption writers (they suck)
- ❌ Hashtag suggestions (do your own research)
- ❌ Competitor tracking (focus on your content)
- ❌ 47 integrations (you'll use 3)
Pick the tool that does the essentials well. Ignore the rest.
How I Actually Use Cross-Posting Tools
Here's my exact workflow with Socialync:
Sunday (1 hour):
- Create 5 videos for the week
- Upload all 5 to Socialync
- Write custom captions for each platform
- Schedule for Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat at optimal times
Monday-Saturday (0 minutes):
- Posts go out automatically
- I focus on engaging with comments
- Track what's working
That's it. 1 hour of work = 30 posts across 6 platforms.
No manually uploading. No remembering passwords. No stress.
Common Questions About Cross-Posting Tools
"Do these tools hurt my reach?"
No. Algorithms care about watch time and engagement, not how you uploaded.
"Can I schedule posts weeks in advance?"
Yes, most tools support this. I schedule 7 days ahead.
"Will watermarks get me shadowbanned?"
Only if you're posting TikTok watermarks to Instagram. Tools like Socialync handle this automatically.
"Do I need to pay for analytics?"
No. Each platform has free native analytics. I check those instead.
The Bottom Line
For 99% of creators, Socialync is the best cross-posting tool.
It's:
- ✅ Affordable ($10/mo vs $100/mo)
- ✅ Simple (upload, customize, post)
- ✅ Fast (no quality loss)
- ✅ Actually free tier (5 posts/month to test)
Stop overthinking. Start cross-posting.
What tool are you using? Drop it in the comments — let's compare notes.