Cross Posting Tools Comparison: Top 7 in 2026
You want to cross post to Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
But which tool should you use?
Some are free. Some cost $200/month. Some are simple. Some are overwhelmingly complex.
Here's an honest comparison of the top 7 cross posting tools in 2026.
What We're Comparing
We tested each tool on:
- Platforms supported (which social networks)
- Free plan (if available)
- Pricing (paid plans)
- Ease of use (learning curve)
- Customization (can you adjust per platform?)
- Mobile app (quality)
- Analytics (depth)
- Best for (who should use it)
1. Socialync
Platforms: Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
Free plan: ✅ 10 posts/month, all platforms
Paid plans: $9/month for unlimited posts
Ease of use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) - Simplest interface, zero learning curve
Customization: ✅ Customize captions per platform
Mobile app: ✅ Yes
Analytics: Basic (views, engagement)
Best for: Content creators and influencers who want straightforward cross posting without complexity
Pros:
- Upload once, post everywhere
- Cheapest paid plan ($9/month)
- Generous free tier
- No complicated features to confuse you
- Mobile app available
Cons:
- Limited advanced analytics
- No team collaboration features
- Not built for agencies
Verdict: Best for individual creators who want simplicity and affordability.
2. Buffer
Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok
Free plan: ✅ 30 posts/month across 3 channels
Paid plans: $6/month per channel
Ease of use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) - Clean calendar interface
Customization: ✅ Customize per platform
Mobile app: ✅ Yes
Analytics: Moderate (engagement, reach, clicks)
Best for: Visual planners who love calendar-based workflows
Pros:
- Best calendar interface in the industry
- AI Assistant for caption writing
- Queue-based posting
- Free plan is generous
Cons:
- Pricing is per channel (gets expensive with multiple accounts)
- Analytics less detailed than competitors
- Limited YouTube support
Verdict: Great for creators who think visually and want a clean interface.
3. Hootsuite
Platforms: 35+ including all major platforms
Free plan: ❌ None (discontinued in 2023)
Paid plans: $99/month minimum
Ease of use: ⭐⭐ (2/5) - Steep learning curve, overwhelming interface
Customization: ✅ Full customization
Mobile app: ✅ Yes
Analytics: Advanced (social listening, competitor tracking, reports)
Best for: Large agencies and enterprises with big budgets
Pros:
- Most platforms supported
- AutoSchedule (AI picks best times)
- Advanced team collaboration
- Social listening features
- Comprehensive analytics
Cons:
- Expensive ($99/month minimum, no free plan)
- Overly complex for individual creators
- Interface feels outdated
- Overkill for most users
Verdict: Only worth it if you're managing 10+ brands with a team. Individual creators should skip this.
4. Metricool
Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, Google My Business, Twitch
Free plan: ✅ 50 posts/month
Paid plans: $18/month
Ease of use: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) - Moderate learning curve
Customization: ✅ Customize per platform
Mobile app: ✅ Yes
Analytics: Strong (detailed metrics per platform)
Best for: High-volume posters who need analytics
Pros:
- Most generous free plan (50 posts/month)
- Official TikTok partner
- Works with Personal TikTok accounts (not just Creator/Business)
- Good analytics on free plan
Cons:
- Interface less intuitive than Buffer or Socialync
- Some features locked behind paid tiers
- Can feel cluttered
Verdict: Best free plan if you post frequently (30-50 times/month).
5. Sprout Social
Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube
Free plan: ❌ None
Paid plans: $249/month minimum
Ease of use: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) - Professional but complex
Customization: ✅ Full customization
Mobile app: ✅ Yes
Analytics: Very advanced (reports, ROI tracking, competitor analysis)
Best for: Marketing teams and agencies
Pros:
- Advanced scheduling and queueing
- Multi-profile publishing
- Best-in-class analytics
- Team collaboration tools
- Social listening
Cons:
- Very expensive ($249/month)
- Overkill for small businesses
- No free plan or trial
Verdict: Enterprise-level tool. Not for individual creators or small businesses.
6. Loomly
Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Google My Business
Free plan: 14-day trial only
Paid plans: $32/month
Ease of use: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) - Intuitive calendar
Customization: ✅ Per-platform customization + post optimization tips
Mobile app: ✅ Yes
Analytics: Moderate (engagement, reach, growth)
Best for: Brands focused on content planning
Pros:
- Content calendar is excellent
- Post optimization tips (suggests best times, hashtags)
- Content ideation tools
- Digital asset library
Cons:
- No free plan (just trial)
- More expensive than Buffer or Socialync
- Analytics not as deep as Sprout Social
Verdict: Good middle ground between simple tools and enterprise tools.
7. Social Champ
Platforms: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Google My Business
Free plan: ✅ Limited features
Paid plans: $29/month
Ease of use: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) - Moderate
Customization: ✅ Customize per platform
Mobile app: ✅ Yes
Analytics: Moderate
Best for: Creators needing more than free plans but wanting affordability
Pros:
- Bulk scheduling
- Content recycling (repost old content)
- RSS feed auto-posting
- Affordable paid plans
Cons:
- Free plan is limited
- Interface not as clean as competitors
- Some bugs reported
Verdict: Solid mid-tier option if you need more features than Socialync but don't want to pay Hootsuite prices.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Tool | Free Plan | Paid From | Platforms | Ease of Use | Best For |
|------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-------------|----------|
| Socialync | ✅ 10/mo | $9/mo | 6+ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Creators |
| Buffer | ✅ 30/mo | $6/mo/ch | 6+ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Planners |
| Hootsuite | ❌ | $99/mo | 35+ | ⭐⭐ | Enterprises |
| Metricool | ✅ 50/mo | $18/mo | 9+ | ⭐⭐⭐ | High volume |
| Sprout Social | ❌ | $249/mo | 7+ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Teams |
| Loomly | Trial only | $32/mo | 8+ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Brands |
| Social Champ | ✅ Limited | $29/mo | 8+ | ⭐⭐⭐ | Mid-tier |
Which Tool Should You Choose?
For Individual Creators
Start with: Socialync (simplest) or Buffer (if you love calendars)
Why: Free tiers are generous, interfaces are simple, pricing is affordable
Upgrade when: You need more than 10-50 posts/month
For Small Teams (2-5 People)
Try: Loomly or Social Champ
Why: Team collaboration features without enterprise pricing
Upgrade when: You need advanced analytics or social listening
For Agencies
Consider: Sprout Social or Hootsuite
Why: Client management, white-label reports, advanced features
Warning: Only worth it if you're managing multiple clients and can justify the cost
For Budget-Conscious Users
Best free options:
- Metricool (50 posts/month)
- Buffer (30 posts/month)
- Socialync (10 posts/month)
Cheapest paid option: Socialync ($9/month unlimited)
Common Decision Factors
"I post 5 times per week to 6 platforms"
That's 5 posts × 4 weeks = 20 posts/month
Best choice: Socialync free (10 posts) + upgrade to $9/month for unlimited
or
Metricool free (50 posts/month)
"I need advanced analytics"
Best choice: Sprout Social or Hootsuite (but expect to pay $99-249/month)
If you can't afford that, Metricool offers decent analytics on the free plan.
"I manage multiple client accounts"
Best choice: Sprout Social ($249/month) or Sendible ($29/month for budget option)
"I just want something simple that works"
Best choice: Socialync - zero learning curve, just upload and post
What About Platform-Specific Features?
TikTok Support
Most tools now support TikTok, but check:
- Metricool: Works with Personal accounts
- Others: Usually require Creator/Business accounts
YouTube Support
Limited on most tools:
- Socialync: ✅ Supports YouTube
- Buffer: Limited
- Hootsuite: Limited
- Most others: Limited or none
Instagram Stories
Not all tools support Stories. Check if this matters to you.
Bottom Line
For 90% of creators: Start with Socialync (simplest, cheapest) or Buffer (best calendar).
For agencies: Sprout Social or Hootsuite (if budget allows).
For high-volume free users: Metricool (50 posts/month free).
Don't overthink it. Start with a free plan. Test for 2 weeks. Upgrade only if you need more.
Most creators never need expensive tools like Hootsuite or Sprout Social.
Try Socialync free - 10 posts/month, all platforms, zero learning curve.
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