Later's free plan is Instagram-only with 30 posts per month. SocialMate supports 16 platforms including Discord and Bluesky — all free.
Later
Great for Instagram, useless beyond it
SocialMate
All platforms. No limits. Free.
Later's free plan is barely a free plan
One Instagram profile and 30 posts per month is not a usable free tier for anyone who posts regularly. SocialMate's free plan has no monthly post cap and covers all 16 supported platforms — not just Instagram.
Later is useless if you're building on alternative platforms
Discord, Bluesky, Telegram, and Mastodon are where engaged communities are growing outside the algorithm. Later supports none of them. If even one part of your audience is on these platforms, Later cannot help you reach them.
Bulk scheduling should not be a paid feature
Later requires a paid plan to bulk schedule content. If you batch-create content for the month, you should not have to pay just to upload it all at once. SocialMate's bulk scheduler is free — upload a full month of posts in one go.
12 AI tools vs a basic caption helper
SocialMate includes caption generation, hashtag research, viral hook writing, thread generation, content repurposing, post scoring, and more — all on the free tier. Later has basic AI caption suggestions behind a paywall.
Is Later's free plan really Instagram-only?
Yes. Later's free plan supports only Instagram with 1 profile and 30 posts per month. To add other platforms like TikTok, Pinterest, or Facebook, you must upgrade to a paid plan starting at $18/month. SocialMate's free plan supports all 16 platforms from day one.
Does Later support Discord, Bluesky, or Mastodon?
No. Later is focused on visual platforms — primarily Instagram and TikTok. It does not support Discord, Bluesky, Telegram, or Mastodon. If your audience is building on any of these platforms, Later is not a viable option. SocialMate supports all four on the free plan.
Does SocialMate have a visual content calendar like Later?
Yes. SocialMate has a full drag-and-drop content calendar for scheduling and visualizing your posting schedule across all platforms. Unlike Later, you are not limited to Instagram or a 30-post monthly cap.
Is SocialMate actually free with no catch?
Yes. Free tier includes unlimited posts, 75 AI credits/month, bulk scheduling, link in bio, hashtag manager, competitor tracking, RSS import, and evergreen recycling. No credit card required and no platform restrictions.
SocialMate covers 16 platforms — including Discord, Bluesky, Telegram, and Mastodon. Unlimited posts. 12 AI tools. Free forever.
Create free account →No card required · Free forever