Later vs Sprout Social: Save Time & Boost Engagement in 2025?

Winner

4.8

• Social Media Management
• Smarter Content Planning
• Employee Advocacy
• Premium Analytics
• Influencer Marketing
• 30-day free trial available
• Paid Plans from $199

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Runner Up

7.0

• Calendar
• Media Library
• Conversations
• Analytics
• Linkin in bio
• Free Trial Available
• Paid Plans from $16.67/month

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Feeling swamped by social media? It’s a lot to handle!

Later and Sprout Social can help you take control, saving you precious time and boosting your engagement.

But which one’s right for you?

This post compares Later vs Sprout Social to both platforms to helped you choose the perfect tool for your social media strategy.

Overview

To give you the most accurate comparison, we’ve spent weeks testing both Later and Sprout Social, scheduling posts, digging into analytics, and exploring all the features they have to offer.

This hands-on experience gives us a solid foundation for comparing these two popular social media management platforms.

4.8out of 5

Ready to streamline your social media management and boost your online presence? Start your free trial of Sprout Social today and experience the difference!

Pricing: It has a free plan. Paid plan Starts at $249/month

Key Features:

• Social listening
• Advanced analytics
• Team collaboration tools

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3.5out of 5

Later’s visual planner and Best Time to Post feature help you get the most out of your content. Explore it’s features today!

Pricing: It has a free trial. Paid plan Starts at $16.67/month

Key Features:

• Visual Planner
• Best Time to Post
• Linkin. bio

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What is Later?

Ever wished you could plan your Instagram feed visually? That’s where Later shines.

It started as a simple tool for scheduling Instagram posts, but it’s grown into a complete social media management platform.

Think of it as your content calendar and scheduling assistant all rolled into one.

It’s super user-friendly, even for beginners.

Also, explore our favorite Later alternatives…

Our Take

Later is a great choice for businesses that prioritize visual content and Instagram marketing. It’s easy to use, affordable, and offers a range of features to help you create & schedule beautiful, engaging content.

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Key Benefits

• Features: Later offers scheduling, publishing, analytics, and a visual planner for creating and previewing your social media content.
• Supported social networks: It integrates with Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and TikTok.
• Ease of use: The interface is drag-and-drop and very visual, making it easy to plan and schedule your content.
• Customer support: Later offers email and chat support, as well as a comprehensive help center.
• Integrations: It connects with a few key tools, such as Canva, Unsplash, and Dropbox.
• Scalability: Later offers plans for businesses of all sizes, from solopreneurs to large teams.

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Pricing

Later has a free plan with limited features. Paid plans start at $18/month and go up depending on the number of social profiles and users you need.

• Starter: $16.67/month
• Growth: $30/month
• Advanced: $53.33/month

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Pros

• Intuitive interface.
• Visual planning.
• Feature-rich.
• Convenient mobile apps.
• Free plan option.

Cons

• Limited free features.
• Pricey for some.
• Advanced features have a learning curve.

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What is Sprout Social?

Need a serious social media management tool? Sprout Social is a powerhouse.

It’s designed for businesses and agencies that need advanced features, in-depth analytics, and powerful social listening capabilities.

Think of it as your all-in-one social media command center.

Also, explore our favorite Sprout Social alternatives…

Our Take

Start your 30-day free trial with Sprout Social and join over 30,000 brands that use its powerful analytics and unified inbox to drive social success.

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Key Benefits

• Features: It’s a comprehensive platform with tools for publishing, engagement, and analytics. It also includes social listening and influencer marketing features.
• Supported social networks: It connects with over 20 networks, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, as well as Google Business Profile and TikTok.
• Ease of use: The interface is clean and user-friendly, making it easy to navigate.
• Customer support: Sprout Social offers 24/5 customer support via phone, email, and live chat, along with a robust knowledge base.
• Integrations: It integrates with many other popular tools, such as Canva, Zendesk, and Salesforce.
• Scalability: It offers different plans to fit the needs of small businesses and large enterprises.
• Warranty: Sprout Social’s terms of service outline its liability limitations, but it doesn’t offer a specific product warranty.

Pricing

• Standard: $199/month
• Professional: $299/month
• Advanced: $399/month
• Enterprise: Custom pricing.

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Pros

• Powerful social listening tools.
• Excellent customer support.
• Comprehensive analytics and reporting.
• User-friendly interface.
• Robust engagement features.

Cons

• Expensive pricing plans.
• Limited free trial.
• Can be complex for beginners.
• Mobile app could be improved.
• Some limitations on scheduling.

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Feature Comparison

Comparing Later vs. Sprout Social involves examining two of the most popular social media management apps.

Later is a well-known later social media scheduler with a focus on visual content, while Sprout Social is a comprehensive enterprise-grade platform.

The best choice depends on your needs, team size, and budget.

1. Pricing and Plans

• Later: Offers a free plan with basic features, making it accessible to individuals and new users. Its paid plans are more budget-friendly, billed annually, and structured for small businesses and content creators who manage a few social media channels.
• Sprout Social: This is a more expensive platform. Sprout Social pricing is on a per-user, per-month basis, with a standard plan being significantly more costly than Later’s top-tier plans. Its pricing structure and extra features are geared toward larger teams and agencies.

2. Supported Social Platforms

• Later: Excels at visual platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok. While it also supports Facebook pages and other social accounts, its core strengths lie in visual-first scheduling and publishing content.
• Sprout Social: Supports a wider range of social media accounts, including Twitter, LinkedIn pages, and Google Business Profile. This makes it a great tool for managing a diverse range of social profiles.

3. Publishing and Scheduling

• Later: The later social media scheduler is known for its visual calendar and drag-and-drop user interface, which is perfect for planning a cohesive Instagram feed. It also offers unique features like automatically posted first comment and scheduling suggestions.
• Sprout Social: Provides a robust publishing workflow with a unified social media calendar. Users can pause all outgoing posts, schedule posts for optimal send times, and use custom workflows for content approval, making it ideal for teams with multiple users.

4. Analytics and Reporting

• Later: Offers basic features and insights into your social media post performance and follower growth. While it has some unique hashtag suggestions and analytics, it is not as comprehensive as its counterpart.
• Sprout Social: The professional plan and top-tier plans offer in-depth analytics, competitive reporting, and paid social reporting. You can generate custom reports, track multiple social media accounts, and gain a complete picture of your social media performance.

5. Social Listening and Brand Monitoring

• Later: Has very limited social listening tool capabilities. While you can search for user-generated content and some twitter keywords, its listening features are not a key focus of the platform.
• Sprout Social: Excels in this area. It provides a powerful social listening tool that allows you to monitor brand mentions, track keywords, and perform trend analysis, which is essential for proactive social review management.

6. Inbox and Engagement

• Later: Its social inbox is a convenient feature for managing comments and messages across your social platforms. However, some Later reviews mention it can feel a bit annoying to navigate and lacks more advanced features.
• Sprout Social: Features a “Smart Inbox” that brings all messages into one stream, complete with conversation history and a social CRM. This allows you to create support tickets, assign tasks, and even manage reviews from platforms like Facebook pages, the Apple App Store, and Google My Business.

7. Team Collaboration

• Later: The platform provides a media library and team collaboration tools, but its features are more basic, suited for smaller teams and freelancers. The app works well for simple publishing workflows and shared access to a content library.
• Sprout Social: Is built for teams. It offers custom workflows, user permissions, and case management features that allow different users to have specific roles and responsibilities.

8. Mobile Apps

• Later: The later mobile app for the Apple App Store and Google Play is pretty handy and a core part of its workflow, especially for publishing Instagram stories and video content.
• Sprout Social: Also has mobile apps, but the full power of its features and user interface is experienced on the desktop version.

9. Content Creation

• Later: The platform has a robust media library and provides tools like unique hashtag suggestions tailored to your content. It allows you to create content, upload media, and plan post ideas directly.
• Sprout Social: Offers an asset library for storing and sharing media. It also supports editing posts and provides features like boosting Facebook posts for paid social.

10. Customer Support

• Later: Generally receives positive later review feedback for its responsive customer care, particularly for its lower-priced plans.
• Sprout Social: While it has dedicated support, some Sprout Social reviews have cited issues with their customer service, particularly concerning their annual billing policies.

11. Core Purpose and Audience

• Later: Its focus on visual content and ease of use makes it a great tool for social media managers, influencers, and small businesses that prioritize Instagram and Pinterest. It’s one of the best social alternatives for those looking for simplicity.
• Sprout Social: A full-service social management solution for large teams and agencies that require advanced features, social CRM tools, detailed analytics, lead generation, and competitive reporting.

What to Look For When Choosing the Right Tool?

• Pricing & Scaling: Does the social media management app offer a free version or trial? Do the plans align with your budget and allow for additional users and multiple social media accounts as you grow? Be sure to check for transparent pricing, annual billing options, and any extra features that might cost more.
• Platform Support: Ensure the social media management tool supports all the key social channels you use, including a strong focus on visual-first platforms if that is your primary focus, such as Instagram or TikTok. Check for specific features like a TikTok auto-publishing feature or the ability to automatically post to your Instagram account.
• Publishing & Scheduling: Look for a robust posting process. Can you schedule content with a precise date, cross-post across multiple platforms with just a few tweaks, and drop posts onto a visual social media calendar? Does it have features like automated link tracking, hashtag suggestions, or the ability to automatically publish the first comment?
• Analytics & Reporting: A great tool should provide more than just basic Instagram analytics. Look for powerful analytics to monitor profiles, measure your social media posts’ performance, and get post recommendations to increase engagement. Competitive reporting and custom views are also key.
• Engagement & Inbox: A unified inbox that centralizes all social reviews, messages, and comments from multiple platforms is a huge time-saver. Check for a smart inbox, social CRM tools, and the ability to assign tasks to manage reviews and further action.
• Team Collaboration: If you have a team, look for key features that streamline your workflow. Does the tool offer custom workflows, user permissions, and an asset library? These features are essential for smooth collaboration and publishing content across other accounts.
• Mobile App Functionality: A good social media management app should have a later mobile app for when inspiration strikes. This allows you to schedule Instagram stories, edit posts, and upload media on the go, which is crucial for managing video content ahead of time.
• Feature Set: The best social media management tools go beyond the basics. Look for extra features like a social listening tool, the ability to boost Facebook posts for paid social reporting, and tools for lead generation. Make sure the features align with your specific needs.
• Review Management: For businesses, a dedicated social review or review management feature is crucial for maintaining a positive online reputation. This can include monitoring and managing Facebook reviews from Facebook pages.

Final Verdict

So, which tool comes out on top? For most users, especially small businesses, we recommend Later.

It’s easy to use, has a great visual planner, and won’t break the bank. Plus, it offers all the essential features you need to boost your social media game.

Later, it makes scheduling visual content a breeze and provides helpful analytics to track your progress.

Need a Sprout Social alternative that’s less complex and more affordable? Later is a great choice.

However, if you need advanced features like in-depth social media listening and Google Analytics integration, Sprout Social stands out as the more powerful option.

Sprout Social offers a more robust feature set, including detailed analytics and social listening tools, but it comes at a higher cost.

We’ve tested both platforms extensively so that you can trust our recommendation. Ultimately, the best choices depends on your specific needs and budget.

Choose wisely and watch your social media engagement soar!

Still not sure? Try out the free trials of both Later and Sprout Social to see which one feels like the best fit for you.

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More of Later

• Later vs Sprout Social: It offers comprehensive social listening and advanced analytics, making it a more robust, but complex tool.
• Later vs Metricool: It offers broader analytics and ad management.
• Later vs Socialpilot: It supports more platforms and has a social inbox.
• Later vs Sendible: It has robust collaboration and reporting.
• Later vs Content Studio: It excels in content discovery.
• Later vs Heropost: It uses AI for content creation.
• Later vs Agorapulse: It offers strong social listening.
• Later vs Zoho Social: It integrates with the Zoho suite.
• Later vs Buffer: It is known for its simplicity.
• Later vs Sprinklr: It is an enterprise-level platform.
• Later vs Loomly: It focuses on team content workflows.
• Later vs Blaze: It depends on Blaze’s specific features.
• Later vs Hootsuite: It is a more comprehensive tool with a wider range of platform integrations and in-depth analytics.
• Later vs Planable: It is a collaboration-first tool, with a strong focus on content approval workflows for teams

More of Sprout Social

• Sprout Social vs Metricool: Metricool is for e-commerce with a focus on conversions. Sprout Social is geared towards larger teams and offers more in-depth corporate analytics.
• Sprout Social vs Socialpilot: SocialPilot is a great value for content scheduling. A Sprout Social review will show it excels in advanced analytics and social listening, making it better for deep insights.
• Sprout Social vs Sendible: Sendible is known for its user-friendly interface. Sprout Social focuses more on detailed reporting and sentiment analysis.
• Sprout Social vs Content Studio: Content Studio is more focused on content discovery for small businesses. Sprout Social is a powerhouse for advanced analytics and team collaboration.
• Sprout Social vs Heropost: Heropost has strong competitor analysis. A Sprout Social review highlights its more advanced social listening and reporting.
• Sprout Social vs Agorapulse: Agorapulse is a more affordable alternative with a great inbox. Sprout Social provides more in-depth reporting and is better for enterprise-level paid social reporting.
• Sprout Social vs Zoho Social: Zoho Social is an affordable option with an easy-to-use interface. Sprout Social offers a more robust and comprehensive set of features, though with a higher price.
• Sprout Social vs Buffer: Buffer is famous for its simplicity. Sprout Social offers a more extensive set of features for large teams and more in-depth analytics.
• Sprout Social vs Sprinklr: Sprinklr is for large enterprises. Sprout Social is often rated as having a more intuitive user interface and better support for its complex features.
• Sprout Social vs Later: Later is a visual-first platform, especially for Instagram. Sprout Social is a broader social media management tool that supports more social alternatives and offers more advanced social listening.
• Sprout Social vs Loomly: Loomly focuses on team collaboration. Sprout Social provides more advanced social listening and detailed analytics.
• Sprout Social vs Blaze: One version of Blaze is a social media tool. Another, more common version, is a cannabis software suite and not a direct competitor.
• Sprout Social vs Hootsuite: Hootsuite is a long-standing competitor. Sprout Social is often praised for its superior social reporting and customer support.

Frequently Asked Questions