In 2025, maintaining a consistent social media presence is mandatory for business success. However, manually posting content daily can be time-consuming and inefficient. That’s where content scheduling comes in.
Scheduling your social media content in advance ensures a steady flow of posts, saves time, and improves engagement. The best part? You don’t have to pay for expensive scheduling tools! In this guide, we’ll explore how to schedule social media content for free using native platform tools and third-party schedulers with forever free plans.
How to Schedule Social Media Content for Free in 2025
1. Native Social Media Scheduling Tools (Free & Built-In)
Many social media platforms now offer built-in scheduling tools, allowing business owners to plan their content without additional costs. Here’s how you can schedule posts directly within each platform.
1.1 Meta Business Suite (Facebook & Instagram)
Meta Business Suite is a free tool that allows businesses to manage and schedule content for Facebook and Instagram in one place.
How to Schedule Content Using Meta Business Suite:
- Log in to your Meta Business Suite account (business.facebook.com).
- Click on Planner in the left-hand menu.
- Select Create Post and choose whether to post on Facebook, Instagram, or both.
- Upload your content, write your caption, and set hashtags.
- Click Schedule and select your desired posting time.
- Click Save to confirm your scheduled post.
Best Practices:
- Use Insights to determine the best times to post.
- Schedule a mix of content types (images, videos, carousels).
- Ensure posts are optimized for both Facebook and Instagram audiences.
1.2 LinkedIn’s Built-In Scheduling Tool
LinkedIn now allows users to schedule posts directly from its platform, making it easier to stay active professionally.
How to Schedule a LinkedIn Post:
- Open LinkedIn and click Start a Post.
- Write your content and upload media.
- Click the Clock Icon in the bottom-right corner.
- Select a date and time for publishing.
- Click Schedule to confirm.
Limitations & Best Practices:
- You can only schedule text, image, and video posts (no documents or polls yet).
- Analyze LinkedIn analytics to optimize posting times.
1.3 TikTok’s Free Scheduling Feature
TikTok offers free post scheduling, but it’s only available on the desktop version.
How to Schedule TikTok Posts:
- Visit TikTok.com and log in.
- Click Upload Video and select your content.
- Add captions, hashtags, and relevant settings.
- Toggle the Schedule Post option.
- Choose the desired date and time.
- Click Schedule to finalize.
Tips for Success:
- Only available for business accounts.
- Ensure content aligns with TikTok’s peak engagement hours.
2. Free Third-Party Scheduling Tools (Forever Free Plans)
If you want more advanced scheduling features, several third-party tools offer forever free plans. Here are some of the best options.
2.1 Metricool
Metricool is a powerful social media scheduling and analytics tool.
Free Plan Features:
- Schedule up to 50 posts per month.
- Supports Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Google Business Profile.
- Includes a basic analytics dashboard.
2.2 Publer
Publer offers a robust free plan with flexible scheduling.
Free Plan Features:
- Manage up to 3 social accounts.
- Schedule 10 posts per account at a time.
- Supports Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and Google Business Profile.
2.3 Later
Later is popular for its Instagram-first scheduling but supports other platforms too.
Free Plan Features:
- Schedule up to 10 posts per platform per month.
- Visual content calendar for Instagram planning.
- Link-in-bio tool for Instagram.
2.4 Buffer
Buffer is a simple and reliable scheduling tool with a free option.
Free Plan Features:
- Connect up to 3 social accounts.
- Schedule up to 10 posts per account.
- Supports Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Pinterest.
2.5 Other Free Scheduling Tools Worth Trying
- Canva Scheduler (Best for visual content planning)
- Zoho Social (Limited free scheduling but great for teams)
- Hootsuite Free Plan (1 user, 2 accounts, 5 scheduled posts at a time)
3. Tips for Effective Content Scheduling
Scheduling posts is only effective if you plan strategically. Here are some best practices to maximize your social media success.
Best Posting Times by Platform:
- Facebook & Instagram: 10 AM – 3 PM, Tuesday to Thursday.
- LinkedIn: 7-9 AM and 5-6 PM, Tuesday & Wednesday.
- TikTok: 6-10 PM, daily.
Creating a Content Calendar:
- Plan at least one month in advance.
- Mix educational, promotional, and interactive content.
- Use Google Sheets or a free scheduling tool to organize posts.
Balancing Automation & Engagement:
- Engage with your audience in real-time even when using scheduling tools.
- Adjust content based on analytics and trends.
- Refresh older scheduled content to stay relevant.
4. Conclusion
Scheduling your social media content doesn’t have to cost a dime. By using free native tools like Meta Business Suite, LinkedIn Scheduler, and TikTok’s built-in feature, along with third-party tools like Metricool, Publer, Later, and Buffer, you can automate and streamline your content strategy without breaking the bank.
Start experimenting with these free tools today, analyze what works best for your business, and refine your content calendar for optimal engagement. Happy scheduling!
