Later
Later
6.6
Overall Score / 10
Sprout Social
Sprout Social
6
Overall Score / 10
Our Verdict
Choose Later if:
- —Instagram-focused creators and brands
- —Visual-first social media teams
- —Small businesses wanting scheduled posts with a visual calendar
Choose Sprout Social if:
- —Enterprise teams needing comprehensive social media management
- —Agencies requiring social listening and competitor analysis
- —Customer care teams using social media as a support channel
The biggest difference: Sprout Social is an enterprise-grade social management platform with CRM, listening, and advanced reporting. Later is a more affordable visual planner best suited for Instagram-heavy creators and small businesses.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Criteria | Later | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Paid Plan | $25/mo (Starter)Source: Later pricing page → | $249/mo (Standard)Source: Sprout Social pricing page → |
| Free Tier | No No free plan (discontinued). 14-day free trial available. | No No free plan. 30-day free trial available. |
| Value for Money | 6 | 4 |
| Ease of Use | 8 | 7 |
| Feature Power | 6 | 9 |
| Setup Ease | 8 | 7 |
| Migration Ease | 7 | 4 |
| Transparency | 6 | 5 |
| Deployment | cloud | cloud |
| API Available | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Compliance | GDPR | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, CCPA |
Feature Comparison
Feature Comparison Matrix
23 features compared · 22 differences
| Feature | Later | Sprout Social |
|---|---|---|
| Core | ||
| Automated publishing | None | Full |
| Best time to post | Full | None |
| Competitive analysis | None | Full |
| Content calendar | None | Full |
| CRM features | None | Full |
| Employee advocacy (add-on) | None | Full |
| Hashtag suggestions (Growth+) | Full | None |
| Influencer marketing (add-on) | None | Full |
| Instagram Stories scheduling | Full | None |
| Link-in-bio (Linkin.bio) | Full | None |
| Multi-platform publishing | Full | None |
| Smart inbox | None | Full |
| User-generated content tools | Full | None |
| Visual content calendar | Full | None |
| Advanced | ||
| AI caption writer | Full | None |
| Analytics | Full | None |
| Analytics & custom reports | None | Full |
| Approval workflows | None | Full |
| Chatbots (Advanced) | None | Full |
| Sentiment analysis (Advanced) | None | Full |
| Integrations | ||
| API Access | None | Full |
| Security | ||
| Social listening (add-on) | None | Full |
| Social media scheduling | Full | Full |
Pricing Comparison
Later Pricing
1 social set (1 profile per platform), 1 user, 30 posts/profile/mo, 3-month analytics
3 social sets, 3 users, 150 posts/profile/mo, 1-year analytics
6 social sets, 6 users, unlimited posts, 1-year analytics
Sprout Social Pricing
1 user, 5 social profiles, scheduling, content calendar, review management
1 user, unlimited profiles, competitive reports, custom workflows, optimal send times
1 user, chatbots, sentiment analysis, automated rules, CSAT/NPS surveys
Custom users, custom profiles, SSO, premium analytics, dedicated support
Who Should Choose Which?
Who should choose Later
Best for
- Instagram-focused creators and brands
- Visual-first social media teams
- Small businesses wanting scheduled posts with a visual calendar
Avoid if
- You need social listening (Later doesn't offer it)
- You want a free plan (Buffer still has one)
- You need advanced analytics or competitor analysis (Sprout Social is stronger)
Who should choose Sprout Social
Best for
- Enterprise teams needing comprehensive social media management
- Agencies requiring social listening and competitor analysis
- Customer care teams using social media as a support channel
Avoid if
- You're a small business or solopreneur (pricing starts at $199/user/mo annual)
- You need budget-friendly social scheduling (Buffer starts at $6/channel)
- You don't need advanced analytics or social listening
Switching Guidance
Switching from Later
Common triggers to leave:
- •No free plan
- •30 posts/profile/mo limit on Starter is very low
- •No social listening
- •Post limits feel restrictive
Potential blockers:
- •Linkin.bio page and traffic
- •Visual content calendar with planned posts
- •Analytics history
Switching from Sprout Social
Common triggers to leave:
- •Per-user pricing is extremely expensive for teams
- •Add-ons (listening, advocacy) cost extra on top of high base price
- •Overkill for basic scheduling needs
Potential blockers:
- •Social listening alerts and historical data
- •CRM social profiles
- •Team workflows and approval chains
- •Custom report templates
Try Later
Plans from $25/mo
Try Sprout Social
Plans from $249/mo