LinkedInSchedulingToolsSocial MediaProductivityContent Creation

Best LinkedIn Scheduling Tools 2026: Features, Pricing & Honest Reviews

Compare 10+ LinkedIn scheduling tools including Postking, Taplio, Shield, Buffer, Hootsuite, and more. Find the best tool for creators, teams, and agencies with detailed pricing, features, and honest recommendations.

Shanjai Raj

Shanjai Raj

Founder at Postking

November 29, 202525 min read
Best LinkedIn Scheduling Tools 2026: Features, Pricing & Honest Reviews

LinkedIn scheduling tools have become essential for anyone serious about building a presence on the platform. Posting at optimal times, maintaining consistency, and managing a content calendar manually is tedious work that takes time away from actually creating content.

The market is crowded with options. Some tools focus purely on scheduling. Others bundle AI writing, analytics, and engagement features. A few charge premium prices for basic functionality that should be standard.

I tested over a dozen LinkedIn scheduling tools to find what actually delivers value. This comparison breaks down pricing, features, limitations, and who each tool is actually built for.

Quick Comparison: LinkedIn Scheduling Tools at a Glance

Before diving into detailed reviews, here's how the major players compare:

ToolStarting PriceAI ContentAuto-SchedulingAnalyticsCarousel SupportBest For
PostkingFree (2 posts/mo)YesYes (Pro)BasicYesFounders & creators
Taplio$39/monthYes ($65+)YesAdvancedYesAll-in-one users
ShieldFree (3 posts/mo)LimitedNoAdvancedLimitedAnalytics-focused
BufferFree (3 posts/mo)Yes ($12+)YesBasicYesMulti-platform
Hootsuite$99/monthYesYesAdvancedYesEnterprises
LaterFreeNoYesBasicNoVisual planners
AuthoredUp$19/monthYesYesBasicYesPost formatting
PublerFree (3 posts/mo)YesYesBasicYesBudget-conscious
SocialBee$29/monthYesYesAdvancedYesContent recycling
Loomly$42/monthYesYesAdvancedYesTeams
MetricoolFree (limited)NoYesAdvancedLimitedAnalytics focus

1. Postking (Best for Content Creation + Scheduling)

Pricing: Free forever (2 posts/month), Starter at $49/mo, Professional at $79/mo (yearly pricing)

Most LinkedIn scheduling tools focus on when to post. Postking focuses on what to post, with scheduling built in.

What makes it stand out

The core workflow is different from traditional schedulers. Instead of writing posts in a scheduler interface, you create content from voice recordings, YouTube videos, blog posts, or any URL. The AI transforms your existing ideas into LinkedIn posts, then schedules them at optimal times.

This matters because the hardest part of LinkedIn isn't scheduling posts - it's consistently creating good content. Postking addresses both problems.

Key Features:

  • Voice-to-LinkedIn post conversion (record 2 minutes, get a polished post)
  • Content repurposing from YouTube, blogs, podcasts, any URL
  • AI image generation (Imagen 3) for visual content
  • Free carousel generator (no signup required)
  • Automated posting at optimal times (Professional plan)
  • Post preview and formatting tools
  • Knowledge base integration (train AI on your content)
  • Mobile and desktop support

Scheduling Capabilities:

  • Automated posting at algorithm-optimal times
  • Content calendar planning
  • Post queue management
  • Timezone optimization
  • Available on Professional plan ($79/mo yearly)

Limitations:

  • No multi-platform support (LinkedIn-focused)
  • No built-in lead database like Taplio
  • Scheduling requires Professional plan (not available on free tier)
  • Analytics are basic compared to dedicated analytics tools

Pricing Breakdown:

  • Free: 2 posts/month, basic AI features
  • Starter ($59/mo or $49/mo yearly): 8 posts/month, advanced AI, post improvements
  • Professional ($99/mo or $79/mo yearly): 30 posts/month, automated posting, AI images

Who it's for: Founders, consultants, and creators who have valuable insights but struggle with content creation. Particularly effective if you already create content in other formats (videos, podcasts, verbal brainstorms) that can be repurposed for LinkedIn.

Read our detailed Taplio vs Postking comparison for more context.


2. Taplio (Best All-in-One LinkedIn Platform)

Pricing: Starter at $39/month, Standard at $65/month, Pro at $149/month

Taplio positions itself as a complete LinkedIn growth platform. Scheduling is just one piece of a larger toolkit that includes AI content generation, analytics, engagement tracking, and a lead database.

What makes it stand out

The breadth of features is Taplio's strength. Instead of using separate tools for writing, scheduling, analytics, and lead generation, everything lives in one platform. The Pro plan's 3+ million contact database is unique among LinkedIn content tools.

Key Features:

  • AI post generation from prompts (Standard plan and up)
  • Carousel creation from topics, YouTube, blog posts
  • Direct LinkedIn scheduling for all content types
  • Advanced analytics beyond LinkedIn native stats
  • Chrome extension for in-platform insights (free)
  • Viral post library for inspiration
  • Lead database with 3M+ contacts (Pro plan)
  • Engagement tracking and automation

Scheduling Capabilities:

  • One-click scheduling across all content types
  • Kanban board for content organization
  • Calendar view for planning
  • Queue management
  • Best time suggestions
  • Available on all paid plans

Limitations:

  • AI writing requires $65/month Standard plan (not included in Starter)
  • More expensive than specialized scheduling tools
  • Some users report LinkedIn ToS concerns with automation features
  • Can feel overwhelming for simple scheduling needs
  • No AI image generation

Pricing Breakdown:

  • Starter ($39/mo or ~$27/mo yearly): Scheduling, analytics, content inspiration. No AI writing.
  • Standard ($65/mo or ~$46/mo yearly): AI content, carousel creator, engagement tools
  • Pro ($149/mo or ~$104/mo yearly): Lead database, team features, 5,000 AI credits

Who it's for: LinkedIn power users, sales professionals, and agencies who want everything in one subscription. Best if you need both content creation and lead generation capabilities.


3. Shield Analytics (Best for LinkedIn Analytics)

Pricing: Free (3 posts/month), Premium at $19/month

Shield started as an analytics platform and added scheduling later. The analytics remain the tool's strongest feature, offering deeper insights than most competitors.

What makes it stand out

Shield's analytics go beyond surface metrics. You get audience demographic breakdowns, competitor analysis, content performance predictions, and engagement rate benchmarks specific to your industry.

Key Features:

  • Advanced analytics dashboard
  • Audience demographic insights
  • Competitor tracking and benchmarking
  • Content performance predictions
  • Post scheduling (basic)
  • PDF report generation
  • Team performance tracking
  • Browser extension for quick access

Scheduling Capabilities:

  • Basic post scheduling
  • Content calendar view
  • Draft management
  • Limited to 3 posts/month on free plan
  • No auto-scheduling at optimal times
  • No queue management

Limitations:

  • Scheduling features are basic compared to dedicated schedulers
  • No AI content generation
  • Limited carousel support
  • No multi-account management
  • No image generation or advanced content tools

Pricing Breakdown:

  • Free: 3 posts/month, basic analytics
  • Premium ($19/mo): Unlimited posts, advanced analytics, team features

Who it's for: Creators and brands who prioritize understanding their LinkedIn performance over scheduling convenience. Excellent for data-driven content strategies.


4. Buffer (Best for Multi-Platform Scheduling)

Pricing: Free (3 posts/month), Essentials at $6/month per channel, Team at $12/month per channel

Buffer is the veteran of social media scheduling. It supports LinkedIn alongside Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and more. The LinkedIn features have improved significantly in recent updates.

What makes it stand out

Buffer's strength is simplicity across platforms. If you post on multiple social networks, managing everything from one calendar reduces context switching. The interface is clean and unopinionated.

Key Features:

  • Multi-platform scheduling (6+ networks)
  • AI content generation (Team plan)
  • Calendar view across all channels
  • Browser extension for quick scheduling
  • Basic analytics for each platform
  • Team collaboration tools
  • Carousel support for LinkedIn
  • Mobile apps (iOS and Android)

Scheduling Capabilities:

  • Schedule to multiple platforms simultaneously
  • Custom scheduling or optimal time suggestions
  • Queue-based posting system
  • Timezone support
  • Draft and approval workflows
  • Weekly/monthly calendar views

Limitations:

  • LinkedIn-specific features lag behind dedicated tools
  • AI content is generic (not LinkedIn-optimized)
  • Analytics are basic compared to Shield or Taplio
  • Pricing per channel adds up quickly for teams
  • No voice-to-content or advanced repurposing

Pricing Breakdown:

  • Free: 3 posts/month, 3 channels
  • Essentials ($6/mo per channel): 30 posts/channel, basic analytics
  • Team ($12/mo per channel): AI content, advanced analytics, team features

Who it's for: Multi-platform creators and brands who need consistent posting across LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and other networks. Less ideal if LinkedIn is your primary focus.


5. Hootsuite (Best for Enterprise Teams)

Pricing: Professional at $99/month, Team at $249/month, Enterprise custom pricing

Hootsuite is built for large organizations managing multiple brands across dozens of social accounts. The LinkedIn integration is comprehensive, but the platform is overkill for individual creators.

What makes it stand out

Enterprise-grade features: approval workflows, role-based permissions, compliance tools, detailed audit logs. If you're managing LinkedIn for a Fortune 500 company, Hootsuite handles the complexity.

Key Features:

  • Multi-account LinkedIn management
  • Advanced approval workflows
  • Role-based team permissions
  • Comprehensive analytics and reporting
  • Social listening and monitoring
  • AI content assistance
  • Carousel scheduling
  • Integration with 100+ apps
  • Dedicated account manager (Enterprise)

Scheduling Capabilities:

  • Bulk scheduling from CSV
  • Auto-scheduling based on best times
  • Content calendar across all accounts
  • Queue management per account
  • Campaign planning tools
  • Multi-timezone scheduling

Limitations:

  • Expensive for individuals and small teams
  • Interface feels dated compared to modern tools
  • Learning curve is steep
  • AI content features lag newer competitors
  • Over-engineered for simple scheduling needs

Pricing Breakdown:

  • Professional ($99/mo): 1 user, 10 accounts, basic features
  • Team ($249/mo): 3 users, 20 accounts, advanced analytics
  • Enterprise (custom): Unlimited users, custom features, dedicated support

Who it's for: Marketing teams at mid-to-large companies managing multiple LinkedIn company pages and accounts. Not recommended for individual creators or small businesses.


6. Later (Best for Visual Content Planning)

Pricing: Free, Starter at $25/month, Growth at $45/month

Later started as an Instagram scheduler and expanded to LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest. The visual planning approach works well for content-heavy strategies.

What makes it stand out

Later's drag-and-drop visual calendar makes content planning intuitive. You see your scheduled posts as a visual grid, making it easy to maintain aesthetic consistency and posting cadence.

Key Features:

  • Visual content calendar
  • Drag-and-drop scheduling
  • Media library for organizing assets
  • Best time to post recommendations
  • Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest support
  • Link-in-bio tool (Linkin.bio)
  • Basic analytics
  • Mobile app scheduling

Scheduling Capabilities:

  • Visual calendar planning
  • Optimal posting time suggestions
  • Bulk upload and scheduling
  • Queue system
  • Auto-publishing for most platforms
  • Timezone management

Limitations:

  • No AI content generation
  • LinkedIn features are basic (focused on Instagram)
  • No carousel support for LinkedIn
  • Analytics are limited
  • No voice-to-content or repurposing tools
  • Better suited for visual platforms than LinkedIn

Pricing Breakdown:

  • Free: 1 social set, 10 posts/month
  • Starter ($25/mo): 1 social set, 30 posts/month
  • Growth ($45/mo): 3 social sets, 150 posts/month

Who it's for: Visual-first creators who post primarily on Instagram and TikTok but want LinkedIn scheduling as a secondary feature.


7. AuthoredUp (Best for LinkedIn Post Formatting)

Pricing: Creator at $19/month, Growth at $49/month

AuthoredUp is a LinkedIn-specific tool that started with post formatting and added scheduling. The Chrome extension remains its strongest feature, making post formatting effortless.

What makes it stand out

The formatting experience is superior to native LinkedIn. Preview how your post looks before publishing, add proper spacing and line breaks, optimize formatting for mobile views, and schedule directly from the composer.

Key Features:

  • Chrome extension for in-LinkedIn formatting
  • Real-time mobile preview
  • Post formatting optimization
  • AI content ideas and improvements
  • Carousel creation
  • Scheduling with queue management
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Mentions and hashtag suggestions
  • Character and line counter

Scheduling Capabilities:

  • Direct scheduling from LinkedIn interface
  • Queue management system
  • Best time to post suggestions
  • Draft saving and organization
  • Calendar view
  • Recycling of evergreen content

Limitations:

  • Chrome extension required (no standalone app)
  • AI content is basic compared to Postking/Taplio
  • Analytics lag dedicated analytics tools
  • No voice-to-content features
  • No AI image generation
  • Limited to LinkedIn only

Pricing Breakdown:

  • Creator ($19/mo): Single user, unlimited posts, basic analytics
  • Growth ($49/mo): Advanced analytics, team features, priority support

Who it's for: LinkedIn-focused creators who want better formatting control and scheduling without the complexity of all-in-one platforms. Particularly useful if you write posts in LinkedIn and want better tools there.


8. Publer (Best Budget-Friendly Option)

Pricing: Free, Professional at $12/month, Business at $21/month

Publer offers a surprising amount of functionality for the price. It's not the best at any single thing, but it covers scheduling, basic AI, analytics, and multi-platform support at a fraction of competitors' costs.

What makes it stand out

Value for money. You get multi-platform scheduling, AI assistance, bulk scheduling, analytics, and team collaboration for $12/month. The free plan is usable, not just a teaser.

Key Features:

  • Multi-platform scheduling (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok)
  • AI content generation and suggestions
  • Bulk scheduling from CSV
  • Browser extension
  • Calendar and list views
  • Basic analytics
  • Link shortening and tracking
  • Photo and video editor
  • RSS feed auto-posting

Scheduling Capabilities:

  • Auto-scheduling at optimal times
  • Queue management
  • Recurring posts
  • Calendar planning
  • Bulk import and scheduling
  • Timezone support

Limitations:

  • AI content is generic (not LinkedIn-optimized)
  • Analytics are basic
  • LinkedIn-specific features limited
  • Interface feels less polished than premium tools
  • Customer support slower on budget plans
  • No advanced repurposing tools

Pricing Breakdown:

  • Free: 3 posts/month, 3 accounts, basic features
  • Professional ($12/mo): 10 accounts, unlimited posts, AI features
  • Business ($21/mo): 20 accounts, team collaboration, advanced analytics

Who it's for: Creators and small businesses on tight budgets who need multi-platform scheduling without premium pricing. Good for testing LinkedIn scheduling before committing to expensive tools.


9. SocialBee (Best for Content Recycling)

Pricing: Bootstrap at $29/month, Accelerate at $49/month, Pro at $99/month

SocialBee's unique feature is content categories and recycling. You categorize posts (educational, promotional, curated, etc.) and the tool automatically recycles evergreen content, maintaining variety without constant creation.

What makes it stand out

The content recycling system helps maintain consistent posting without creating new content daily. Set up content categories, add evergreen posts, and SocialBee rotates them automatically while mixing in new content.

Key Features:

  • Content categorization system
  • Evergreen post recycling
  • Multi-platform scheduling (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok)
  • AI content generation
  • Canva integration
  • URL shortening and tracking
  • Hashtag collections
  • Team collaboration
  • Analytics and reporting

Scheduling Capabilities:

  • Category-based scheduling
  • Automatic evergreen recycling
  • Queue management per category
  • Best time to post recommendations
  • Calendar view
  • Bulk import and scheduling

Limitations:

  • Learning curve for category system
  • LinkedIn features not as advanced as dedicated tools
  • AI content quality behind Postking/Taplio
  • No advanced LinkedIn-specific features
  • Analytics are basic
  • No voice-to-content or advanced repurposing

Pricing Breakdown:

  • Bootstrap ($29/mo): 5 accounts, 1 user, all core features
  • Accelerate ($49/mo): 10 accounts, 1 user, AI assistant
  • Pro ($99/mo): 25 accounts, 3 users, team features

Who it's for: Multi-platform creators who want to maintain consistent posting with minimal daily effort. Ideal if you have a library of evergreen content to recycle.


10. Loomly (Best for Team Collaboration)

Pricing: Base at $42/month, Standard at $80/month, Advanced at $172/month

Loomly is designed for marketing teams who need structured workflows, approval processes, and collaborative content creation. The LinkedIn integration is solid, though the tool shines brightest in team environments.

What makes it stand out

Post ideas and content inspiration are built in. Loomly suggests trending topics, events, and content ideas based on your brand profile, helping teams overcome blank-page syndrome.

Key Features:

  • Post idea suggestions based on trending topics
  • Collaborative content creation
  • Multi-stage approval workflows
  • Multi-platform support (LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok)
  • Asset library management
  • Calendar view with color coding
  • AI optimization suggestions
  • Automated publishing
  • Analytics and reporting
  • Mobile app

Scheduling Capabilities:

  • Visual calendar planning
  • Best time to post recommendations
  • Approval workflow scheduling
  • Bulk scheduling
  • Queue management
  • Auto-publishing across platforms

Limitations:

  • Expensive for individual creators
  • AI content features basic
  • LinkedIn-specific features limited
  • Better suited for Facebook/Instagram than LinkedIn
  • No advanced content repurposing
  • No voice-to-content features

Pricing Breakdown:

  • Base ($42/mo): 2 users, 10 accounts
  • Standard ($80/mo): 6 users, 20 accounts
  • Advanced ($172/mo): 16 users, 35 accounts

Who it's for: Marketing teams at small-to-medium businesses who need structured collaboration and approval workflows for social content.


11. Metricool (Best for Analytics + Scheduling)

Pricing: Free (limited), Advanced at $22/month, Premium at $36/month, Enterprise at $95/month

Metricool combines scheduling with comprehensive analytics across social platforms. The LinkedIn features are solid, though not as deep as LinkedIn-only tools.

What makes it stand out

Analytics are the main draw. Metricool tracks performance across all social platforms, showing cross-network comparisons and detailed engagement metrics. Good for brands who need centralized reporting.

Key Features:

  • Multi-platform analytics dashboard
  • Competitor analysis
  • Cross-network performance comparison
  • Scheduling across platforms (LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube)
  • Best time to post analysis
  • Hashtag tracking
  • Link tracking and analytics
  • PDF report generation

Scheduling Capabilities:

  • Calendar planning across platforms
  • Auto-scheduling at optimal times
  • Bulk scheduling
  • Queue management
  • Draft organization
  • Mobile app scheduling

Limitations:

  • No AI content generation
  • LinkedIn-specific features limited
  • Free plan very restricted
  • No carousel support for LinkedIn
  • No voice-to-content or repurposing tools
  • Interface can feel cluttered

Pricing Breakdown:

  • Free: 1 brand, limited features
  • Advanced ($22/mo): 1 brand, unlimited posts, advanced analytics
  • Premium ($36/mo): 5 brands, team collaboration
  • Enterprise ($95/mo): 10 brands, white-label reports

Who it's for: Brands and agencies who need detailed cross-platform analytics with scheduling capabilities. Less ideal if content creation is your primary need.


Feature Comparison: What Matters Most

Different tools excel in different areas. Here's how they compare on key features:

AI Content Generation Quality

Best: Postking (voice-to-content, repurposing), Taplio (prompt-based generation) Good: SocialBee, Loomly, Buffer Basic: Publer, AuthoredUp None: Shield, Later, Metricool

Scheduling Flexibility

Best: Hootsuite, Buffer, SocialBee (recycling) Good: Taplio, Postking, Loomly, AuthoredUp Basic: Shield, Later, Publer, Metricool

Analytics Depth

Best: Shield, Metricool, Taplio Good: Hootsuite, Loomly, SocialBee Basic: Postking, Buffer, AuthoredUp, Publer, Later

LinkedIn-Specific Features

Best: Taplio, Postking, Shield, AuthoredUp Good: Buffer, Hootsuite Basic: All others (multi-platform focus)

Excellent: Postking (free tool), Taplio Good: Buffer, Hootsuite, AuthoredUp, Publer, SocialBee Limited: Shield, Metricool None: Later

Team Collaboration

Best: Hootsuite, Loomly Good: Buffer, SocialBee, Metricool Basic: Taplio, Postking, Shield, AuthoredUp, Publer, Later


Pricing Comparison: Best Value by Use Case

For Individual Creators

Budget (under $20/month):

  1. Shield Premium: $19/month (analytics + basic scheduling)
  2. Publer Professional: $12/month (multi-platform)
  3. AuthoredUp Creator: $19/month (LinkedIn-focused)

Mid-Range ($20-50/month):

  1. Postking Starter: $49/month yearly (content creation + scheduling)
  2. Taplio Starter: $39/month (scheduling only, no AI)
  3. SocialBee Bootstrap: $29/month (content recycling)

Premium ($50+/month):

  1. Taplio Standard: $65/month (full features)
  2. Postking Professional: $79/month yearly (AI images + automation)
  3. SocialBee Accelerate: $49/month

For Small Teams (2-5 people)

  1. Loomly Base: $42/month (2 users)
  2. Taplio Standard: $65/month (single user, but comprehensive)
  3. Buffer Team: ~$60/month for 5 channels
  4. SocialBee Accelerate: $49/month

For Agencies and Large Teams

  1. Hootsuite Team: $249/month (3 users, 20 accounts)
  2. Loomly Advanced: $172/month (16 users)
  3. Metricool Premium: $36/month (5 brands)
  4. SocialBee Pro: $99/month (25 accounts)

How to Choose the Right Tool for You

The "best" scheduling tool depends entirely on how you work and what you need.

Choose Postking if:

  • You struggle with content creation more than scheduling
  • You have ideas but hate writing them down
  • You create other content (videos, podcasts, blogs) that could become LinkedIn posts
  • Voice-to-content would save you significant time
  • You want AI image generation for visual content
  • You're focused primarily on LinkedIn (not multi-platform)
  • Budget: $0-79/month

Best for: Founders, consultants, and experts building personal brands on LinkedIn.

Learn more in our LinkedIn content strategy guide.

Choose Taplio if:

  • You want AI to generate content from scratch
  • You need a lead database for prospecting
  • Analytics and engagement tracking are priorities
  • You want everything (content, scheduling, analytics, leads) in one platform
  • You're willing to pay $65-149/month for comprehensive features
  • You're building a personal brand or doing B2B sales

Best for: LinkedIn power users, sales professionals, and agencies.

Choose Shield if:

  • Analytics matter more than content creation
  • You want to understand your LinkedIn performance deeply
  • Competitor analysis is important
  • You already have content creation figured out
  • Budget: $0-19/month

Best for: Data-driven creators and brands who prioritize measurement.

Choose Buffer if:

  • You post on multiple platforms (Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook)
  • You want simple, consistent scheduling across networks
  • Your team needs basic collaboration features
  • You're comfortable with basic AI assistance
  • Budget: $6-12/month per channel

Best for: Multi-platform creators and brands.

Choose Hootsuite if:

  • You're managing 10+ social accounts for a large organization
  • Approval workflows and compliance are required
  • You need enterprise-grade security and permissions
  • Budget isn't a primary constraint ($99-249+/month)

Best for: Enterprise marketing teams.

Choose AuthoredUp if:

  • Post formatting and mobile preview matter to you
  • You write posts in LinkedIn and want better tools
  • You want LinkedIn-specific features without complexity
  • You don't need multi-platform support
  • Budget: $19-49/month

Best for: LinkedIn-focused creators who value formatting control.

Choose Publer if:

  • Budget is tight ($12/month or less)
  • You need multi-platform scheduling
  • Basic features are sufficient
  • You're testing LinkedIn before committing to premium tools

Best for: Budget-conscious creators and small businesses.

Choose SocialBee if:

  • You have evergreen content to recycle
  • You want consistent posting without daily content creation
  • Content categories make sense for your strategy
  • You post across multiple platforms
  • Budget: $29-99/month

Best for: Content recycling and evergreen strategies.


Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free LinkedIn scheduling tool?

Publer offers the most complete free plan with 3 posts/month across 3 accounts. Buffer and Shield also have usable free tiers. Postking is free for 2 posts/month but focuses more on content creation than pure scheduling.

If you're looking for free tools without account requirements, Postking offers a free carousel generator, post formatter, and post preview tool.

Can I schedule LinkedIn posts for free?

Yes. Several tools offer free scheduling: Publer (3 posts/month), Buffer (3 posts/month), Shield (3 posts/month), Postking (2 posts/month), and Later (10 posts/month). Free tiers typically limit post volume and features but work for light usage.

What's the best LinkedIn scheduling tool for agencies?

Hootsuite for large agencies managing 20+ accounts with complex workflows. Taplio Pro for LinkedIn-focused agencies needing lead generation. Loomly for smaller agencies (under 10 accounts) needing team collaboration.

Do LinkedIn scheduling tools violate LinkedIn's terms of service?

LinkedIn's official API supports scheduling through authorized tools. Most tools on this list use official APIs and are compliant. Be cautious with tools offering aggressive automation like auto-commenting, auto-liking, or auto-connection requests - these can violate ToS.

Taplio has faced some scrutiny for automation features. Postking, Buffer, Hootsuite, Shield, and other mainstream tools use official APIs and are generally safe.

Can I schedule carousels on LinkedIn?

Yes. Postking offers a free carousel generator and scheduling on Professional plan. Taplio schedules carousels on Standard plan ($65/mo). Buffer, Hootsuite, AuthoredUp, and Publer also support carousel scheduling.

See our complete guide to LinkedIn carousels for creation tips.

What's the best time to post on LinkedIn?

It varies by audience and industry, but general patterns: Tuesday-Thursday 8-10 AM and 12-2 PM in your audience's timezone. Most scheduling tools (Taplio, Buffer, Hootsuite, Postking) offer "optimal time" suggestions based on your historical engagement.

Read our detailed best time to post on LinkedIn guide for more.

Can scheduling tools help me go viral on LinkedIn?

Tools help with consistency and timing, but virality depends on content quality. Taplio and Postking offer AI content assistance. Shield provides analytics to understand what works. But no tool guarantees virality.

Focus on creating valuable content that resonates with your audience. Scheduling ensures you post consistently at good times.

Which scheduling tool has the best AI writing?

Postking for transforming existing content (voice, videos, blogs) into LinkedIn posts. Taplio for generating posts from scratch based on prompts. Both are LinkedIn-optimized.

Multi-platform tools like Buffer and SocialBee have AI features, but they're generic (not LinkedIn-specific). The quality difference is noticeable.

Can I schedule LinkedIn posts from my phone?

Yes. Buffer, Later, Hootsuite, Loomly, Metricool, and Postking all offer mobile apps with scheduling capabilities. Taplio and AuthoredUp work via mobile browser.

What's the difference between scheduling and auto-posting?

Scheduling queues posts to publish at specific times you choose. Auto-posting (or auto-scheduling) uses AI to determine optimal posting times and automatically schedules content for maximum engagement.

Tools with auto-posting: Postking (Professional), Taplio, Buffer, Hootsuite, SocialBee, Loomly, Publer, Metricool.

Should I use LinkedIn native scheduling or a third-party tool?

LinkedIn native scheduling is free and simple for basic needs. Third-party tools add:

  • Multi-post planning and queue management
  • Cross-platform scheduling
  • Analytics beyond LinkedIn's native stats
  • AI content assistance
  • Team collaboration
  • Carousel creation and scheduling
  • Optimal timing recommendations

If you post 1-2 times per week and don't need analytics, native scheduling works. For consistent, strategic posting, third-party tools save time.

Can scheduling tools increase my LinkedIn engagement?

Indirectly, yes. They help you:

  • Post at optimal times when your audience is active
  • Maintain consistent posting frequency (algorithm rewards consistency)
  • Plan content in advance (higher quality than rushed posts)
  • Analyze what works and replicate it

But the content quality matters most. A great scheduling tool with mediocre content underperforms good content posted manually.

How much should I spend on a LinkedIn scheduling tool?

Depends on your needs:

  • Free-$20/month: Individual creators testing LinkedIn or posting infrequently
  • $20-50/month: Serious individual creators and solopreneurs
  • $50-100/month: Small teams or creators needing advanced features (AI, analytics, automation)
  • $100+/month: Agencies and enterprises managing multiple accounts

Don't overpay for features you won't use. Start with a free or low-cost tool and upgrade when you hit limitations.

Can I try these tools before committing?

Yes. Most offer free trials or free plans:

  • Postking: Free forever plan (2 posts/month)
  • Taplio: 7-day free trial
  • Shield: Free plan (3 posts/month)
  • Buffer: Free plan (3 posts/month)
  • Publer: Free plan (3 posts/month)
  • Hootsuite: 30-day free trial
  • Later: Free plan
  • AuthoredUp: 14-day free trial

Test 2-3 tools to find which workflow fits your style.


Our Honest Recommendation

There's no universal "best" LinkedIn scheduling tool. The right choice depends on your specific situation.

For founders and experts building personal brands: Postking. The voice-to-content feature solves the biggest problem - actually creating content. You have insights worth sharing but limited time to write. Recording thoughts for 2 minutes and getting a polished post is game-changing. The Professional plan ($79/mo yearly) includes scheduling, AI images, and automation.

For LinkedIn power users doing B2B sales: Taplio Standard ($65/mo). The combination of AI content, scheduling, analytics, and lead database in one platform justifies the cost if you're using LinkedIn for business development.

For data-driven creators: Shield Premium ($19/mo). Best analytics at the price point. Pair with LinkedIn native scheduling for a budget-friendly solution.

For multi-platform creators: Buffer Team plan. Clean interface, works across all major platforms, reasonable pricing.

For enterprise teams: Hootsuite. Expensive but necessary for complex multi-account management with compliance requirements.

For budget-conscious creators: Publer Professional ($12/mo) or Shield Premium ($19/mo). Both offer strong value.

The most important thing: start posting consistently. A simple tool you actually use beats a complex tool you don't. Pick one, commit to a posting schedule, and adjust based on what you learn.


Start Scheduling Smarter

LinkedIn rewards consistency. Publishing quality content at optimal times builds reach, engagement, and ultimately opportunities.

The right scheduling tool removes friction from your workflow. Less time managing posts means more time creating content that matters.

If you're still deciding where to start:

  1. Try Postking's free plan - Create 2 posts/month with AI assistance
  2. Use the free carousel generator to test carousels
  3. Read our LinkedIn content strategy guide for posting best practices
  4. Check the best time to post on LinkedIn for your audience

The tools exist. The question is: what will you build on LinkedIn?

Shanjai Raj

Written by

Shanjai Raj

Founder at Postking

Building tools to help professionals grow on LinkedIn. Passionate about content strategy and personal branding.

View all posts
Free Tool
3.2x↑

more engagement with carousels

Text Post6.7%
Carousel24.4%

Create scroll-stopping LinkedIn carousels in under 60 seconds. No design skills needed.

Try Carousel Generator
No signup required

Ready to grow your LinkedIn presence?

Postking helps you create a week of LinkedIn posts in 15 minutes. Write, schedule, and track your growth—all in one place.