Planable vs. Metricool: Which Software is Better [2024]?

Both Planable and Metricool are robust social media management tools, each with its unique strengths.

Planable emphasizes collaborative content creation and approval workflows, while Metricool focuses on in-depth social media analytics.

In this guide, we’ll explore the key features of both tools, dissecting their pros and cons to help you make an informed decision for your social media strategy.

The main difference is that Planable excels in collaborative content planning and approval, streamlining team workflows, while Metricool is a powerhouse in social media analytics, providing comprehensive insights into performance metrics, audience engagement, and campaign effectiveness.

Planable vs. Metricool Key Features at a Glance

Let’s take a quick glance at the key features — summarized in a table.

What is Planable and How Does It Work?

Planable is a collaborative social media planning platform designed for teams. Its intuitive interface allows for seamless content creation and approval. Teams can visualize content, collaborate in real-time, and streamline the approval process, ensuring a cohesive social media presence.

Planable Pros:

1. Collaborative Content Planning: Planable excels in collaborative workflows, fostering real-time teamwork for content creation and approval.
2. User-Friendly Interface: The platform boasts an intuitive design, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.
3. Structured Approval Workflows: Planable’s approval process ensures content aligns with brand guidelines before publication, streamlining team coordination.
4. Visual Content Planning: The drag-and-drop functionality and visual content calendar enhance the overall planning experience.
5. Content Scheduling: Planable offers efficient content scheduling features, allowing teams to plan and schedule posts ahead of time.
6. Adaptability: The platform is flexible and adaptable to various team structures, accommodating dynamic content creation workflows.

Cons:

1. Basic Analytics: Planable’s analytics capabilities are limited, focusing primarily on post performance metrics.
2. Learning Curve for Advanced Features: Mastery of advanced features may require additional time investment, especially for new users.
3. Pricing Considerations: While offering diverse plans, Planable’s pricing may be on the higher side for some users, especially those on a tight budget.

What is Metricool and How Does It Work?

Metricool is a data-driven social media analytics tool. It provides comprehensive insights into social media performance, audience behavior, and campaign effectiveness. With Metricool, users can track key metrics, analyze engagement, and make data-backed decisions to optimize their social media strategy.

Metricool Pros:

1. Comprehensive Analytics: Metricool stands out with in-depth social media analytics, providing detailed insights into post performance, audience behavior, and campaign effectiveness.
2. Data-Driven Decision-Making: The platform empowers users to make informed decisions based on quantitative metrics, optimizing social media strategy.
3. Versatility: Metricool is a versatile tool, offering both content planning features and robust analytics capabilities.
4. Lower Starting Price: Metricool’s starting price is lower, making it potentially more cost-effective, especially for users prioritizing analytics.
5. Integration Options: Metricool provides integration options, allowing users to connect with other tools and services seamlessly.
6. Security: Metricool’s focus on analytics is complemented by a security emphasis, ensuring a secure environment for data-driven decision-making.

Cons:

1. Limited Collaborative Features: Metricool’s collaborative features are not as extensive as those in Planable, focusing more on individual analytics.
2. Slightly Steeper Learning Curve: The analytics-focused approach may result in a slightly steeper learning curve, particularly for those primarily interested in collaborative content planning.
3. Basic Content Planning: While functional, Metricool’s content planning features may not have the same visual appeal as some competitors.

Planable vs. Metricool: In-Depth Analysis and Comparison

Now, let’s delve into a detailed comparison of the key features, collaborative aspects, analytics, and usability of Planable and Metricool.

1. Collaborative Content Planning:

Planable: Planable excels in collaborative content planning with its user-friendly interface and real-time collaboration features. Teams can visualize content, provide feedback, and streamline the approval process. The visual representation of scheduled content aids in maintaining a cohesive social media presence. Collaborators can efficiently work together to ensure brand consistency and timely content delivery.

Metricool: While Metricool provides basic content planning features, its focus lies more on analytics than collaborative planning. The platform lacks some of the real-time collaboration features present in Planable. Users can schedule posts and view their content calendar, but it may not be as conducive to real-time collaborative workflows.

Winner: Planable For collaborative content planning, Planable takes the lead with its intuitive interface and robust real-time collaboration features, making it ideal for teams working closely on content creation.

2. Social Media Analytics:

Planable: Planable offers limited social media analytics, primarily focusing on post performance metrics. While users can track engagement and reach, the depth of analytics is not as extensive as in Metricool.

Metricool: Metricool stands out in social media analytics, providing comprehensive insights into post performance, audience behavior, and campaign effectiveness. Users can delve into detailed analytics, track key metrics, and make informed decisions based on data.

Winner: Metricool For in-depth social media analytics, Metricool emerges as the clear winner, offering a robust suite of features to analyze and optimize social media performance.

3. Approval Workflows:

Planable: Planable shines in approval workflows, allowing team members to review and approve content seamlessly. The platform’s structured approval process ensures that content aligns with brand guidelines before publication.

Metricool: Metricool, being more analytics-focused, has fewer features related to approval workflows. While users can schedule and plan content, the collaborative approval process is not as central to its functionality.

Winner: Planable For streamlined approval workflows, Planable takes the lead, providing a dedicated platform for teams to collaborate on content approvals.

4. Content Scheduling:

Planable: Planable offers solid content scheduling features, allowing users to plan and schedule posts ahead of time. The visual content calendar provides an overview of scheduled content for effective planning.

Metricool: Metricool includes content scheduling capabilities, enabling users to plan and schedule posts on various social media platforms. While functional, it may not have the same visual planning interface as Planable.

Winner: Planable In terms of content scheduling, Planable’s visual calendar and user-friendly approach give it an edge, providing a seamless experience for scheduling and planning social media content.

5. Post Performance Tracking:

Planable: Planable offers basic post performance tracking, allowing users to gauge the engagement and reach of their posts. Users can assess the impact of content after publication.

Metricool: Metricool excels in post performance tracking, providing detailed analytics on post reach, engagement, and interactions. Users can gain valuable insights into the effectiveness of their social media content.

Winner: Metricool For post-performance tracking, Metricool’s comprehensive analytics and detailed insights make it the preferred choice, offering a deeper understanding of social media impact.

6. Team Collaboration:

Planable: Team collaboration is at the core of Planable’s design. The platform facilitates real-time collaboration, allowing team members to work together seamlessly on content creation and approvals.

Metricool: While Metricool supports multiple users, its collaborative features are not as extensive as Planable’s. The emphasis is more on individual analytics and data-driven decision-making.

Winner: Planable In terms of team collaboration, Planable stands out with its collaborative content creation features, providing an environment conducive to teamwork and streamlined approval processes.

7. User Interface and Usability:

Planable: Planable boasts an intuitive user interface, designed to make collaborative content planning and approval accessible to users of all skill levels. The drag-and-drop functionality adds to the platform’s ease of use.

Metricool: Metricool provides a user-friendly interface, particularly for analytics. However, its emphasis on analytics may lead to a slightly steeper learning curve for users primarily interested in collaborative content planning.

Winner: Planable For user interface and usability, Planable’s intuitive design and focus on collaborative workflows make it the preferred choice, ensuring a user-friendly experience for all team members.

Use Cases for Planable:

1. Agency Collaboration on Client Campaigns

A digital marketing agency leverages Planable to streamline collaboration on client campaigns. The agency’s team, comprising content creators, designers, and account managers, uses Planable’s visual interface to plan, create, and approve social media content. The approval workflow ensures that each piece aligns with the client’s brand guidelines before publication. The real-time collaboration features allow team members to provide feedback and make necessary adjustments efficiently. This use case enables the agency to maintain a cohesive brand image, improve client communication, and meet campaign deadlines with synchronized efforts.

2. Product Launch Coordination

A product marketing team relies on Planable to coordinate a product launch across multiple social media channels. Team members, including product managers, copywriters, and designers, use Planable to plan and schedule content leading up to the launch date. The platform’s content calendar provides a visual overview, ensuring a well-paced and strategic release of information. Approval workflows guarantee that promotional material meets the company’s messaging standards. The collaborative environment allows the team to iterate on visuals and messaging, creating a unified and engaging narrative. This real-world use case illustrates how Planable supports cross-functional teams in orchestrating successful product launches with precision and efficiency.

Use Cases for Metricool:

1. Performance Optimization for E-commerce

An e-commerce business utilizes Metricool to optimize its social media strategy and drive sales. The marketing team uses Metricool’s analytics to track post performance, audience engagement, and conversion metrics.

By analyzing the data, the team identifies the most effective content, posting times, and audience segments.

Adjustments are made based on these insights, leading to increased engagement and higher conversion rates. This real-world scenario highlights how Metricool empowers businesses to make data-driven decisions, refine their social media approach, and ultimately boost e-commerce performance.

2. Social Media ROI Measurement for a SaaS Company

A SaaS company relies on Metricool to measure the return on investment (ROI) of its social media efforts.

The marketing team uses Metricool’s advanced analytics to track leads generated through social media channels, monitor user interactions, and assess the impact on product sign-ups.

By attributing conversions to specific social media campaigns, the team gains valuable insights into the channels and content driving the most significant results.

This use case exemplifies how Metricool supports SaaS companies in quantifying the impact of their social media strategies, enabling informed allocation of resources for maximum ROI.

Planable vs. Metricool Pricing

Planable offers subscription plans tailored for various team sizes, starting at $33 per user per month. Its pricing scales with features, making it suitable for growing teams.

Metricool, on the other hand, offers a free plan with basic analytics. Its premium plans start at $10 per month, providing advanced analytics features.

Businesses should consider their team size, collaborative needs, and analytics requirements when assessing the pricing of each tool.

What to Consider When Choosing Between Planable and Metricool

When choosing between Planable and Metricool, consider the specific needs of your team and social media strategy.

1. Collaborative Workflows:

Collaborative workflows are crucial for teams using Planable. Its user-friendly interface promotes seamless collaboration, allowing team members to ideate, create, and approve content in real-time.

The platform’s structured approval process streamlines team coordination, ensuring that everyone is on the same page before content goes live.

The drag-and-drop functionality and visual content planning enhance the overall collaborative experience.

For teams emphasizing collaborative content creation, Planable’s features provide a cohesive environment, fostering efficient communication and synchronized efforts.

2. Analytics Depth:

While Planable offers basic analytics, Metricool takes the lead in analytics depth. Metricool provides a comprehensive suite of analytics tools, allowing users to delve into detailed insights on post performance, audience behavior, and campaign effectiveness.

Its data-driven approach enables businesses to make informed decisions based on quantitative metrics. Users can track key performance indicators, measure engagement, and optimize their social media strategy.

For those prioritizing in-depth analytics to refine and elevate their social media approach, Metricool’s robust analytics capabilities offer a valuable edge.

3. Ease of Use:

Planable stands out in ease of use with its intuitive design and collaborative features.

The platform’s drag-and-drop functionality and visual content planning make it accessible for users of all skill levels.

Team members can seamlessly navigate the interface, contributing to a user-friendly experience.

On the other hand, Metricool, while user-friendly, may have a slightly steeper learning curve, particularly for those primarily interested in collaborative content planning.

When considering ease of use, Planable’s focus on providing an intuitive environment for teamwork and content approval positions it as the more user-friendly option.

4. Social Media Scheduling:

Both Planable and Metricool offer content scheduling features, but with nuanced differences. Planable’s content scheduling is user-friendly, allowing teams to plan and schedule posts ahead of time.

The visual content calendar provides an intuitive overview of scheduled content, aiding in effective planning. Metricool, while functional for scheduling, may not have the same visual planning interface.

Users can still plan and schedule posts, but the emphasis is more on analytics.

When evaluating social media scheduling, Planable’s user-friendly design and visual planning capabilities make it advantageous for effective content scheduling.

5. Flexibility and Adaptability:

In terms of flexibility and adaptability, Planable excels in providing a collaborative environment adaptable to various team structures.

Its features cater to dynamic content creation workflows, offering flexibility in content planning and approval.

Metricool, while versatile, places a primary focus on analytics, which may be less adaptable to collaborative workflows requiring real-time content creation.

Businesses seeking a tool flexible enough to accommodate diverse team structures and content creation needs may find Planable to be the more adaptable choice, ensuring a seamless fit into their collaborative processes.

FAQs About Planable and Metricool

Here are answers to some of the common questions you might have.

1. Can I use Planable for solo social media management?

Yes, Planable is suitable for solo users, providing an intuitive platform for managing social media content. While its collaborative features shine in team environments, solo users benefit from the user-friendly interface, content scheduling, and approval workflows, enhancing the efficiency of individual social media management.

2. Does Metricool offer content planning features?

Yes, Metricool provides basic content planning features, allowing users to schedule and plan social media content. While its primary strength lies in analytics, users can still benefit from content scheduling functionalities, making Metricool a versatile tool for both planning and analyzing social media efforts.

3. Which tool is more cost-effective for small businesses?

For small businesses, Metricool’s lower starting price may be more cost-effective, especially for those prioritizing analytics. Planable, with its diverse subscription plans, caters to various team sizes but may have a higher entry point. Businesses should weigh their budget constraints against the specific features each tool offers.

4. Can I integrate Planable and Metricool with other tools?

Both Planable and Metricool offer integration options, allowing users to connect with other tools and services. Users can seamlessly incorporate these social media management tools into their existing workflows, enhancing efficiency and connectivity across their broader tech stack.

5. Is there a free plan available for Planable and Metricool?

Planable offers a free trial but does not have a perpetual free plan. Metricool, however, provides a free plan with basic analytics features. Businesses can explore these free offerings to assess the tools’ suitability before committing to subscription plans, aligning with their specific needs and budget considerations.

Is Planable Better than Metricool?

In all, making a choice between Planable and Metricool boils down to your team’s collaboration needs and your social media strategy priorities.

If collaborative planning and approval workflows are crucial, Planable is the way to go.

However, if robust social media analytics and data-driven decision-making are your top priorities, Metricool emerges as the preferred choice.