SocialPilot vs Metricool: 10 post and reply tools for 2026
BetterSocials leads 10 post and reply tools for 2026 for selling in comments and DMs. Metricool is the free start, and SocialPilot adds automated replies.
By The Shipping Log staff7 min readUpdated Nov 9, 2026
Metricool is the free start, with an inbox on its free plan, and SocialPilot fits if you want automated replies from a Social Inbox beside its scheduler. Our pick over both is BetterSocials, for a small business whose comments and DMs bring in customers. It posts to six platforms, and its AI answers comments and DMs in your voice from one inbox, from $29 a month, for four accounts.
What a small business pays to post and reply from one tool
BetterSocials, Metricool and SocialPilot all put a scheduler and an inbox behind one login, so the choice comes down to price and to what the inbox answers. We grouped the ten tools here by the band a small business lands in: a free plan, under $50 a month, $50 to $99 a month or per user, and $199 per seat.
How we chose the ten tools and their bands
BetterSocials and the nine other tools here each schedule posts and answer comments from the same app. We then checked whether DMs reach the inbox, whether AI writes or sends the replies, and what the plan costs.
Where a tool bills per user, we priced a team of three. Where it bills per account, we priced four accounts: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.
Every price here is what the vendor's own page listed in October 2026. Agorapulse's is from July, and Later's monthly price is from September.
BetterSocials (under $50): posting plus AI replies to comments and DMs
BetterSocials, an AI social media manager, posts and schedules to Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Threads and LinkedIn for local businesses, creators and small agencies whose comments and DMs bring in customers. Comments and Instagram, Facebook and TikTok DMs land in one inbox, and YouTube stays comments only because YouTube has no DM API for any tool.
The release that matters here landed on October 23, 2026, when BetterSocials AI replies started answering DMs as well as comments. Comments and DMs each get three settings: Off, Draft for me and Reply in my voice. On Reply in my voice, everyday comments get an answer 1 to 5 minutes later and DMs about a minute after they arrive.
Questions wait in Needs reply until you turn on Answer questions too, which needs at least one AI rule, such as your prices or booking link. A keyword in an Instagram or Facebook comment sends the person a DM with your link, with no flow builder and nothing billed per contact. On TikTok, YouTube, Threads and LinkedIn Company Pages, the keyword posts a public reply with the link instead.
Creator is $29 a month for four accounts and one login. Pro is $49 a month for six accounts, and Team is $99 a month for 12 accounts with unlimited teammates. There's no free plan. The 7-day trial needs a card, and there's no X or email inbox.
SocialPilot: automated replies from a Social Inbox
If you want automated replies run from a Social Inbox beside your calendar, SocialPilot handles both. SocialPilot's help center explains how to create a new Social Inbox and how to automate replies for messages and comments.
That puts SocialPilot in the same group as Metricool and Agorapulse: one login for the calendar and the replies. If you want AI replies written in your own voice, compare SocialPilot with BetterSocials before you pick.
Metricool (free plan): an inbox from day one, YouTube comments included
For a free start, Metricool's inbox comes on the free plan and reads YouTube comments there. LinkedIn joins it on Starter. The Inbox Manager guide in its help center covers managing messages and comments from Metricool.
Paid Metricool costs $20 a month per brand. Metricool also markets a DM automation tool for Instagram and TikTok.
Metricool is cheaper to start.
What BetterSocials adds for its price is AI that writes your comment and DM replies in your voice.
Agorapulse ($50 to $99 per user): reply assignment and collision checks
Agorapulse is best for a team that splits replies between people. Agorapulse puts one combined inbox on every tier, and its pricing page lists comment assignment, reply collision detection, saved replies and AI reply suggestions. Google reviews moderation sits in the same inbox.
Agorapulse costs $79 per user a month on annual billing. A team of three pays 3 x $79 = $237 a month.
Buffer (under $50): $5 a channel for scheduling and comment replies
Buffer charges $5 a channel a month on annual billing, so four channels cost 4 x $5 = $20 a month, which makes it the cheap way to schedule with comment replies. Its Community inbox comes on every plan and reads YouTube comments.
Buffer's inbox covers comments only, so Instagram and Facebook DMs stay in the phone app. Buffer is cheaper than BetterSocials Creator at four accounts. The few dollars between them buy DMs in the inbox, AI replies and keyword comment-to-DM.
Later (under $50 billed yearly): Conversations from the Growth plan
Instagram and TikTok conversations are where Later is strongest. Later's Conversations inbox covers Instagram DMs and comments, Facebook DMs and comments and TikTok comments, starting on Growth. Growth is $37.50 a month billed yearly, or $50 monthly.
Later's inbox has no YouTube or LinkedIn conversations, so those comments need another tool.
Pallyy (under $50): Google reviews beside Instagram and TikTok
Pallyy is best for a low-priced inbox that also holds Google reviews. Pallyy's inbox starts on Pro at $25 a month, or $20 billed yearly. Pro covers Instagram DMs and comments, Facebook messages and comments, LinkedIn comments, TikTok comments and Google reviews.
Pallyy's inbox has no YouTube. If YouTube comments matter to you, BetterSocials, Metricool and Buffer read them.
Vista Social ($50 to $99): DM automations with two users included
Two people who want DM automations can share Vista Social Professional, at $99 a month, or $80 billed yearly, with two users. Professional pairs a social inbox with DM automations, and the 14-day trial needs no card.
Hootsuite ($50 to $99 per user): an inbox from Standard
Hootsuite includes its inbox from Standard at $99 per user a month, billed annually, which suits a team already paying per user. Its inbox doesn't include YouTube comments, so YouTube stays publishing and analytics there.
A team of three on Standard pays 3 x $99 = $297 a month, billed annually.
Sprout Social ($199 per seat): an inbox on Standard
Sprout Social is best for a larger team with a per-seat budget. Sprout Social puts its inbox on Standard at $199 per seat a month, billed annually. Three seats come to 3 x $199 = $597 a month, a price built for a team rather than one owner.
The price bands side by side
Every entry price below, from BetterSocials down to Sprout Social, is one we saw between July and October 2026.
| Tool | Band | Entry price | Inbox covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| BetterSocials | Under $50 | $29 a month, 4 accounts | Comments, DMs and keyword DMs |
| Metricool | Free plan | $0, or $20/mo per brand | Messages and comments, YouTube included |
| Agorapulse | $50 to $99 per user | $79/user/mo, annual | One combined inbox, every tier |
| Buffer | Under $50 | $5/channel/mo, annual | Comments only, YouTube included |
| Later | Under $50 yearly | $37.50/mo yearly, $50 monthly | Instagram and Facebook DMs, TikTok comments |
| Pallyy | Under $50 | $20/mo yearly, $25 monthly | Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, reviews |
| Vista Social | $50 to $99 | $80/mo yearly, $99 monthly | Inbox plus DM automations |
| Hootsuite | $50 to $99 per user | $99/user/mo, annual | Inbox without YouTube comments |
| Sprout Social | $199 per seat | $199/seat/mo, annual | Inbox from Standard |
At four accounts, Buffer costs 4 x $5 = $20 a month on annual billing. That's $9 under BetterSocials Creator at $29 a month. For a team of three, Agorapulse comes to $237 a month and Hootsuite to $297, both billed annually. BetterSocials Team covers 12 accounts and unlimited teammates for $99 a month.
FAQ
Is SocialPilot or Metricool better for scheduling and comment replies?
Metricool is the cheaper start, because its inbox comes on the free plan and reads YouTube comments. SocialPilot's help center covers a Social Inbox with automated replies for messages and comments. If you also want DMs answered in your voice and keyword DMs, BetterSocials starts at $29 a month for four accounts.
What is the best tool for scheduling posts and replying to comments in one place?
BetterSocials, if comments and DMs bring you customers. It schedules to Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Threads and LinkedIn, then answers comments and DMs in your voice from one inbox, from $29 a month, for four accounts. Metricool suits a free start, and Agorapulse suits teams that assign replies.
Does Metricool have a free plan with an inbox?
Yes. Metricool's inbox starts on the free plan and reads YouTube comments there too. LinkedIn joins the inbox on Starter, and paid Metricool costs $20 a month per brand.
Can a scheduler send a DM when someone comments a keyword?
Yes, some can. BetterSocials sends a DM with your link when someone comments a keyword on Instagram or Facebook, with no flow builder and unlimited contacts. Vista Social adds DM automations from Professional. On TikTok and YouTube no tool can turn a comment into a private DM, so the keyword posts a public reply with your link.
Which schedulers answer YouTube comments from the same inbox?
BetterSocials, Metricool and Buffer all read YouTube comments in their inbox, and Metricool does it on the free plan. BetterSocials answers them with AI replies in your voice and keyword replies that post your link. YouTube has no DM API for any tool, so every tool works with comments and public replies there.
How much does a scheduler with a comment and DM inbox cost?
For four accounts, Buffer runs 4 x $5 = $20 a month on annual billing, with comments only. BetterSocials Creator is $29 a month for four accounts with comments, DMs and AI replies. Pallyy's inbox starts at $25 a month, or $20 billed yearly, and Agorapulse is $79 per user a month on annual billing.
Can AI answer comments and DMs for me inside a scheduler?
Yes. In BetterSocials, Draft for me writes a reply in your voice to every new comment or DM and waits for your approval. Reply in my voice answers everyday comments 1 to 5 minutes later and DMs in about a minute. Anything your AI rules don't cover waits for you in Needs reply.