Buying guide
The best Facebook schedulers in 2026
Most people looking for a Facebook scheduler need two answers: what can be scheduled at all, and whether a free tool already covers it. Meta's API lets apps publish to Facebook Pages, including Reels and Stories, but not to personal profiles, and it ended automatic publishing to groups in 2024. We compared Meta Business Suite and four schedulers on what they publish directly, using Meta's developer documentation and each vendor's own pages.
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Last updated: 2026-10-22
TL;DR: Postify is our pick if Facebook is one of several networks you manage: Page posts, Reels and Stories publish directly, and Facebook comments and Messenger messages share one inbox. Meta Business Suite is free and can also post to Facebook groups. Metricool handles long videos and multi-photo posts, Buffer is cheapest for one Page, and Publer can remind you to post to personal profiles and groups.
By the Postify team at Businice S.R.L. Postify makes this site. We list ourselves first and say where other tools are stronger.
What should a Facebook scheduler do?
A Facebook scheduler should publish Page posts, Reels and Stories directly, without a phone reminder, and be clear about what it cannot reach: personal profiles and, since 2024, automatic posting to groups. Then compare multi-photo posts and long videos, first comments, whether comments and Messenger messages land in a shared inbox, and the price.
Start with where you post. Almost every scheduler, Postify included, connects Facebook Pages, because Pages are what Meta's API publishes to. If you mostly post to a group, Meta Business Suite can post there directly while third-party tools can only remind you. For a personal profile, no third-party scheduler can publish for you, because Meta's API does not allow it.
Then check formats. Pages take text and link posts, photos, videos, Reels and Stories, and multi-photo posts and long videos are where tools differ most. Metricool takes up to 35 images in one post and videos of up to 240 minutes, Buffer takes videos of up to four hours, and Postify publishes one photo per post and videos of up to 90 seconds.
Finally, think about replies. Facebook is where customers comment and send messages, so a scheduler that brings Page comments and Messenger conversations into one inbox can matter more than any extra scheduling feature.
What does Meta's API let a scheduler publish to Facebook?
Meta's Pages API lets approved apps publish posts, photos, videos, Reels and Stories to Facebook Pages, and schedule Page posts from 10 minutes to 30 days ahead. It cannot publish to personal profiles, and Meta deprecated the Groups API in 2024. Reels must run 3 to 90 seconds, and video Stories at most 60 seconds.
These rules apply to every app that posts on a Page's behalf, so they explain most of the differences between schedulers. An app needs Page permissions such as pages_manage_posts, granted by someone who can create content on the Page. Meta's reference for the user feed says creating a post there is not supported, which is why tools such as Publer fall back to phone notifications for personal profiles.
Groups changed in April 2024, when Meta deprecated the Groups API and the publish_to_groups permission for every API version. Buffer, for example, says it can no longer send group posts automatically and uses notifications instead.
The 30-day window applies when an app hands Meta a post to publish later. Tools that keep the post on their side and publish it at the set time are not bound by it. Reels and Stories have limits of their own: Meta caps Reels published through the API at 30 in a rolling 24 hours, and Story media cannot reuse a photo or video from an earlier post.
- Pages only: no publishing to personal profiles, and no automatic group posts since April 2024.
- Scheduled Page posts handed to Meta: from 10 minutes to 30 days ahead.
- Reels: 3 to 90 seconds, 9:16, at least 540 x 960 pixels; 30 API-published Reels in a rolling 24 hours.
- Stories: photos up to 10 MB, videos up to 60 seconds, media not used in an earlier post.
Can you schedule Facebook posts for free with Meta Business Suite?
Yes. Meta Business Suite is free on desktop and in its mobile app, and it schedules posts, Reels and Stories to Facebook Pages and Instagram, with posts and Reels also going to Facebook groups. It suggests active times from the past week, and its inbox covers Page comments, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp Business.
For a business that only posts to Facebook and Instagram, Meta Business Suite is hard to beat on price: it costs nothing, publishes directly, and lets you edit, reschedule, duplicate or delete planned posts from its calendar. It also runs A/B tests on posts and inbox automations, and on desktop it can cross-post a Facebook or Instagram post to Threads.
A third-party scheduler starts to pay off when Facebook is one of several networks outside Meta, such as LinkedIn, TikTok or YouTube, and you want them in one calendar. If Facebook and Instagram are all you need, start with Business Suite and switch only when it gets in the way.
Which Facebook schedulers publish Reels and Stories directly?
Postify, Meta Business Suite, Buffer and Metricool all publish Facebook Page posts, Reels and Stories directly. Meta Business Suite also posts to groups; Buffer and Publer send group posts as phone notifications, and Publer does the same for personal profiles. Postify caps Facebook video at 90 seconds, while Buffer and Metricool accept long videos.
The table sums up the Facebook features we could verify on each vendor's own pages. "Not documented" means we did not find the feature on the official pages, not that it is missing. Prices are list prices for the cheapest paid plan in US dollars; Postify bills in euros, so compare at your own exchange rate.
| Tool | Page posts, Reels, Stories | Groups and profiles | Long videos | Facebook inbox | Free option | Cheapest paid plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postify | Published directly | Pages only | No: videos up to 90 seconds | Comments and Messenger, Plus plan and up | No free plan | €9.99 per month, €8.33 billed yearly |
| Meta Business Suite | Published directly | Posts and Reels to groups; no profiles | Not documented | Page comments, Messenger, Instagram, WhatsApp Business | Free | Free |
| Buffer | Published directly | Groups by notification; no profiles | Up to 4 hours | Comments on Page posts, not Reels or Stories | 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts each | $6 per channel per month, $5 billed yearly |
| Metricool | Published directly | Pages only | Up to 240 minutes and 500 MB | Not documented | 1 brand, 20 posts per month | $25 per month, $20 billed yearly |
| Publer | Page posts, including organic carousels | Both, by phone notification | Not documented | Not documented | 3 social accounts (no X), 10 scheduled posts each | $5 per month for 1 social account (Professional) |
| Tool | Best for | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Postify | Facebook Pages alongside other networks, with comments and Messenger in one inbox | From €9.99 per month (€8.33 billed yearly) for 1 brand, 1 user and 15 posts per month; queues, recurring posts and the inbox from the Plus plan |
| 2. Meta Business Suite | Free scheduling for businesses that post only to Facebook and Instagram | Free |
| 3. Metricool | Long Facebook videos, multi-photo posts and a free start | Free for 1 brand and 20 posts per month; Starter $25 per month billed monthly or $20 billed yearly, for up to 5 brands |
| 4. Buffer | One Facebook Page on a small budget, with reminders for groups | Free for 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel; Essentials $6 per channel per month ($5 billed yearly); 14-day trial |
| 5. Publer | Reminders for personal profiles and groups, next to Page scheduling | Free for 3 social accounts (no X), 10 scheduled posts per account and 1 user; Professional starts at $5 per month and Business at $10 per month, each with 1 social account; yearly billing is 20% cheaper |
1. Postify
Facebook Pages alongside other networks, with comments and Messenger in one inbox
Postify publishes Facebook Page text posts, photos, Reels and Stories directly, and adds a first comment from the Plus plan. From the Plus plan, Facebook comments and Messenger conversations land in the same inbox as your other networks, with comment-to-DM automations for Facebook and Instagram. The calendar also publishes to Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, X, Pinterest and Plative, our own social network, nine platforms in all. Every plan includes Postify Link and our MCP server, so your own AI assistant, such as Claude or ChatGPT, can draft and schedule posts for you. Postify connects Pages only, not groups or personal profiles.
Pros
- Page posts, Reels and Stories publish directly, with no reminder step
- Facebook comments and Messenger messages in one inbox from the Plus plan, with comment-to-DM automations
- First comment on Facebook posts from the Plus plan
- Link in bio page and MCP server access on every plan
- A free 7-day trial on every plan
Cons
- Pages only: no Facebook groups or personal profiles
- Facebook videos are capped at 90 seconds, and each post carries one photo (no multi-photo posts)
- Best-time suggestions cover Instagram only, not Facebook
- No free plan, and the entry plan is 1 brand, 1 user and 15 posts a month
- No built-in AI writer, no CSV upload, and no public REST API, Zapier or Make (the MCP server is the programmatic route)
Verdict: Pick Postify when your Facebook Page is one of several networks and you want its comments and Messenger messages answered next to everything else. If you post long videos or photo albums, Metricool or Buffer handle them; if you only post to Facebook and Instagram, or need groups, Meta Business Suite is free.
Pricing: From €9.99 per month (€8.33 billed yearly) for 1 brand, 1 user and 15 posts per month; queues, recurring posts and the inbox from the Plus plan
2. Meta Business Suite
Free scheduling for businesses that post only to Facebook and Instagram
Meta Business Suite is Meta's own free tool for Facebook Pages, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp, on desktop and in a mobile app. It schedules posts, Stories and Reels to Pages and Instagram, posts and Reels to Facebook groups, and keeps a calendar where planned posts can be edited, rescheduled, duplicated or deleted. Active-times suggestions are based on the past seven days, and the inbox gathers Page comments, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp Business messages, with automations.
Pros
- Free and made by Meta
- Posts and Reels to Facebook groups as well as Pages
- Inbox for Page comments, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp Business
- Active-times suggestions and A/B tests on posts
Cons
- Meta networks only: no LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, X or Pinterest
- Cross-posting to Threads works on desktop only
Verdict: Use Meta Business Suite if Facebook and Instagram are the only networks you post to, or if you need to post to a Facebook group without a phone reminder.
Pricing: Free
3. Metricool
Long Facebook videos, multi-photo posts and a free start
Metricool documents its Facebook publishing in detail. It schedules Page posts with up to 35 images, videos from 1 second to 240 minutes and up to 500 MB, Reels of 3 to 90 seconds and Stories of up to 60 seconds. The composer adds a first comment, a location and mentions of up to three Pages, and captions can run to 16,192 characters. It connects Facebook Pages only. Metricool also offers an MCP server on every plan.
Pros
- Up to 35 images in one Facebook post
- Videos of up to 240 minutes
- First comment and location on Facebook posts
- Free plan for 1 brand and 20 posts per month
Cons
- Connects Facebook Pages only, so no groups
- Starter is priced for up to 5 brands, more than a single Page needs
Verdict: Pick Metricool if you post long videos or photo albums to a Facebook Page and want a free plan to start on.
Pricing: Free for 1 brand and 20 posts per month; Starter $25 per month billed monthly or $20 billed yearly, for up to 5 brands
4. Buffer
One Facebook Page on a small budget, with reminders for groups
Buffer publishes Facebook Page posts, Reels and Stories, with videos of up to four hours, Reels of 3 to 90 seconds and Stories of 3 to 60 seconds. Groups still connect, but since Meta's 2024 Groups API change Buffer sends group posts as notifications for you to finish. First comments work on paid plans, for regular Page posts only, and Buffer caps Facebook at 35 posts per 24 hours. Per-channel pricing keeps a single Page cheap.
Pros
- Free plan for 3 channels
- Videos of up to four hours
- Group posts by notification, where most tools offer none
Cons
- Group posts are not published automatically
- First comments need a paid plan and cover regular Page posts only
- Reels and Stories are left out of its engagement dashboard
Verdict: Pick Buffer if you run one or two Facebook Pages, want to start free, and sometimes post long videos.
Pricing: Free for 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel; Essentials $6 per channel per month ($5 billed yearly); 14-day trial
5. Publer
Reminders for personal profiles and groups, next to Page scheduling
Publer schedules Facebook Page posts, including organic carousels, and is one of the few tools that handles personal profiles and groups at all. Because Meta offers no API for either, Publer sends a push notification through its mobile app at the set time, and you finish the post in the Facebook app. Paid plans are priced per social account, and the Business plan adds Publer's API and MCP server.
Pros
- Personal profiles and groups through phone reminders
- Organic Facebook carousels on Pages
- Free plan for 3 social accounts
Cons
- Profile and group posts must be finished by hand on your phone
- The API and MCP server are not on the entry paid plan
Verdict: Pick Publer if you have to post to a personal profile or a group regularly and accept a phone reminder as the last step.
Pricing: Free for 3 social accounts (no X), 10 scheduled posts per account and 1 user; Professional starts at $5 per month and Business at $10 per month, each with 1 social account; yearly billing is 20% cheaper
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best Facebook scheduler?
- For Facebook as part of a wider plan, with Page posts, Reels and Stories published directly and comments and Messenger in one inbox, we recommend Postify. Meta Business Suite is free and also posts to groups, Metricool handles long videos and photo albums, Buffer is cheapest for one Page, and Publer covers profiles and groups by reminder. We make Postify, so weigh it against the criteria above.
- Can you schedule Facebook posts for free?
- Yes. Meta Business Suite schedules posts, Reels and Stories to Pages for free, and Buffer, Metricool and Publer have free plans with post caps. Postify has no free plan, but every plan starts with a free 7-day trial.
- Can you schedule posts to a Facebook group?
- Meta Business Suite can post to Facebook groups, including Reels. Third-party tools can no longer publish to groups automatically, because Meta deprecated its Groups API in April 2024, so Buffer and Publer send a phone notification for you to finish the post. Postify does not connect groups.
- Can you schedule posts on a personal Facebook profile?
- Not through a third-party scheduler. Meta's API gives apps no way to publish to personal profiles, so tools such as Publer send a reminder to your phone and you post it yourself. Schedulers, Postify included, publish to Facebook Pages.
- How far in advance can you schedule a Facebook post?
- When an app hands a scheduled Page post to Meta, the publish time must be between 10 minutes and 30 days ahead. Schedulers that keep the post and publish it at the set time are not bound by that window. The Meta Business Suite help pages we read do not state a limit.
- Can a scheduler post Facebook Reels and Stories?
- Yes, to Pages. Meta's API accepts Reels of 3 to 90 seconds and Stories with a photo or a video of up to 60 seconds, and Story media cannot reuse a photo or video from an earlier post. Postify, Buffer, Metricool and Meta Business Suite publish both directly.
- Does Postify answer Facebook comments and messages?
- Yes, from the Plus plan. Facebook Page comments and Messenger conversations appear in Postify's inbox next to your other networks, and comment-to-DM automations work on Facebook and Instagram. The Hobby and Starter plans have no inbox.
Sources
- Meta for Developers: Pages API, posts (checked October 22, 2026)
- Meta for Developers: Graph API user feed reference (checked October 22, 2026)
- Meta for Developers: Graph API v19.0 changelog (Groups API deprecation) (checked October 22, 2026)
- Meta for Developers: Reels publishing (checked October 22, 2026)
- Meta for Developers: Page Stories API (checked October 22, 2026)
- Meta Business Help Center: how Meta Business Suite works (checked October 22, 2026)
- Meta Business Help Center: create and manage posts on desktop (checked October 22, 2026)
- Meta Business Help Center: create and manage reels (checked October 22, 2026)
- Meta Business Help Center: cross-posting to Facebook, Instagram and Threads (checked October 22, 2026)
- Metricool pricing (checked October 22, 2026)
- Metricool Help: schedule and publish on Facebook (checked October 22, 2026)
- Buffer pricing (checked October 22, 2026)
- Buffer Help: using Facebook with Buffer (checked October 22, 2026)
- Publer plans and pricing (checked October 22, 2026)
- Publer Help: plans and pricing (checked October 22, 2026)
- Publer Help: connect Facebook personal profiles (checked October 22, 2026)
- Publer Help: schedule posts to Facebook groups via push notifications (checked October 22, 2026)
Put Postify to work on your calendar
Postify supports nine platforms in one workflow: plan, schedule, and publish without juggling five different tools.