My Honest Take on Metricool: A Real User’s Complete Review After 6 Months

I’ve been using Metricool for half a year now, and honestly? It’s time I spilled the tea on this social media management platform. Look, I’ve tried pretty much everything out there – Buffer, Later, Hootsuite, you name it. Some tools promise the world and deliver garbage. Others are solid but boring as hell. Metricool? It’s complicated.

Here’s my no-BS breakdown of what actually works, what drives me crazy, and whether you should bother with it.

Table of Contents

• TL;DR: The Quick Verdict

• What is Metricool?

• Alternatives to Metricool

• Frequently Asked Questions

• Final Thoughts

TL;DR: The Quick Verdict

Okay, let me save you some time here:

• Metricool’s analytics are honestly incredible, but they forgot to include a proper media library (seriously, how?)

• The free plan actually doesn’t suck – 50 posts per month for one brand

• They support pretty much every platform, including newer ones like Threads

• Starts at $18/month for paid plans, which isn’t terrible

• YouTube Shorts and TikTok posting have some annoying quirks that’ll make you want to throw your laptop

• Perfect for agencies and data nerds, not so much for creative types who just want to post pretty pictures

Criteria Table

Criteria	Rating	My Take
Platform Coverage & Integration	4/5	They’ve got almost everything covered, even Google Business Profile (which nobody else seems to care about). But locking LinkedIn behind a paywall? Come on.
Scheduling & Publishing	3/5	Works great most of the time, but when it doesn’t… ugh. YouTube Shorts thumbnails are a nightmare, and don’t get me started on TikTok formatting.
Analytics & Reporting	5/5	This is where they absolutely nail it. Best analytics I’ve used, period. Makes me feel like I actually know what I’m doing.
Content Management	2/5	No media library in 2024? Really? Having to dig through Google Drive every time I want to reuse an image is painful.
Pricing & Value	4/5	Free plan is actually usable, paid plans are reasonable. I’ve seen agencies justify the cost in their first month.
User Experience	4/5	Pretty intuitive once you get the hang of it. The brand-based setup is great for agencies but weird if you’re just managing your own stuff.
Advanced Features	4/5	SmartLinks are handy, AI writing assistant is… okay. RSS integration is clutch if you run a blog.
Customer Support & Reliability	4/5	They actually respond when you need help. Most issues aren’t even their fault – blame the social media platforms and their weird API restrictions.

What is Metricool?

What Metricool is Best Known For

Here’s the thing – while everyone else was racing to build the prettiest scheduling interface, Metricool went all-in on analytics. And honestly? Smart move.

Most social media tools treat analytics like that awkward cousin at family dinner – they’re there, but nobody really wants to deal with them. Metricool made analytics the star of the show, and it shows.

They support pretty much everything: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Threads, and even Twitch. That’s more platforms than I can keep track of, which means I’m not juggling five different apps just to post a meme.

The whole thing is built around this “brand” concept, which is perfect if you’re managing clients but kinda weird if you’re just trying to separate your personal Instagram from your business account. I wanted to cross-post something between my personal and business profiles last week and had to jump through hoops because the system thinks they’re completely different entities.

Metricool has built its reputation as a comprehensive social media management platform that prioritizes analytics and multi-platform scheduling. The tool stands out for its ability to aggregate data from social media, web, and advertising platforms into one unified dashboard, making it particularly valuable for agencies managing multiple client accounts.

Key Features That Actually Matter

The scheduling works across all platforms, though it’s got some quirks I’ll rant about later. You can bulk upload posts with a CSV file, which saved my butt during a massive campaign last month. The platform also suggests when to post based on when your audience is actually online – revolutionary stuff, right?

Their SmartLinks thing is basically a link-in-bio tool without needing another subscription. It’s not groundbreaking, but hey, one less tool to pay for.

The AI writing assistant exists. It’s… fine? Better than staring at a blank screen, but don’t expect it to write your viral TikTok caption. I use it when I’m stuck, but I always end up rewriting everything anyway.

The unified inbox is actually a game-changer though. Instead of checking Instagram, then Facebook, then Twitter for comments, everything shows up in one place. I probably save an hour a day just not having to platform-hop.

Ad management integration lets you create and monitor campaigns for Google, Facebook, and TikTok directly from the dashboard. It’s not as robust as dedicated ad platforms, but it’s sufficient for basic campaign management. Metricool’s feature set centers around social media scheduling, unified analytics, ad management, and productivity tools that emphasize automation and data aggregation to streamline social media management workflows.

Features That Drive Real Results

The RSS feed integration is clutch if you run a blog. It automatically pulls new posts and schedules social media updates. Set it once, forget about it.

Those “best posting times” recommendations? They actually work. I was skeptical at first – how could an algorithm know better than me? But my engagement went up 30% on Instagram just by switching from random posting to their suggested times.

The automated reporting feature sends weekly summaries that make me look way more organized than I actually am. My clients love getting these detailed reports, and I love not having to create them manually.

Metricool’s feature ecosystem includes social media scheduling, unified analytics dashboard, ad creation and management across Google, Facebook, and TikTok, SmartLinks functionality, AI writing assistance, automated reporting capabilities, unified inbox management, RSS feed integration, and best posting times recommendations.

Pros: What Actually Works Well

Analytics Dashboard is Genuinely Impressive

Okay, this is where I get a little fanboy-ish. The analytics are just… chef’s kiss… beautiful.

I can see which of my posts flopped harder than a fish out of water and which ones actually resonated with people. Last month, I discovered that my audience engagement drops off a cliff after 7 PM – something I never would’ve noticed just eyeballing my posts.

The data visualization is clean and intuitive. I can quickly identify which content types perform best on each platform and adjust my strategy accordingly. The automated reporting feature sends weekly or monthly summaries, keeping stakeholders informed without manual work. After using various social media management tools, I can confidently say Metricool delivers some of the most comprehensive analytics I’ve encountered.

The export feature is a lifesaver for client presentations. PDF reports that actually look professional? Yes, please. No more screenshots and awkward explanations about why the numbers look different across platforms.

Platform Coverage Goes Beyond the Basics

Google Business Profile scheduling alone makes this worth it for local businesses. Most tools completely ignore this platform, but it’s huge for local SEO. My client who runs a coffee shop gets more foot traffic from Google Business posts than Instagram stories.

When Threads launched, Metricool had integration ready pretty quickly. Other tools were still “evaluating” the platform while Metricool users were already scheduling posts. That kind of forward-thinking keeps me optimistic about future platform additions.

Pricing Structure Makes Sense

The free plan isn’t just a tease – it’s actually usable. Fifty posts a month with full analytics? That’s more generous than most competitors who give you like 10 posts and call it a day.

At $18/month for the first paid tier, it’s reasonable. I’ve seen agencies justify that cost just from the time saved on reporting. When you’re billing clients $150/hour, saving two hours a month pays for the subscription.

Bulk Scheduling Saves Serious Time

The CSV import feature is brilliant. I can plan a month of content in a spreadsheet, upload everything at once, and boom – content calendar done.

Last week I uploaded 120 posts across 6 different accounts in about 10 minutes. Try doing that manually and you’ll understand why I’m never going back.

This feature alone justifies the subscription cost for anyone managing high-volume posting schedules. The time savings compound quickly when you’re handling multiple brands or running extensive campaigns.

Cons: The Frustrating Limitations

No Proper Media Library is a Major Oversight

This is my biggest gripe. In 2024, how do you launch a social media tool without a media library? It’s like selling a car without wheels.

Every time I want to reuse an image, I have to dig through Google Drive folders like I’m searching for buried treasure. Buffer figured this out years ago with proper tagging and search. Metricool expects me to remember that the perfect image for this campaign is buried in a folder called “Random Images March 2023.”

Competitors like Later and Buffer handle this much better with proper media libraries that include tagging and search functionality. The absence of this basic feature feels particularly glaring when you’re paying for a premium service.

It’s honestly embarrassing for a platform this polished in other areas.

Platform-Specific Posting Issues

YouTube Shorts without thumbnail selection? Are you kidding me? I spent 20 minutes creating the perfect thumbnail last week, only to realize Metricool can’t use it. Had to post manually, which defeats the entire purpose.

TikTok posts lose all their formatting – line breaks, emojis, everything. Have you seen a TikTok caption without line breaks? It looks like a wall of text that nobody wants to read. I have to manually fix every single post.

Instagram throws random file size errors even when my images are perfectly sized. These aren’t huge technical challenges – they’re basic functionality that should just work. While some of these issues stem from platform API restrictions, they still create real workflow problems.

Brand-Based Organization Can Be Limiting

The brand system makes perfect sense for agencies but feels clunky for individual users. I can’t easily cross-promote content between my personal and business accounts without treating them as completely separate entities.

Want to share your business post on your personal profile? Nope, different brands. Want to see all your accounts in one view? Nope, pick a brand first. It’s like the system assumes everyone runs an agency.

This limitation becomes particularly annoying when you want to cross-promote content between your personal and business profiles. The system assumes you’re always working within distinct brand silos, which doesn’t reflect how many content creators actually operate.

LinkedIn Restrictions on Free Plan

Locking LinkedIn behind a paywall feels petty. LinkedIn is crucial for B2B marketing, and not being able to test it on the free plan makes evaluation harder.

It’s especially frustrating because LinkedIn’s organic reach is actually decent compared to other platforms. Making users pay just to try basic LinkedIn functionality seems unnecessarily restrictive.

How Metricool Measures Up: My Real-World Experience

Platform Coverage & Integration: 4/5

They support more platforms than I can actually use effectively. Google Business Profile integration is clutch for local businesses. But that LinkedIn paywall sting and some personal vs. business account weirdness keeps this from being perfect. The breadth of platform support is impressive, but accessibility issues hold it back from excellence.

Scheduling & Publishing: 3/5

When it works, it works great. When it doesn’t… well, that’s when I remember why I keep backup posting methods. The bulk CSV feature is fantastic, but those platform-specific quirks are genuinely annoying.

Analytics & Reporting: 5/5

This is where Metricool absolutely destroys the competition. The unified dashboard makes me feel like I actually understand my social media performance instead of just guessing based on likes and follows. I’ve yet to find another platform that matches Metricool’s analytical depth and presentation quality.

Content Management: 2/5

The missing media library is inexcusable. Google Drive integration doesn’t count as content management – it’s a workaround for missing functionality.

Pricing & Value: 4/5

Free plan is genuinely useful, paid plans are reasonably priced. The ROI is solid, especially if you value comprehensive analytics over fancy content creation features.

User Experience: 4/5

Generally smooth sailing once you understand the brand-based logic. Some features like optimal posting times and unified inbox genuinely improve productivity. The brand-based organization makes sense for agencies but can be limiting for individual users.

Advanced Features: 4/5

SmartLinks are convenient, AI assistant is adequate, RSS integration is perfect for bloggers. Nothing revolutionary, but solid additional value. Team collaboration features on higher tiers support agency workflows effectively.

Customer Support & Reliability: 4/5

They actually respond when you need help, which is more than I can say for some competitors. Most technical issues stem from platform API restrictions rather than Metricool being broken. When I’ve reached out with questions, response times have been reasonable and solutions helpful.

What Real Users Actually Say

Reddit’s social media management communities consistently recommend Metricool for analytics. One agency owner mentioned saving 10+ hours monthly just on automated reporting – that’s real money.

But TikTok creators hate the formatting issues. One creator said they gave up on scheduling TikToks through Metricool because fixing the formatting took longer than just posting manually.

G2 reviews average around 4.2/5, with most complaints focusing on that missing media library. The pattern is clear: people love the analytics, tolerate the scheduling quirks, and get frustrated by content management limitations.

Marketing blogs like Social Media Examiner have featured Metricool as a solid choice for businesses prioritizing analytics over content creation features. The consensus seems to be that it’s excellent for data-driven marketers but less ideal for creative-focused users.

On Trustpilot, users frequently mention the learning curve being shorter than expected. One marketing manager wrote that they were fully operational within two days, which contrasts with more complex platforms like Hootsuite that can take weeks to master.

ProductHunt reviews emphasize the Google Business Profile integration as a standout feature. Local business owners specifically call this out as a reason they chose Metricool over competitors who ignore this platform entirely.

Capterra feedback reveals a pattern: agencies love the multi-brand management, while solo entrepreneurs often feel overwhelmed by features they don’t need. The brand-based organization that agencies praise becomes a limitation for simpler use cases.

Facebook groups dedicated to social media marketing consistently recommend Metricool for its reporting capabilities. Several users mention using it specifically for client reports, even when they use other tools for actual posting.

Twitter discussions about social media tools often position Metricool as the “analytics-first” option. Marketing professionals appreciate having comprehensive data without needing separate analytics tools for each platform.

The consensus seems to be: great for data-driven marketers, frustrating for creative-focused users. If you live in spreadsheets and love charts, you’ll probably love Metricool. If you just want to post pretty pictures without thinking about metrics, look elsewhere.

Pricing Breakdown

Free plan: One brand, 50 posts monthly, analytics for everything except LinkedIn. Actually usable, not just a teaser.

Starter ($18/month): 5 brands, unlimited posts, LinkedIn access. Makes sense for small agencies or multi-brand businesses.

Advanced ($45/month): 15 brands, team collaboration, advanced analytics. Where most growing agencies end up.

Enterprise ($139/month): 50 brands, everything included. For agencies that have their act together.

The progression makes sense – you pay for more brands and team features, not artificial limitations on basic functionality. Metricool offers a generous free tier with 50 posts monthly, with paid plans scaling from $18 to $139 monthly based on brand count and feature requirements.

Where to Find Metricool

You can access Metricool directly at metricool.com with web-based functionality and mobile apps available for both iOS and Android devices. The Metricool software provides consistent functionality across all platforms, ensuring you can manage your social media presence whether you’re at your desk or on the go.

Alternatives to Metricool

Buffer: The Reliable Old Friend

Buffer is like that friend who’s not the most exciting but always shows up when you need them. Their media library actually exists (imagine that), and content organization is way better than Metricool’s Google Drive workaround.

But their analytics are pretty basic compared to Metricool’s comprehensive reporting. No Google Business Profile support either. Check out Buffer if you prioritize content management over detailed analytics.

Later: For the Visual Perfectionists

Later’s visual content calendar is gorgeous – drag and drop posts like you’re playing Tetris with your content. Their media library includes tagging and search that makes Metricool’s absence even more glaring.

Analytics are more limited though, and no Google Business Profile. Visit Later if visual planning is your jam and you don’t need comprehensive cross-platform analytics.

Hootsuite: The Enterprise Beast

Hootsuite is like bringing a tank to a water balloon fight – overpowered for most users but perfect if you need industrial-strength social media management. Team collaboration, social listening, extensive integrations.

Learning curve is steep, pricing is higher, and honestly it’s probably overkill unless you’re managing social media for a Fortune 500 company. Check out Hootsuite if you need enterprise features and have the budget to match.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Metricool free to use?

Yeah, and the free plan doesn’t completely suck. One brand, 50 posts monthly, analytics for most platforms. LinkedIn is locked behind paid plans, but everything else works. It’s actually enough to test whether you like the platform before committing money.

Can I manage multiple social media accounts with Metricool?

Absolutely. The brand-based system handles multiple accounts well – if you’re an agency. If you’re just trying to manage your personal and business accounts separately, it feels unnecessarily complicated. Free plan gives you one brand, paid plans scale up from there.

Does Metricool support Instagram Stories and Reels?

Yes, though I’ve had some random file format issues. Most of the time it works fine, but test your specific content types before relying on it for important campaigns. I learned this the hard way when a client’s Reels didn’t post during a product launch.

How accurate are Metricool’s analytics compared to native platform insights?

Pretty accurate in my experience. There are minor differences due to API limitations and processing delays, but nothing major. The convenience of having everything in one dashboard outweighs small data discrepancies. I spot-check against native analytics occasionally and they’re usually within 5%.

Can I cancel my Metricool subscription anytime?

Yep, no penalties or weird cancellation hoops. Your account keeps working until the billing period ends, then you get downgraded to free tier limitations. Cancellation process is straightforward through account settings.

Final Thoughts

After six months of daily use, here’s my honest take: Metricool is really good at what it promises to do, but it has some glaring blind spots.

If you’re drowning in social media data and need someone to make sense of it all, Metricool is fantastic. The analytics alone justify the subscription cost for most agencies and data-driven marketers. The multi-platform scheduling works well enough, and the pricing is reasonable.

But if you’re primarily focused on content creation and visual planning, you’ll probably get frustrated. The missing media library isn’t just an inconvenience – it’s a workflow killer. And those platform-specific posting quirks will drive you nuts if you’re perfectionist about formatting.

The generous free tier genuinely provides value for small businesses and individual users testing the waters of social media management. However, the absence of a proper media library and platform-specific posting quirks create workflow friction that more creative-focused users might find frustrating.

Metricool works best for users who prioritize analytics and reporting over content creation features. If you’re managing multiple brands, need comprehensive cross-platform insights, or want to automate your social media reporting, this platform delivers excellent value at reasonable pricing.

However, if you’re primarily focused on content creation, visual planning, or need seamless media organization, alternatives like Later or Buffer might better serve your needs. The platform’s agency-centric design philosophy shows throughout the user experience, making it less intuitive for individual creators or small business owners with simpler requirements.

The free plan is generous enough to give it a real test drive. Try it for a month, see if the analytics insights actually help your strategy, and decide if the content management limitations are deal-breakers.

Would I recommend it? Depends on what you value. For agencies and marketing managers who need comprehensive reporting across multiple platforms, absolutely. For individual creators who just want to schedule pretty content without thinking about metrics, probably not.

Metricool knows what it is – an analytics-first platform that happens to do scheduling too. If that aligns with your priorities, you’ll love it. If it doesn’t, there are better options out there.

Overall, Metricool earns its place in the social media management ecosystem by excelling at what it promises: comprehensive analytics and multi-platform scheduling. Just ensure your workflow priorities align with its strengths before committing to a paid plan. The platform delivers on its core promises while revealing areas where competitors might serve specific use cases better. For agencies and data-focused marketers, Metricool software provides exceptional value through its analytical capabilities and multi-brand management features.