The best Preview app alternative is SkedCast: every major network instead of three, bulk import, approvals and client workspaces, plus an Instagram grid planner, with a permanent free plan to start.
Key takeaways
- The closest alternatives to Preview on price and features are Iconosquare, Buffer, Plann and Publer, compared on the same rows below alongside SkedCast.
- The Preview app covers only 3 platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Facebook), with auto-posting gated to its $12.50/mo Premium tier.
- Compare pricing model, bulk import capacity and platform coverage, not just the sticker price.
- SkedCast prices by connected account with no per-seat tax and true bulk import.
On this page
Why do teams look for the best Preview alternatives?
its scope is deliberately narrow — 3 platforms and no described bulk import, approvals or multi-client workspaces.
How we picked these Preview alternatives
We compared Preview with every scheduler in our comparison matrix, whose prices and plans are checked against each vendor’s own pricing page (October 2026), and kept the four closest to it on entry price, free plan, platform count, bulk import, client approvals and white-label reporting: Iconosquare, Buffer, Plann and Publer. A tool close on those points is a realistic swap; one that is cheaper but missing what you use Preview for is not.
Preview alternatives compared
Preview itself, then each alternative, on the same rows. “Not published” means the vendor does not state it publicly, not that the feature is missing.
- Preview: Entry price: $6.67/mo (Pro) · Free plan: Yes — 1 user, 1 device · Platforms: 3 · Bulk import: Not published · Client approvals: Not published · White-label reports: Not published · Per-seat pricing: Not published
- Iconosquare: Entry price: $10/mo (Starter, annual) · Free plan: Yes — 2 profiles, 10 posts/mo · Platforms: 8 · Bulk import: Not published · Client approvals: Approvals, Scale plan up · White-label reports: Custom tier only · Per-seat pricing: Not published
- Buffer: Entry price: $5/ch/mo (annual) · Free plan: Yes — 3 channels · Platforms: 11 · Bulk import: 100 / batch · Client approvals: Team tier · White-label reports: Partly · Per-seat pricing: Per channel
- Plann: Entry price: $15/mo · Free plan: Yes — Instagram only, 30 posts/mo · Platforms: 7 · Bulk import: Not published · Client approvals: Build tier up · White-label reports: Not published · Per-seat pricing: Users capped by plan (1, 2, 4)
- Publer: Entry price: $5/mo per account · Free plan: Yes — 3 accounts · Platforms: 13 · Bulk import: ~500 / batch · Client approvals: Basic · White-label reports: Partly · Per-seat pricing: +$/member
- SkedCast: Entry price: Free, then $15/mo · Free plan: Free — 2 accounts · Platforms: 11 · Bulk import: 2,500 / import (Agency) · Client approvals: Yes · White-label reports: Co-branded from Studio; white label from Agency · Per-seat pricing: No
Iconosquare: where it is strong
Iconosquare starts at $10/mo (Starter, annual), with a free plan (2 profiles, 10 posts/mo). See the full SkedCast vs Iconosquare comparison for its plans and sources.
- Deep analytics and reporting, with up to 2 years of history and an AI analyst
- A permanent free plan to start on, and an MCP integration for AI assistants
- Competitor, hashtag and industry monitoring on its Scale plan
Buffer: where it is strong
Buffer starts at $5/ch/mo (annual), with a free plan (3 channels). See the full SkedCast vs Buffer comparison for its plans and sources.
- Simple, friendly UI and a free tier to start
- Strong for individuals and small brands
- Good basic analytics and a polished mobile app
Plann: where it is strong
Plann starts at $15/mo, with a free plan (Instagram only, 30 posts/mo). See the full SkedCast vs Plann comparison for its plans and sources.
- A genuine permanent free plan, Instagram-focused
- A visual grid planner for previewing feed layout before publishing
- AI credits included even on the free tier
Publer: where it is strong
Publer starts at $5/mo per account, with a free plan (3 accounts). See the full SkedCast vs Publer comparison for its plans and sources.
- A very low entry price: Professional is $5 per account per month at list price ($4 billed yearly), and the free plan covers three accounts (X is not allowed on Free)
- 13 integrations, including Mastodon, which SkedCast does not publish to
- Unlimited workspaces on paid plans, with Admin, Editor and Client roles and approval modes set per social account
What to compare
- Pricing model: per seat, per account, or per workspace
- Real bulk import capacity, not just the word "bulk"
- Platform coverage against what you actually publish to
- Whether client approvals and white-label reporting are included or gated higher
SkedCast as an alternative
SkedCast prices by connected account with no per-seat tax and imports up to 2,500 posts per upload on Agency from CSV, Sheets or AI. See the full SkedCast vs Preview comparison for the complete breakdown.
FAQ
- Which Preview alternatives have a free plan?
- Of the tools compared here, Preview, Iconosquare, Buffer, Plann and Publer have a permanently free tier; a free trial is not counted as a free plan. SkedCast has a permanent Free plan as well — 2 connected accounts and up to 3 posts a day, no card and no time limit — and each workspace can additionally take one 7-day Studio trial.
- What do the main Preview alternatives cost to start?
- List entry prices as of October 2026: Preview $6.67/mo (Pro), Iconosquare $10/mo (Starter, annual), Buffer $5/ch/mo (annual), Plann $15/mo, Publer $5/mo per account, and SkedCast Free, then $15/mo.
- Is SkedCast a good Preview alternative?
- For agencies or brands that need more than 3 platforms and true bulk import, yes.
- What should I compare before switching from Preview?
- Pricing model, real bulk import capacity, platform coverage, and whether approvals and white-label reporting are included or gated to a higher tier.
- Can I migrate my scheduled posts from Preview?
- See the migration guide for exactly what Preview's own help pages document about exporting your queue.
- Can I move from Preview to SkedCast?
- Yes. List your scheduled posts in a CSV, bulk import them into SkedCast, and reconnect each account through its official sign-in.
- Does SkedCast have a free plan?
- Yes. SkedCast has a permanent Free plan as well — 2 connected accounts and up to 3 posts a day, no card and no time limit — and each workspace can additionally take one 7-day Studio trial. Bulk import and the inbox are included on it.