Here are our picks for the five best Instagram engagement apps based on features, ease of use, and effectiveness. Buffer is simple and easy to use. Select an image or video file, create a caption, and then add it to your queue to post it immediately. Or, schedule it to post at a time you specify. Customize your queue and reset scheduled times whenever you want. Buffer is a set-it-and-forget-it tool. Line up posts in advance, pause posting, tag users and locations, set a first comment, use emojis in your captions, and more. Use Buffer with Instagram and other social networks, including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest. Buffer is free to download and use on an iOS or Android mobile device, but you’re limited to three social accounts and ten scheduled posts. Upgrade to Pro for $15 per month and schedule up to 100 posts. Use Buffer on the desktop in a browser, as well. The free version isn’t accessible in a browser, but you can try a 14-day free trial of the Pro version. Download For: With a free account, schedule up to 30 photo posts and collect user-generated Instagram content to repost to your profile. Search a hashtag, and Later grabs the original, high-quality photo for you to repost. Later is free to download and use. Still, more features are available with Later’s paid plans. View, manage, and reply to comments from the Later dashboard, so you never miss anything. Schedule video posts, plan and schedule stories, tag locations and users, and optimize post timing. Later’s paid plans include Starter ($12.50 per month), Growth ($20.50 per month), and Advanced ($49.50 per month). The higher the tier, the more features you’ll get. Download For: Track your competitors to see how your performance measures up to them, see your post reach and impressions, understand your video views, check your Stories analytics, and gain follower demographic information such as age and gender. Iconosquare also has traditional engagement tools, including scheduling posts, managing comments, and tracking hashtags. Iconosqure is meant for serious influences, so take advantage of its 14-day free trial and see if you need all its features. Download the tool for free, and then pay $29 monthly for the Pro version or $59 monthly for the Advanced version. Iconosquare works on Android and iOS mobile devices as well as on the desktop in a browser or through a Chrome extension. The tool can also be used with Facebook. Download For: Upload your own photos to Canva or use one of its premade templates. Search for elements to add from Canva’s huge library, including stock photos, illustrations, shapes, lines, arrows, symbols, frames, and more. Many images are free, but premium images have a price. When you’re done, download your design instantly. Canva isn’t as advanced as Photoshop. Still, it’s a powerful free graphic design tool for creating a professional-looking Instagram post in minutes. Use Canva’s iOS or Android app, or use it on the desktop at Canva.com. Canva’s free features are plentiful. If you need more customization options and more templates and images, consider Canva Pro ($9.95 per month). Download For: When you start a new project and select Video, choose from a selection of existing video templates or create a custom template. Add as many clips as you want and use the video editor to edit each scene with a text overlay, music, or anything else. Adobe CCE is easy to learn and use, and you’ll quickly create dazzling videos and other content.
