The best Pinterest scheduling tools in 2025 are Pin Generator (automated pin creation + scheduling), Tailwind (SmartSchedule + analytics), Later (visual multi-platform calendar), Buffer (simple cross-posting), Planoly (Instagram-style drag-and-drop), Canva Content Planner (design + schedule in one), and Pinterest’s native scheduler (free, 100-pin limit). Choose based on volume, budget, and whether you need creation automation or just publishing.
If you create lots of pins, use Pin Generator or Canva. If you’re Pinterest-only and data-driven, pick Tailwind. For multi-platform ease, choose Later or Buffer. Solo creators on a budget should start with Pinterest native or Planoly free.
Key Takeaways
- Pin Generator auto-generates dozens of pin variations from one URL—best for high-volume bloggers and eCommerce
- Tailwind offers SmartSchedule, Communities, and deep Pinterest analytics—official Pinterest Partner
- Later and Buffer excel at managing Pinterest alongside Instagram, Facebook, and other networks
- Canva Content Planner lets you design and schedule without leaving Canva—great for visual creators
- Pinterest’s native scheduler is free but caps at 100 pins and 30 days ahead
- Most tools offer free trials—test 2–3 before committing to annual plans
- Measure success by time saved per week, pin impressions, and clicks to your site
Table of Contents
- What Is a Pinterest Scheduling Tool?
- Pinterest Scheduling Tool vs Manual Pinning
- How to Choose the Right Tool (Framework)
- 7 Best Pinterest Scheduling Tools for 2025
- Pin Generator
- Tailwind
- Later
- Buffer
- Planoly
- Canva Content Planner
- Pinterest Native Scheduler
- How to Measure Success with Scheduling Tools
- Implementation Checklist
- Tool Comparison Table
- FAQs
- Conclusion
- Internal Links
- References

What It’s Like to Pin Manually in 2025
It’s 11 PM. You’ve just published a blog post you spent six hours writing. Now you need to create five pin variations, schedule them across ten boards, and repeat tomorrow. By Thursday you’re burnt out, your Pinterest profile looks abandoned, and your traffic flatlines.
Sound familiar? Pinterest rewards consistency—the algorithm favors accounts that pin fresh content daily [1]. But manual pinning is a treadmill. The average marketer spends 8–12 hours per week on Pinterest alone [2]. That’s half a workday you could spend writing, filming, or actually running your business.
Pinterest scheduling tools solve this. They batch your work into one focused session, auto-publish at peak times, and give you analytics to double down on what works. This guide breaks down the seven best options so you can reclaim your evenings and grow faster.
What Is a Pinterest Scheduling Tool?
A Pinterest scheduling tool is software that lets you upload, queue, and auto-publish pins at preset times without logging into Pinterest every day.
Most tools also offer:
- Bulk scheduling (upload 50+ pins via CSV or drag-and-drop)
- Optimal time suggestions (AI picks when your audience is online)
- Analytics dashboards (impressions, saves, clicks beyond Pinterest’s native stats)
- Multi-board posting (send one pin to five boards in one click)
- Team collaboration (approval workflows, shared calendars)
As of May 2025, Pinterest allows third-party scheduling via its official API [1]. Tools that are Pinterest Marketing Partners (like Tailwind, Sprout Social, and Planoly) get early access to new features and comply with Pinterest’s rate limits.
How to Choose the Right Tool (Framework)
Use this 3-Factor Framework:
1. Creation Bottleneck
Question: Do you struggle to make enough pins or just schedule them?
- High-volume creation need → Pin Generator, Canva Content Planner (built-in design)
- Have pins, need scheduling → Tailwind, Later, Buffer
2. Platform Scope
Question: Is Pinterest your only platform?
- Pinterest-only → Tailwind (deepest Pinterest features), Pin Generator
- Multi-platform (Instagram, Facebook, etc.) → Later, Buffer, Planoly
3. Budget & Scale
Question: How many pins/month and what’s your budget?
- Free or <$15/mo → Pinterest native (free), Buffer ($6/mo/channel), Planoly ($14/mo)
- $15–$50/mo → Pin Generator, Tailwind ($12.99/mo), Later ($16.67/mo)
- $50+/mo (teams/agencies) → Hootsuite ($99/mo), Sprout Social ($199/user/mo)
7 Best Pinterest Scheduling Tools for 2025
1. Pin Generator
Best for: Bloggers, eCommerce, affiliate marketers who need automated pin creation + scheduling.
What makes it different:
You paste a blog URL or connect your Shopify/Etsy store. Pin Generator’s AI scrapes images, titles, and product data, then auto-generates dozens of unique pin designs using your brand templates. You review, tweak, and bulk-schedule all at once. It eliminates the “create 10 variations per post” bottleneck.
Key Features:
- Auto-generate pins from URLs, RSS feeds, or product catalogs [4]
- 500+ customizable templates (or upload your own)
- Pinterest keyword research tool (finds trending search terms in your niche)
- Trend alerts (notifies you when topics spike so you can pin timely content)
- Shopify/Etsy/WooCommerce integrations
- Unlimited scheduling (no 100-pin cap like Pinterest native)
- Analytics: impressions, clicks, saves per pin
Pricing:
Free trial (10 pins). Paid plans start ~$19/mo for 100 pins/month; scale to $79/mo for unlimited [4]. No per-user fees.
Pros:
- Solves creation and scheduling in one tool
- Great for affiliate marketing (auto-pull Amazon/Etsy products)
- Keyword tool helps you write SEO-friendly pin titles
Cons:
- Learning curve if you want to customize templates deeply
- No Instagram/Facebook scheduling (Pinterest-only)
Who it’s for:
Content creators publishing 20+ pins/week who don’t want to touch Canva. Perfect if you run an eCommerce store with 100+ SKUs.
Example workflow:
Monday: Connect Shopify → Pin Generator creates 50 product pins → You schedule 5/day for two weeks → Done in 30 minutes.
2. Tailwind
Best for: Pinterest power users who want SmartSchedule, analytics, and Pinterest Communities (content amplification).
What makes it different:
Tailwind is an official Pinterest Marketing Partner [5]. Its SmartSchedule feature analyzes when your specific audience is most active and auto-slots pins into those windows. You just drag pins into a queue; Tailwind picks the exact time. Its Communities (formerly Tribes) let you share pins with niche groups—members re-pin your content, multiplying reach.
Key Features:
- SmartSchedule (AI optimal timing per board)
- Board Lists (group similar boards, schedule to all at once)
- Tailwind Create (design pins inside the app—Canva-lite)
- Ghostwriter (AI writes pin descriptions)
- Communities (join niche groups, discover/share content)
- Deep analytics: follower growth, virality score, board performance
- Browser extension (pin from any site)
Pricing:
Free Forever plan (20 pins/mo). Paid plans from $12.99/mo (100 pins, 2 accounts) to $49.99/mo (unlimited) [5]. Annual discount available.
Pros:
- SmartSchedule legitimately increases engagement [3]
- Communities can 3x your impressions if you’re active
- Best-in-class Pinterest analytics
Cons:
- Interface feels busy for beginners (lots of tabs)
- Free plan is very limited (20 pins barely covers a week)
- Instagram scheduling exists but clunky (Tailwind started Pinterest-only)
Who it’s for:
Bloggers and small business owners who treat Pinterest as their #1 traffic source and want data to back decisions.
Example workflow:
Sunday: Bulk-upload 50 pins → Add to SmartSchedule queue → Share 10 to Communities → Check analytics Friday → Adjust next week’s topics.
3. Later
Best for: Visual creators managing Pinterest + Instagram + TikTok + Facebook from one calendar.
What makes it different:
Later started as an Instagram tool [6]. Its strength is the visual drag-and-drop calendar—you see all your posts across platforms in a grid, making it easy to spot gaps or plan campaigns. The Best Time to Post feature suggests optimal slots per network. You can repurpose one image across Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook in seconds.
Key Features:
- Visual content calendar (week/month view)
- Multi-profile scheduling (Pinterest, IG, FB, TikTok, LinkedIn, Twitter)
- Linkin.bio tool (one link for all your content—drives Pinterest traffic to other platforms)
- AI Caption Writer (generates pin descriptions)
- Analytics per platform + cross-platform comparison
- Team collaboration (approval workflows on higher tiers)
Pricing:
Free plan (1 Pinterest account, 10 pins/mo). Paid from $16.67/mo (30 posts/platform) to $80/mo (unlimited) [6]. Billed annually.
Pros:
- Best UI for visualizing your entire content strategy
- Excellent for repurposing one piece of content everywhere
- Linkin.bio replaces Linktree
Cons:
- Pinterest features less robust than Tailwind (no Communities, simpler analytics)
- Free plan too limited for serious Pinterest marketing
- No bulk CSV upload (have to drag each pin)
Who it’s for:
Influencers, lifestyle bloggers, and brands that post across 3+ platforms and want one clean dashboard.
Example workflow:
Wednesday: Design 10 pins in Canva → Upload to Later → Drag to Pinterest calendar + Instagram feed slots → Write captions → Schedule → Done in 20 minutes.
4. Buffer
Best for: Small businesses wanting dead-simple multi-platform scheduling at the lowest price.
What makes it different:
Buffer is famously minimalist [7]. No fancy analytics, no AI tools—just a queue system. You add pins (or tweets, LinkedIn posts, etc.), set a posting schedule (e.g., 3x/day at 9 AM, 2 PM, 7 PM), and Buffer auto-publishes the next item in the queue. It’s the “set a timer and walk away” approach. The browser extension lets you pin images from any website in two clicks.
Key Features:
- Simple queue system (no calendar confusion)
- Multi-platform (Pinterest, IG, FB, Twitter, LinkedIn)
- Browser extension (pin from anywhere)
- Basic analytics (impressions, clicks, engagement rate)
- Team features (assign posts, get approvals)
Pricing:
Free plan (3 channels, 10 posts/channel). Paid from $6/mo/channel (100 posts) to $12/mo/channel (2,000 posts) [7]. So Pinterest alone = $6/mo.
Pros:
- Cheapest paid option ($6/mo beats everyone)
- Learning curve = 5 minutes
- Browser extension is faster than most competitors’
Cons:
- No optimal time suggestions (you pick times manually)
- Analytics are surface-level (no Pinterest-specific insights like “top boards”)
- No bulk upload, no design tools
Who it’s for:
Solopreneurs and startups that need “good enough” scheduling for Pinterest + Twitter + LinkedIn without complexity.
Example workflow:
Monday: Add 20 pins to Buffer queue → Set posting times (9 AM, 3 PM, 8 PM daily) → Buffer auto-publishes → Check analytics Friday → Adjust times if needed.
5. Planoly
Best for: Visual brands that want Instagram-style grid planning for Pinterest + AI caption help.
What makes it different:
Planoly treats Pinterest like Instagram [8]. You see your boards as a visual grid—drag pins to rearrange aesthetics before scheduling. The AI Caption Writer generates on-brand descriptions (you input your brand voice once). It’s an official Pinterest Marketing Partner, so features stay updated. Great for e-commerce brands obsessed with cohesive visual identity.
Key Features:
- Visual Pin Planner (drag-and-drop grid)
- Auto-posting (no push notifications)
- Hashtag Manager (save/reuse hashtag groups)
- Multi-channel (Pinterest, IG, TikTok, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook)
- Analytics (impressions, saves, clicks)
- AI Caption Writer
- Team collaboration (paid tiers)
Pricing:
No free plan. 14-day free trial. Paid from $14/mo (1 Pinterest account, 30 pins) to $50/mo (unlimited) [8]. Billed annually.
Pros:
- Best visual planner if you care about board aesthetics
- AI captions save 10+ minutes per session
- Clean, modern UI
Cons:
- No free-forever option (trial only)
- $14/mo for 30 pins is pricey vs Buffer ($6/mo for 100)
- Team features locked behind $50/mo tier
Who it’s for:
Fashion, home decor, and lifestyle brands that want their Pinterest boards to look curated like an Instagram feed.
Example workflow:
Friday: Upload 30 pins → Drag into grid to preview board layout → AI writes descriptions → Schedule 2/day for two weeks → Publish.
6. Canva Content Planner
Best for: Creators who design pins in Canva and want to schedule without leaving the app.
What makes it different:
You’re already in Canva making a pin. Click “Schedule” → pick date/time → done. No downloading, no re-uploading to another tool [9]. Canva’s Content Planner (part of Canva Pro) supports Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The workflow is seamless if you live in Canva—which most non-designers do, because Canva has 250k+ templates.
Key Features:
- Design + schedule in one app
- 250k+ templates (Pinterest, IG, etc.)
- Multi-platform scheduling (Pinterest, IG, FB, Twitter, LinkedIn)
- Brand Kit (save logos, fonts, colors—one-click brand consistency)
- Basic analytics (impressions, clicks)
- Canva AI tools (Magic Write for captions, Background Remover, etc.)
Pricing:
Content Planner requires Canva Pro: $14.99/mo or $119.99/year (5 social accounts) [9]. Includes all Canva Pro design features.
Pros:
- Zero friction if you already use Canva
- Massive template library (never start from scratch)
- Best value if you need design and scheduling
Cons:
- Analytics are basic (no “top boards” or Pinterest-specific insights)
- No optimal time suggestions (you pick times)
- Scheduling caps at 8 posts/platform/day [9]
Who it’s for:
Bloggers, coaches, and small businesses that create 80% of their visuals in Canva anyway.
Example workflow:
Tuesday: Design 10 pins in Canva (30 min) → Click “Schedule” on each → Pick dates/times → Done. No app-switching.
7. Pinterest Native Scheduler
Best for: Casual pinners or anyone wanting to test Pinterest marketing for free before investing in tools.
What makes it different:
It’s built into Pinterest [1]. Click “Create Pin” → upload image → write description → click the calendar icon → pick date/time (up to 30 days ahead) → save as draft. On desktop or mobile. No third-party login, no API limits. It’s the lowest-friction option but has hard caps: 100 scheduled pins max and 30-day window [1].
Key Features:
- Schedule standard pins and video pins
- Edit scheduled pins (title, description, board)
- Mobile + desktop scheduling
- Free forever (no credit card)
Pricing:
$0. Requires a free Pinterest Business account [1].
Pros:
- Zero learning curve
- No API rate limits or third-party outages
- Guaranteed compliance (Pinterest can’t violate its own rules)
Cons:
- 100-pin cap (if you pin 5/day, that’s 20 days—not enough for high-volume)
- No bulk upload (schedule one pin at a time)
- No analytics beyond Pinterest’s native dashboard
- No optimal time suggestions
Who it’s for:
New Pinterest users testing the platform, or low-volume pinners (≤3 pins/day).
Example workflow:
Sunday: Create 14 pins manually → Schedule 2/day for next week → Repeat next Sunday. Takes ~45 minutes if you already have designs.
How to Measure Success with Scheduling Tools
Track these four metrics in your tool’s dashboard (or Pinterest Analytics if using native):
1. Time Saved Per Week
Benchmark: You should cut pinning time from 8–12 hours to 1–2 hours after adopting a tool [2].
How to measure:
Week 1: Log hours spent on Pinterest (creation + manual pinning).
Week 5 (after tool adoption): Log again. Subtract.
2. Pin Impressions
Benchmark: Consistent daily pinning increases impressions by 30–50% in 60 days [3].
How to measure:
Pinterest Analytics → Overview → compare “Impressions” (last 30 days vs previous 30 days).
Why it matters: More impressions = more people see your pins = more clicks to your site.
3. Clicks to Your Website
Benchmark: 2–5% of impressions should become clicks if pins are optimized [10].
How to measure:
Pinterest Analytics → Audience → “Outbound clicks.”
Calculation: (Outbound clicks ÷ Impressions) × 100.
4. Saves (Re-Pins)
Benchmark: High-quality pins get saved by 5–10% of viewers [10].
How to measure:
Pinterest Analytics → Overview → “Saves.”
Why it matters: Saves signal Pinterest that your content is valuable → algorithm shows it to more people.
Implementation Checklist
Use this 8-step checklist when setting up any tool:
- Sign up for free trial (test 2–3 tools before paying)
- Connect Pinterest Business account (most tools require Business, not Personal)
- Upload brand assets (logo, fonts, colors if tool has design features)
- Set posting schedule (start with 3 pins/day, adjust based on analytics)
- Batch-create 30 pins (in Canva, Pin Generator, or Tailwind Create)
- Schedule first 2 weeks (fill queue so you’re never scrambling)
- Enable analytics (link Google Analytics if tool supports it—track Pinterest → website conversions)
- Calendar reminder (check analytics every Friday, adjust strategy for next week)
FAQs
1. Can I schedule pins for free?
Yes. Pinterest’s native scheduler is free (100 pins, 30-day window) [1]. Later, Tailwind, and Buffer offer limited free plans (10–20 pins/month). For serious marketing, you’ll outgrow free plans in a month.
2. Do scheduling tools violate Pinterest’s terms?
No—if they’re official Pinterest Marketing Partners (Tailwind, Later, Planoly, Sprout Social) [5][6][8]. These use Pinterest’s approved API. Avoid sketchy third-party bots that “auto-comment” or “mass-follow”—those do violate terms.
3. What’s the best time to schedule pins?
General benchmark: 8–11 PM (when users browse before bed) and 2–4 PM (afternoon break) [3]. But your audience may differ—use SmartSchedule (Tailwind) or Best Time to Post (Later) to find your peaks. Test for 30 days, then stick to what works.
4. How many pins should I schedule per day?
Start with 5–10 pins/day [10]. Pinterest rewards consistency over volume. Scheduling 50 pins one day then nothing for a week tanks your reach. Better: 5/day every day for a month.
5. Can I schedule video pins?
Yes. Pinterest native, Tailwind, Later, and Planoly all support video pin scheduling [1][5][6][8]. Pin Generator supports video uploads too [4]. Video pins get 2x more engagement than static pins [10].
6. Do I need a Pinterest Business account to use scheduling tools?
Yes [1]. Most tools (including Pinterest native) require a free Pinterest Business account for API access. If you have a Personal account, convert it in Settings → Account Management → “Convert to Business.”
Conclusion
The best Pinterest scheduling tool depends on your bottleneck:
- Need to create and schedule? → Pin Generator (auto-generates variations), Canva Content Planner (design + schedule)
- Pinterest-only, data-driven? → Tailwind (SmartSchedule, analytics, Communities)
- Multi-platform simplicity? → Later (visual calendar), Buffer (cheapest)
- Budget-conscious beginner? → Pinterest native (free), Planoly ($14/mo)
Action steps:
- Pick 2 tools from this list that match your bottleneck (creation vs scheduling, single vs multi-platform)
- Sign up for free trials (all offer 7–14 days except Canva—use that last)
- Batch-create 20 pins, schedule for 2 weeks, compare which tool feels fastest
- Commit to one, schedule 30 days ahead, check analytics weekly
You’ll save 6–10 hours per week and increase Pinterest traffic by 30–50% in 60 days [2][3]. That’s an extra blog post written, product launched, or afternoon reclaimed.
Ready to automate? If you’re a blogger or eCommerce store overwhelmed by pin creation, try Pin Generator’s free trial—paste your URL, get 10 unique pins in 2 minutes, and schedule them all at once.
References
[1] Pinterest Help Center — Schedule Pins (Pinterest Business), 2025 — https://help.pinterest.com/en/business/article/schedule-pins
[2] Social Media Examiner — How Much Time Should You Spend on Social Media Marketing?, 2024 — https://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/time-social-media-marketing/
[3] Tailwind Blog — The Best Times to Post on Pinterest in 2025 (Tailwind), 2025 — https://www.tailwindapp.com/blog/best-times-to-post-on-pinterest
[4] Pin Generator — Features & Pricing (Pin Generator), 2025 — https://pingenerator.com
[5] Tailwind — Pricing (Tailwind), 2025 — https://www.tailwindapp.com/pricing
[6] Later — Pricing (Later), 2025 — https://later.com/pricing
[7] Buffer — Pricing (Buffer), 2025 — https://buffer.com/pricing
[8] Planoly — Pricing (Planoly), 2025 — https://www.planoly.com/pricing
[9] Canva — Content Planner (Canva Help Center), 2025 — https://www.canva.com/help/content-planner
[10] Pinterest Business Blog — Pinterest Marketing Best Practices (Pinterest), 2024 — https://business.pinterest.com/en/blog/pinterest-marketing-best-practices

Leave a Reply