Successfully growing a following on Instagram often comes down to posting regularly, but life gets in the way. How can you maintain a consistent Instagram post schedule?

That's where Instagram auto-publishing and scheduling apps come in. These will post to your Instagram feed when you specify. Some also offer additional features like helping you color coordinate your feed or suggesting compelling captions.

Here are the best Instagram scheduling apps you should try.

1. Planoly

Planoly is all about empowering you to share your story on Instagram. With its features, you can easily plan out your next posts, aligning the content to help build a persona and story.

You can analyze your profile data, monitor your post engagement, and use Planoly's multi-stories feature to upload multiple stories at the same time. The app also has a feature called Sellit, which can direct users from your Instagram post to your Instagram Shopping storefront.

If your Instagram is being managed by two or more people, you can invite them to collaborate on Planoly and plan your post strategies together. Handily, Planoly has a calendar to help you plan when to schedule posts.

Download: Planoly for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

2. Preview

Change the way you present content and plan your next posts on Instagram with Preview. This app offers scheduling, editing tools, hashtag tools, and analytics.

You can add up to 500,000 photos, use themed filter packs, get insights on hashtags to use, and receive interactive charts. Writing captions is easy, too, as you will get access to more than 3,000 Instagram caption templates, prompts, ideas, and quotes.

If you are not that tech-savvy, Preview is great for you because it has a simple design and the app is easy to navigate.

Download: Preview for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

3. Plann

If you want to post on Instagram on a specific date, it's time to strategize using Plann. It has great tools that not only work with Instagram but also other apps like LinkedIn and Canva for Instagram (which is great for creating perfect Instagram videos).

Plann offers post and story scheduling for a wide variety of Instagram users. It provides advanced analytics, image editing tools, and custom strategy creation.

Plann has been featured in magazines like Vogue and Cosmopolitan, so it comes well recommended. The app is also great if multiple people use the same Instagram account because you can set permission levels per user.

Download: Plann for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

4. Postcron

Postcron is an easy platform to schedule posts based on when the best time to post on Instagram is.

Just like any app scheduler, it offers auto-posts through bulk photo uploads. Upon upload, you can customize by adding emojis, stickers, or location. You will receive a notification once Postcron has posted the content.

You can also add your own logo or watermark if to your photos, which makes Postcron unique from other scheduler apps.

Download: Postcron for iOS | Android (Free, in-app purchases available)

5. Sprout Social

Sprout Social's main purpose is to help you build and grow stronger relationships on social media. It's not cheap, so it's primarily best for businesses or individuals willing to invest for growth.

Sprout Social has four main sections: Listening, Publishing, Engagement, and Analytics. You can uncover trends and actionable insights that you can use to gain a following.

Moreover, you can schedule your content, monitor the responses gained from your content, and analyze your weekly or monthly performance. This is all useful information, especially when it comes to learning how to increase engagement.

Download: Sprout Social for iOS | Android ($99/month)

6. Sked Social

Everything is automatic with Sked Social. It lets you automate posts across different social media accounts, including Instagram. You can choose hashtags and tags, along with timing the posts for when they will receive the most engagement.

What makes Sked Social special is its Chrome Extension, which you can browse and grab user-generated content to help enhance your posts and stand out on Instagram.

Download: Sked Social for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

7. Buffer

Want authentic engagements? Use Buffer as your social media tool to manage your business or personal Instagram account. It actually helps you build your own community.

With its advanced features, you can easily visualize your Instagram feed or stories to be more consistent with your branding or persona. Performance reports, hashtag planning, and Instagram tagging can be done through Buffer as well.

Its users also receive blog posts and resources that offer valuable social media strategies. Buffer is being used by several big names in the industry like Shopify, GitHub, and Microsoft.

Download: Buffer for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

8. Later

Later helps you visually plan your social media content and automatically publish those on your set date and time.

This app also helps you gain more followers as it analyzes your account and gives you tailored insights in reaching wider views and audiences. It's easy to use, thus suitable for newbies and social media marketers alike.

You can easily schedule with its visual planner and you can batch upload. If you have no time to create content or run out of creative juices, Later can help you find on-brand content appropriate to your Instagram feed as well.

Download: Later for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

9. Tailwind

Tailwind has social media tools that can help you gain more followers on Instagram.

This app can schedule photos and videos to be posted on your account with just a few clicks. It also provides hashtag suggestions which you can use when uploading your photos or videos.

Tailwind has a smart schedule feature where it selects the best time for you to post and get more engagements on Instagram.

Download: Tailwind for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

10. Hootsuite

Hootsuite is an app where you can post, schedule, and manage content on social media networking sites like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and even YouTube.

It lets you monitor your account's development and analyze where you can get insights to gain more followers. You can collaborate with others when it comes to managing your Instagram account as well.

Download: Hootsuite for iOS | Android (Free, subscription available)

Increase Your Instagram Engagement and Gain Followers

Give these Instagram post scheduler apps a try and see which works best for you. While some focus only on the scheduling function, others are built to help build your Instagram audience.

Whichever you choose, strive for consistent, regular posting—it's the key way to build followers on Instagram.