YouTube is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.1. YouTube wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Later on 1.
Creators who make longer videos and want a clear way to earn
Brands and creators who plan a polished Instagram feed
Score by score
The details
| Feature | YouTube | Later |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Social Media & Creator Tools | Social Media & Creator Tools |
| Category rank | #1 of 17 | #15 of 17 |
| Developer | Later | |
| Pricing | Free + paid plans | Free + paid plans |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | ✓ | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is YouTube better than Later?
YouTube is the better app overall, scoring 8.7 to 8.1. YouTube wins on 4 of the 5 scores, Later on 1.
Which is cheaper, YouTube or Later?
YouTube: Free with ads; in the US, Premium is $15.99 a month and Premium Lite is $8.99. Later: Free plan with 12 posts per profile a month; Starter is $18.75 a month, billed yearly. On value for money, YouTube scores higher.
Do YouTube and Later work on the same devices?
Yes, both run on iPhone & iPad, Android, Web.
Which is more private, YouTube or Later?
Later scores higher on privacy (7.0/10). The App Store label says usage data may be used to track you. Contact info, identifiers, usage data and your content are linked to you. Later needs access to the social accounts you connect.
Strengths and weaknesses
YouTube
- Free to watch and post
- Clear rules for getting paid
- Works on phones, computers and TVs
- Lots of ads unless you pay for Premium
- Hard for brand new channels to get noticed
- Google links a lot of data to your account
YouTube is still the best place to watch and post longer videos. You can upload long videos, Shorts and live streams, all for free. Creators start earning from ads at 1,000 subscribers plus enough watch time, which is the clearest pay system of any big app. The downsides are lots of ads unless you pay for Premium, and Google links a lot of what you watch to your account.
Full YouTube review
Later
- Best visual planner for an Instagram grid
- Helpful best time to post tips
- Link in Bio page is built in
- Pricey next to Buffer
- Starter allows only 30 posts per profile a month
- Free plan has no carousels or Stories scheduling
Later is the scheduler for people who care how their Instagram grid looks. You drag posts around a visual planner, get tips on the best time to post, and build a link in bio page. It also posts to TikTok, Threads, YouTube, Pinterest and more. The catch is price. Starter costs $18.75 a month billed yearly and caps you at 30 posts per profile. The free plan allows just 12.
Full Later review
