Schedule TikTok posts free: built-in scheduler and tools

You can schedule TikTok posts for free with TikTok's own video scheduler: upload from a desktop browser and pick a time from 15 minutes to 10 days ahead. To plan further out, or to put TikTok in one calendar with other networks, use a free scheduler plan that includes TikTok, such as Metricool (20 posts a month) or Buffer (3 channels, 10 scheduled per channel).

What this means for you

If TikTok is your main network and you plan a week at a time, the built-in scheduler is enough. Add a free third-party plan when you want to work more than 10 days ahead, or when the same video also goes to Instagram, YouTube Shorts or elsewhere. Check two things before you pick one: the free plan's post cap, and whether the tool can publish to TikTok publicly.

The details

Free way 1: TikTok's built-in scheduler

TikTok's own scheduler sits on the upload page at tiktok.com (TikTok Studio). What TikTok says about it:

• You can schedule a video from 15 minutes to 10 days ahead.
• TikTok's Creator Academy calls scheduling a desktop-only feature, so the phone app won't do it.
• TikTok's business blog says the scheduler is for creators and Business Accounts, and that desktop scheduling needs a Business Account. TikTok calls the Business Account free.
• Once a video is scheduled, you can't change the video, caption or time. To fix a mistake, delete it and upload it again.
• Scheduled videos appear on your profile next to your drafts.

If your upload page offers a different window, trust its date picker: it shows the real limit for your account.

Selling on TikTok Shop? For US TikTok Shop creators, TikTok documents scheduling shoppable videos from 30 minutes to 30 days ahead, up to 50 scheduled videos per account.

More on the native scheduler is in how to schedule TikTok videos.

Free way 2: a free TikTok scheduler plan

These free plans include TikTok. They're in alphabetical order, with PlanPost, which this site's owner makes, listed last.

We read every figure on the vendor's own pricing page on the date shown, and there are full reviews of Buffer and Metricool. Iconosquare, Publora, Viraly and other free plans that list TikTok are in all 39 free social media schedulers.

Which free TikTok scheduler to pick

You post most days. Swello allows 40 scheduled posts a month, PlanPost 30 and Metricool 20. Buffer and Publer cap the queue at 10 per account instead of the month, and a slot frees up each time a video goes out.

You post the same video to Instagram and YouTube. Metricool's 1 brand covers every network it supports except LinkedIn and X. Buffer lets you pick any 3 channels, including YouTube Shorts.

You use a personal TikTok account. Buffer's channel list names TikTok business profiles only. Publer's names both personal and business accounts.

Free plans that won't post to TikTok:

• Upload-Post's free plan covers every network except TikTok.
• Zoho Social's free plan covers 6 channels (X, Instagram, a Facebook Page, a LinkedIn profile, a LinkedIn Page and a Google Business Profile), and TikTok isn't one of them.
• Quso.ai publishes only to TikTok on free, but exports at 720p with a quso.ai watermark.

How third-party tools post to TikTok

TikTok sets rules for every app that posts on your behalf, and they're why TikTok support varies so much between schedulers:

• No scheduling in TikTok's API. A tool stores your video and publishes it at the time you chose, so it won't show as scheduled inside TikTok.
• Audit or private. Posts from apps TikTok hasn't audited are restricted to private viewing. Check that a tool posts publicly before you pick it.
• Daily cap. TikTok's content sharing guidelines put the limit at "typically around 15 posts per day" per creator account, shared across every tool you use.
• You choose the settings. The tool must show your account name and make you pick who can see the post, with nothing preselected. Comments, Duet and Stitch stay off until you turn them on.

The developer side is in the Direct Post changelog entry, and TikTok's video specs are on the TikTok hub.

What to do next

• Business owners: Plan a week of videos in TikTok's own scheduler from a desktop browser. If you need more than 10 days or more than one network, start with Metricool or Swello and check the video publishes publicly.
• Marketers and agencies: The free plans above that state a user count allow 1 user, on a few accounts, which won't carry client work. If several tools post for the same client, the roughly 15 posts a day cap is shared between them. Compare paid plans in Buffer alternatives or the scheduler picker.
• Developers: Your app has to hold each video and call the Content Posting API on time, and stays private-only until it passes TikTok's audit. Every TikTok API change is in the API changelog.