Brandwave

How popular isLater?

In September 2026, people searched for Later by name about 9,280 times worldwide, a 29.8% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 1.1% of all global AI social media tool searches, placing Later sixth out of eight tools. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about AI social media tools, Later appeared in four of the five answers and was the second most recommended of the eight.

Search and AI answers in September 2026

Later is the sixth most searched of 8 competitors and the second most recommended in AI answers.

  1. MetricoolShare of searches 51.4%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
  2. BufferShare of searches 21.4%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
  3. HootsuiteShare of searches 12.9%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
  4. Sprout SocialShare of searches 10.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
  5. LaterShare of searches 1.1%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd

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Top AI social media tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Later was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Later is the second most recommended of the eight.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Buffer1st
  2. Later2nd
  3. Hootsuite3rd
  4. Predis.ai4th
  5. Metricool5th
  6. Sprout Social6th
  7. Ocoya–
  8. Postwise–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Buffer5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Hootsuite4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Later4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Metricool3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Sprout Social3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Predis.ai3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Ocoya0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Postwise0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about AI social media tools

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Which AI social media tools compete with Later?

Later against AI social media tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for Metricool, Buffer, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Predis.ai, Later. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMetricoolBufferHootsuiteSprout SocialPredis.aiLaterOcoyaPostwise
Oct 202541.9%3.8%28.7%19%3.8%1.8%0.92%0.14%
Nov 202543.9%3.2%30%16.3%3.9%1.7%0.79%0.15%
Dec 202548.2%3.9%27.1%14.7%3.6%1.6%0.7%0.14%
Jan 202640%4.8%33.4%14.9%4.4%1.7%0.72%0.13%
Feb 202643%7.1%29.5%13.2%4.7%1.7%0.63%0.13%
Mar 202646.3%6.9%26%14.1%4.2%1.7%0.68%0.13%
Apr 202648.8%9.3%22.7%12.2%4.4%1.6%0.87%0.12%
May 202651.2%9.5%20.4%12.8%3.8%1.6%0.61%0.08%
Jun 202651.1%9.1%21.7%12.8%3.1%1.7%0.5%0.08%
Jul 202649.3%18.7%15.2%12.3%2.4%1.5%0.59%0.06%
Aug 202652.3%14.2%16%13%2.6%1.4%0.51%0.07%
Sep 202651.4%21.4%12.9%10.5%2.1%1.1%0.5%0.11%

  1. 1.Metricool

    51.4%

    Held 1st. 451K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share -0.8 points.

  2. 2.Buffer

    21.4%

    Moved from 3rd to 2nd. 188K estimated branded searches, +87.5% vs prior month. Share +7.2 points.

  3. 3.Hootsuite

    12.9%

    Moved from 2nd to 3rd. 113K estimated branded searches, -0.1% vs prior month. Share -3.1 points.

  4. 4.Sprout Social

    10.5%

    Held 4th. 92.4K estimated branded searches, +0.41% vs prior month. Share -2.5 points.

  5. 5.Predis.ai

    2.1%

    Held 5th. 18.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.

  6. 6.Later

    1.1%

    Held 6th. 9.3K estimated branded searches, -2.5% vs prior month. Share -0.3 points.

  7. 7.Ocoya

    0.5%

    Held 7th. 4.4K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

  8. 8.Postwise

    0.11%

    Held 8th. 1K estimated branded searches, +108.3% vs prior month. Share 0 points.

Compare popularity between Later and its closest rivals

Every comparison with Later

14 comparisons

How has branded search demand for Later changed worldwide over the last 12 months?

2 findings
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Later worldwide fell from 13.2K to 9.3K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Later’s share of searches among AI social media tools worldwide decreased from 1.8% to 1.1%.

How did search popularity change for AI social media tools worldwide in September 2026?

6 changes

  1. In September 2026, Buffer overtook Hootsuite to rank 2nd among AI social media tools worldwide, with 21.4% of the searches.

  2. In September 2026, Hootsuite lost share of searches among AI social media tools worldwide, from 16% to 12.9%.

  3. In September 2026, Sprout Social lost share of searches among AI social media tools worldwide, from 13% to 10.5%.

  4. In September 2026, Metricool lost share of searches among AI social media tools worldwide, from 52.3% to 51.4%.

  5. In September 2026, Predis.ai lost share of searches among AI social media tools worldwide, from 2.6% to 2.1%.

  6. Later’s share of searches among AI social media tools worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 1.7% to 1.1% in September 2026.

How are Later’s branded searches counted?

10 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Later’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.

  • later app
  • later influencer marketing
  • later instagram planning
  • later instagram scheduler
  • later instagram scheduling
  • later scheduling app
  • later social media
  • later social scheduling
  • linkinbio by later
  • linkinbio later

Do you work for Later? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Where does Later compete?

Later is ranked in three competitor sets. Each share is worked out among that set's brands, so it differs from set to set.
Competitor setRankShare of searchesRanking
Social media scheduling tools8th of 80.93%Show ranking
Social media management tools10th of 100.93%Show ranking
AI social media tools6th of 81.1%Shown above
Creator with pink hair and a pink jacket

Is Later your brand?

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