Iconosquare vs Metricool
Premium analytics versus free analytics for Pinterest
TL;DR
For Pinterest pin creation: Iconosquare provides premium analytics at $49/mo, while Metricool offers analytics with a free tier. Both track Pinterest performance — Metricool is far more affordable. BlogToPin automates pin creation from blog content.
Key Differences for Pinterest
How these tools differ for Pinterest pin creation and scheduling
Pinterest Focus
Iconosquare has a Pinterest rating of 5/10 while Metricool scores 6/10. Metricool offers stronger Pinterest-specific features.
Pricing
Iconosquare starts at $59/mo while Metricool starts at $22/mo. Metricool offers a free plan.
Bulk Pin Creation
Neither Iconosquare nor Metricool can generate pins from your website automatically. BlogToPin reads your sitemap and creates hundreds of optimized pins with AI-written titles and descriptions.
Platform Support
Iconosquare supports Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok. Metricool covers Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Google Business, Twitch. Metricool gives you more platform options.
Pricing for Pinterest Users
What you will actually pay for Pinterest pin scheduling
Iconosquare
Per plan with profile limits
Metricool
Tiered plans based on brands
BlogToPin
Starter plan. 1,000+ pins/mo. Unlimited AI.
Pinterest Feature Comparison
20 Pinterest-relevant features compared side-by-side
| Feature | Iconosquare | Metricool | BlogToPin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinterest Features | |||
| Pinterest Scheduling | |||
| Smart Schedule | Best Time | Best Times | AI-powered |
| Pin Templates | 100+ templates | ||
| Board Management | Basic | ||
| Idea & Video Pins | |||
| Automation | |||
| Bulk Scheduling | CSV import | Automatic | |
| Auto-Create from URL | |||
| Auto-Sync New Content | |||
| Content Recycling | |||
| Delete Underperforming Pins | |||
| RSS Feed Integration | |||
| AI & Content | |||
| AI Writing | AI Assistant | Unlimited | |
| AI Image Generation | |||
| Hashtag Suggestions | Hashtag tracking | Hashtag Tracker | |
| Analytics | |||
| Pinterest Analytics | Advanced | Detailed | |
| Best Time to Post | |||
| Competitor Tracking | Competitor benchmarking | ||
| Platform | |||
| Multi-Platform | Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok | Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube, Google Business, Twitch | Pinterest focused |
| Mobile App | |||
| Team Collaboration | Teams plan | Team plan | Business plan |
Pros & Cons for Pinterest
Strengths and weaknesses for Pinterest pin workflows
Iconosquare
Pros
- Deep analytics with advanced metrics and benchmarking
- Competitor analysis lets you track rival Pinterest accounts
- Detailed performance reports you can export and share
- Hashtag tracking across platforms
- Industry benchmarks for context on your performance
- Clean dashboard with actionable data visualizations
Cons
- Expensive for what is primarily an analytics tool
- No pin templates or design features
- No AI writing or content generation
- No content recycling or automation
- Cannot create pins from website content
- Scheduling is secondary to analytics
Metricool
Pros
- Best analytics in its price range, especially for Pinterest
- Competitor tracking lets you benchmark against others
- Hashtag tracker monitors performance over time
- Free plan is actually useful for solo creators
- Best time to post suggestions based on your data
- Clean dashboard with actionable insights
Cons
- Scheduling features are secondary to analytics
- No pin design tools or templates
- No content recycling or automation features
- Cannot create pins from website content
- Bulk scheduling limited to CSV import
- Some advanced analytics locked behind higher plans
BlogToPin
Pros
- Auto-creates pins from your website content — no manual design
- 100+ pin templates for visual variety across your profile
- AI writes Pinterest-optimized titles and descriptions
- Automatically deletes underperforming pins to protect account quality
- Smart scheduling posts pins at optimal times
- Reads your sitemap and generates pins from every page
Cons
- Pinterest-only — does not support other social platforms
- No mobile app yet
- Requires a website with content to generate pins from
- Starting at $39/mo, higher entry price than basic schedulers
What Users Say
Real user reviews from Trustpilot and G2
Iconosquare Reviews
“I love how intuitive and user friendly Iconosquare is; it's easy to navigate, it's nice to see the layout and preview of the feed before publishing a post, and it's accessible for the entire team to use.”
“The platform doesn't work at all! It doesn't save the scheduled content, it won't autopost even though it says it will, it keeps logging the social profiles off.”
Metricool Reviews
“I've used Metricool now for over a year, and run over 30 different brands from their platform. Their support team is fantastic.”
“The software simply does not work and customer support is unresponsive, unreliable, and they do not value customers' time.”
Best For Pinterest
When to choose each tool for your Pinterest pin strategy
Iconosquare
- Data-obsessed marketers who want the deepest Pinterest analytics
- Brands needing competitor benchmarking and industry reports
- Teams that need professional analytics reports for stakeholders
Metricool
- Data-driven marketers who want deep Pinterest analytics
- Creators who want competitor tracking and benchmarking
- Budget-conscious users who want analytics plus scheduling
BlogToPin
- You need hundreds of unique pins created from your website content
- You want AI to write Pinterest-optimized titles and descriptions
- You are tired of manually designing pin images for every post
- You want to automatically remove underperforming pins
- You need Pinterest pin creation on autopilot, not just scheduling
Overview
Iconosquare and Metricool are both analytics-focused platforms that support Pinterest. Iconosquare charges a premium for deeper analytics, competitor benchmarking, and customizable reports. Metricool offers similar core analytics with a genuinely useful free tier. For Pinterest, the question is whether Iconosquare's additional analytics depth justifies a significant price premium over Metricool.
Analytics Depth
Iconosquare provides detailed competitor benchmarking, audience demographic analysis, hashtag performance, and custom report builders. For enterprise-level Pinterest analytics, the depth is notable.
Metricool offers pin performance metrics, audience insights, optimal posting times, and competitor tracking. The analytics cover most practical Pinterest needs without the premium pricing.
Free vs. Premium
Metricool's free plan includes basic Pinterest analytics and scheduling — enough to start tracking performance without financial commitment. Paid plans add more capacity and deeper features.
Iconosquare has no free tier, starting at $49/mo. The price is justified only if you need the specific analytics features that Metricool's paid plans don't match.
Scheduling Features
Metricool includes SmartSchedule recommendations based on audience engagement data — a practical Pinterest feature that helps optimize posting times.
Iconosquare includes scheduling alongside analytics but without the same data-driven timing recommendations.
Pricing Gap
Iconosquare at $49/mo versus Metricool's free plan — the gap is dramatic. Even Metricool's paid plans are significantly cheaper than Iconosquare.
For most Pinterest marketers, Metricool provides sufficient analytics at a fraction of the cost. Iconosquare's premium is justified only for extensive competitor analysis and custom reporting.
Pin Creation
Neither creates pins. Both are analytics and scheduling platforms. Pin design happens externally regardless of which analytics tool you choose.
BlogToPin automates pin creation from blog content. Paired with Metricool's free analytics, it creates the most cost-effective Pinterest marketing stack.
Final Verdict
Metricool provides comparable Pinterest analytics starting from free. Iconosquare's premium is justified only for enterprise-level competitor analysis and custom reporting.
For pin creation, BlogToPin automates the blog-to-pin process. Combined with Metricool's free analytics, it's the most affordable complete Pinterest solution.
Want pins created automatically?
Both Iconosquare and Metricool require manual pin creation. BlogToPin generates pins from your website with AI — no design work needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions answered about Iconosquare vs Metricool
Is Iconosquare worth $49/mo when Metricool has a free plan for Pinterest?
For most Pinterest marketers, no. Metricool's free plan covers pin performance tracking, audience insights, and basic scheduling — enough for practical Pinterest management. Iconosquare's premium is justified only if you need deep competitor benchmarking, custom report builders, or enterprise-grade analytics dashboards.
Which tool offers better Pinterest scheduling features?
Metricool has an edge with its SmartSchedule feature, which recommends optimal posting times based on your specific audience engagement data. Iconosquare includes standard scheduling but without the same data-driven timing recommendations. For Pinterest, posting at the right time significantly impacts pin reach.
How do Iconosquare and Metricool compare for Pinterest competitor analysis?
Iconosquare offers more detailed competitor benchmarking — you can track competitor pin strategies, engagement rates, and growth trends with customizable dashboards. Metricool includes competitor tracking in its paid plans but with less granularity. If competitor intelligence drives your Pinterest strategy, Iconosquare has the advantage.
Can I start with Metricool free and upgrade to Iconosquare later?
Yes, and this is a smart approach. Start with Metricool's free plan to build your Pinterest presence and understand your baseline metrics. If you later need deeper competitive analysis or custom client reporting, you can evaluate whether Iconosquare's additional analytics justify the $49/mo investment.
Do either Iconosquare or Metricool create Pinterest pins automatically?
Neither tool creates pins. Both are analytics and scheduling platforms that manage content after it is designed. For automated pin creation from blog posts — including generating images, writing descriptions, and adding text overlays — BlogToPin handles the creation step that both tools leave manual.
What is the most cost-effective Pinterest marketing stack?
Metricool's free plan for analytics and scheduling, combined with BlogToPin for automated pin creation from blog content. This covers the full Pinterest workflow — creation, scheduling, and performance tracking — at a fraction of what Iconosquare alone costs.
Which platform provides better Pinterest reporting for clients?
Iconosquare offers more polished custom reports with detailed Pinterest metrics, making it better for agencies presenting data to clients. Metricool provides reporting in paid plans but with less customization. If client-facing reports are a key requirement, Iconosquare delivers more professional output.
Tired of creating pins by hand?
BlogToPin generates Pinterest pins from your website automatically. AI writes the titles and descriptions, 100+ templates handle design, and smart scheduling posts at optimal times. Try it free.