Compare Metricool and Pixelfed on pricing, features, platforms, and ratings — both Social Media tools, Freemium vs Open Source pricing to decide which fits…
At a Glance
Metricool
Pixelfed
Primary category
Social Media
Social Media
Rating
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing model
Freemium
Open Source
Starting price
Free; paid plans from EUR 16 per month (about $20 per month billed annually)
Free (self-hosted or join a public instance); third-party managed hosting from about $19/month
Free plan
Yes
Not documented
Free trial
Not documented
Not documented
Platforms
Android
Web, iOS, Android
Team collaboration
Not documented
Not documented
AI features
Yes
Not documented
Public API
Not documented
Not documented
Pricing Compared
Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.
Metricool
Free — $0 Forever free
Starter — From EUR 16/month (annual) or EUR 20/month (monthly) Monthly or annual
Advanced — Higher tier, priced by brands/seats Monthly or annual
Custom — Custom quote Annual contract
Pixelfed
Self-Hosted or Public Instance — Free N/A
Managed Hosting (third-party providers) — From about $19/month Monthly
Pros & Cons
Metricool
Pros
Generous free plan usable indefinitely
Combines social scheduling with web and Google Business Profile analytics
Pricing is competitive compared to Hootsuite and Sprout Social
Strong feature set for agencies, including white-labeling
Supports a wide range of networks including TikTok and Threads
Cons
Free plan limited to one profile per network
Advanced reporting and API access require higher-tier plans
Interface can feel dense for first-time users given the breadth of features
Custom/agency plan pricing is not publicly listed
Some advanced integrations (like Zapier) are gated behind the Advanced tier
Pixelfed
Pros
Free, open source and AGPL-licensed with no corporate ownership
No ads, algorithmic manipulation or data resale
Interoperates with the broader Fediverse, including Mastodon and PeerTube
Users can choose or self-host an instance aligned with their values
Chronological feed favored by users wanting less algorithmic noise
Cons
Smaller user base and network effects than Instagram
Instance funding relies heavily on donations, creating sustainability risk for some servers
Feature parity with Instagram, such as advanced discovery and shopping, is still developing
Choosing and trusting the right instance administrator adds friction for new users
Self-hosting requires server administration skills
Use Cases
Metricool
Solo creator managing multiple platforms — A solo content creator uses Metricool's free plan to schedule posts and track engagement across Instagram and TikTok without paying for a tool.
Agency reporting to clients — A social media agency uses the Advanced or Custom plan to manage dozens of client brands and generate white-labeled performance reports.
SMB tracking paid and organic performance together — A small business marketing team uses Metricool to monitor both organic social posts and Meta/Google ad campaigns in a single dashboard.
Pixelfed
Privacy-conscious photo sharing — Individuals who want an Instagram-like experience without ads, tracking or algorithmic feeds join or self-host a Pixelfed instance.
Community and niche instances — Communities such as photographers, artists or regional groups run dedicated Pixelfed instances with their own moderation policies.
Federated brand or creator presence — Creators and organizations that want to participate in the open Fediverse alongside Mastodon use Pixelfed for visual content.