Best Free Instagram Grid Planners in 2026 — Desktop & Mobile
Most Instagram grid planners advertise as “free” but lock the features you actually need behind paywalls. We tested the five most popular tools so you can see what each one really gives you at $0.
Why “Free” Doesn't Always Mean Free
Every Instagram grid planner on this list has a free option of some kind. But “free” can mean very different things. Some tools give you a 7-day trial and call it free. Others let you plan but slap a watermark on your exports. A few lock basic features like drag-and-drop behind a subscription.
If you're searching for a free Instagram grid planner that actually works without pulling out your credit card, this guide is for you. We compared PlanMyGrid, UNUM, Preview App, Later, and Plann across every feature that matters — including desktop support, AI, and publishing — so you know exactly what you get before you sign up.
Free Tier Comparison Table
Here's what each tool actually gives you on its free plan. No trials, no “freemium” spin — just the facts.
| Feature | PlanMyGrid | UNUM | Preview App | Later | Plann |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active grids | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 profile | 7-day trial only |
| Media uploads | 20 | 18 | 30 | 5 / month | Unlimited (trial) |
| Drag & drop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (trial) |
| AI features | 2 free tries | — | — | Paid only | Paid only |
| Desktop support | Yes (web) | Mobile only | Mobile only | Yes (web) | Yes (web) |
| Publishing | — | — | — | Paid only | Paid only |
| Export watermarks | Yes | No | No export | No export | No (trial) |
1. PlanMyGrid
What's actually free: 1 active grid, 20 media uploads, drag-and-drop editing, 2 AI tries (captions, hashtags, color analysis, brand kit), 1 share link, client approval with 1 visible feedback comment, and offline editing. No time limit, no credit card required.
What requires paid: Unlimited grids, unlimited uploads, full AI suite, watermark-free exports, direct Instagram publishing, content calendar, and full client approval feedback. Pro costs $9/month.
Desktop vs mobile: PlanMyGrid is a web app that works on any desktop or laptop browser. No app install needed. It also works on mobile browsers, though the desktop experience is where it shines.
Best for: Creators and freelancers who want a free Instagram grid planner for desktop with AI features and no trial countdown.
2. UNUM
What's actually free: 1 grid with up to 18 media slots, drag-and-drop rearranging, basic filters, and the ability to preview your feed before posting. UNUM's free tier is genuinely usable for simple grid planning.
What requires paid: Unlimited media, multiple grids, advanced analytics, scheduling, and team collaboration. Pro starts at $6.99/month.
Desktop vs mobile: UNUM is a mobile-only app (iOS and Android). There is no desktop version, which can be frustrating if you prefer planning on a larger screen.
Best for: Mobile-first creators who only need a quick visual preview of their grid on their phone.
3. Preview App
What's actually free: 1 Instagram profile, up to 30 posts in your planner, drag-and-drop rearranging, and basic filters. Preview gives you a decent amount of space to plan a small batch of content.
What requires paid: Unlimited posts, hashtag groups, caption templates, analytics, scheduling, and the desktop version. Premium starts at $7.99/month.
Desktop vs mobile: Preview App is primarily mobile (iOS and Android). A desktop version exists but is locked behind the paid Premium plan.
Best for: Creators who want a generous free upload limit on mobile and don't mind skipping desktop.
4. Later
What's actually free: 1 social profile, 5 posts per month, a visual content calendar, and basic link-in-bio. Later's free tier is extremely limited — 5 posts per month is barely enough for one week of content.
What requires paid: More than 5 posts, auto-publishing, AI captions, hashtag suggestions, analytics, and team features. Starter plan is $25/month.
Desktop vs mobile: Later works on both desktop (web) and mobile. The desktop experience is solid but the free plan's 5-post limit makes it hard to do any meaningful grid planning.
Best for: Social media managers who plan to upgrade and want scheduling, analytics, and multi-platform support in one tool.
5. Plann
What's actually free: Plann does not have a permanent free plan. It offers a 7-day free trial that gives you access to all features. After the trial ends, you need to subscribe or lose access entirely.
What requires paid: Everything after day 7. Plans start at $13/month for 1 social profile with scheduling, analytics, a content calendar, and AI-generated captions.
Desktop vs mobile: Plann works on both desktop (web) and mobile (iOS and Android). The experience is consistent across platforms, but again — only during the trial unless you pay.
Best for: Users who want to test a full-featured planner before committing and don't mind a trial-only free option.
Best Free Grid Planner for Desktop
If you specifically need a free Instagram grid planner for desktop, your options narrow quickly. UNUM and Preview App are mobile-only on their free tiers. Plann's desktop version is limited to a 7-day trial. Later works on desktop but caps you at 5 posts per month.
PlanMyGrid is the standout here. It's a web app that runs directly in your browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge — with no app to download or install. You get full drag-and-drop grid planning, AI features, and share links right from your desktop. The free plan has no time limit, so you can keep using it as long as you want.
For creators and social media managers who do most of their work at a desk, a desktop-first planner removes the friction of switching between phone and computer. You can drag photos from your desktop directly into your grid, preview everything on a larger screen, and share client-ready links without ever touching a mobile app.
The Verdict
If you want the most generous free tier, PlanMyGrid wins. It gives you a permanent free plan with drag-and-drop grid planning, AI features (2 free tries), a share link, client approval, offline editing, and full desktop support — all without a time limit or credit card.
UNUM and Preview App are solid mobile options if you don't need desktop. Preview gives you more uploads (30 vs 18), while UNUM has a cleaner interface.
Later is best if you plan to upgrade eventually and want scheduling plus multi-platform support in one dashboard. Its free tier is too limited for serious grid planning.
Plann doesn't belong on a “free” list in the traditional sense. The 7-day trial is useful for testing, but it's not a long-term free option.
Try PlanMyGrid Free
Start planning your Instagram grid right now — no credit card, no app install, no time limit. Upgrade to Pro whenever you need unlimited grids, full AI, and direct publishing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Instagram grid planner is completely free?
PlanMyGrid offers a genuinely free plan with no time limit, no credit card, and no trial period. You get 1 active grid, 20 media uploads, drag-and-drop editing, 2 AI tries, and a share link — all for $0 forever. Most other tools either restrict features heavily on free tiers or require a paid subscription after a trial.
Is there a free Instagram grid planner for desktop?
Yes. PlanMyGrid is a web-based Instagram grid planner that works on any desktop browser — no app install required. Most competitors like UNUM and Preview App are mobile-first and either lack a desktop version entirely or lock it behind a paid plan.
Do free grid planners have AI features?
PlanMyGrid is the only free Instagram grid planner that includes AI features on its free tier. You get 2 free AI tries across captions, hashtags, color analysis, and brand kit. Other tools like Later and Plann reserve AI features for paid plans only.
Can I publish directly from a free grid planner?
No free grid planner currently offers direct Instagram publishing on its free tier. PlanMyGrid, Later, and Plann all require a paid plan for auto-publishing. On free plans, you typically plan your grid visually and then post manually to Instagram.