ChatGPT answers, unedited

For a solo creator focused specifically on Reels + YouTube Shorts, I’d pick Metricool.

Why:

• Simple scheduling: Its calendar lets you schedule across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc., so you can batch a week or month of short-form content. metricool.com
• Better growth analytics: Metricool goes beyond likes/views and gives you things like Reels retention, average watch time, reach, shares, saves, and 3-second view rate—the kinds of metrics that actually help you improve your videos. metricool.com
• Good solo-creator fit: It combines planner + analytics + reporting rather than making you stitch together several tools. metricool.com
• Instagram Reels auto-publishing: supported for Creator/Business accounts, with some Instagram feature limitations. help.metricool.com

My quick ranking

One caveat: Buffer has become much more compelling recently. It supports both Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, and its new Insights analytics are free to start. support.buffer.com But its deeper analytics coverage is more limited for YouTube Shorts than Metricool's broader analytics approach. support.buffer.com

So I'd choose Metricool if your goal is “post consistently → see what actually grows → make more of it.” If you mainly want a dead-simple queue and don't care much about analytics, choose Buffer instead.

For a solo creator focused on Reels + YouTube Shorts, I’d recommend Metricool.

Why it fits you:

• Scheduling: handles Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, plus TikTok and other networks if you expand. help.metricool.com
• Growth analytics: much stronger than basic schedulers—you can track performance over time, identify your top content, and benchmark competitors. help.metricool.commetricool.com
• One dashboard: useful if you're trying to answer “Which videos are actually growing my audience?” rather than just “Did I post?”
• Good for starting small: Metricool has a free tier, so you can test the workflow before paying. later.com

My ranking for your use case

Buffer is the one I'd pick if you told me, “I don't care about sophisticated analytics; I just want to upload a Reel, schedule it, and forget about it.” Its interface is particularly creator-friendly, and its free plan supports three channels. buffer.com

But because you specifically mentioned growth analytics, I'd go Metricool. It gives you enough data to actually iterate on your content strategy without jumping into an enterprise-level social media suite.

If you tell me which platforms you post on (Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, etc.) and roughly how many videos/week, I can tell you which Metricool/Buffer plan I'd choose and whether you even need to pay.

For a solo creator focused specifically on Reels + YouTube Shorts, I’d pick Metricool.

metricool.com

Why Metricool fits you

• Scheduling: You can plan content across Instagram, YouTube and other platforms from one calendar.
• Growth analytics: This is the big advantage. Metricool gives you reach, engagement, follower growth, top-performing content, and competitor/benchmarking data—not just “did the post publish?” Buffer Metricool
• Good for a solo workflow: You don't need the heavy team/approval features of tools like Hootsuite or Sprout Social.
• Room to grow: You can start relatively simply and use the deeper analytics as you become more serious about understanding what actually drives views.
• Free option: Metricool currently has a free tier, so you can test the workflow before paying. Metricool

Metricool vs. Buffer

Buffer would be my alternative if your #1 priority were simplicity. It's cleaner and easier to learn, and its free plan supports up to three channels. But its analytics are more basic. Buffer Buffer

So I'd frame it:

My recommendation: Start with Metricool, connect Instagram + YouTube, and don't overcomplicate your setup. Use the analytics to identify your top hooks, topics, retention/view patterns, and posting times, then feed those findings back into your next batch of Shorts/Reels.

If you tell me your niche + whether you're posting to TikTok too, I can narrow this down to the best 2–3 tools for your exact workflow.

For a solo creator focused on Reels + YouTube Shorts, I’d pick metricool.com.

Why:

• Scheduling: handles Instagram and YouTube alongside other major platforms, so you can manage everything from one calendar. Buffer Metricool
• Growth analytics: this is where it beats simpler schedulers—it gives you deeper performance data and competitor benchmarking, which is useful when you're trying to figure out why certain Shorts/Reels grow. Buffer
• Solo-friendly: you don't need a team/approval workflow or an enterprise platform.
• Good upgrade path: you can start free and move up when your analytics/reporting needs outgrow it. Current pricing and limits vary by plan. Buffer

My quick ranking

1. Metricool — best balance of simple scheduling + serious growth analytics
2. buffer.com — best if you care more about simplicity than deep analytics; its free plan is particularly attractive for a solo creator. Buffer
3. later.com — best if Instagram is your primary platform and you really value visual feed/grid planning. Later

Bottom line: If your goal is “post consistently, then understand what's actually driving growth,” go with Metricool. If your goal is “I don't want to think about the tool at all,” go with Buffer.

If you tell me whether you're posting to Instagram + YouTube only or also TikTok, I can narrow it down to the cheapest/best plan for your exact setup.

For a solo creator focused specifically on Reels + YouTube Shorts, I’d pick Metricool.

Why it fits your use case:

• Simple scheduling: Visual calendar, batch scheduling, and auto-publishing for Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. metricool.commetricool.commetricool.com
• Better growth analytics: You can track views, engagement, follower/subscriber growth, watch time, retention, and compare content performance. metricool.commetricool.commetricool.com
• Cross-platform: One dashboard for Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and other channels, which is useful if you're repurposing the same short-form video. metricool.com
• Creator-friendly: You don't need an agency/team workflow, but you still get useful competitor and benchmarking features if you want to get more serious about growth. metricool.commetricool.commetricool.commetricool.commetricool.com
• Free tier: Metricool currently offers a free plan, so you can test the workflow before paying. metricool.commetricool.commetricool.com

My quick ranking

Buffer is arguably the simpler scheduler, and it supports both Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, but Metricool has the stronger analytics/benchmarking side. buffer.com

Bottom line: If your goal is “upload my clips once, schedule them everywhere, then figure out which videos are actually driving growth,” go with Metricool.

If you tell me how many Reels/Shorts you post per week and whether you're also on TikTok, I can tell you which Metricool/Buffer plan makes the most sense.

For a solo creator focused specifically on Reels + Shorts, I’d pick Metricool.

Why: you want both scheduling and growth analytics, and Metricool is stronger on the analytics side than the simpler schedulers. It combines content planning/publishing with performance analytics and competitor benchmarking. metricool.combuffer.com

My ranking for you

Metricool is the one I'd start with because you can actually use the analytics to answer questions like which videos are getting traction, which formats perform best, and when your audience is responding rather than just keeping your posting calendar full. metricool.com

If your priority is “I don't want to think about the tool; just let me schedule my videos”, go with Buffer instead. Its interface is notably simpler, and its free tier is attractive for solo creators. buffer.com

Bottom line:

• 📈 Growth/data first → Metricool
• 🧘 Simplicity first → Buffer
• 📸 Instagram aesthetics first → Later

For your exact description, Metricool wins.

For a solo creator focused on Reels + Shorts, I’d narrow it to three options:

🥇 My pick: Metricool

Best balance of simple scheduling + useful growth analytics. metricool.com

Why it fits:

• Schedule across Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, etc.
• See which videos actually drive:
  • views
  • watch time
  • engagement
  • follower growth
  • best posting times
• Better analytics than most creator-focused schedulers without feeling like enterprise software. metricool.comuxerwave.com
• Good if your goal is not just “post consistently” but “learn what content wins.”

Choose Metricool if: you post 3–7 short videos/week and want to improve based on data.

🥈 Simplest option: Buffer

Best if you want almost no friction. hashtagtools.io

Pros:

• Very clean interface
• Fast scheduling
• Good for batching content
• Less overwhelming

Cons:

• Analytics are more basic compared with Metricool. hashtagtools.io

Choose Buffer if: your main problem is “I forget to post.”

🥉 Best for Instagram-first creators: Later

Great if your workflow is very visual. later.com

Pros:

• Drag-and-drop calendar
• Nice Instagram planning experience
• Helpful for creators who care about feed aesthetics

Cons:

• I’d rank it below Metricool for someone specifically asking about growth analytics. uxerwave.com

Choose Later if: Instagram is your main platform and your feed layout matters.

My suggested solo creator stack

Starting out:

• Scheduler + analytics: Metricool
• Editing: CapCut
• Thumbnails/covers: Canva
• Native platform analytics once a week for deeper Shorts/Reels metrics

If you’re posting daily and want simplicity:

• Buffer + native Instagram/YouTube analytics

I’d start with Metricool’s free plan, run it for 30 days, and only upgrade if you’re actually using the analytics. It’s the one most aligned with “I want to grow, not just automate posting.” metricool.comuxerwave.com

A couple questions would change the recommendation:

1. Are you mainly on Instagram Reels + YouTube Shorts, or also TikTok?
2. Do you post daily, a few times/week, or in batches?

For a solo creator focused on Reels + YouTube Shorts, I’d narrow it down to three options:

My top pick: Metricool

Best balance of simple scheduling + growth analytics. www.demilked.com

Why I’d choose it:

• ✅ Schedule Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and other platforms from one calendar
• ✅ See performance analytics in one dashboard (views, engagement, follower growth, top posts)
• ✅ Useful for answering “what type of videos are actually growing my account?”
• ✅ Good fit if you’re posting consistently but don’t want a complicated marketing suite

Downside:

• It has more analytics/features than a pure scheduler, so the interface can feel slightly busier than minimalist tools. www.demilked.com

If you want the simplest possible: Buffer

Best if your workflow is:

“I make videos → I upload them → I want them scheduled.”

Pros:

• Very easy to learn
• Clean calendar
• Good for a solo creator who doesn’t need deep reporting
• Free tier is useful for small workflows www.demilked.com

Cons:

• Analytics are lighter; you may outgrow it if you’re actively optimizing growth. hashtagtools.io

If Instagram is your main game: Later

Best for creators who care about:

• visual planning
• Instagram feed aesthetics
• drag-and-drop calendars

It’s less my first choice for a Shorts-heavy creator because analytics and cross-platform growth tracking matter more than the visual grid. later.com

My recommendation by creator stage

For most solo creators, I’d start with Metricool, connect Instagram + YouTube + TikTok, and spend 30 minutes weekly reviewing:

• top 5 videos by retention/views
• hooks that worked
• posting times
• topics that repeatedly outperform

One extra question changes the recommendation: are you mainly posting the same video to Instagram Reels + TikTok + Shorts, or are you making platform-specific versions?

For a solo creator posting Reels + YouTube Shorts, I’d pick Buffer.

Why:

• Simple scheduling: clean calendar/queue, without the complexity of an enterprise social suite. buffer.com
• Both platforms: it supports Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts scheduling. buffer.comsupport.buffer.comhelp.metricool.com
• Useful growth analytics: Buffer's Insights tracks things like follower growth and engagement, and its YouTube Shorts reporting includes views, likes, and comments. buffer.comsupport.buffer.comhelp.metricool.com
• Good for starting small: analytics are available on all plans, with deeper reporting/export features on paid plans. support.buffer.com
• Creator-friendly workflow: you can schedule across multiple networks from one dashboard rather than maintaining separate calendars. buffer.com

When I'd choose Metricool instead

If analytics are more important to you than simplicity, go with Metricool. It gives you substantially more depth around cross-platform performance, content comparisons, campaigns, and audience growth, while still handling scheduling. help.metricool.com

My rule of thumb:

For you, I'd start with Buffer. Once you're consistently publishing and have enough posts to analyze, you can decide whether Metricool's deeper analytics are worth switching for. buffer.comhashtagtools.io

For a solo creator who wants simple scheduling + useful growth analytics for both Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, I’d pick Buffer.

Buffer supports scheduling Reels and Shorts from one dashboard, and its analytics cover things like follower growth, engagement, impressions, and video performance. buffer.com

My quick take

Why Buffer: it keeps the workflow lightweight—batch your Reels/Shorts, schedule them, then check performance without turning social management into a second job. Its free tier currently supports up to 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel. buffer.com

I'd choose Metricool instead if by “growth analytics” you mean you want to dig into trends, benchmarking, competitors, and more detailed reporting. metricool.com

Bottom line:
👉 Start with Buffer. If, after a few months, you find yourself wanting more sophisticated analytics, move to Metricool.

If you tell me how many Reels/Shorts you post per week, I can also tell you which plan makes the most sense.

For a solo creator doing both Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, I’d recommend Buffer.

Why it fits you:

• Very simple workflow — queue a Reel/Short once and move on.
• Both Reels + Shorts are supported with scheduling/auto-publishing. buffer.com
• Useful growth analytics without turning into a giant marketing dashboard: follower growth, engagement, impressions, and post-level performance. support.buffer.com
• Buffer's analytics were substantially rebuilt in July 2026, so its analytics are more compelling now than they used to be. buffer.com
• It has a free starting tier, which is ideal if you're still figuring out your workflow. buffer.commetricool.combuffer.com

My ranking for your use case

I'd choose Metricool over Buffer if you want to seriously study why certain Reels/Shorts grow—its analytics and competitor benchmarking are deeper. metricool.com

Bottom line: Start with Buffer. It's the least likely to become another piece of software you have to manage. If, after a month or two, you're wishing for deeper analytics, move to Metricool. buffer.com

If you tell me how many Reels/Shorts you publish per week and whether Instagram or YouTube matters more, I can narrow it down to the best plan/tool for you.

For a solo creator focused on Reels + YouTube Shorts, I’d pick Buffer.

Why:

• Very simple scheduler: clean calendar/queue without the agency-level complexity. buffer.com
• Instagram Reels: supports scheduling and analytics; depending on your Instagram setup, it can auto-publish or notify you to finish in Instagram. buffer.com
• YouTube Shorts: scheduling plus per-Short views, likes, and comments. buffer.com
• Useful growth analytics: follower growth, engagement, impressions, and best-time-to-post recommendations. buffer.com
• Free tier: currently lets you schedule up to 10 posts per channel across up to 3 channels, which is plenty to test the workflow. buffer.com

Buffer vs. Metricool

If simplicity is #1 → Buffer.
If analytics are #1 → Metricool. Metricool gives deeper Instagram/Reels reporting and is a better choice if you want to really dig into what content is driving growth. help.metricool.com

My recommendation for you: start with Buffer, run it for a month, and only move to Metricool if you find yourself wanting more detailed analytics.

If you tell me how many Reels/Shorts you post per week, I can also recommend the best plan (including whether you can get away with free).

For a solo creator focused specifically on Reels + YouTube Shorts, I’d pick Metricool.

Why Metricool is my pick

• Scheduling: You can schedule and auto-publish Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts alongside other platforms. metricool.com
• Better growth analytics: It goes beyond basic views/likes with metrics like watch time, retention rate, reach, engagement, saves, and shares for Reels. metricool.com
• Cross-platform comparison: You can see how essentially the same piece of content performs on Instagram vs. YouTube, which is particularly useful for a solo creator repurposing clips.
• Good solo workflow: Batch your week's videos, schedule them, then spend your time actually creating instead of publishing manually.

Runner-up: Buffer — I'd choose this if your #1 priority is simplicity. Its interface is cleaner and it supports both Reels and Shorts, but its YouTube Shorts reporting is currently relatively basic (views, likes, comments). buffer.com

My recommendation: Start with Metricool if you're serious about learning why certain videos grow. Start with Buffer if you mostly want a dead-simple calendar and don't want analytics to become another rabbit hole.

If you tell me which platforms you post to (e.g. IG + YouTube + TikTok) and roughly how many videos/week, I can narrow it down to the best plan/tool for your workflow.

For a solo creator focused on Instagram Reels + YouTube Shorts, I’d recommend Metricool.

Why Metricool is my pick

• One calendar for both platforms — schedule Reels and Shorts without maintaining separate workflows. metricool.commetricool.com
• Better growth analytics than a basic scheduler — you can track reach, views, engagement, follower growth, watch time/retention and individual Reel performance. metricool.commetricool.com
• Useful for actually learning what works — its best-time-to-post and content-performance data can help you identify patterns rather than just showing you a queue of posts. metricool.commetricool.com
• Solo-friendly — you don't need the team/approval/reporting machinery of something like Hootsuite or Sprout Social.

Runner-up: Buffer if your #1 priority is extreme simplicity. Buffer supports both Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, and its interface is generally cleaner, but I'd choose Metricool if growth analytics is an important part of the decision. support.buffer.com

My rule of thumb:

Buffer = “Help me post consistently.”
Metricool = “Help me post consistently and figure out why some videos grow.”

For your use case, I'd go Metricool.

For a solo creator focused on Reels + Shorts, I’d pick Metricool.

Metricool

Why Metricool fits you

• Scheduling: Plan and schedule across Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and other platforms from one calendar.
• Growth analytics: Much stronger analytics than the simplest schedulers, including content performance, audience/growth metrics, and benchmarking. metricool.com
• Creator-friendly: It gives you the scheduling simplicity you need without forcing you into an enterprise-style social media suite.
• Useful for deciding what to make next: You can identify your best-performing content instead of just seeing whether something was posted successfully.
• Its free tier can be useful for testing the workflow before paying. Current third-party comparisons put paid plans around the low-$20/month range, though pricing can change. metricool.com

My shortlist

Buffer is notably cleaner and simpler, but its strength is the publishing workflow; Metricool is the better choice if “how is my content actually growing?” matters to you. buffer.com

Bottom line: Start with Metricool. If you find its analytics more than you need and just want a dead-simple queue for posting, switch to Buffer.

If you tell me how many Reels/Shorts you post per week and whether you're also on TikTok, I can recommend the cheapest plan/setup that makes sense.

For a solo creator focused specifically on Reels + YouTube Shorts, I’d recommend Metricool.

Why Metricool is my pick

• Scheduling: You can schedule Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts from one calendar, rather than managing each platform separately. metricool.com
• Better growth analytics: It goes beyond views/likes into things like reach, engagement rate, average watch time, retention, and 3-second view rate for Reels. metricool.com
• Cross-platform comparison: Useful for answering the question, “Did this clip actually perform better on Instagram or Shorts?” metricool.com
• Solo-friendly: You don't need the heavy team/approval features of enterprise tools.
• Content batching: Its planner is particularly suited to sitting down once a week and scheduling a batch of content. metricool.com

Metricool vs. Buffer

Buffer is arguably the cleaner, easier interface, and it supports both Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Its YouTube Shorts reporting currently includes views, likes and comments. buffer.com

My rule of thumb:
👉 If your priority is “post it and forget it” → Buffer
👉 If your priority is “post it, then figure out what is actually growing my audience” → Metricool

For what you described, I'd choose Metricool.

For a solo creator focused on Reels + Shorts, I’d recommend Metricool.

Metricool

Why it fits your use case:

• Scheduling: plan and publish across Instagram and YouTube from one calendar.
• Analytics: substantially deeper than a basic scheduler—you can track reach, views, engagement, top-performing content, and cross-platform performance in one dashboard. metricool.com
• Growth-oriented: it gives you enough data to identify which videos, formats, and platforms are actually working, without needing a separate analytics product. metricool.com
• Solo-friendly: you don't need the team/approval features that make tools like Hootsuite feel excessive.

My quick ranking

Buffer is arguably the cleaner, simpler scheduler, but Metricool is the better fit for your specific combination of Reels + Shorts + growth tracking. buffer.com

Bottom line: I'd start with Metricool, preferably on its free tier first, and only upgrade once its analytics/scheduling limits actually become a bottleneck.

For a solo creator who wants a simple scheduler + growth analytics for Reels and Shorts, I’d prioritize tools that are easy to maintain rather than full enterprise social suites.

Here are the strongest fits:

My recommendation for your use case:

Start with Metricool. It’s probably the closest match for a solo creator because it gives you:

• Cross-post scheduling for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, etc.
• Best-performing post tracking
• Follower growth trends
• Engagement comparisons
• Content calendar view
• Competitor/hashtag insights (depending on plan)

A simple workflow:

1. Create/edit videos in your preferred editor.
2. Upload everything to Metricool once or twice per week.
3. Review analytics weekly:
   • Watch time
   • Completion rate
   • Saves/shares
   • Follower conversion
   • Top hooks/topics

If you’re mostly Instagram Reels, I’d consider Later. If you’re mostly YouTube Shorts, I’d use YouTube Studio as the analytics source and pair it with Buffer or Metricool for scheduling.

A couple questions would change the recommendation:

• Which platforms matter most: Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, or all three?
• Are you posting daily, a few times/week, or batching content?

If you're a solo creator and your priorities are:

• Scheduling Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts
• Simple workflow (not an enterprise social media suite)
• Useful growth analytics

then I'd narrow it to these options:

My recommendation

1. Metricool — if growth matters most.

It combines:

• Instagram Reels scheduling
• YouTube Shorts scheduling
• Cross-platform analytics
• Best posting time suggestions
• Follower and engagement tracking
• Competitor tracking (on higher tiers)

It's one of the strongest options for understanding what's actually growing your account rather than just publishing content.

If you want the easiest experience

Buffer is hard to beat.

You get:

• Schedule Reels
• Schedule Shorts
• Calendar view
• Basic performance metrics
• Very little learning curve

If you're posting a few times a week, it's often enough.

If you're posting the same video everywhere

I'd lean toward Metricool or Publer, since they make cross-posting and tracking multiple platforms easier.

What I'd choose based on your goal

• Fastest setup: Buffer
• Best analytics + scheduling: Metricool
• Instagram-heavy creator: Later
• Lowest cost with good features: Publer

For most solo creators trying to grow on both Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, Metricool offers the best balance of scheduling, analytics, and price without feeling overwhelming.

For a solo creator making Reels + Shorts, I’d start with Metricool. It’s probably the best balance of simple scheduling + useful growth analytics without feeling like an enterprise social media suite. It combines a content calendar with performance dashboards, including metrics across platforms like Instagram and YouTube. metricool.com

My shortlist:

My recommendation by creator stage:

• Just starting / posting 3–7 shorts per week: Buffer
• Trying to grow seriously and learn what hooks/topics work: Metricool
• Mostly Instagram Reels + brand visuals: Later

For your specific description (“simple scheduler + growth analytics”), I’d use Metricool and keep it boring:

1. Schedule your Reels/Shorts there.
2. Review weekly:
   • views
   • watch time/retention (from native platforms too)
   • saves/shares
   • followers gained per post
3. Double down on the formats that repeatedly win.

One caveat: for short-form video, the deepest retention data still lives inside the native apps (YouTube Studio and Instagram analytics), so I’d use a scheduler as your operations dashboard, not your only source of truth. metricool.com

If you tell me your platforms (Instagram only vs Instagram + TikTok + YouTube Shorts) and posting volume, I can narrow it to one.

If you're a solo creator, I'd prioritize simplicity over enterprise features. The best tool depends on whether you mainly want scheduling, analytics, or both.

Here's how I'd compare the strongest options:

My recommendations

If you only want one tool:
Metricool is probably the best balance. It lets you:

• Schedule Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts
• View growth trends over time
• Track best posting times
• See which videos perform best
• Monitor follower growth
• Get reports without much setup

It feels designed for creators rather than marketing agencies.

If you just want something dead simple:
Buffer is hard to beat. You'll spend very little time learning it, and it handles scheduling reliably.

If analytics matter more than scheduling:
Metricool offers noticeably deeper insights than Buffer while remaining approachable.

If you're primarily posting Reels + Shorts

The workflow I'd use is:

1. Edit videos.
2. Upload everything into Metricool once a week.
3. Schedule the week's content.
4. Review analytics every Sunday:
   • Average views
   • Watch time/retention (where available)
   • Saves and shares
   • Follower growth
   • Best posting times

That keeps the process lightweight while still giving you enough data to improve.

One note: if you're posting to YouTube Shorts, you should also check YouTube Studio because it provides retention graphs and audience insights that third-party schedulers can't always access.

If you're posting to Instagram, it's worth reviewing Meta Business Suite occasionally since it exposes some native metrics that external tools may not.

If your budget is around $20/month, I'd choose Metricool. If you're aiming to spend under $10/month, I'd lean toward Buffer or Publer, depending on whether you value simplicity or extra features.

For a solo creator focused on Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, I'd prioritize tools that are easy to use over enterprise-level platforms. The best choice depends on whether you care more about scheduling, analytics, or both.

Here's a practical comparison:

If I were choosing today

• Just need simple scheduling: Buffer
• Want scheduling + growth analytics: Metricool
• Instagram is your main platform: Later
• Lowest cost with lots of automation: Publer

For growing Reels and Shorts

The analytics that actually matter are:

• Retention (how long people watch)
• Reach and impressions
• Shares
• Saves (especially on Instagram)
• Watch percentage
• Followers gained per video
• Best posting times

No third-party scheduler has access to every metric available inside Instagram or YouTube Studio, so I recommend this workflow:

• Schedule content with Buffer or Metricool.
• Review deeper performance in Instagram Insights and YouTube Studio once or twice a week.
• Use the scheduler's analytics to spot trends across platforms and monitor consistency.

My recommendation

For a solo creator, I'd recommend Metricool. It hits a sweet spot by combining:

• Reels and Shorts scheduling
• Analytics in one dashboard
• Best-time-to-post suggestions
• Competitor tracking
• Reasonable pricing for a single creator

If you expect to publish fewer than 30 short-form videos per month and mainly want a reliable scheduler with enough analytics to improve over time, Buffer is probably the easiest option. If you're aiming to post daily and want to optimize growth based on data, Metricool is likely the better long-term fit.