Scheduling
Postlane can queue posts through a scheduling provider so they go out at the right time rather than immediately on approval.
How it works
Approvals happen in the Postlane desktop app -- open the app, review the draft, and click Approve. After you approve, Postlane hands the post to your connected provider with a scheduled time. The provider delivers it to the social network. You can close the desktop app after approving; the provider's server handles delivery at the scheduled time.
Postlane never holds social platform credentials -- it only passes the post content and time to the provider via their API.
Providers
| Provider | Free tier | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Zernio | See zernio.io | All users -- recommended starting point |
| Publer | 10 posts/month | Teams already using Publer |
| Outstand | 1,000 posts free | Pay-per-use after free tier |
| Buffer | 10 posts across 3 channels | Existing Buffer users |
| Ayrshare | None ($29/month) | Existing Ayrshare users |
| Substack Notes | Free | Substack publishers (immediate only) |
| Webhook | Depends on automation platform | Custom automation via Zapier or Make |
If you are starting fresh, choose Zernio -- it supports the widest range of platforms and has a straightforward API key setup.
Making the most of free tiers
Most providers offer a free tier -- enough to get started without a paid subscription:
- Zernio -- free tier available (see zernio.io for current details)
- Publer -- 10 posts/month
- Outstand -- 1,000 posts included, then $0.01/post
- Buffer -- 10 posts across 3 channels
- Zapier / Make (webhook) -- 100 tasks/month (Zapier) or 1,000 operations/month (Make)
Postlane's fallback chain automatically switches to your next configured provider when one hits its limit. By connecting two or three providers in a fallback chain, you can combine their free tiers and post more without paying -- Postlane handles the switching automatically.
For consistent daily posting or production use, a paid plan at your primary provider removes rate limits and ensures reliable delivery. Even then, keeping a free-tier provider as a fallback is a useful safety net.
Connecting a provider
The first time you open Postlane, the onboarding wizard walks you through connecting a provider. To add or change providers later:
- Go to Settings → Scheduler in the desktop app
- Click Add provider and select one from the list
- Enter the API key and click Test connection
Advanced
- Fallback Chain -- automatically try a second provider when your primary fails or hits its limit
- Per-repo Scheduler -- use a different provider or account for a specific repository