The short answer
If the Reel is only going to Instagram, schedule it in the Instagram app. It is free, it is built in, and it reaches further ahead than most tools do. Use a scheduler when the same vertical video should also go out as a TikTok, a YouTube Short or a Facebook Reel, because that is the part Instagram will not do for you.
1. Schedule in the Instagram app
- Create the Reel as usual and tap Next until you reach the caption screen.
- Open Advanced settings (labelled More options on some versions).
- Turn on Schedule this reel and choose a date and time.
- Tap Schedule. It appears under Scheduled content in your profile menu, where you can change the time or delete it.
At the time of writing this needs a professional account (Business or Creator), reaches up to 75 days ahead and allows 25 scheduled posts per day. Those numbers are Instagram's and it does move them, so treat them as current rather than permanent.
2. Schedule from a computer in Meta Business Suite
Meta Business Suite is Meta's free desktop planner. It schedules a Reel to Instagram and to your Facebook Page from one screen, which is useful when you edit on a computer and do not want to move the file to your phone. It stops at Meta: nothing leaves for TikTok or YouTube. The desktop posting guide walks through it.
3. Schedule once for every short-video network
A Reel, a TikTok and a YouTube Short are the same file with three different captions. In SOSPosting you upload the vertical video once, tick the networks, and pick a time. One video can go to up to five: Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Threads. Each gets its own AI-written caption, because a Shorts title and a Reel caption are not the same job.
- How far ahead: up to 60 days. That is less than Instagram's own 75, so for a single far-off Reel the app wins.
- What it costs: 5 tokens per network for a video, plus 7 once if you want the captions written for you. A Reel sent to Instagram alone with an AI caption is 12 tokens.
- What it needs: an Instagram professional account linked to a Facebook Page. The setup guide covers it in about ten minutes.
- What it does not do: Stories, and Instagram-only editing features such as trending audio picked in the app. Add those in Instagram itself.
Which should you use?
- One Reel, Instagram only: the Instagram app.
- Instagram and Facebook, from a desktop: Meta Business Suite.
- The same video on TikTok or Shorts as well: a cross-posting scheduler. See how Reels and TikTok go out together.
Frequently asked questions
Can you schedule Instagram Reels without a third-party app?
Yes. Instagram's own app schedules Reels for professional accounts: create the Reel, open Advanced settings before sharing, turn on scheduling and pick a time. Meta Business Suite does the same from a desktop browser.
How far in advance can you schedule a Reel?
Instagram's built-in scheduler goes up to 75 days ahead at the time of writing. SOSPosting schedules up to 60 days ahead.
Do I need a Business account to schedule Reels?
You need a professional account, which means Business or Creator. Switching from a personal account is free in the Instagram app and keeps your followers and posts. A publishing tool additionally needs that account linked to a Facebook Page.
Can SOSPosting schedule Instagram Stories?
No. SOSPosting publishes Instagram feed photos, carousels and Reels. Stories are not supported.