10 Social Media Tools Marketers Swear By
From AI-enabled video-editing software to trend-monitoring agents, these are the tools helping brands win on social.
In today’s digital landscape, maintaining a strong social media presence isn’t optional—it’s essential. But building and managing that presence? Not always easy. Fortunately, the booming creator economy has brought a wave of smart, AI-powered tools that help marketers and brands stay competitive without burning out.
As Alexandra Bernstein, social media director at NYC-based agency Moburst, puts it: Think of your toolkit as an *ecosystem*, not a single silver bullet. To help you build yours, *Inc.* asked 10 social media pros to share their go-to tools right now. Here’s what they’re using—and why.
**1. Veed – For Effortless Video Editing**
Maria LaMagna Morales (Press Publish Studio) used to dread video editing—until she found **Veed**. Its AI lets you edit by simply describing what you want, cut clips by deleting transcript lines, or auto-generate B-roll. “It’s cut down my editing time—and frustration—drastically,” she says.
*Pricing:* Free plan available | Lite: $216/yr | Pro: $408/yr
**2. Short.io – For Clean, Branded Link Shortening**
Michael Borntreger (SonShine Roofing) swears by **Short.io** for tidy, trackable links. Unlike pricier options like Bitly, it’s perfectly scaled for small businesses. “If only 10 people click my link, I shouldn’t pay $200/month to track it,” he notes.
*Pricing:* Free plan | Hobby: $50/yr | Pro: $180/yr | Team: $480/yr
**3. Opus Clip – For Turning Long Videos into Viral Snippets**
Lauren Patterson (That Random Agency) uses **Opus Clip** to slice long-form content into punchy, platform-optimized clips—complete with AI-generated hooks and smart reframing (like zooming in on faces for Reels).
*Pricing:* Free plan | Starter: $180/yr | Pro: $348/yr (discounts during Cyber Month)
**4. Nano Banana – For Instant Product Lifestyle Photos**
Need product shots fast? Bernstein uses **Nano Banana** to drop a single product image into dozens of realistic lifestyle scenes—no photoshoot required. Great for clients short on visuals but big on vision.
*Pricing:* Free plan | Basic: $144/yr | Pro: $234/yr | Max: $960/yr
**5. Later – For Sleek Link-in-Bio Grids**
Arleishia Phifer (Moosylvania) loves **Later** not just for scheduling, but for its link-in-bio tool. She builds clickable photo grids that mirror a brand’s feed, making content navigation seamless.
*Pricing:* No free plan | Starter: $225/yr | Growth: $450/yr | Scale: $990/yr
**6. Premiere Pro Mobile – For On-the-Go Editing**
After CapCut’s controversial policy shift, Sara Hunt (Moosylvania) switched to Adobe’s new **Premiere Pro mobile app**. It’s not as robust as desktop, but perfect for quick, brand-safe edits on lifestyle content.
*Pricing:* Free plan | Pro: $69.99/yr
**7. Figma – For Cross-Platform Campaign Planning**
McKenna Schroter (Gleam Connections) uses **Figma** like a visual command center. Whether launching a wine or a webinar, she storyboards websites, emails, and social posts—all in one view.
*Pricing:* Free plan | Pro: $36–$192/yr | Organization & Enterprise: $60–$1,080/yr
**8. Canva – For Everyday Design in Minutes**
Julia Prieto (Source86) calls **Canva** her “jack-of-all-trades.” From resizing images to adding subtle animations, it handles daily design needs fast—no pro designer required. “For complex stuff, you’ll still need a specialist. But for 90% of posts? Ten minutes in Canva does it.”
*Pricing:* Free plan | Pro: $120/yr | Business: $200/yr
**9. Instories – For Eye-Catching Instagram Stories**
Claudia Comtois (Alchemi Media) uses **Instories** to create playful, high-impact Stories on a budget. Think fake Times Square billboards or giant beauty products—all made with templates and AI, right from her phone. “You used to need a designer for this. Now? Just your fingers.”
*Pricing:* Free plan | Pro: $120/yr
**10. Custom AI Agents – For Real-Time Trend Alerts**
Kate Gardin (DS+CO) built her own “social media intern” using **ChatGPT**. She trained it to scan for emerging trends, send daily digests, and flag opportunities—like the viral “6-7” trend—before her team missed the moment. “It saved us from that panic of being late to the party.”
*Pricing (ChatGPT):* Free plan | Plus: $240/yr | Pro: $2,400/yr
No single tool does it all—but the right combo can transform your workflow. Start with your biggest pain point (editing? design? scheduling?), test a few options, and build your own ecosystem, one smart tool at a time.