The 10 Essential Tools Every Social Media Manager Needs in 2026
Social media managers wear many hats: creator, strategist, editor, community manager, analyst, and sometimes even designer. The right tools help you move faster and smarter.
Here are the 10 must-have tools every social media manager should have in their tech stack.
1. Rella — For Planning, Scheduling & Team Collaboration
A content calendar built for modern social media teams.
Why It’s Essential:
Collaborative content planning
Approval workflows
Multi-platform scheduling
Performance analytics
A clean, visual calendar your whole team can use
2. Google Workspace or Notion — For Documentation & Planning
From brainstorm notes to content briefs, these tools keep everything organized.
Use Cases:
Storing content ideas
Drafting scripts
Managing project timelines
Keeping brand guidelines in one place
3. Canva — For Quick Graphics
The go-to design tool for social media content.
Why Social Media Managers Love It:
Thousands of templates
Collaboration options
Brand kits
Multi-platform export sizes
4. CapCut or Adobe Express — For Video Editing
Short-form video editing is non-negotiable.
Why It Matters:
Trend-friendly templates
Desktop + mobile options
Auto captions
Easy transitions
5. Metricool
Get all your performance insights in one place.
Key Features:
Social analytics
Competitor analysis
Automated reports
Web traffic insights
6. Native Social Insights — For Platform-Specific Metrics
Even with third-party analytics, native dashboards matter.
Check Out:
Instagram Insights
TikTok Analytics
YouTube Studio
Facebook Creator Studio
7. Sprout Social or Brandwatch — For Social Listening
For teams who want data on sentiment, conversations, and competitors.
Great For:
Large teams
Agencies
Brands tracking campaigns at scale
8. Tidio, Zendesk, or Intercom — For Community Management
Streamline engagement, DMs, and customer support.
Benefits:
Unified inboxes
Faster response times
Automations
9. Virtual Communities
Every great social media manager learns from other SMMs.
Popular Spaces:
Subreddit: r/socialmedia
Substack: Link in Bio by Rachel Karten
Discord: Buffer Community
10. ChatGPT — For Ideation, Captions & Repurposing
Your always-on creative partner.
How SMMs Use It:
Caption ideas
Repurposing long-form content
Research
Brainstorming
With the right tools, you can streamline your workflow, boost performance, and save hours each week. If you’re looking to bring everything into one place—from planning to scheduling to reporting—Rella is the modern solution built for social teams.
Start using Rella today and make 2026 your most successful social media year yet!
