Pinterest is a visual search engine, and for creators and businesses, it’s a goldmine of traffic. But growing your account can feel like a slow grind. You’ve probably tried the obvious tactics—posting regularly, using pretty images, and joining group boards. Yet, there’s a whole ecosystem of lesser-known tools that can supercharge your growth, save you hours, and help you reach new audiences. These aren’t the big names you see everywhere; they’re the hidden gems that early adopters swear by. In this guide, we’ll dive into 15 underrated tools that can transform your Pinterest strategy, from scheduling and analytics to design and automation.
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Why Hidden Gems Matter for Your Pinterest Growth
Mainstream tools like Tailwind and Canva are great, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Hidden gems often offer unique features that solve specific pain points—like finding the best time to post, automating your evergreen content, or discovering niche group boards. They can also be more affordable or even free, making them ideal for small businesses and solo creators. By leveraging these underdogs, you can gain an edge over competitors who stick to the basics. Plus, using a variety of tools helps you diversify your strategy and avoid dependency on one platform. Ready to uncover these hidden treasures? Let’s dive in.
1. Tailwind : The Scheduling Powerhouse You’re Probably Overlooking
What it is: A comprehensive scheduling and analytics tool designed specifically for Pinterest and Instagram.
Category: Scheduling & Analytics
Why it stands out: Tailwind’s SmartSchedule feature automatically picks the best times to post based on your audience’s activity, boosting engagement without manual guesswork. Its browser extension lets you schedule pins directly from any website, and the visual planner makes it easy to manage your board aesthetics. You can also see detailed analytics on pin performance, helping you refine your strategy.
Best for: Creators and businesses who want to save time and maximize reach with data-driven scheduling.
2. Canva : Design Stunning Pins Without a Designer
What it is: A free graphic design platform with thousands of Pinterest-specific templates.
Category: Design
Why it stands out: Canva offers a dedicated Pinterest template library, allowing you to create eye-catching pins in minutes. Its drag-and-drop editor is intuitive, and you can customize fonts, colors, and images to match your brand. The magic resize tool instantly adapts your design for different pin dimensions, saving you from manual adjustments.
Best for: Non-designers who need professional-looking pins quickly and affordably.
3. PinGroupie : Find Niche Group Boards That Actually Work
What it is: A search engine for Pinterest group boards, helping you discover communities in your niche.
Category: Community & Networking
Why it stands out: PinGroupie lets you search for group boards by keyword, showing you the board’s popularity, number of contributors, and recent activity. You can filter by size and engagement, making it easy to find boards that will give your pins real exposure. It also shows you which boards your competitors are on, giving you a strategic advantage.
Best for: Growing your reach by joining active group boards in your niche.
4. BoardBooster : Automate Your Pinning with Advanced Features
What it is: A Pinterest automation tool that offers smart scheduling, loop linking, and campaign management.
Category: Automation
Why it stands out: BoardBooster’s ‘Loop’ feature automatically re-pins your content to different boards at set intervals, keeping your content fresh without manual effort. It also has a ‘Campaign’ feature that lets you pin a batch of pins to multiple boards with a single click. The ‘Scheduler’ allows you to queue pins for the best times, and the analytics provide insights into your best-performing content.
Best for: Users who want to automate their pinning process and maintain a consistent presence.
5. ViralTag : Automate Your Visual Content Across Platforms
What it is: A social media automation tool that focuses on visual content scheduling and reposting.
Category: Automation
Why it stands out: ViralTag lets you schedule pins, Instagram posts, and even Twitter images from a single dashboard. Its ‘Repost’ feature allows you to recycle your evergeen content automatically, ensuring your best pins get seen again and again. It also integrates with Google Analytics to track traffic from your pins.
Best for: Marketers who want to manage multiple visual platforms efficiently.
6. Pinalytics : Dive Deep into Your Pinterest Analytics
What it is: A third-party analytics tool that provides advanced insights beyond Pinterest’s native analytics.
Category: Analytics
Why it stands out: Pinalytics offers detailed reports on your pins, boards, and followers, including engagement rates, click-through rates, and viral potential. It also tracks your competitors’ performance, allowing you to benchmark your growth. The tool provides actionable recommendations to improve your content strategy.
Best for: Data-driven marketers who want granular insights into their Pinterest performance.
7. Tailwind Communities : Find and Join Niche Tribes for More Visibility
What it is: A feature within Tailwind that connects you with other creators in your niche for collaborative pinning.
Category: Community & Networking
Why it stands out: Tailwind Communities (formerly Tribes) lets you join niche-specific groups where members share each other’s content. By participating, you can get your pins in front of a new audience and gain more repins. It’s a win-win because you also share others’ content, building relationships and reciprocity.
Best for: Growing your reach through collaboration and community support.
8. Pinterest Trends : Ride the Wave of Popular Topics
What it is: Pinterest’s official trend tool that shows you what’s currently popular on the platform.
Category: Research
Why it stands out: This free tool lets you search for keywords and see their popularity over time, filter by category and region, and discover rising trends. You can use this data to create content that aligns with what people are searching for right now, giving you a higher chance of being seen.
Best for: Content creators who want to stay ahead of the curve and create timely pins.
9. Unum : Plan Your Pinterest Aesthetic Like a Pro
What it is: A visual planning app that helps you design a cohesive feed for your social media profiles.
Category: Design & Planning
Why it stands out: Unum allows you to upload your pins and rearrange them in a grid to see how your profile looks as a whole. This is perfect for maintaining a consistent brand aesthetic. You can also schedule posts directly to Pinterest and other platforms, and it offers analytics on your best-performing content.
Best for: Brands and influencers who care about visual consistency and planning.
10. Buffer : Simple Scheduling for Busy Creators
What it is: A social media management tool that simplifies scheduling and publishing.
Category: Scheduling
Why it stands out: Buffer’s clean interface makes it easy to schedule pins in bulk, and it offers a browser extension for quick pinning. Its analytics provide clear insights into engagement, and the free plan is generous for small accounts. It also supports multiple social networks, making it a versatile tool.
Best for: Beginners and small businesses that need a straightforward scheduling solution.
11. Later : Visual Scheduling with a Focus on Instagram
What it is: A visual content scheduler that also supports Pinterest.
Category: Scheduling
Why it stands out: Later’s drag-and-drop calendar allows you to visually plan your pins, and its ‘Best Time to Post’ feature suggests optimal times based on your audience. It also has a ‘Linkin.bio’ feature that turns your Pinterest profile into a mini landing page, driving traffic to your website.
Best for: Creators who want a visually appealing scheduler with cross-platform support.
12. Preview App : Plan Your Pinterest Grid on Mobile
What it is: A mobile app for planning and scheduling your social media content.
Category: Mobile Planning
Why it stands out: Preview lets you arrange your pins in a grid to see your profile’s overall look, just like Unum, but it’s mobile-first. You can schedule posts directly from your phone, and it offers analytics to track your growth. The app is free to use with optional in-app purchases.
Best for: On-the-go creators who want to manage their Pinterest from their smartphone.
13. Tailwind SmartLoop : Automatically Repin Your Best Content
What it is: A feature within Tailwind that automatically reshuffles and repins your evergreen content.
Category: Automation
Why it stands out: SmartLoop allows you to create a ‘loop’ of your top pins and automatically repin them to your boards at intervals. This ensures your best content is always being shown to new audiences without you having to manually repin. It’s a set-and-forget solution that keeps your profile active.
Best for: Maximizing the lifespan of your evergreen content.
14. Pinterest Lens : Discover Content Through Visual Search
What it is: Pinterest’s visual search tool that lets you find pins based on images.
Category: Research & Discovery
Why it stands out: With Pinterest Lens, you can take a photo of an object or use an existing image to find related pins. This is useful for researching trends, finding inspiration, and even identifying products. For creators, it can help you understand what visual styles are popular and what users are searching for.
Best for: Creators who want to tap into visual search trends and find content ideas.
15. Pexels : Free Stock Photos That Boost Your Pin Appeal
What it is: A stock photo website offering high-quality, free images and videos.
Category: Resources
Why it stands out: Pexels provides a vast library of high-resolution images that are perfect for creating Pinterest pins. Unlike other stock sites, all images are free to use without attribution, and they’re curated to be visually appealing. You can search by category or keyword, making it easy to find the perfect image for your content.
Best for: Creators who need professional visuals for their pins without breaking the bank.
Bonus Mentions
Canva : The Ultimate Design Companion
While Canva made our main list, it deserves a bonus mention for its sheer versatility. It’s not just for pins—you can create infographics, ebooks, and social media graphics, all of which can drive Pinterest traffic.
Pinterest Analytics : Native Insights You Shouldn’t Ignore
Don’t overlook Pinterest’s own analytics. It provides data on impressions, saves, and clicks, helping you understand what resonates with your audience. Use it alongside third-party tools for a complete picture.
Keywords Everywhere : Uncover Hidden Keyword Opportunities
This browser extension shows you search volume, competition, and related keywords for any search term, including on Pinterest. It’s a great way to discover long-tail keywords to target in your pin descriptions.
Google Trends : Spot Rising Topics Before They Peak
Google Trends can be a goldmine for Pinterest content ideas. By comparing search terms, you can identify rising topics in your niche and create pins that capitalize on them early.
Awario : Monitor Brand Mentions and Trends
Awario is a social listening tool that tracks mentions of your brand or keywords across the web, including Pinterest. It can help you understand what people are saying about your niche and find opportunities to join conversations.
Your Next Steps
These hidden gems are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Pinterest growth. By incorporating even a few of these tools into your workflow, you can save time, gain insights, and reach a wider audience. Start with one or two that resonate with your current needs, and gradually build your toolkit. Remember, the key is not to get overwhelmed but to experiment and find what works for you. What’s your favorite underrated Pinterest tool? Share it in the comments below!