Not every content marketing team needs the full suite or the cost of what Contently offers. If your focus is on freelance talent, scheduling, or distribution, you have options. Several Contently alternatives provide greater flexibility and stronger ROI.
Why Look Beyond Contently?
Contently is well-known for offering an all-in-one platform combining enterprise-grade content strategy, access to vetted freelancers, and built-in workflow tools. For large organizations with complex content needs, it’s a robust solution that centralizes production and streamlines the approval process. 
But it’s not the right fit for everyone.
Smaller or more agile teams may find Contently’s enterprise focus too rigid or costly for their needs. While the platform’s features are robust, they can be more than some teams need. If your focus is just on freelance management or scheduling, it may be more than necessary.
For example, mid-sized SaaS companies may only need help managing freelance contributors and reviewing drafts, not an end-to-end agency model. In that case, a streamlined platform with strong editorial workflows and transparent pricing would be a better fit.
Others may prefer a modular approach, assembling a tech stack using best-in-breed tools for each stage of the content lifecycle. The priority might be cost savings, added flexibility, or tighter control over the process. In any case, many content marketing teams are opting for Contently alternatives that better align with their needs.
👉 To see a detailed comparison, check out this post: nDash vs. Contently
Best Contently Alternatives for Different Needs
Contently offers an integrated solution for enterprise content marketing. However, many teams prefer a modular setup with specialized platforms for freelance sourcing, editorial planning, or distribution. Below are some of the best Contently alternatives, each tailored to a specific use case.
For Access to Elite Freelance Writers: nDash
Ideal for: Content marketing managers who want high-quality writing support without agency overhead.
nDash is a content creation platform that connects brands with experienced freelance writers across a wide range of industries. It’s designed to streamline every stage of content production from ideation to approval, without the overhead typically associated with a traditional agency.
Here’s what makes nDash stand out from other Contently alternatives:
- Direct writer engagement: Brands can pitch writers directly instead of relying on anonymous marketplaces. This creates stronger partnerships and better alignment with your voice and goals.
- Niche talent discovery: You can search and filter writers by industry, subject matter expertise, and content type. These filters make it easy to build a bench of specialists tailored to your strategy.
- Integrated workflow tools: Build and share detailed content briefs, review writer pitches, and manage draft approvals all from a single, intuitive platform.
- Popular integrations: nDash seamlessly connects with key tools, including HubSpot, WordPress, Google Drive, Google Ads, Google Search, and Google Analytics. These integrations make it easy to plug into your existing marketing ecosystem.
- Transparent pricing: There are no hidden fees or markup on writer rates. What you pay goes directly to the writer, giving you complete control over your budget.
- Strategic editorial guidance: For brands on the managed services plan, nDash also provides access to a dedicated Managing Editor who oversees assignments, enforces editorial standards, and ensures consistent quality across all deliverables.
- Long-term value: Unlike project-based marketplaces, nDash fosters ongoing relationships with freelancers, leading to higher-quality output and greater brand consistency over time.
👉 Learn more about nDash’s services here: Content Creation Services | www.nDash.com
For Editorial Calendars and Workflows: CoSchedule
Ideal for: Small to mid-sized teams looking to streamline collaboration and maintain a consistent publishing schedule.
CoSchedule provides a comprehensive marketing calendar that enables teams to plan, schedule, and execute their content strategy effectively. With drag-and-drop task management and integrations with tools like WordPress and HubSpot, it keeps content efforts organized and on track.
Here’s how CoSchedule supports efficient and strategic content operations:
- Centralized calendar visibility: Manage blog posts, social campaigns, email marketing, and internal content projects from one unified calendar. This view enables better coordination across departments and reduces content gaps.
- Collaborative task management: Assign tasks, set deadlines, and monitor progress in real time, ensuring that teams stay aligned throughout the production cycle.
- Marketing suite integration: It seamlessly connects with tools like WordPress, HubSpot, Mailchimp, and Google Analytics, enabling teams to execute campaigns without switching platforms.
- Workflow automation features: Automate routine publishing tasks, approval requests, and social media posting. This automation frees up time for higher-level strategy and reduces the risk of missed deadlines.
- Campaign performance tracking: Monitor performance metrics directly within the platform to quickly identify what’s working and make data-informed decisions on future campaigns.
- Reusable templates and content planning frameworks: Save time by applying proven workflows and templates for recurring campaign types, such as webinars, newsletters, or product launches.
👉 Many teams struggle to keep content quality high as they scale. See strategies for scaling production and improving approval workflows here: Overcoming Roadblocks in Scaling Content Production – nDash.com
For Enterprise Content Distribution: Sprinklr
Ideal for: Large brands that need robust distribution and customer experience tools across global markets.
Sprinklr is a comprehensive platform built for large-scale content distribution, social media management, and customer engagement. It enables enterprises to publish across dozens of channels simultaneously, while also providing deep insights through advanced social listening and analytics.
Here’s why Sprinklr stands out for global content marketing teams:
Omnichannel publishing at scale: Manage and distribute content across major platforms, including Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, X (Twitter), YouTube, and more from a single interface. This ensures consistent messaging and faster execution across regions.- Real-time social listening: Monitor brand mentions, competitor activity, and industry trends in real time to shape messaging and respond proactively to market shifts.
- Customer experience management: Engage with audiences across social, email, messaging apps, and customer service channels. Sprinklr helps unify marketing and customer support touchpoints, enabling a more consistent brand experience across all channels.
- Advanced analytics and reporting: Access enterprise-grade performance dashboards that track campaign success, customer sentiment, and channel engagement. These insights help CMOs and content leads tie content performance directly to business outcomes.
- Governance and compliance controls: Establish workflows, user permissions, and approval hierarchies to ensure brand consistency and regulatory compliance across large or distributed teams.
- AI-powered content insights: Use built-in AI to identify top-performing content types, recommend optimal posting times, and generate insights into audience behavior and preferences.
👉 For a deeper dive into freelance-first content strategies, check out this blog post: The Rise of the Fractional Content Team: Why Freelancer Writers Are a Strategic Advantage
How Content Marketing Teams Can Optimize Their Tech Stack
Choosing the right tools starts with understanding your team’s unique needs. For some, an all-in-one platform like Contently may offer the convenience of centralized strategy, creation, and distribution. For others, especially those with tighter budgets or specialized workflows, a modular approach often yields a better ROI.
Start by auditing your content lifecycle from strategy development to content creation, review, publishing, distribution, and performance measurement.
Where are the bottlenecks?- Do you struggle with sourcing quality writers, coordinating calendars, or analyzing results?
Once you’ve identified the gaps, the next step is to find tools that address those specific challenges. Contently alternatives, such as nDash (for freelance sourcing), CoSchedule (for planning and workflow), and Sprinklr (for distribution and engagement), each serve a distinct purpose. Together, they enable teams to build a tech stack tailored to their exact needs.
A sample modular content stack might look like:
- Freelance sourcing: nDash
- Planning & editorial workflows: CoSchedule
- Social media distribution: Sprinklr
- Performance analytics: Google Analytics + Semrush
Whenever possible, take advantage of free trials and demos. Trying out tools in your actual workflow lets you see what works and ensures your tech stack fits your team’s needs, not the other way around.
👉 Learn more about how teams can scale production and track performance: Increase Content Volume and Streamline Production – nDash.com
Contently Alternatives That Help Teams Work Smarter
Contently alternatives, such as nDash, CoSchedule, and Sprinklr, empower content marketing teams to do more with less. They offer flexible, focused solutions without the high price tag. Whether you’re leaning toward an all-in-one solution or building a modular stack, the right decision depends on your team’s priorities and scale.
Still evaluating the best way to scale your content program efficiently?
Download our free eBook, An Enterprise Marketer’s Guide to Scaling Content in 2025. Discover which model best supports your goals and how platforms like nDash can help you scale smarter.