Updated: March 2026
12 Best LinkedIn Carousel Makers in 2026 (Free & Paid, Tested)
LinkedIn carousels generate up to 3x more reach than standard text posts, making them one of the highest-performing content formats on the platform. But creating them slide by slide in a design tool is a time sink. The right carousel maker can cut production from an hour to under five minutes.
We tested 12 LinkedIn carousel makers and ranked them on AI capability, design flexibility, scheduling, analytics, and team workflows. Whether you need a free tool to get started or an AI-powered platform to scale output, this guide has you covered.
Editor's pick: Postiv.ai is the only tool that combines AI writing, brand-aware design, scheduling, and analytics in one place.
Back to the LinkedIn Carousel Guide
What to Look for in a LinkedIn Carousel Maker
Before diving into specific tools, here is what separates a good carousel maker from a great one:
- AI content generation — Can the tool write hooks, slide copy, and CTAs from a prompt or URL?
- Design automation — Does it apply brand colors, fonts, and layouts automatically?
- LinkedIn-specific output — Does it export at the correct carousel dimensions (1080x1080 or 1080x1350) as PDF? See our LinkedIn carousel size guide for the full spec.
- Scheduling and publishing — Can you schedule directly to LinkedIn without leaving the tool?
- Analytics — Does it track impressions, engagement, and swipe-through rates?
- Team collaboration — Are there approval workflows, shared brand kits, and multi-seat access?
Comparison Table
| Rank | Tool | Best for | AI content | Scheduling | Free plan | Pricing (from) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Postiv.ai | Teams & power creators | Yes (copy + design) | Yes | Free trial | $29/mo |
| 2 | Canva | Designers needing full control | Limited | No | Yes | Free / $12.99/mo Pro |
| 3 | Taplio | Solo creators focused on copy | Yes (copy only) | Yes | No | $39/mo |
| 4 | PostNitro | Quick AI-generated carousels | Yes (copy + design) | No | Yes (limited) | $12/mo |
| 5 | Simplified | Small teams experimenting with AI | Yes | Yes | Yes (limited) | $24/mo |
| 6 | aiCarousels | Fast free carousel creation | Yes | No | Yes | Free / $9.99/mo |
| 7 | Figma | Agencies building custom systems | No | No | Yes (limited) | Free / $12/mo |
| 8 | Beautiful.ai | Pitch-style storytelling | Partial | No | No | $12/mo |
| 9 | Contentdrips | Text-first LinkedIn carousels | Yes (copy) | Yes | Yes (limited) | $19/mo |
| 10 | Visme | Marketing teams needing variety | Partial | No | Yes (limited) | $12.25/mo |
| 11 | Piktochart | Infographic-style carousels | Partial | No | Yes (limited) | $14/mo |
| 12 | Google Slides + plugins | Budget-conscious teams | No | No | Yes | Free |
Deep Dives
1. Postiv.ai (Best Overall)
- Why we love it: The Postiv LinkedIn carousel generator writes hooks, slides, CTAs, and captions, then designs on-brand layouts automatically. You go from a topic or URL to a publish-ready carousel in under five minutes.
- Key features: Brand kits, approval workflows, scheduling across personal + company profiles, analytics (impressions, saves, clicks, signups), multi-language support.
- Pricing: Starts at $29/mo (annual). Volume pricing for teams and agencies.
- Ideal for: Marketing, sales, and founder teams posting 2+ carousels per week.
- CTA: Try Postiv.ai free.
2. Canva
- Strengths: Huge template library (940+ carousel templates), collaborative editing, drag-and-drop interface.
- Limitations: No AI copywriting tuned for LinkedIn, manual exports, no native scheduling or analytics.
- Pricing: Free tier available. Pro at $12.99/mo.
- Use it when: You need bespoke visuals or heavy illustration. For a deeper comparison, see our Canva LinkedIn carousel alternative breakdown.
3. Taplio
- Strengths: AI copy generation for LinkedIn posts, scheduling, analytics dashboards, viral content library for inspiration.
- Limitations: Carousels are basic image uploads; you still build slides elsewhere.
- Pricing: Starts at $39/mo.
- Use it when: You are a solo creator prioritising text posts but dabble in carousels.
If you are evaluating Taplio specifically, check out our in-depth comparison of the best Taplio alternatives to see how it stacks up against dedicated carousel tools. Coming from Kleo instead? Our Kleo alternatives guide compares 10 tools with carousel design support.
4. PostNitro
- Strengths: AI generates full carousels from a prompt, URL, or pasted text. Strong brand kit features and a library of professional templates.
- Limitations: No built-in scheduling or LinkedIn publishing. Limited analytics.
- Pricing: Free plan available. Paid plans from $12/mo.
- Use it when: You want fast AI carousel generation and are happy to publish manually or through another scheduler.
5. Simplified
- Strengths: AI templates for multiple formats, built-in scheduler, team collaboration features.
- Limitations: Carousel templates feel generic and require manual edits. Analytics are lightweight.
- Pricing: Free tier available. Paid from $24/mo.
6. aiCarousels
- Strengths: Fast, lightweight carousel creation with AI. No sign-up required for basic use. Supports LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok formats.
- Limitations: Limited design customisation. No scheduling, analytics, or team features.
- Pricing: Free tier available. Pro from $9.99/mo.
- Use it when: You need a quick, free carousel and do not need scheduling or brand consistency.
7. Figma
- Strengths: Ultimate control, components, and collaboration for design teams. Shared libraries keep branding consistent.
- Limitations: Manual copywriting, export, and posting. Use together with Postiv.ai for copy + scheduling.
- Pricing: Free tier for individuals. Team plans from $12/mo per editor.
8. Beautiful.ai
- Strengths: Smart layouts that auto-adjust, enterprise-ready analytics.
- Limitations: Built for presentations; exports need resizing to fit LinkedIn specs.
- Pricing: From $12/mo.
9. Contentdrips
- Strengths: Text-first approach to LinkedIn carousel creation. Built-in templates designed specifically for LinkedIn's format. Scheduling included.
- Limitations: Design options are more limited than Canva or Figma. Less powerful AI than Postiv.ai.
- Pricing: Free plan available. Paid from $19/mo.
- Use it when: You prefer starting from text and want a fast path to a clean LinkedIn carousel.
10. Visme
- Strengths: Data visualisation, infographics, template variety. If infographic-style visuals are your primary focus, see our dedicated LinkedIn infographic maker comparison.
- Limitations: Interface feels dated; some exports lose crispness.
- Pricing: Free tier. Paid from $12.25/mo.
11. Piktochart
- Strengths: Strong infographic and data-driven templates. AI-assisted design suggestions. Clean, professional output.
- Limitations: Not purpose-built for LinkedIn carousels. Limited carousel-specific templates. No scheduling.
- Pricing: Free tier available. Paid from $14/mo.
- Use it when: Your carousels lean heavily on charts, data, and infographic layouts.
12. Google Slides (+ plugins)
- Strengths: Free, accessible, easy collaboration. Works offline.
- Limitations: Requires custom templates, manual design, and PDF export. No AI, scheduling, or analytics.
Pricing Comparison
| Tool | Free plan | Starter price | Best value feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postiv.ai | Free trial | $29/mo | All-in-one: AI + design + scheduling + analytics |
| Canva | Yes | $12.99/mo (Pro) | Template library depth |
| Taplio | No | $39/mo | LinkedIn-specific analytics |
| PostNitro | Yes (limited) | $12/mo | Fast AI generation |
| Simplified | Yes (limited) | $24/mo | Multi-format scheduling |
| aiCarousels | Yes | $9.99/mo | No sign-up required |
| Figma | Yes (limited) | $12/mo | Pixel-perfect design control |
| Beautiful.ai | No | $12/mo | Smart auto-layouts |
| Contentdrips | Yes (limited) | $19/mo | Text-first LinkedIn focus |
| Visme | Yes (limited) | $12.25/mo | Data visualisation |
| Piktochart | Yes (limited) | $14/mo | Infographic templates |
| Google Slides | Yes | Free | Zero cost |
Evaluation Criteria
- Creation speed — How quickly can you go from idea to publish-ready carousel?
- AI assistance — Does the tool write copy, design slides, or both?
- Brand governance — Are brand kits, approvals, and version history supported?
- Publishing workflow — Can you schedule, collaborate, and analyse performance in one place?
- Pricing & scalability — Is it affordable for individuals and teams alike?
Postiv.ai ranked highest on all five criteria, while other tools specialise in subsets of the workflow.
Stack Recommendations
| Scenario | Recommended stack |
|---|---|
| Solo creator scaling output | Postiv.ai + Taplio (for audience analytics) |
| B2B marketing team | Postiv.ai as core, Figma for advanced visuals |
| Agency serving multiple clients | Postiv.ai (multi-workspace) + Canva for client-specific art |
| Budget-conscious startup | Postiv.ai starter plan + Google Slides for legacy assets |
| Data-heavy content teams | Postiv.ai + Piktochart for infographic carousels |
CTA: Build Your Stack Around Postiv.ai
- Generate, design, and schedule carousels from one dashboard.
- Share templates and analytics with clients or stakeholders.
- Start with a free trial and see results in your first week.
FAQs
What makes Postiv.ai different from other AI tools?
Postiv.ai was built specifically for LinkedIn carousels and documents. It understands slide structure, brand rules, and CTA strategy, then schedules and tracks performance automatically.
Can I use multiple tools together?
Yes. Many teams pair Postiv.ai with Figma or Canva for bespoke visuals, then bring slides back into Postiv.ai for copy, CTA, scheduling, and analytics.
Are there free carousel makers worth trying?
Canva's free tier works for manual design, aiCarousels requires no sign-up, and Google Slides is free if you create templates yourself. Postiv.ai includes a free trial so you can test AI-powered workflows without committing.
Which tool is best for agencies?
Postiv.ai's workspace management, approval flows, and analytics dashboards make it ideal. Pair with Figma or Canva when clients demand custom branding elements.
Do these tools support other platforms?
Most do. Postiv.ai focuses on LinkedIn first but exports assets for Instagram, Pinterest, and email. Canva and Figma are multi-platform by default.
Is there a free AI LinkedIn carousel generator?
Yes. Postiv.ai offers a free trial with full AI carousel generation. aiCarousels provides a free tier with basic AI features. For fully manual (non-AI) options, Canva's free plan and Google Slides work but require significantly more time per carousel.
What is the best LinkedIn carousel maker app for beginners?
For beginners, Postiv.ai is the easiest path because its AI handles copywriting, design, and formatting in one step. Canva is a good alternative if you prefer hands-on design with drag-and-drop templates. Both run entirely online with no software to download.
What size should a LinkedIn carousel be?
LinkedIn carousels should be 1080x1080 pixels (square) or 1080x1350 pixels (portrait) and exported as PDF. Most carousel makers on this list handle sizing automatically. For the full spec, read our LinkedIn carousel size guide.
How long does it take to make a LinkedIn carousel?
AI carousel makers like Postiv.ai can produce a publish-ready carousel in under five minutes from a single prompt. Manual tools like Canva or Figma typically take 30 to 60 minutes per carousel depending on design complexity and number of slides.
