Head to head

ContentCal vs Ordinal

vs

ContentCal was a well-liked UK content calendar built around planning and approvals. Adobe bought it in December 2021, closed the standalone product on 31 March 2023, and rolled its features into Adobe Express, so it's here for the record rather than as a tool you can buy.

From
Custom
Free plan

Ordinal (formerly Assembly) is built for one specific job: running social for a group of executives or employees. It drafts, schedules, routes for approval, and automates engagement across many personal accounts, and it's priced for companies, not individuals, from $95 a month.

From
$95 /mo
Free plan

Bottom line

ContentCal and Ordinal both cover the basics; the right one comes down to how you post.

Features compared

FeatureContentCalOrdinal
AI captionsNot assessedYes
Basic analyticsYesYes
Advanced reportsNot assessedNot assessed
Bulk uploadNot assessedNot assessed
Evergreen recyclingNot assessedNo
Team rolesYesYes
ApprovalsYesYes
Link in bioNot assessedNot assessed

Platforms compared

NetworkContentCalOrdinal
InstagramAutoAuto
FacebookAutoAuto
X (Twitter)AutoAuto
LinkedInAutoAuto
TikTokReminderAuto
PinterestAutoNo
ThreadsNoAuto
Google BusinessAutoNo

Pricing

ContentCal

  • ContentCal was acquired by Adobe in December 2021 and the standalone product closed on 31 March 2023. You can no longer buy it.
  • Its content calendar and scheduling features were folded into Adobe Express as the Content Scheduler, which is reviewed separately.
  • When it ran, ContentCal sold flat monthly plans (a Pro tier and a larger Company tier); those plans no longer exist, so no current pricing applies.

Ordinal

Starter

$95 /mo
Scheduled posts
Unlimited
  • $95/mo
  • Drafting, scheduling, content calendar, approval workflows
  • For teams managing multiple executive accounts

Pro

Popular
$215 /mo
Scheduled posts
Unlimited
  • $215/mo (about $265 with Ordinal MCP)
  • Everything in Starter, plus unlimited seats
  • Account analytics, automated engagement (likes, comments, reposts), unlimited scheduled posts

Enterprise

Custom
Scheduled posts
Unlimited
  • Custom pricing
  • LinkedIn leads data, API access, custom permissions
  • SAML/SSO and prioritised support
  • Flat plans aimed at executive and team social programs, not individual scheduling, which is why the entry is $95 a month. Pro at $215 includes unlimited seats; a Pro plan with Ordinal MCP runs around $265.
  • There's no free plan, only a 14-day trial.
  • Ordinal (formerly Assembly) is built for running many personal/executive accounts together, used by companies like Zapier, Mercury, Clay, and Beehiiv to power their executive social presence.
  • Prices are USD from current listings.

Pros and cons

ContentCal

  • Clean, approachable content calendar and content hub
  • Strong, simple approval workflows
  • Good team and client collaboration
  • Discontinued on 31 March 2023; no longer sold
  • Folded into Adobe Express, with a different shape and focus
  • Existing comparisons that still list it are out of date

Ordinal

  • Purpose-built for executive and employee social programs
  • Drafting, approvals, and analytics across many personal accounts
  • Automated engagement to grow those accounts
  • Unlimited seats on Pro; SSO and API on Enterprise
  • Expensive, and priced for companies not individuals
  • Network focus is LinkedIn and X, not visual platforms
  • No free plan, recycling, or full engagement inbox
  • Young product, lightly documented company

ContentCal vs Ordinal: FAQ

Is ContentCal or Ordinal cheaper?
Ordinal starts at $95 per month, while ContentCal is quoted custom, so Ordinal is the one with a public entry price.
Does ContentCal or Ordinal have a free plan?
Neither has a free plan. You get a free trial to test things, then you pay.
Which is better, ContentCal or Ordinal?
ContentCal is the stronger pick for most people, while Ordinal is the better fit for companies running executive or founder social programs. We don't score them; the right call comes down to how you post.