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Still searching for BoardBooster alternatives? You are not alone. When BoardBooster shut down on June 27, 2018, it left thousands of Pinterest marketers scrambling for new solutions. If you are reading this years later, you are probably researching the history of Pinterest tools or looking for reliable scheduling options that will not disappear overnight.
Quick Answer: BoardBooster was shut down in 2018 for violating Pinterest's Terms of Service. The best Pinterest-specific alternative today is Tailwind, which is an official Pinterest partner. For multi-platform social media growth beyond Pinterest, HCLOUT offers reliable services for Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms.
What Was BoardBooster?
BoardBooster was a third-party Pinterest automation and scheduling tool that operated from 2014 to 2018. It was one of the most popular Pinterest marketing tools of its era, helping bloggers, marketers, and businesses automate their Pinterest strategy.
Core Features BoardBooster Offered
Pin Scheduling: Users could schedule pins to be posted at optimal times throughout the day and week, even while they slept.
Looping: The signature feature. BoardBooster would automatically re-pin your best-performing content at set intervals, keeping your boards active without manual effort.
Board Lists: Organize boards into groups for more efficient pinning strategies.
Campaigns: Create automated pinning sequences to drive traffic to specific content.
Analytics: Track pin performance, follower growth, and engagement metrics.
Tribes: Collaborative groups where users shared and promoted each other's content.
Who Used BoardBooster?
BoardBooster was particularly popular among:
- Bloggers: Food, DIY, lifestyle, and travel bloggers used it to drive traffic
- E-commerce stores: Especially those on Etsy and Shopify
- Affiliate marketers: Promoting products through Pinterest traffic
- Virtual assistants: Managing Pinterest accounts for multiple clients
- Small businesses: Especially those in visual industries like home decor and fashion
At its peak, BoardBooster managed millions of pins monthly and had a devoted user base that swore by its looping feature.
Why Did BoardBooster Shut Down?
On June 27, 2018, BoardBooster announced it would cease operations immediately. The shutdown was not gradual. Users woke up to find their scheduling tool gone.
The Pinterest Terms of Service Problem
Pinterest had been tightening its stance on third-party automation for years. The platform's Terms of Service explicitly prohibit:
- Automated pinning without user interaction
- Using bots or scripts to perform actions
- Third-party tools that access Pinterest in unauthorized ways
BoardBooster operated in a gray area. While it helped users schedule content, the looping feature essentially automated engagement in ways Pinterest considered problematic.
Pinterest's Official Partner Program
Around the same time, Pinterest launched its official Marketing Partners program. This created a clear divide between:
- Approved tools: Those with official API access and Pinterest's blessing
- Unapproved tools: Those operating without authorization
BoardBooster was never an official partner. When Pinterest decided to enforce its policies more strictly, BoardBooster chose to shut down rather than face legal action or continue putting users' accounts at risk.
The Email That Ended BoardBooster
Users received an email explaining that Pinterest's updated Terms of Service made it impossible to continue operating legally. The company refunded remaining subscription balances and closed its doors.
This abrupt ending taught Pinterest marketers a valuable lesson: always choose tools that have official platform approval.
The Aftermath: What Happened to BoardBooster Users?
The BoardBooster shutdown created immediate chaos in the Pinterest marketing world.
Stranded Without a Strategy
Many users had built their entire Pinterest strategy around BoardBooster's looping feature. When it disappeared:
- Scheduled pins stopped publishing
- Looping sequences ended immediately
- Traffic from Pinterest dropped for many blogs
- Users scrambled to manually pin content
The Migration to Tailwind
Most BoardBooster users eventually migrated to Tailwind, which had positioned itself as the official, approved alternative. Tailwind saw a massive influx of new users in the weeks following BoardBooster's closure.
Some Went Manual
A subset of users decided to abandon automation entirely. They returned to manual pinning, accepting lower volume in exchange for zero risk.
Lessons Learned
The BoardBooster shutdown taught the Pinterest community important lessons:
- Platform approval matters
- Terms of Service violations catch up eventually
- Diversifying traffic sources is essential
- Depending on one tool is risky
Best BoardBooster Alternatives for Pinterest
If you are looking for Pinterest scheduling and growth tools in 2026, here are the most reliable options.
1. Tailwind (Recommended for Pinterest)
Tailwind is the obvious successor to BoardBooster and the most popular choice among Pinterest marketers today.
What It Offers:
- Official Pinterest Marketing Partner status
- Smart scheduling based on optimal posting times
- Tailwind Communities (evolved from the tribe concept)
- Pin design tools with Tailwind Create
- Analytics and performance tracking
- Instagram scheduling (added as the platform expanded)
Pricing: Starts at $14.99/month for the Pro plan, with higher tiers for teams and agencies.
Why It Works:
Tailwind's official partner status means Pinterest approves of how the tool operates. Your account will not be penalized for using it. This is the critical difference between Tailwind and the now-defunct BoardBooster.
Limitations:
- No true looping feature (Pinterest does not allow it)
- More expensive than BoardBooster was
- Learning curve for new users
- Some features require higher-tier plans
2. Pinterest Native Scheduler
Pinterest now offers built-in scheduling through its business tools.
What It Offers:
- Schedule pins up to 30 days in advance
- Native integration (no third-party tool needed)
- Free with a Pinterest business account
- Basic analytics included
Limitations:
- Limited scheduling window (30 days)
- No advanced features like communities or smart scheduling
- Basic analytics compared to dedicated tools
- No bulk scheduling options
Best For: Casual Pinterest users who need basic scheduling without additional costs.
3. Later
Originally focused on Instagram, Later has expanded to include Pinterest scheduling.
What It Offers:
- Multi-platform scheduling (Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook)
- Visual content calendar
- Linkin.bio feature for traffic
- Analytics across platforms
Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans start at $16.67/month.
Limitations:
- Pinterest features are less strong than Tailwind
- Not a Pinterest Marketing Partner
- Better suited for Instagram-first users
4. Planoly
Another multi-platform scheduler that includes Pinterest support.
What It Offers:
- Visual planning and scheduling
- Pinterest and Instagram focus
- Content calendar
- Basic analytics
Pricing: Starts at $13/month.
Limitations:
- Pinterest features are secondary to Instagram
- Fewer Pinterest-specific tools than Tailwind
5. Buffer
Buffer supports Pinterest scheduling as part of its multi-platform approach.
What It Offers:
- Simple, clean interface
- Multi-platform support
- Team collaboration features
- Reasonable pricing
Pricing: Free plan available, paid plans from $5/month per channel.
Limitations:
- Pinterest is not the primary focus
- Limited Pinterest-specific features
- No community or tribe features
What About the Looping Feature?
One of BoardBooster's most beloved features was looping, which automatically re-pinned your content at intervals. Here is the reality in 2026:
Pinterest Does Not Allow Looping
The platform considers automated re-pinning a form of spam. Any tool offering true looping functionality is likely violating Pinterest's Terms of Service and putting your account at risk.
Modern Alternatives to Looping
Instead of automated looping, Pinterest marketers now use:
Manual Re-pinning: Periodically revisiting and re-sharing evergreen content manually.
Fresh Pin Strategy: Creating new pin designs for the same content rather than re-pinning identical images.
Tailwind SmartLoop: Tailwind offers a version of looping that operates within Pinterest's guidelines, though it is more limited than BoardBooster's version was.
Evergreen Boards: Organizing content into boards specifically designed for periodic manual sharing.
The era of "set it and forget it" Pinterest automation is largely over. Successful Pinterest marketing in 2026 requires more hands-on involvement.
Beyond Pinterest: Multi-Platform Social Media Growth
While this article focuses on BoardBooster alternatives for Pinterest, many marketers have diversified beyond a single platform. If you are looking to grow your presence across multiple social networks, here are your options.
HCLOUT for Multi-Platform Growth
If your social media strategy extends beyond Pinterest to platforms like Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or Twitter, HCLOUT offers reliable growth services.
What HCLOUT Offers:
- Instagram followers, likes, and engagement
- TikTok growth services
- YouTube views and subscribers
- Twitter followers and engagement
- No password required
- 24/7 live chat support
- 30-day refill guarantee
Why Consider Multi-Platform:
Relying solely on Pinterest (as many BoardBooster users did) creates vulnerability. When one platform changes its rules or a tool shuts down, your entire strategy collapses. Diversifying across platforms provides stability.
Pricing: Starts at $2.99, no subscription required.
HCLOUT does not offer Pinterest-specific services, but for brands and creators active on Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms, it provides a reliable option for accelerating growth.
The Case for Platform Diversification
The BoardBooster shutdown is a perfect example of why diversification matters:
- Pinterest changed its rules, and thousands lost their traffic strategy overnight
- Those with presence on multiple platforms had fallback options
- Single-platform dependency is risky for any business
How to Choose the Right BoardBooster Alternative
Selecting the right tool depends on your specific needs.
Choose Tailwind If:
- Pinterest is your primary marketing channel
- You want official platform approval
- You need communities for content sharing
- Analytics and optimization matter to you
- You are willing to pay for reliability
Choose Pinterest Native Scheduler If:
- You have basic scheduling needs
- You want to avoid third-party tools entirely
- Budget is a primary concern
- You only need to schedule 30 days ahead
Choose Later or Buffer If:
- You manage multiple platforms
- Pinterest is secondary to Instagram
- You want one tool for everything
- Simplicity matters more than Pinterest-specific features
Choose HCLOUT If:
- You need multi-platform growth beyond Pinterest
- Instagram or TikTok is a priority
- You want flexible, pay-as-you-go services
- You prefer no-subscription options
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BoardBooster coming back?
No. BoardBooster shut down permanently on June 27, 2018, and has not returned. The company cited Pinterest's Terms of Service changes as the reason for closure. There are no indications of a relaunch.
What happened to my BoardBooster data?
BoardBooster refunded remaining subscription balances at the time of shutdown. But all user data, scheduled pins, and looping sequences were lost when the service closed. There is no way to recover this information.
Is Tailwind safe to use for Pinterest?
Yes. Tailwind is an official Pinterest Marketing Partner with approved API access. Using Tailwind will not put your Pinterest account at risk. This official status is what separates Tailwind from tools like BoardBooster that operated without Pinterest's approval.
Can I still loop pins on Pinterest?
Traditional looping (automatically re-pinning the same content repeatedly) violates Pinterest's Terms of Service. Tailwind offers a SmartLoop feature that operates within Pinterest's guidelines, but it is more limited than what BoardBooster offered. The safest approach is creating fresh pin designs for evergreen content.
Why did Pinterest crack down on automation tools?
Pinterest wants to maintain content quality and prevent spam. Automated pinning at high volumes can flood the platform with duplicate content, degrade user experience, and create unfair advantages. The official partner program ensures tools operate within acceptable boundaries.
Is there a free BoardBooster alternative?
Pinterest's native scheduling is free for business accounts, though it has limited features. Tailwind and Later offer free plans with restricted functionality. For full-featured Pinterest scheduling without cost, options are limited.
Moving Forward After BoardBooster
The BoardBooster shutdown was a pivotal moment in Pinterest marketing history. It marked the end of aggressive automation and the beginning of a more regulated tool ecosystem.
For Pinterest marketers in 2026, the path forward is clear:
- Use approved tools: Tailwind and other Pinterest partners are the safest choice
- Accept the new reality: Looping and heavy automation are no longer viable
- Focus on quality: Fresh pins and genuine engagement matter more than volume
- Diversify platforms: Do not put all your eggs in one basket
- Stay informed: Platform rules change, so choose adaptable partners
Whether you choose Tailwind for Pinterest or expand to multi-platform growth with services like HCLOUT, the key lesson from BoardBooster is this: sustainability beats shortcuts.
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