Buffer
Social media scheduling tool for planning, publishing and analyzing posts across major networks.
Overview
Buffer is a social media scheduling tool that lets one person or a small team plan, queue and publish posts across Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Pinterest, Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon, X and Google Business Profile from a single calendar. It is known for a clean interface, transparent pricing and a long record as an independent company. Alongside publishing it offers basic analytics, an engagement view for replying to comments, an AI assistant for drafting posts, an Ideas board for capturing content and a simple link-in-bio Start Page.
Pricing is per connected channel rather than per seat. The Free plan supports 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel and 1 user. Essentials costs $6 per channel per month ($5 billed annually) with unlimited posts and analytics; Team is $12 per channel ($10 annually) and adds unlimited users, draft collaboration and approval workflows; Agency starts at $120 per month for 10 channels. A 14-day trial covers paid plans.
Buffer suits solo creators, small businesses and small agencies more than large teams. Its analytics are lighter than Sprout Social or Hootsuite, social listening is absent, and the public API was closed to new developers years ago, so custom integrations run through Zapier.
Key features
AI
- AI assistant
Collaboration
- Roles & permissions
Data
- Reporting & dashboards
Platforms
- Mobile app
- Browser extension
Views
- Calendar view
Marketing
- Social media scheduling
- Integrations
- Canva, Facebook & Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, Zapier
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android, Browser extension
Pros & cons
Strengths
- Simple interface that takes minutes to learn
- Transparent per-channel pricing with a usable free plan
- Supports newer networks such as Threads, Bluesky and Mastodon
- Mobile apps and browser extension for capturing content
- Approval workflows for small teams on the Team plan
Limitations
- Per-channel pricing adds up for brands on many networks
- Analytics are lighter than Sprout Social or Hootsuite
- No social listening or ad management
- Public API is closed to new developers
Pricing
Freemium. Free plan for 3 channels; Essentials is $6 per channel per month ($5 annually), Team $12 per channel ($10 annually), Agency from $120 per month for 10 channels ($100 annually).
Free
Free
For getting started; 3 channels and 1 user.
- Connect up to 3 channels
- 10 scheduled posts per channel
- Basic publishing tools and AI assistant
- 1 user
Essentials
Popular$6/mo
Per channel per month; $5 per channel when billed annually.
- Unlimited scheduled posts
- Analytics and engagement tools
- Hashtag manager and Ideas board
- 1 user
Team
$12/mo
Per channel per month; $10 per channel when billed annually.
- Unlimited users
- Draft collaboration and approval workflows
- Custom reports
- Everything in Essentials
Agency
$120/mo
From $120 per month for 10 channels ($100 billed annually); extra channels billed individually.
- 10 channels included, more can be added
- Unlimited users
- Custom access and permissions per client
- Priority support
Prices are listed in USD and can change. Confirm current pricing on the vendor’s pricing page.
Best for
A good fit if you are
- Solo creators and small businesses scheduling a few channels
- Small agencies managing several clients
- Teams that want predictable pricing and a simple workflow
Not ideal if you
- Enterprise social teams needing listening and deep reporting
- Brands that need a customer-care inbox at scale
Compared in these shortlists
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Buffer
From $6/mo · Free plan