Buffer is a social media management tool for Creators and Small businesses, offered as freemium ($6/mo). Founded in United States in 2010. Popular alternatives include Hootsuite, Later, Typefully.
About Buffer
Buffer is a social media scheduling and publishing tool known for simplicity and transparency, founded in 2010 by Joel Gascoigne and run as a fully remote company that publishes its salaries and revenue. Users connect their accounts, set a posting schedule with time slots, write a post once and customise it per network, then let Buffer publish it automatically, with analytics and engagement replies in the same place.
It supports a wider set of networks than most rivals, including Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube Shorts, Google Business Profile, Threads, Bluesky and Mastodon. An AI assistant drafts, rewrites and repurposes posts, a Start Page offers a simple link-in-bio landing page, and an ideas board collects content drafts. The free plan covers three channels with a limited queue; Essentials adds unlimited scheduling, analytics and engagement, and Team adds unlimited users, approval workflows and custom reports. Paid pricing is per connected channel.
Buffer fits creators, freelancers and small businesses managing a handful of accounts who want an uncluttered tool that just works. Per-channel pricing becomes expensive for agencies with dozens of profiles, and it lacks social listening, an advanced unified inbox and deep reporting. Hootsuite and Sprout Social offer listening and enterprise features at a much higher price, Later is strong for visual Instagram and TikTok planning, and Metricool combines scheduling with broader analytics at a competitive price.
Key features of Buffer
- Queue-based scheduling with per-network customization
- Support for 10+ networks including Threads, Bluesky, Mastodon
- AI Assistant for drafts, rewrites and repurposing
- Analytics with best-time recommendations and reports
- Engagement inbox for comments
- Start Page link-in-bio and Canva integration
Pros and cons
Pros
- Simplest scheduler to learn
- Broad network coverage
- Transparent company and clear pricing
- Free plan for 3 channels
Cons
- Per-channel pricing adds up for agencies
- No social listening
- Inbox lacks DMs on several networks
- Reporting is lighter than enterprise tools
Buffer pricing
Buffer uses a freemium model. A 14-day free trial is available.
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, 1 user |
| Essentials | $6 / channel/mo | $5/mo billed yearly; unlimited posts, 1 user |
| Team | $12 / channel/mo | $10/mo billed yearly; unlimited team members |
Source: buffer.com · checked on Oct 20, 2026
How Buffer compares in Social media management
- Rank by votes
- #2 / 19
- Starting price
- $6
- Free alternatives
- 0
0 votes from members
82% below the category median ($33/mo)
Free or open-source tools in Social media management
Buffer ranks #2 of 19 social media management tools by community votes and is priced below most tools in the category.
Common use cases
- 1Solo creator scheduling across X, LinkedIn and Threads
- 2Small brand managing Instagram and TikTok with analytics
- 3Startup founder maintaining a weekly posting cadence
- 4Nonprofit on the free plan
Best for
Individuals, creators and small businesses with a handful of channels.
Not ideal for
Agencies and enterprises needing listening, approvals at scale and deep reporting.
Integrations
- X
- TikTok
- YouTube
- Threads
- Bluesky
- Mastodon
- Canva
- Zapier
Our take
Buffer is the easiest scheduler for small accounts and supports networks others ignore. Agencies should compare Publer or Metricool for cost and Sprout for depth.
FAQ
- What is Buffer?
- Buffer is a Social media management tool: Simple social scheduling with a free plan.
- How much does Buffer cost?
- Buffer uses a Freemium model; paid plans start at $6 per month.
- What are the best alternatives to Buffer?
- Community-listed alternatives to Buffer include Hootsuite, Later, Typefully, Publer.
- Does Buffer have a free trial?
- Yes, Buffer offers a 14-day free trial.
- What does Buffer integrate with?
- Buffer integrates with Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube and more.
- Which platforms does Buffer support?
- Buffer is available on web, ios, android.
- Who is Buffer for?
- Individuals, creators and small businesses with a handful of channels.
Alternatives to Buffer
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