PostozoThe short answer
Buffer is a simple social media scheduler known for its free plan and per-channel pricing. Later is a visual social media planner known for Instagram and TikTok scheduling and its link-in-bio tool.
At 10 channels Later costs $37.50 a month against $50 for Buffer, so Later is $12.50 a month cheaper (25% less). Buffer lists more networks (12 against 8). On the 10 features we track, Buffer alone has public API and MCP server, and Later has nothing Buffer lacks.
Choose Buffer if you post to Bluesky, Google Business Profile, Mastodon, X and 1 more, you need public API (Every plan includes API access with monthly request limits (3,000 to 15,000)), you need MCP server and you want a free plan. Choose Later if you want the lower price for 10 channels ($37.50 against $50 a month) and you post to Snapchat.
Pricing
Buffer charges per connected channel, while Later charges a flat price per plan. Compare them on the exact number of channels and people you have, not on the entry price.
Buffer: Per connected channel, with volume discounts above 10 channels. Yearly billing saves about 2 months. Later: Flat price per plan, sized in social sets (1 profile per supported network). Yearly billing is 25% off. Monthly-billed prices are not shown in the page source.
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Buffer Free | Free | Free |
| Buffer Essentials | $6 | $5 |
| Buffer Team | $12 | $10 |
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Later Starter | Not listed | $18.75 |
| Later Growth | Not listed | $37.50 |
| Later Scale | Not listed | $82.50 |
Cost at 5 and 10 channels
The cheapest listed plan that covers the number of channels. Where a price depends on seats, brands or workspaces, the table says so.
| Buffer | Later | Postozo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 channels | Essentials plan: $30 a month ($25 billed yearly) | Starter plan: $18.75 a month billed yearly, if each channel is on a different network (1 social set). The monthly-billed price is not listed | Standard plan: $19 a month ($15 billed yearly) |
| 10 channels | Essentials plan: $60 a month ($50 billed yearly) | Growth plan: $37.50 a month billed yearly, if no network has more than 2 of your profiles (2 social sets). The monthly-billed price is not listed | Team plan: $29 a month ($23 billed yearly) |
At 5 channels Later costs $18.75 a month against $25 for Buffer, so Later is $6.25 a month cheaper (25% less). At 10 channels Later costs $37.50 a month against $50 for Buffer, so Later is $12.50 a month cheaper (25% less).
Trials and free plans
Buffer: 14-day free trial of paid plans. Without payment details the account drops to the Free plan. Free plan: Yes: 3 channels, 1 user, 10 scheduled posts per channel, 100 ideas, 30 days of analytics.
Later: 14-day free trial. Card terms are not stated on the pricing page. No free plan listed.
Features
| Feature | Buffer | Later | Postozo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Client approval | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Social inbox | Yes | Yes | No |
| Analytics | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI writing help | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Public API | Yes | Not confirmed | Yes |
| MCP server | Yes | Not confirmed | Yes |
| RSS auto post | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Bulk upload (CSV) | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | No |
| White label | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes | No |
Plan limits on key features
- Client approval. Buffer: Content approval workflows are on the Team plan only. Later: Content approval and external comment workflows are on Growth and Scale.
- Public API. Buffer: Every plan includes API access with monthly request limits (3,000 to 15,000). Later: not confirmed.
Both list client approval, social inbox, analytics, AI writing help and mobile app.
Neither confirms RSS auto post, bulk upload (CSV) and white label.
Networks
Buffer lists 12 networks and Later lists 8. They share 7 networks: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, YouTube.
| Networks | |
|---|---|
| Only on Buffer | Bluesky, Google Business Profile, Mastodon, X, Substack |
| Only on Later | Snapchat |
| On Postozo but on neither | Reddit, Telegram, Discord, Slack, WordPress, Medium, Tumblr, DEV, Hashnode, Lemmy, Listmonk, Nostr, VK, Farcaster, Dribbble, Twitch, Kick |
Strengths from each side
Buffer
- Has a free plan for up to 3 channels.
- Has iOS and Android apps and a browser extension.
- Includes a community inbox to reply to comments.
Later
- Visual feed planning and a link-in-bio tool built for Instagram-first brands.
- Inbox for Instagram, Facebook and TikTok on Growth and up.
- iOS and Android apps.
Postozo as a 3rd option
Postozo is a social media scheduler with 30 channel types, client review links, team roles, AI writing help, a public API and an MCP server. Plans are flat: $19, $29, $39, $79 a month for 5, 10, 30, 100 channels, with unlimited posts.
- Postozo costs $29 a month ($23 billed yearly) for 10 channels with team members. At 10 channels Postozo costs $23 a month against $50 for Buffer, so Postozo is $27 a month cheaper (54% less). At 10 channels Postozo costs $23 a month against $37.50 for Later, so Postozo is $14.50 a month cheaper (39% less).
- Postozo supports Reddit, Telegram, Discord, Slack, WordPress, Medium, Tumblr, DEV and 9 more, which neither Buffer nor Later lists.
- Postozo has RSS auto post, which neither confirms.
- Postozo has white label, which neither confirms.
What you would give up: social inbox (Buffer and Later have it) and mobile app (Buffer and Later have it).
See Postozo vs Buffer and Postozo vs Later for the full head to head pages.
More about each tool
Buffer review, Buffer alternatives, Later review, Later alternatives, Postozo pricing.
Sources
Questions
Is Buffer or Later cheaper?
At 5 channels Later costs $18.75 a month against $25 for Buffer, so Later is $6.25 a month cheaper (25% less). At 10 channels Later costs $37.50 a month against $50 for Buffer, so Later is $12.50 a month cheaper (25% less). Prices are the lowest listed per month, with yearly billing where offered, checked on 29 September 2026.
Which has more networks, Buffer or Later?
Buffer lists 12 and Later lists 8. Only Buffer: Bluesky, Google Business Profile, Mastodon, X, Substack. Only Later: Snapchat.
Do Buffer and Later have an API and MCP server?
Buffer: API yes, MCP yes. Later: API not confirmed, MCP not confirmed. Postozo includes both on every plan.
Is there a cheaper option than Buffer and Later?
Postozo is $19 a month for 5 channels and $29 for 10 with a team. It has no social inbox, bulk upload (CSV) and mobile app, so check those first.
Did you test Buffer and Later?
No. This page compares facts from their official pricing and feature pages, checked on 29 September 2026.