The short answer
Buffer is a simple social media scheduler known for its free plan and per-channel pricing. Metricool is a social media and ads analytics tool with scheduling, known for its free plan and reporting.
At 10 channels an exact price gap cannot be worked out, because Metricool prices by brand, not by channel. Buffer lists more networks (12 against 11). On the 15 features we track, Buffer has nothing Metricool lacks, and Metricool alone has RSS auto post, bulk upload (CSV) and white label.
Choose Buffer if you post to Mastodon and Substack. Choose Metricool if you post to Twitch, you need RSS auto post, you need bulk upload (CSV) and you need white label (Custom plan only).
Pricing
Buffer charges per connected channel, while Metricool charges by the number of brands. 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. Metricool: Tiered by number of brands. A brand is 1 business with 1 profile per network. X is a paid add-on at $10/mo per connected account.
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Buffer Free | Free | Free |
| Buffer Essentials | $6 | $5 |
| Buffer Team | $12 | $10 |
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Metricool Free | Free | Free |
| Metricool Starter (5 brands) | $25 | $20 |
| Metricool Advanced (15 brands) | $67 | $53 |
| Metricool Custom | Not listed | Not listed |
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 | Metricool | Postozo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 channels | Essentials plan: $30 a month ($25 billed yearly) | Depends on brands, not channels. 1 brand is 1 business with 1 profile per network. Up to 5 brands cost $25 a month ($20 yearly); X is $10 a month extra per account. | Standard plan: $19 a month ($15 billed yearly) |
| 10 channels | Essentials plan: $60 a month ($50 billed yearly) | Depends on brands, not channels. 1 brand is 1 business with 1 profile per network. Up to 5 brands cost $25 a month ($20 yearly); X is $10 a month extra per account. | Team plan: $29 a month ($23 billed yearly) |
At 5 channels an exact price gap cannot be worked out, because Metricool prices by brand, not by channel. At 10 channels an exact price gap cannot be worked out, because Metricool prices by brand, not by channel.
Cost for a solo user, a small team and an agency
Seats, brands and workspaces change the bill as much as channels do. This table picks the cheapest listed plan of each tool for 3 setups.
| Setup | Buffer | Metricool | Postozo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Essentials: $30 a month ($25 billed yearly). Per channel, 1 user | Priced by brands, not channels or people | Standard: $19 a month ($15 billed yearly) |
| Small team | Team: $120 a month ($100 billed yearly). Per channel, unlimited users | Priced by brands, not channels or people | Team: $29 a month ($23 billed yearly). Unlimited team members |
| Agency | Team: $180 a month. Per channel, unlimited users; the yearly price above 10 channels is not listed | Priced by brands, not channels or people | Pro: $39 a month ($31 billed yearly). Unlimited team members |
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.
Metricool: No trial stated on the pricing page; there is a free-forever plan. Free plan: Yes: 1 brand, 20 posts per month, 30 days of analytics, 5 competitor profiles. LinkedIn and X not included.
Features
| Feature | Buffer | Metricool | Postozo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Client approval | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Social inbox | Yes | Yes | No |
| Analytics | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| AI writing help | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Public API | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| MCP server | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| RSS auto post | Not confirmed | Yes | Yes |
| Bulk upload (CSV) | Not confirmed | Yes | Yes |
| White label | Not confirmed | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Client reports | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Link in bio page | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Browser extension | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Canva integration | Yes | Yes | No |
| Client connect link | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Yes |
Plan limits on key features
- Client approval. Buffer: Content approval workflows are on the Team plan only. Metricool: Post approval system is on Advanced and up.
- Public API. Buffer: Every plan includes API access with monthly request limits (3,000 to 15,000). Metricool: API access is on Advanced and up.
- White label. Buffer: not confirmed. Metricool: Custom plan only.
- Client reports. Buffer: Reports on Essentials and Team; branded reports on Team only. Metricool: PDF and PPT reports with monthly automatic sending on paid plans; custom templates on Advanced and up.
- Link in bio page. Buffer: Start Page, on every plan including Free. Metricool: SmartLinks, on paid plans.
- Browser extension. Buffer: Every plan. Metricool: Free Chrome extension.
- Canva integration. Buffer: Every plan, plus Google Drive and Dropbox. Metricool: Paid plans, plus Google Drive.
Both list client approval, social inbox, analytics, AI writing help, public API, MCP server, mobile app, client reports, link in bio page, browser extension and canva integration.
Neither confirms client connect link.
Area by area
How Buffer and Metricool handle each part of the job, in the words of their own pages.
Publishing and scheduling
Buffer: Buffer posts to 12 networks, including Substack, Mastodon and Bluesky. The free plan holds 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time; paid plans remove that cap.
Metricool: Metricool posts to 11 networks, including Twitch. X is a paid add-on at $10 a month per account, and the free plan has no LinkedIn or X. Posts can be scheduled in batches from a CSV file.
Team and client approval
Buffer: Essentials is for 1 user. Team adds unlimited users and approval workflows.
Metricool: Pricing is by number of brands, and 1 brand is 1 business with 1 profile per network. Approvals, roles and the API start on Advanced.
Inbox and replies
Buffer: A community inbox for replying to comments is on every plan. We found no direct message inbox on the pricing page.
Metricool: An inbox covers Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn and Google Business Profile.
Analytics and reports
Buffer: Reports are on Essentials and Team, and branded reports are on Team only. The free plan keeps 30 days of analytics.
Metricool: PDF and PPT reports with monthly automatic sending are on paid plans, and custom report templates are on Advanced and up.
AI help
Buffer: An AI assistant for writing posts is included.
Metricool: AI help is included.
Integrations and apps
Buffer: Every plan, including Free, has Start Page (a link in bio page), the browser extension, Canva, Google Drive and Dropbox. API access is on every plan with 3,000 to 15,000 requests a month, and Buffer lists an MCP for Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor.
Metricool: SmartLinks (a link in bio page), Canva and Google Drive are on paid plans, there is a free Chrome extension, and Metricool lists an MCP server. It also connects Facebook, Google and TikTok Ads accounts for ads reporting.
Networks
Buffer lists 12 networks and Metricool lists 11. They share 10 networks: Bluesky, Facebook, Google Business Profile, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, X.
| Networks | |
|---|---|
| Only on Buffer | Mastodon, Substack |
| Only on Metricool | Twitch |
| On Postozo but on neither | Reddit, Telegram, WhatsApp, SMS, Discord, Slack, WordPress, Medium, Tumblr, DEV, Hashnode, Lemmy, Listmonk, Nostr, VK, Farcaster, Dribbble, Kick |
Strengths from each side
Buffer
- Has a free plan for up to 3 channels.
- Has iOS and Android apps in the app stores.
- Start Page, Canva, Google Drive and Dropbox on every plan, including Free.
Metricool
- Free plan, plus ads analytics for Facebook, Google and TikTok Ads and competitor tracking.
- Inbox for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn and Google Business Profile, plus ads reporting for Facebook, Google and TikTok Ads.
- iOS and Android apps in the app stores.
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 an exact price gap cannot be worked out, because Metricool prices by brand, not by channel.
- Postozo supports Reddit, Telegram, WhatsApp, SMS, Discord, Slack, WordPress, Medium and 10 more, which neither Buffer nor Metricool lists.
- Postozo has client connect link, which neither confirms.
What you would give up: social inbox (Buffer and Metricool have it) and canva integration (Buffer and Metricool have it).
See Postozo vs Buffer and Postozo vs Metricool for the full head to head pages.
More about each tool
Buffer review, Buffer alternatives, Metricool review, Metricool alternatives, Postozo pricing.
Sources
Is Buffer or Metricool cheaper?
At 5 channels an exact price gap cannot be worked out, because Metricool prices by brand, not by channel. At 10 channels an exact price gap cannot be worked out, because Metricool prices by brand, not by channel. Prices are the lowest listed per month, with yearly billing where offered, checked on 29 September 2026.
Which has more networks, Buffer or Metricool?
Buffer lists 12 and Metricool lists 11. Only Buffer: Mastodon, Substack. Only Metricool: Twitch.
Do Buffer and Metricool have an API and MCP server?
Buffer: API yes, MCP yes. Metricool: API yes, MCP yes. Postozo includes both on every plan.
Is there a cheaper option than Buffer and Metricool?
Postozo is $19 a month for 5 channels and $29 for 10 with a team. It has no social inbox and canva integration, so check those first.
Which is cheaper for a team of 3 with 10 channels, Buffer or Metricool?
It cannot be worked out exactly from the listed prices. See the cost table on this page.
Do Buffer and Metricool have client reports and a link in bio page?
Client reports: Buffer yes (Reports on Essentials and Team; branded reports on Team only), Metricool yes (PDF and PPT reports with monthly automatic sending on paid plans; custom templates on Advanced and up). Link in bio: Buffer yes, Metricool yes. Postozo includes both on every plan.
Can clients connect their own accounts in Buffer or Metricool?
Buffer: not confirmed. Metricool: not confirmed. Postozo has a client connect link on every plan.
Did you test Buffer and Metricool?
No. This page compares facts from their official pricing and feature pages, checked on 29 September 2026.
Not sure about Buffer or Metricool?
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