The short answer
Buffer is a simple social media scheduler known for its free plan and per-channel pricing. Planable is a content collaboration and approval tool for social media teams and agencies.
At 10 channels Planable costs $49 a month against $50 for Buffer, so Planable is $1 a month cheaper (2% less). Buffer lists more networks (12 against 9). On the 15 features we track, Buffer alone has link in bio page and browser extension, and Planable alone has bulk upload (CSV).
Choose Buffer if you post to Bluesky, Mastodon and Substack, you need link in bio page (Start Page, on every plan including Free) and you need browser extension (Every plan). Choose Planable if you want the lower price for 10 channels ($49 against $50 a month) and you need bulk upload (CSV).
Pricing
Buffer charges per connected channel, while Planable charges per workspace (1 brand each). 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. Planable: Per workspace per month (1 workspace = 1 client, brand or location). Analytics ($14, or $12 yearly), inbox ($9, or $7.50 yearly) and listening ($99, or $82.50 yearly) are paid add-ons per workspace.
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Buffer Free | Free | Free |
| Buffer Essentials | $6 | $5 |
| Buffer Team | $12 | $10 |
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Planable Basic | $39 | $33 |
| Planable Pro | $59 | $49 |
| Planable Enterprise | 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 | Planable | Postozo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 channels | Essentials plan: $30 a month ($25 billed yearly) | Pro plan: $59 per workspace a month ($49 billed yearly), if all channels belong to 1 brand (1 workspace); each extra brand is another workspace | Standard plan: $19 a month ($15 billed yearly) |
| 10 channels | Essentials plan: $60 a month ($50 billed yearly) | Pro plan: $59 per workspace a month ($49 billed yearly), if all channels belong to 1 brand (1 workspace); each extra brand is another workspace | Team plan: $29 a month ($23 billed yearly) |
At 5 channels Buffer costs $25 a month against $49 for Planable, so Buffer is $24 a month cheaper (49% less). At 10 channels Planable costs $49 a month against $50 for Buffer, so Planable is $1 a month cheaper (2% less).
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 | Planable | Postozo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Essentials: $30 a month ($25 billed yearly). Per channel, 1 user | Pro: $59 a month ($49 billed yearly). If all channels belong to 1 brand; unlimited users | Standard: $19 a month ($15 billed yearly) |
| Small team | Team: $120 a month ($100 billed yearly). Per channel, unlimited users | Pro: $59 a month ($49 billed yearly). If all channels belong to 1 brand; unlimited users | 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 per workspace (1 brand each), so it depends on how many brands the channels belong to | Pro: $39 a month ($31 billed yearly). Unlimited team members |
For 5 channels and 1 person, Buffer is the lowest at $25 a month and Planable the highest at $49. For 10 channels and 3 people, Planable is the lowest at $49 a month and Buffer the highest at $100.
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.
Planable: First 50 posts are free, with no time limit and no credit card. Add-ons have a 30-day free trial. Free plan: Free until you have used 50 posts.
Features
| Feature | Buffer | Planable | 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 | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Bulk upload (CSV) | Not confirmed | Yes | Yes |
| White label | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Client reports | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Link in bio page | Yes | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Browser extension | Yes | Not confirmed | 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. Planable: included.
- Social inbox. Buffer: Community inbox for replying to comments. We found no DM inbox on the pricing page. Planable: Paid add-on.
- Analytics. Buffer: included. Planable: Paid add-on.
- Public API. Buffer: Every plan includes API access with monthly request limits (3,000 to 15,000). Planable: Pro plan and up.
- Client reports. Buffer: Reports on Essentials and Team; branded reports on Team only. Planable: Custom reports in the paid Analytics add-on.
- Link in bio page. Buffer: Start Page, on every plan including Free. Planable: not confirmed.
- Browser extension. Buffer: Every plan. Planable: not confirmed.
- Canva integration. Buffer: Every plan, plus Google Drive and Dropbox. Planable: Listed in its integrations.
Both list client approval, social inbox, analytics, AI writing help, public API, MCP server, mobile app, client reports and canva integration.
Neither confirms RSS auto post, white label and client connect link.
Area by area
How Buffer and Planable 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.
Planable: Planable posts to 9 networks. Posts are capped per workspace per month: 60 on Basic, 150 on Pro and unlimited on Enterprise. Posts can be imported from a CSV file.
Team and client approval
Buffer: Essentials is for 1 user. Team adds unlimited users and approval workflows.
Planable: Approval is the core: optional, required and multi-level approvals, suggested edits and version history. Every plan has unlimited users, and 1 workspace is 1 client, brand or location.
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.
Planable: The inbox is a paid add-on at $9 a month per workspace ($7.50 yearly).
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.
Planable: Analytics, with custom reports, is a paid add-on at $14 a month per workspace ($12 yearly).
AI help
Buffer: An AI assistant for writing posts is included.
Planable: 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.
Planable: Canva is listed in its integrations, there are iOS and Android apps, and the public API starts on Pro. Listening is a $99 a month add-on.
Networks
Buffer lists 12 networks and Planable lists 9. They share 9 networks: Facebook, Google Business Profile, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, X.
| Networks | |
|---|---|
| Only on Buffer | Bluesky, Mastodon, Substack |
| Only on Planable | None |
| On Postozo but on neither | Reddit, Telegram, WhatsApp, SMS, 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 in the app stores.
- Start Page, Canva, Google Drive and Dropbox on every plan, including Free.
Planable
- Deep approval tooling: optional, required and multi-level approvals, suggested edits and version history.
- Unlimited users on every plan, and iOS and Android apps.
- Optional listening add-on.
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 $49 for Planable, so Postozo is $26 a month cheaper (53% less).
- Postozo supports Reddit, Telegram, WhatsApp, SMS, Discord, Slack, WordPress, Medium and 11 more, which neither Buffer nor Planable lists.
- Postozo has RSS auto post, which neither confirms.
- Postozo has white label, which neither confirms.
- Postozo has client connect link, which neither confirms.
What you would give up: social inbox (Buffer and Planable have it) and canva integration (Buffer and Planable have it).
See Postozo vs Buffer and Postozo vs Planable for the full head to head pages.
More about each tool
Buffer review, Buffer alternatives, Planable review, Planable alternatives, Postozo pricing.
Sources
Is Buffer or Planable cheaper?
At 5 channels Buffer costs $25 a month against $49 for Planable, so Buffer is $24 a month cheaper (49% less). At 10 channels Planable costs $49 a month against $50 for Buffer, so Planable is $1 a month cheaper (2% less). Prices are the lowest listed per month, with yearly billing where offered, checked on 29 September 2026.
Which has more networks, Buffer or Planable?
Buffer lists 12 and Planable lists 9. Only Buffer: Bluesky, Mastodon, Substack.
Do Buffer and Planable have an API and MCP server?
Buffer: API yes, MCP yes. Planable: API yes, MCP yes. Postozo includes both on every plan.
Is there a cheaper option than Buffer and Planable?
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 Planable?
For 10 channels and 3 people, Planable is the lowest at $49 a month and Buffer the highest at $100.
Do Buffer and Planable have client reports and a link in bio page?
Client reports: Buffer yes (Reports on Essentials and Team; branded reports on Team only), Planable yes (Custom reports in the paid Analytics add-on). Link in bio: Buffer yes, Planable not confirmed. Postozo includes both on every plan.
Can clients connect their own accounts in Buffer or Planable?
Buffer: not confirmed. Planable: not confirmed. Postozo has a client connect link on every plan.
Did you test Buffer and Planable?
No. This page compares facts from their official pricing and feature pages, checked on 29 September 2026.
Not sure about Buffer or Planable?
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