Buffer review 2026: pricing, features, pros and cons

Summary verdict

Buffer is built for solo creators and small teams who want a free plan or only need a few channels. It starts at $6 a month ($5 billed yearly) and is priced per channel. For 10 channels it is Essentials plan: $60 a month ($50 billed yearly), which ranks 7 of 12 tools we track on the lowest listed price.

Its main strengths are has a free plan for up to 3 channels, has iOS and Android apps in the app stores and start Page, Canva, Google Drive and Dropbox on every plan, including Free. The main things to check before you buy: priced per channel, so the bill grows with each account you add, free plan: 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time and client approval comes with a condition: content approval workflows are on the Team plan only.

Buffer lists both a public API and an MCP server, so it can work with AI apps. It lists 12 networks, and does not list Reddit, Telegram, WhatsApp, SMS, Discord, Slack and 13 more.

Buffer pricing

Per connected channel, with volume discounts above 10 channels. Yearly billing saves about 2 months. The entry plan is Essentials.

Free is free. It includes 3 social profiles. Users: 1. 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time. 30 days of analytics history.

Essentials costs $6 a month, or $5 a month when you pay yearly. Paying yearly saves $12 a year (17%). Profiles: Per channel. Users: 1. Price is per channel for channels 1 to 10. Channels 11 to 25 cost $4 each, 26 to 50 cost $3, 51 and up cost $1 (monthly billing). 5 channels = $30/mo monthly or $25/mo yearly.

Team costs $12 a month, or $10 a month when you pay yearly. Paying yearly saves $24 a year (17%). Profiles: Per channel. Users: Unlimited. Price is per channel for channels 1 to 10. Channels 11 to 25 cost $4 each, 26 to 50 cost $3, 51 and up cost $2 (monthly billing). 10 channels = $120/mo monthly or $100/mo yearly.

What 5 and 10 channels cost

5 channels: Essentials plan: $30 a month ($25 billed yearly). 10 channels: Essentials plan: $60 a month ($50 billed yearly). For comparison, Postozo is $19 a month for 5 channels and $29 a month for 10 channels with team members.

Free trial: 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.

What Buffer costs for a solo user, a team and an agency

Channels are only half of the price. This is the cheapest listed Buffer plan for 3 common setups, with Postozo next to it for scale.

For 5 channels and 1 person, Postozo is the lowest at $15 a month and Buffer the highest at $25. For 10 channels and 3 people, Postozo is the lowest at $23 a month and Buffer the highest at $100. For 25 channels and 5 people, Postozo is the lowest at $31 a month and Buffer the highest at $180.

What Buffer is like, area by area

A plain description of each part of Buffer, from its own pricing, feature and help pages.

Publishing and scheduling

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.

Team and client approval

Essentials is for 1 user. Team adds unlimited users and approval workflows.

Inbox and replies

A community inbox for replying to comments is on every plan. We found no direct message inbox on the pricing page.

Analytics and reports

Reports are on Essentials and Team, and branded reports are on Team only. The free plan keeps 30 days of analytics.

AI help

An AI assistant for writing posts is included.

Integrations and apps

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.

Buffer features

We track 15 features that matter most when you choose a scheduler. Here is where Buffer stands on each, with any plan limits from its pages.

Client approval. This is when a client or manager approves a post before it goes out. Buffer: yes. Content approval workflows are on the Team plan only. Postozo has it (Approve or request changes from a review link, with approval rules per customer).

Social inbox. This is when you reply to comments and messages from inside the tool. Buffer: yes. Community inbox for replying to comments. We found no DM inbox on the pricing page. Postozo does not have it (Answer comments and messages in each network's own app).

Analytics. This is when you see results for each account and post. Buffer: yes. Postozo has it.

AI writing help. This is when AI drafts, rewrites or shortens your posts. Buffer: yes. Postozo has it.

Public API. This is when your own code or automation tools can create and read posts. Buffer: yes. Every plan includes API access with monthly request limits (3,000 to 15,000). Postozo has it.

MCP server. This is when AI apps such as Claude or ChatGPT can use the tool directly. Buffer: yes. Buffer lists a social media MCP and Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor integrations. Postozo has it.

RSS auto post. This is when new items from a blog or feed turn into posts on their own. Buffer: not confirmed on its official pages. Postozo has it (Team plan and up).

Bulk upload (CSV). This is when you import many posts at once from a spreadsheet file. Buffer: not confirmed on its official pages. Postozo has it (Up to 500 posts per CSV file. Every line is checked before anything is saved).

White label. This is when reports or the app can carry your agency brand instead of theirs. Buffer: not confirmed on its official pages. Postozo has it (Pro and Ultimate plans: your brand on client review pages, the client app, client emails and client reports, plus a custom domain).

Mobile app. This is when you can plan and approve posts from a phone app. Buffer: yes. Postozo has it (An app you install from the browser on Android, iPhone and computers, with push notifications. Not in the App Store or Google Play).

Client reports. This is when a report of the results goes to a client as a PDF or a link, on a schedule. Buffer: yes. Reports on Essentials and Team; branded reports on Team only. Postozo has it (Shared link, PDF from the browser, weekly or monthly emails. Your brand on them with white label).

Link in bio page. This is when you get a small page with all your links for an Instagram or TikTok bio. Buffer: yes. Start Page, on every plan including Free. Postozo has it (A page at app.postozo.com/@name with your links and latest posts, counting views and clicks).

Browser extension. This is when you share a web page to your posts from the browser toolbar. Buffer: yes. Every plan. Postozo has it (For Chrome, Edge and other Chromium browsers. Installed from a ZIP file until the Chrome Web Store listing is live).

Canva integration. This is when you add Canva designs to a post without downloading them first. Buffer: yes. Every plan, plus Google Drive and Dropbox. Postozo does not have it (Not yet. The Canva button is built but not switched on).

Client connect link. This is when a client connects their own accounts from a link, without sharing passwords. Buffer: not confirmed on its official pages. Postozo has it (Send a link; the client signs in to their own accounts and the channels land under their name).

Networks Buffer supports

Buffer lists 12 networks: Bluesky, Facebook, Google Business Profile, Instagram, LinkedIn, Mastodon, Pinterest, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, X, Substack.

It lists Substack, which Postozo does not support. It does not list Reddit, Telegram, WhatsApp, SMS, Discord, Slack, WordPress, Medium, Tumblr, DEV, Hashnode, Lemmy, Listmonk, Nostr, VK, Farcaster, Dribbble, Twitch and Kick, which Postozo supports.

Pros

• 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.
• Free plan: Yes: 3 channels, 1 user, 10 scheduled posts per channel, 100 ideas, 30 days of analytics.
• 14-day free trial.
• Included with no plan limit noted: social inbox, analytics, AI writing help, MCP server and mobile app.
• Wide network list: 12 networks.

Cons

• Priced per channel, so the bill grows with each account you add.
• Free plan: 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time.
• Client approval comes with a condition: content approval workflows are on the Team plan only.
• Public API comes with a condition: every plan includes API access with monthly request limits (3,000 to 15,000).
• Client reports comes with a condition: reports on Essentials and Team; branded reports on Team only.
• Link in bio page comes with a condition: start Page, on every plan including Free.
• Browser extension comes with a condition: every plan.
• Canva integration comes with a condition: every plan, plus Google Drive and Dropbox.
• Not confirmed on official pages: RSS auto post, bulk upload (CSV), white label and client connect link.

Who Buffer is for

Solo creators and small teams who want a free plan or only need a few channels. The free plan makes it easy to start small.

Who should look elsewhere

• Anyone who posts to Reddit, Telegram, WhatsApp, SMS, Discord and 14 more.
• Agencies that need client approval on a low plan (Content approval workflows are on the Team plan only).
• Buyers on a budget: Postiz ($31), Publer ($36) and Later ($37.50) list lower prices for 10 channels.

Buffer alternatives

See the full list of Buffer alternatives, or our head to head Postozo vs Buffer. The closest on price for 10 channels are Buffer vs Postiz, Buffer vs Publer and Buffer vs Later.

Sources

Buffer facts checked on 29 September 2026 on these official pages: buffer.com/pricing, buffer.com/pricing.md. Prices and features change, so check buffer.com before you decide. Buffer is a trademark of its owner. Postozo is not affiliated with Buffer.