Buffer: pricing, free plan and alternatives
A simple social media scheduler with a free-forever plan for up to three channels.
Prices checked on the official pricing pages on . Prices are in US dollars and can change at any time.
Buffer and its alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Free plan | Paid plans | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffer | Yes | From $5/mo | Solo businesses posting to a few networks who want a calm, simple scheduler. |
| Metricool | Yes | See vendor | Creators who want scheduling and analytics for one brand in a single dashboard. |
| Meta Business Suite | Yes | Free | Businesses that market mainly on Facebook and Instagram. |
| Hootsuite | No (free trial) | From $99/mo | Businesses that need approval workflows, social listening and reporting across many accounts. |
Buffer: what you get
A simple social media scheduler with a free-forever plan for up to three channels.
- Price
- Essentials $5 a month per channel billed monthly, or $60 a year per channel.
- Free plan
- Free forever: up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time (refill as they go out) and 1 user.
- Best for
- Solo businesses posting to a few networks who want a calm, simple scheduler.
- Works on
- Web browser, iPhone and iPad, Android, Browser extension
Pros
- Very easy to learn
- Paid plan is cheap if you only need one or two channels
Cons
- Only 10 queued posts per channel on the free plan
- Paid price rises with every channel you add
Key features
- Schedule posts to 3 channels free
- Browser extension for sharing pages
- Link-in-bio page
- Analytics and engagement tools (paid)
The alternatives
1. Metricool
A social media planner and analytics tool with a free plan for one brand.
- Price
- Starter from €16 a month billed yearly or €20 billed monthly (the page showed euros when we checked).
- Free plan
- 1 brand, up to 20 scheduled posts a month, one connection per network. LinkedIn and X (Twitter) aren't included on the free plan.
- Best for
- Creators who want scheduling and analytics for one brand in a single dashboard.
- Works on
- Web browser, iPhone and iPad, Android
Pros
- Analytics as well as scheduling
- Free plan covers Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and more
Cons
- No LinkedIn or X on the free plan
- Free plan caps you at 20 posts a month
Key features
- Planner for most major networks
- Analytics for social profiles and your website
- Competitor tracking (paid)
- Ads reporting (paid)
2. Meta Business Suite
Meta's free tool for scheduling Facebook and Instagram posts and answering messages from one inbox.
- Price
- Free. You pay only for any ads you choose to run.
- Free plan
- Free. Schedule posts and stories, reply to Facebook, Messenger and Instagram messages in one inbox, and see insights.
- Best for
- Businesses that market mainly on Facebook and Instagram.
- Works on
- Web browser, iPhone and iPad, Android
Pros
- Free with no post limits
- Official tool, so new Facebook and Instagram features arrive first
Cons
- Meta's networks only (no LinkedIn, TikTok or X)
- Interface changes often
Key features
- Schedule Facebook and Instagram posts and stories
- Unified inbox for messages and comments
- Insights
- Ads Manager built in
3. Hootsuite
A full social media management suite aimed at teams and agencies.
- Price
- Standard from $99 a month; Hootsuite says displayed prices are based on annual billing and exclude taxes.
- Free plan
- No free plan. 14-day free trial, no credit card required (with daily posting limits during the trial).
- Best for
- Businesses that need approval workflows, social listening and reporting across many accounts.
- Works on
- Web browser, iPhone and iPad, Android
Pros
- Covers almost every major network
- Strong reporting for clients
Cons
- No free plan
- Expensive for one person
Key features
- Scheduling and bulk scheduling
- Unified inbox
- Analytics and reports
- Social listening (higher plans)
Sources
Official pages we checked for the prices, plans and limits on this page:
- Buffer: buffer.com, checked October 26, 2026
- Metricool: metricool.com, checked October 26, 2026
- Meta Business Suite: www.facebook.com, www.facebook.com (2), checked October 26, 2026
- Hootsuite: www.hootsuite.com, checked October 26, 2026