Buffer Alternatives: 18 Tools Compared on Real Prices

I run 4 brands from one Pozy workspace: my podcast Profitable Founder, Distribb, Pozy and my own accounts. That's 16 social accounts on Instagram, X, YouTube, Facebook and Threads. Borja and I both work in it.

On Buffer, two people means the Team plan. Essentials is one user. Buffer's own price bands put 16 channels on Team at $120 a month, billed yearly.

On Pozy we're on Pro: $39 a month billed yearly, for 30 channels and as many people as we want. I co-founded Pozy, so read my first pick with that in mind. It's the social media scheduler I post my podcast clips with every day.

#How I tested them

I've tried each of these 18 tools. Then I put each one next to Buffer on what makes people leave it:

• What you really pay for 3 setups, from each tool's own pricing page (and its calculator where it has one), next to Buffer's price for the same setup.
• Whether it answers DMs as well as comments, and where approvals start.
• The small print: accounts per plan, people per plan, X add-ons, what the free plan leaves out.
• Which plans let Claude or ChatGPT post for you.

Two rules for the prices. I compare yearly prices everywhere, because they're lower. A "user" or a "seat" is one person who logs in. An account, channel, profile or page all mean one connected social account.

#Why people leave Buffer

Buffer schedules posts to your social accounts and charges for each account you connect. It's simple, and its free plan is generous. But:

• You pay for every channel. Essentials is $5 a channel a month billed yearly. 10 channels cost $50 a month, 16 cost $70.
• A team doubles the price. Essentials is 1 user. More people and approvals mean Team, at $10 a channel. 10 channels: $100 a month.
• The inbox is comments only. Buffer's Community inbox replies to comments on 10 networks, not to DMs.
• The free plan is tight. 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time, 30 days of insights.
• No bulk upload or recycling on its plans. Its pricing page lists neither: no month of posts in one file, no re-sharing of old posts that still work.
• Its built-in AI writes captions, not plans. The assistant helps with the text of a post.
• Some posts are only reminders. Instagram personal profiles get a notification to post yourself.

#What Buffer costs in 2026

From its pricing page and calculator on 10 November 2026, billed yearly, before tax:

Monthly billing is $6 and $12 a channel. Past 10 channels the price per channel drops. On its calculator, 25 channels cost $100 a month on Essentials and $150 on Team. The trial lasts 14 days.

#When to stay on Buffer

Stay if:

• You're on the free plan and it's enough. 3 channels, AI help and a comment inbox for $0.
• You post alone to a few channels. 3 channels on Essentials cost $15 a month.
• You want your AI to schedule. Buffer's Claude and ChatGPT connection is on every plan, free included.
• You post to Mastodon or Substack Notes. Buffer does both. Publer, Zoho Social, SocialBu and CoSchedule post to Mastodon too.

On Trustpilot, Buffer scores 4.3 out of 5 from 156 reviews (10 Nov 2026).

#The best Buffer alternatives at a glance

#What you'd pay instead of Buffer

Prices are per month, billed yearly, before tax, from each pricing page on 10 November 2026.

How I counted:

• The setups. 3 accounts means Instagram, X and LinkedIn for one brand. The 10 accounts are 5 per brand and don't need X.
• Buffer: from the price bands on its pricing page. A team needs Team, because Essentials is 1 user.
• Pozy: 10 channels are its Team plan, with no limit on people. X posts add X's own price: 1.5 cents, or 20 cents with a link.
• Publer: from its calculator. The price per account drops as you add accounts, and every 10th account is free. The team adds 2 members.
• SocialPilot: Essentials has 7 accounts and 1 user, and extra accounts are $4 each. Standard has 15 accounts and 3 users.
• ContentStudio: Standard is 5 accounts, 1 workspace (a separate space for one brand) and 1 user. Advanced is 10 accounts, 2 workspaces and 2 users, and a third user is $10.
• Zoho Social: on Standard and Professional, a brand has one account per network. A second brand needs Professional ($30) plus $14.50, or Premium ($40, 3 members) plus $19.50.
• Metricool: also counts brands. Starter covers 5. Teams need Advanced.
• Later: a "social set" is one account per network, so 2 brands need Growth. A third user is $3.75.
• SocialBee: Bootstrap has 5 profiles and Accelerate 10, both 1 user. Extra users are $100 a year each.
• SocialBu: Starter has 8 accounts, no team members and one brand. Growth has 20 accounts, several brands and 4 team members.
• Planable: prices are per workspace, one per brand, with unlimited users. 5 accounts need Pro's 10 pages.
• Vista Social: Professional is 2 users and 15 profiles ($950 a year). Advanced is 3 users ($1,910 a year).
• Sendible: Core has 6 profiles and Plus has 18, both with unlimited users.
• Statusbrew: Lite is 1 user and 5 profiles. Standard is 3 users and 10 profiles.
• CoSchedule: Starter is 1 user and 3 profiles, extra profiles are $5 and X profiles $16. Professional is 2 users and 5 profiles, plus $29 a seat.
• Sprout: needs Professional past 5 profiles.

#Where the inbox and approvals start

From each pricing page on 10 November 2026, billed yearly:

#The 18 best Buffer alternatives

#1. Pozy

Pros: Claude or ChatGPT posts, answers comments and DMs, and reads your numbers for you. The inbox, approvals and bulk scheduling are on every plan. From Team up, one flat price for everyone who logs in.

Cons: No free plan, X posts cost extra at X's own price, and no social listening (tracking what people say about your brand across the web).

For who: Founders and small teams who already use Claude or ChatGPT and want them to run the posting.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on pozy.ai/pricing): Standard is $29 a month, or $23 billed yearly, for 5 channels and 1 person. Team is $39, or $31 billed yearly, for 10 channels and unlimited people. Pro is $39 billed yearly for 30 channels. 7-day free trial, card required.

Next to Buffer: a team with 10 channels pays $31 instead of $100, and the inbox takes DMs as well as comments.

You add Pozy to Claude with one link (ChatGPT needs its developer mode turned on), then ask in plain words. It posts to 13 networks, including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, X, Threads, Bluesky and Google Business.

What else it does:

• One inbox. Comments, DMs and reviews in one list (answer DMs).
• Approvals. Every plan can hold posts until you approve them.
• Recycling. Pozy can re-share a post that still works, on a schedule.
• Instagram trial Reels from your AI. A trial Reel is shown to people who don't follow you first: a free way to test a new hook (how trial Reels work). I posted one on @profitablefounder on 4 November 2026.

Try this in Claude once Pozy is connected:

Use Pozy for this. Post this video on Instagram as a trial Reel with this hook: [hook]. Let me decide later whether my followers see it.

#2. Publer

Pros: The lowest paid price here for 3 accounts, a free plan, bulk upload from a spreadsheet on Professional, and every 10th account free.

Cons: No inbox on its plans page, no X on free, and recycling and its Claude and ChatGPT connection start on Business.

For who: Solo creators who only used Buffer to schedule and want to pay less per account.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on publer.com/plans): Free for 3 accounts (not X) and 10 scheduled posts each. Professional is $5 a month for 1 account, or $4 billed yearly. The price per account drops as you add more. On its calculator, 3 accounts cost $9.60 a month billed yearly, $3.20 each. Business is $10 for 1 account, or $8 billed yearly. Every 10th account is free.

Next to Buffer: 3 accounts for $9.60 a month instead of $15.

#3. SocialPilot

Pros: 7 accounts from $25.50, repeat posts and a Claude and ChatGPT connection on every plan, and 3 users with the inbox on Standard.

Cons: Essentials is 1 user with no inbox, and bulk scheduling starts on Premium, at $85.

For who: Small teams and freelancers who want more accounts per dollar than Buffer gives.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on socialpilot.co/plans): Essentials is $25.50 a month billed yearly ($30 monthly) for 7 accounts and 1 user. Standard is $42.50 for 15 accounts and 3 users. Premium is $85 for 25 accounts. Ultimate is $170 for 50 accounts and unlimited users. Extra accounts are $4 a month. 14-day trial, no card.

Next to Buffer: 3 people, 15 accounts, DMs and approvals for $42.50 a month. Buffer's Team charges $100 for 10.

#4. ContentStudio

Pros: Its own AI plans and writes posts for your brand. A Claude and ChatGPT connection and an API (a way for a developer's code to post for you) come with every plan, from $19 a month.

Cons: Standard is 1 user, 5 accounts and no inbox. The inbox, approvals, bulk upload and recycling all start on Advanced, at $49.

For who: Solo marketers and small teams who want the posts written inside the tool.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on contentstudio.io/pricing): Standard is $19 a month billed yearly ($29 monthly) for 5 accounts, 1 workspace and 1 user. Advanced is $49 ($69 monthly) for 10 accounts, 2 workspaces and 2 users, and extra users are $10. Agency Unlimited is $99 ($139 monthly) for 25 accounts and unlimited users. 7-day trial, no card.

Next to Buffer: the inbox takes DMs as well as comments, from $49 for 10 accounts and 2 people.

#5. Zoho Social

Pros: A free plan that includes X and LinkedIn, Mastodon from Standard, and repeat posts and bulk upload from Professional.

Cons: Standard takes one account per network, and the full inbox and approvals start on Premium, at $40.

For who: Small businesses with one brand who want X and LinkedIn for free.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on zoho.com/social/pricing.html): Free for 1 brand and 6 channels. Standard is $10 a month billed yearly ($15 monthly). Professional is $30 and Premium $40, with 3 team members. 15-day trial, no card.

Next to Buffer: Buffer's free plan stops at 3 channels. Zoho's covers 6, X and LinkedIn included.

#6. Hootsuite

Pros: Scheduling, one inbox, reports and listening in one tool, with bulk scheduling on every plan (not during the trial).

Cons: Every person pays $99 a month or more, and approvals sit on Advanced, at $399 a user.

For who: Big social teams that track their brand and work the inbox in one place.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on hootsuite.com/plans): Standard is $99 a user a month billed yearly, for 10 accounts. Professional is $199 and Advanced $399 a user. Until 13 November 2026, a fall sale gives 50% off the first year of Standard, for one seat on a yearly plan: $49.50 a month.

Next to Buffer: a team of 3 pays $297 a month on Standard, against $100 on Buffer's Team. A move up in features, not down in price.

#7. Agorapulse

Pros: One inbox for messages and comments on every plan, and a free plan after its 30-day trial. Its Claude and ChatGPT connection answers your inbox, drafts and plans posts and pulls your reports.

Cons: X is a paid add-on with no public price, and every person pays $79 or more.

For who: Community managers who spend their day in comments and DMs.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on agorapulse.com/pricing): Standard is $79 a user a month billed yearly ($99 monthly) for 10 profiles. Professional is $119 and Advanced $149. X has its own add-ons, price on request.

Next to Buffer: you get the DMs Buffer doesn't answer, for $79 a person instead of $5 a channel.

#8. Sendible

Pros: Unlimited users on every plan, bulk scheduling on Core, and fully branded client reports from Premium.

Cons: Core stops at 6 profiles, and approvals start on Plus, at $84.

For who: Agencies and businesses with many people in one account.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on sendible.com/pricing): Core is $30 a month billed yearly ($35 monthly) for 6 profiles. Plus is $84 ($99 monthly) for 18 profiles and 3 workspaces. 14-day trial, no card.

Next to Buffer: a team of 3 with 10 accounts pays $84 instead of $100, with no limit on people.

#9. Vista Social

Pros: 15 profiles and 2 users from $80, the inbox, approvals, DM automations and a Claude and ChatGPT connection on every plan.

Cons: X is a $29 a month add-on, and there is no free plan.

For who: Small teams that want scheduling, DMs and DM automations in one tool. A DM automation sends a DM on its own, like a link to anyone who comments a word.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on vistasocial.com/pricing): Professional is $950 a year, shown as $80 a month ($99 monthly), for 2 users and 15 profiles. Advanced is $1,910 a year ($160 a month) for 3 users. 14-day trial, no card.

Next to Buffer: 15 profiles and two people for $80, where Buffer's Team costs $100 for 10 channels.

#10. Later

Pros: Built for Instagram and TikTok, with Instagram DMs in the inbox from Growth.

Cons: No X at all, and Starter allows 30 posts per profile a month.

For who: Creators and brands whose feed lives on Instagram and TikTok.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on later.com/pricing): Starter is $18.75 a month billed yearly ($25 monthly), for one "social set" (one account per network) and 1 user. Growth is $37.50 for 2 sets and 2 users. Scale is $82.50. 14-day trial. Until 4 December 2026, new customers on a yearly Growth or Scale plan get 3 more months on top, with the code LATERBF26.

Next to Buffer: Instagram DMs and approvals from $37.50, if you can live without X.

#11. SocialBee

Pros: Content categories that re-share your evergreen posts (ones that stay useful for months) on a schedule. Its inbox takes Facebook and Instagram DMs. Both come with every plan.

Cons: 1 user until Pro, extra users are $100 a year, and no Claude or ChatGPT connection on its pricing page.

For who: Solo marketers who want a steady mix of posts without writing new ones every day.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on socialbee.com/pricing): Bootstrap is $24.20 a month billed yearly ($290 a year) for 5 profiles and 1 user. Accelerate is $40.80 for 10 profiles, with approvals. Pro is $82.50 for 25 profiles and 3 users. 14-day trial, no card.

Next to Buffer: the recycling Buffer doesn't do, for $24.20 a month for 5 profiles.

#12. SocialBu

Pros: A free plan, bulk upload and recycling on every plan, and a Claude and ChatGPT connection that can publish, from $22 a month.

Cons: Starter has no team members and no inbox. Both start on Growth, at $59.

For who: Solo posters who want Buffer's simplicity plus bulk upload and recycling.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on socialbu.com/pricing): Free for 3 accounts and 10 posts in total. Starter is $22 a month billed yearly ($29 monthly) for 8 accounts and 1 user. Growth is $59 ($79 monthly) for 20 accounts and 4 team members. Agency is $149 ($199 monthly) for 50 accounts. 7-day trial.

Next to Buffer: 8 accounts for $22 a month, where Buffer's Essentials charges $40.

#13. Metricool

Pros: Free analytics for 1 brand, 5 competitors to watch, and a Claude and ChatGPT connection listed on the free plan.

Cons: No LinkedIn or X on free, and X costs $10 a month per account on every paid plan.

For who: People who want better numbers than Buffer's and post on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on metricool.com/pricing): Free for 1 brand and 20 posts a month. Starter from $20 a month billed yearly ($25 monthly) for 5 brands. Advanced from $53, with teams and approvals.

Next to Buffer: 5 brands for $20 a month, against $50 for 10 Buffer channels.

#14. Planable

Pros: Your first 50 posts are free, with unlimited users. Optional approvals on every plan, required ones from Pro. A Claude and ChatGPT connection on paid plans.

Cons: Basic publishes 1 X post every 24 hours, and the inbox and analytics are add-ons.

For who: Agencies and teams where a client or a boss approves every post.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on planable.io/pricing): Basic is $33 a workspace a month billed yearly ($39 monthly) for 60 posts and 4 pages. Pro is $49 for 150 posts and 10 pages. The inbox is $7.50 and analytics $12 a workspace on top.

Next to Buffer: approvals for the whole team from $33 a workspace, not $10 a channel. Required approvals need Pro, at $49.

#15. Loomly

Pros: 12 accounts and 3 users with approvals on Starter, and unlimited scheduling.

Cons: X isn't on its pricing page or its listed networks, and yearly plans are paid upfront.

For who: A small team that needs approvals and posts to Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and TikTok.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on loomly.com/pricing): Starter is $49 a month billed yearly ($65 monthly) for 12 accounts and 3 users. Beyond is $249 for 60 accounts and unlimited users. Free trial, no card.

Next to Buffer: a team of 3 with approvals for $49, instead of $100 on Buffer's Team.

#16. Sprout Social

Pros: Reports a boss can read, an AI teammate called Trellis on every plan, and a 30-day trial with no card.

Cons: It costs per seat, and Essentials and Standard stop at 5 profiles.

For who: Companies with a social team that reports to management.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on sproutsocial.com/pricing): Essentials is $79 a seat a month billed yearly ($99 monthly) for 5 profiles. Standard is $199, Professional $299 with no profile limit, Advanced $399.

Next to Buffer: a team of 3 with 10 profiles pays $897 a month on Professional. A switch for the reports, not for the price.

#17. Statusbrew

Pros: One inbox and unlimited posts on every plan, and a 14-day trial with no card.

Cons: Lite is 1 user and 5 profiles for $69, approvals start on Premium, and its Claude and ChatGPT connection is Enterprise only.

For who: Brands with busy comment sections that need moderation more than posting.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on statusbrew.com/pricing): Lite is $69 a month billed yearly ($89 monthly) for 1 user and 5 profiles. Standard is $129 for 3 users and 10 profiles. Premium is $229 for 6 users and 15 profiles.

Next to Buffer: alone with 3 accounts you pay $69 instead of $15, for an inbox built for heavy moderation.

#18. CoSchedule

Pros: Blog posts and social posts on one calendar, a free plan, and bulk import and recycling (ReQueue) on every paid plan.

Cons: X is $16 a profile a month on top, and Starter is 1 user.

For who: Marketers who plan blog and social content together.

Pricing (checked 10 Nov 2026 on coschedule.com/pricing): Free for up to 15 scheduled posts on 1 profile. Starter is $29 a month billed yearly ($39 monthly) for 3 profiles. Professional is $49 for 2 users and 5 profiles. Extra profiles are $5. The trial asks for a card.

Next to Buffer: 3 accounts with X cost $45 a month instead of $15, with your blog on the same calendar.

#Can your AI post for you?

Buffer's connection to Claude and ChatGPT works through MCP, the open standard that lets an AI assistant use another app for you, like a plug.

From each tool's own page on 10 November 2026:

#Which networks each one posts to

Buffer posts to 11 networks: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, Threads, Bluesky, Google Business, X and Mastodon. Here is what each alternative leaves out, and what it adds, from the network lists on its own site on 10 November 2026:

#The X (Twitter) costs

X changes the price more than any other network. On 10 November 2026:

• Later: X isn't in its networks at all.
• Loomly: no X on its pricing page or its listed networks.
• Publer: no X on the free plan.
• Metricool: $10 a month for each X account.
• Vista Social: X is a $29 a month add-on.
• CoSchedule: $16 a month for each X profile.
• Agorapulse: sells X add-ons, price on request.
• Planable: 1 X post every 24 hours on Basic.
• Pozy: X's own price per post, 1.5 cents, or 20 cents with a link.
• Buffer, ContentStudio, SocialBee, SocialBu, Zoho Social, SocialPilot, Sendible, Hootsuite, Sprout Social and Statusbrew: X is in the plan price, like any other account.

#The best free Buffer alternatives

• Zoho Social: 1 brand and 6 channels, X and LinkedIn included.
• Metricool: 1 brand, 20 posts a month, 30 days of analytics. No LinkedIn or X.
• Publer: 3 accounts, 10 scheduled posts each. No X.
• Planable: your first 50 posts, with no time limit and no card.
• CoSchedule: up to 15 scheduled posts at a time on 1 profile.
• SocialBu: 3 accounts and 10 posts in total, not per month.
• Agorapulse: its FAQ says you can keep its free plan after the 30-day trial.

The others are free only during their trial, Pozy included.

#The cheapest Buffer alternatives

• Alone, 3 accounts: Buffer's and Zoho's free plans. Paid: Publer $9.60, Zoho $10, ContentStudio $19. Buffer: $15.
• Alone, 10 accounts for 2 brands: Metricool $20, Publer $28.80, Pozy $31. Buffer: $50.
• Team of 3, 10 accounts: Pozy $31, Publer $32 (no inbox), Later $41.25 (no X), SocialPilot $42.50. Buffer: $100.

#How to switch from Buffer without losing a post

1. List what's in your queue. Buffer's Claude connection can read what's coming up, or you copy it into a spreadsheet. Keep the images and videos.
2. Write down your channels and who does what. Who drafts and who approves.
3. Start the trial and connect your accounts. Each one signs in on its own network's page.
4. Set up approvals before any post goes through the new tool.
5. Rebuild the queue. Import the spreadsheet if your new tool takes one, or add the posts by hand.
6. Run both for a week. Delete each post from Buffer once the new tool has it, so nothing goes out twice.
7. Cancel before your renewal date, once the new tool has posted at least once on every network. Export your reports first, on Essentials or Team.

With Pozy, step 5 is one message, plus your media. If Buffer and Pozy are both connected to Claude, ask:

Read my upcoming posts in Buffer. Then use Pozy to schedule the same posts on the same accounts and times. Show me the list first and tell me about any that would fail. If you cannot see Pozy's tools yet, tell me how to connect Pozy first.

Pozy can also take a spreadsheet and check every row before it schedules.

#How to choose your Buffer alternative

• Is it the price per channel? Alone with 10 accounts, Metricool ($20), Publer ($28.80), Pozy ($31), SocialPilot and Later ($37.50), SocialBee ($40.80), Zoho Social ($44.50), and Loomly and ContentStudio ($49) all cost less than Buffer's $50.
• Do you need DMs? On the first paid plan: Pozy, Agorapulse, Vista Social, SocialBee, Statusbrew, Hootsuite (at $99 a user) and CoSchedule (Facebook and Instagram). Metricool even on free, except X and LinkedIn. Higher up: Zoho Social from Professional, SocialPilot from Standard, ContentStudio from Advanced, SocialBu and Later from Growth, Sprout Social from Standard, Planable as an add-on.
• Do you want to upload a month of posts, or recycle old ones? Pozy, CoSchedule, SocialBu, Sendible and Loomly do both on every paid plan. The questions below list every tool that does one or the other.
• How many people log in? Per-user prices (Hootsuite, Agorapulse, Sprout) grow with the team. Sendible, Planable and Pozy's Team plan don't, and Loomly's Starter covers 3 people.
• Do you want your AI to do the work? Pozy, Agorapulse, Vista Social or ContentStudio if it should answer the inbox too. Buffer, SocialPilot, Metricool, SocialBu, Publer, Zoho Social or Planable if scheduling is enough. Hootsuite's and Statusbrew's connections can't publish on their own, and Agorapulse's has no publish-now.

#What users say

On Trustpilot, three recent 1 and 2 star reviews of Buffer name the problems people leave over:

• Failed posts. In November 2026, a reviewer wrote that their Pinterest posts keep failing, "all the time".
• Thin analytics. In October 2026, a reviewer who used it for a client's analytics said the insights showed too little.
• Reminders instead of posts. In July 2026, a reviewer found Instagram posts came as a reminder to post it yourself.

Every tool here has bad reviews too. Run your real posts through the trial before you move everything.

#Which one should you pick?

• You'd rather tell your AI what to post and answer: Pozy. That's why we built it.
• You want it free, with X and LinkedIn: Zoho Social. Metricool if you can skip X and LinkedIn and want the numbers.
• You pay for 1 to 3 accounts, alone: Publer for the price.
• You need DMs: Pozy, Agorapulse or Vista Social.
• You're an agency: Sendible for unlimited users, Planable for client approvals.
• You're a team of 3: Pozy's Team plan ($31), Publer ($32), SocialPilot ($42.50) or Loomly ($49) for approvals.
• Your feed is Instagram and TikTok: Later.
• You report to a boss: Sprout Social.

#Questions

What is the best alternative to Buffer? If you want your AI to post and answer for you, Pozy. For a free plan with X and LinkedIn, Zoho Social. For the lowest paid price, Publer. For small teams, SocialPilot.

Is there a free alternative to Buffer? Yes. Zoho Social is free for 6 channels, X and LinkedIn included. Metricool, Publer, CoSchedule, SocialBu and Agorapulse have free plans too, and Planable gives your first 50 posts free.

Is Buffer free? Yes, for 3 channels and 1 user, with 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time. Paid plans start at $5 a channel a month billed yearly.

How much does Buffer cost in 2026? Essentials is $5 a channel a month billed yearly, or $6 monthly. Team is $10 a channel, or $12 monthly. 10 channels cost $50 or $100 a month, billed yearly.

Why do people leave Buffer? The price grows with every channel, a team doubles it, and the inbox answers comments but not DMs.

What is the cheapest Buffer alternative? Zoho Social's free plan, then Publer at $9.60 a month for 3 accounts. For a team of 3 with 10 accounts, Pozy's Team plan is $31 and Publer is $32.

Does Buffer answer DMs? No. Its Community inbox replies to comments, on every plan.

Does Buffer have approvals? Yes, on the Team plan, at $10 a channel a month billed yearly. Pozy, Vista Social and SocialBu have approvals on every plan, Loomly on Starter and Publer from Professional. Planable has optional approvals on Basic and required ones from Pro.

What's the best Buffer alternative for agencies? Sendible, for unlimited users and client reports. Planable if clients approve every post. Pozy if you want one project per client and your AI doing the posting, with no limit on people from Team up.

What's the best Buffer alternative for small businesses? Zoho Social or Publer for one brand. Pozy if you already use Claude or ChatGPT at work. SocialPilot for a small team.

Does Later have a free plan? No. Later has a 14-day free trial, then paid plans from $18.75 a month billed yearly.

What's the best Buffer alternative for Instagram? Later, if you don't need X. Pozy if you want your AI to post trial Reels and answer Instagram DMs.

Can Claude or ChatGPT post through Buffer? Yes. Buffer's connection creates and schedules posts, manages your queue and reads your insights, on every plan. Pozy's also answers comments and DMs and posts trial Reels.

Can I move my Buffer queue without losing posts? Yes. List your upcoming posts, rebuild them in the new tool, and run both for a week before you cancel.

Is there a Buffer alternative that doesn't charge per channel? Yes, most of them. Pozy, SocialPilot, ContentStudio, SocialBu, Sendible, Vista Social, Loomly, Statusbrew, SocialBee and CoSchedule sell plans with a set number of accounts. Zoho Social and Metricool charge per brand, Later per set of accounts, and Planable per workspace. Hootsuite, Agorapulse and Sprout Social charge per person. Publer charges per account, like Buffer, for less.

Is it worth leaving Buffer over the price? Alone on 3 channels, rarely: $15 a month is hard to beat. With a team or 10 channels and more, the gap gets big. A team of 3 with 10 accounts pays $100 on Buffer and $31 to $49 on five tools here.

Which Buffer alternative has social listening? Hootsuite has it on every plan, with a 7-day search on Standard. Statusbrew has it from Premium. Loomly's Starter includes 2 searches a month, and SocialBu includes it from Starter. Sprout Social, Agorapulse, Vista Social, Planable and ContentStudio sell it as an add-on. Pozy doesn't do listening.

Which has the best analytics on a small budget? Metricool: free for 1 brand, and 5 brands for $20 a month, with competitors to compare against.

Which Buffer alternative can bulk upload or recycle posts? Pozy does both on every plan, and SocialBu on every plan, free included. Bulk upload comes with every paid plan on Hootsuite, Vista Social, CoSchedule, Sendible, Loomly and Statusbrew. It starts on Professional at Publer and Zoho Social, and Accelerate at SocialBee. Agorapulse and ContentStudio have it from Advanced, SocialPilot from Premium. Recycling comes with every paid plan on SocialBee, SocialPilot (repeat posts), CoSchedule (ReQueue), Sendible and Loomly. Zoho Social has it from Professional, Publer on Business, ContentStudio from Advanced.

Which Buffer alternatives have an API? Buffer has one on every plan, free included. So do Pozy and ContentStudio. SocialBu's starts on Starter, Publer's on Business and Planable's on Pro. Metricool's is on Advanced ($53), Sprout Social's on Advanced ($399 a seat), and SocialPilot's on its custom Enterprise plan.

Is Pozy free? No. Every plan starts with a 7-day free trial, card required. After that it's from $23 a month billed yearly. Cancel before the 7 days end and you pay nothing for the plan.

Compare more schedulers in the best social media schedulers, or see the Hootsuite alternatives if you're also looking at bigger tools.