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Alternatives · Social Media

Buffer alternatives

Buffer compared with 12 alternatives: Hootsuite, Later, Publer, SocialBee, Metricool and 7 more.

Buffer has a free plan. Paid plans start at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly). 3 of the 12 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 9 more offer a free trial.

12 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 17, 2026 · Where the facts come from

At a glance

ToolPriceFree planRuns on
BufferThis toolFree plan · from $5/moYesWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension
HootsuiteFree trial · from $99/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android
LaterFree trial · from $18.75/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension
PublerFree plan · from $4/moYesWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension
SocialBeeFree trial · from $29/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android
MetricoolFree plan · from $20/moYesWeb, iOS, Android
ContentStudioFree trial · from $19/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension
HypefuryFree trial · from $5/moTrial onlyWeb
OcoyaFree trial · from $29/moTrial onlyWeb
SocialPilotFree trial · from $25.50/moTrial onlyWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension
TailwindFree trial · from $17.99/moTrial onlyWeb, Browser extension
TaplioFree trial · from $32/moTrial onlyWeb, Browser extension
Zoho SocialFree plan · from $10/moYesWeb, iOS, Android, Browser extension

Price against what you get

Buffer starts at $5 a month and scores 3.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. None of the 12 alternatives on this chart both scores higher and starts lower.

Hootsuite scores higher without starting lower. Publer starts lower without scoring higher.

Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged

C2.0B3.0A4.0$2$5$10$20$50$100More for lessCosts more, scores moreCosts less, scores lessCosts more, scores lessBufferHootsuiteLaterPublerSocialBeeMetricoolContentStudioHypefuryOcoyaSocialPilotTailwindTaplioZoho Social

What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →

  • The best score at each price
  • Has a free plan
  • No free plan
The full chart of social media schedulers, and the best at every price

How each one differs from Buffer

  1. Hootsuite

    Social media suite for publishing, inbox, listening and reports

    • Hootsuite starts at $99 per user / month, billed annually. Buffer starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly).
    • Buffer has a free plan. Hootsuite does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Buffer lists a browser extension.
    • Hootsuite also covers shared inbox.
    • Buffer also covers templates.

    Suits: Marketing and social teams that also handle customer messages on social

    Hootsuite vs BufferHootsuite pricing and details

  2. Later

    Visual social media planner with link in bio and analytics

    • Later starts at $18.75 per month for up to 8 social profiles, billed annually. Buffer starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly).
    • Buffer has a free plan. Later does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Later also covers shared inbox.
    • Buffer also covers templates.

    Suits: Creators and brands built around Instagram and TikTok

    Later vs BufferLater pricing and details

  3. Publer

    Social media scheduler priced by connected accounts and members

    • Publer starts at $4 per month for 1 social account, billed yearly ($5 billed monthly). Buffer starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly).
    • Buffer also covers templates.

    Suits: Solo creators who want one or two accounts for a few dollars a month

    Publer vs BufferPubler pricing and details

  4. SocialBee

    Category-based social media scheduler that recycles evergreen posts

    • SocialBee starts at $29 per month for up to 5 social profiles, billed monthly ($290 yearly). Buffer starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly).
    • Buffer has a free plan. SocialBee does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Buffer lists a browser extension.
    • Buffer also covers templates.

    Suits: Small businesses that want evergreen posts to keep circulating

    SocialBee vs BufferSocialBee pricing and details

  5. Metricool

    Social media planner and analytics priced by the number of brands

    • Metricool starts at $20 per month for up to 5 brands, billed annually ($25 billed monthly). Buffer starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly).
    • Only Buffer lists a browser extension.
    • Buffer also covers templates.

    Suits: Freelancers and small agencies paying by brand rather than by user

    Metricool vs BufferMetricool pricing and details

  6. ContentStudio

    Social media planner with AI content, inbox and agency workspaces

    • ContentStudio starts at $19 per month for up to 5 social accounts, billed annually ($29 monthly). Buffer starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly).
    • Buffer has a free plan. ContentStudio does not, though it has a free trial.
    • ContentStudio also covers shared inbox.
    • Buffer also covers templates.

    Suits: Agencies running many client brands with unlimited users

    ContentStudio vs BufferContentStudio pricing and details

  7. Hypefury

    Post scheduler for creators on Bluesky, Threads, LinkedIn and more

    • Hypefury starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly). Buffer starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly).
    • Buffer has a free plan. Hypefury does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Buffer lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Only Buffer lists a browser extension.
    • Buffer also covers templates and calendar.

    Suits: Solo creators posting the same writing to Bluesky, Threads, LinkedIn and Instagram

    Hypefury vs BufferHypefury pricing and details

  8. Ocoya

    AI-assisted social scheduler with a design studio and workflows

    • Ocoya starts at $29 per month for up to 5 social profiles, billed monthly. Buffer starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly).
    • Buffer has a free plan. Ocoya does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Buffer lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Only Buffer lists a browser extension.
    • Ocoya also covers shared inbox and workflow automation.

    Suits: Small teams that want AI to draft and illustrate most of their posts

    Ocoya vs BufferOcoya pricing and details

  9. SocialPilot

    Social media scheduler for agencies and small teams, priced by plan

    • SocialPilot starts at $25.50 per month for up to 7 accounts, billed annually ($30 billed monthly). Buffer starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly).
    • Buffer has a free plan. SocialPilot does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Buffer also covers templates.

    Suits: Small agencies that want client approvals and branded reports at a flat price

    SocialPilot vs BufferSocialPilot pricing and details

  10. Tailwind

    Pinterest scheduler that designs, writes and times Pins for you

    • Tailwind starts at $17.99 per Pinterest account / month, billed annually ($29.99 monthly). Buffer starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly).
    • Buffer has a free plan. Tailwind does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Buffer lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Buffer also covers templates.

    Suits: Bloggers and online shops that get traffic from Pinterest

    Tailwind vs BufferTailwind pricing and details

  11. Taplio

    LinkedIn post writing, scheduling and engagement tool

    • Taplio starts at $32 per seat / month, billed annually ($39 billed monthly). Buffer starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly).
    • Buffer has a free plan. Taplio does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Buffer lists iOS and Android apps.
    • Buffer also covers templates.

    Suits: Founders and consultants building a personal brand on LinkedIn

    Taplio vs BufferTaplio pricing and details

  12. Zoho Social

    Social media scheduler priced per brand, with agency plans

    • Zoho Social starts at $10 per month for 1 brand (14 channels), billed annually ($15 monthly). Buffer starts at $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly).
    • Zoho Social also covers shared inbox.
    • Buffer also covers templates.

    Suits: Small businesses with one account on each of many networks

    Zoho Social vs BufferZoho Social pricing and details

Limits worth knowing in Buffer

  • The Free plan holds only 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time and keeps 30 days of analytics.
  • Essentials allows a single user; approval workflows, access controls and branded reports need Team.
  • Upgrading means paying for every connected channel, including the three that were free.
  • Instagram personal profiles and Facebook groups get reminder notifications to post by hand, not automatic publishing.
Buffer pricing and details

Common questions

What are the alternatives to Buffer?

The alternatives to Buffer in this directory are Hootsuite, Later, Publer, SocialBee, Metricool, ContentStudio, Hypefury, Ocoya, SocialPilot, Tailwind, Taplio and Zoho Social. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Buffer.

Is there a free alternative to Buffer?

Yes. Publer, Metricool and Zoho Social have a free plan alongside paid ones.

When were these prices checked?

Every listing on this page was checked on Oct 17, 2026, against the pages it cites. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.