Buffer Essentials
The Buffer Essentials plan costs $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly).
What the plan includes
1 user, unlimited scheduled posts, hashtag manager, first-comment scheduling and reports. The rate per channel drops after 10: $100 a month at 25 channels, billed annually.
As stated on buffer.comThe plans either side of it
- Free$0one below
Up to 3 channels and 1 user, 10 queued posts per channel at a time, the AI Assistant and a comment inbox.
- Team$10 per channel / month, billed annually ($12 billed monthly)one above
Unlimited team members, approval workflows, access levels and branded reports. $150 a month at 25 channels, billed annually.
What else costs about this much
| Tool | Starts at | Free plan |
|---|---|---|
| Hypefury | $5 a month | No |
| Publer | $4 a month | Yes |
| Social Champ | $4 a month | Yes |
Each tool’s own starting price, within a quarter of what this plan costs. A starting price is not the same plan, so read what each one includes before weighing them against each other.
Buffer Essentials questions
How much is the Buffer Essentials plan?
The Buffer Essentials plan costs $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly). 1 user, unlimited scheduled posts, hashtag manager, first-comment scheduling and reports. The rate per channel drops after 10: $100 a month at 25 channels, billed annually.
What is the difference between Buffer Free and Essentials?
Free costs $0 and gives you up to 3 channels and 1 user, 10 queued posts per channel at a time, the AI Assistant and a comment inbox. Essentials costs $5 per channel / month, billed annually ($6 billed monthly) and gives you 1 user, unlimited scheduled posts, hashtag manager, first-comment scheduling and reports. The rate per channel drops after 10: $100 a month at 25 channels, billed annually.
Is it worth moving from Essentials to Team?
That depends on what you need. Team costs $10 per channel / month, billed annually ($12 billed monthly) and adds unlimited team members, approval workflows, access levels and branded reports. $150 a month at 25 channels, billed annually. The listing is what each plan states; neither plan is graded on its own.
Does Buffer have a free plan or a trial?
Yes. Free plan: up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time, 1 user, 100 saved ideas and 30 days of analytics history. There is also a 14-day free trial of the paid plans.
When was this checked?
Oct 17, 2026, against https://buffer.com/pricing. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.