Buffer
Cappy’s Quick Take
| At a glance | Details |
|---|---|
| What it is | A simple social media scheduler with a free plan and an AI Assistant for writing posts |
| Pricing | Freemium · Essentials $5/channel/month · Team $10/channel/month (annual billing) |
| Free plan | Yes, up to 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts each |
| Works with | Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube and more, plus Canva |
| Best for | Small businesses and creators who want simple, affordable scheduling |
| Cappy Score | 4.5/5 |
What is Buffer?
Buffer is a social media scheduler. You write posts once, schedule them across your channels, and Buffer publishes them for you. It’s known for being simple and affordable.
Its AI Assistant helps you brainstorm ideas, write captions and repurpose posts for different platforms. Paid plans add analytics, and Team adds approvals for posts.
Buffer charges per channel, meaning each connected social account. That keeps it cheap for a few accounts, but the bill grows with every account you add.
Key features
- Scheduling: plan and auto-publish posts across your channels.
- AI Assistant: generate ideas, write captions and repurpose posts.
- Content calendar: see and organize everything you’ve scheduled.
- Analytics: track post and account performance on paid plans.
- Community inbox: reply to comments in one place.
- Approvals: review posts before they go live (Team).
Pricing plans
| Plan | Price | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel |
| Essentials | $5/channel/month billed annually, or $6 billed monthly | One person who wants unlimited scheduling and analytics |
| Team | $10/channel/month billed annually, or $12 billed monthly | Teams that need unlimited users, permissions and approvals |
Which plan should you pick? Start on Free if you post to 3 channels or fewer. Choose Essentials when you need more posts in the queue or analytics. Only choose Team if someone else drafts or approves your posts.
Buffer free plan: what you get
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Channels | Up to 3 |
| Scheduled posts | 10 per channel at a time |
| Users | 1 |
| AI Assistant | Included |
The catch: The 10-post limit is per channel at any one time, so you can only plan about a week or two ahead. Essentials is single-user; teams need the Team plan, which doubles the price per channel.
Who is Buffer for?
- Small businesses: schedule posts without a big budget.
- Creators: stay consistent across platforms.
- Freelance marketers: manage a few client accounts.
- Beginners: learn scheduling on a free plan.
Consider something else if you manage many accounts with a large team, or need social listening and advanced reporting.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Useful free plan
- Simple and easy to learn
- Low price per channel
- AI Assistant on every plan
Cons
- Cost grows with every channel
- Essentials is single-user only
- Approvals only on Team
- Lighter analytics than enterprise tools
Buffer alternatives
| Tool | Why consider it |
|---|---|
| Publer | Per-account pricing from $4, with a free plan |
| Hootsuite | Enterprise features and social listening |
| Sprout Social | Advanced analytics and team inbox |
| Predis.ai | AI that creates the posts for you |
How to get started with Buffer
- Sign up free at buffer.com.
- Connect up to 3 channels, such as Instagram, LinkedIn or TikTok.
- Write a post, or ask the AI Assistant for ideas.
- Schedule it and let Buffer publish it.
Tip: Count your channels before upgrading: each social account is a channel, so 4 accounts on Essentials cost $20 a month billed annually.
Frequently asked questions
Is Buffer free?
Yes. Buffer’s free plan covers up to 3 channels, with 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time and the AI Assistant.
How much does Buffer cost?
Essentials costs $6 and Team $12 per channel per month. Billed annually, they cost $5 and $10 per channel per month.
Does Buffer charge per user or per channel?
Per channel. Essentials is for one user, and Team includes unlimited team members at no extra cost per person.
Does Buffer have AI?
Yes. Buffer’s AI Assistant helps write and repurpose posts, and it’s included on every plan, including Free.