Buffer
The simplest scheduler that still works properly, and one of the last in this category with a genuine free plan rather than a trial.
What Buffer is best for
The categories Buffer is listed in, and how strong a fit it is in each.
Marketing & Content Creation
Social media, SEO, advertising, copywriting, content ideas, scripts, brand development.
Strong fit
Buffer’s biggest strengths
Marketing & Content CreationThe simplest scheduler that still works properly, and one of the last in this category with a genuine free plan rather than a trial.
Where it may not be the best fit
Marketing & Content CreationDeliberately light on analytics and approvals compared with the agency tools. The free plan covers three channels.
Buffer pricing
Buffer has a free plan. Free forever plan for up to 3 channels, with 10 scheduled posts a channel, 100 ideas, the AI Assistant, insights and API access
FreeFree forever plan for up to 3 channels, with 10 scheduled posts a channel, 100 ideas, the AI Assistant, insights and API access
$0EssentialsUnlimited scheduled posts and ideas, advanced analytics, 3 API keys, 14-day trial
$6/mo · $5/mo yearlyTeamUnlimited team members, 5 API keys, 14-day trial. Both plans are priced per channel, so the price rises with the channels you connect
$12/mo · $10/mo yearlyChecked by hand on 4 September 2026. Prices change often, so confirm on the provider’s own page before spending.
Who makes Buffer
Fully remote, publishes its own salaries and revenue, and has kept a real free plan while most of its competitors dropped theirs.
CompanyBuffer
Founded2010
Based inSan Francisco, US
SectorMarketing & content
ModelThird-party
StatusPrivate
Primary usersCreators, Small business
Free planYes
ComputeThird-party
Public listingNone announced
Best alternatives to Buffer
Tools that do comparable work, best fit first, drawn from the catalogue rather than hand-picked. Every one is listed whether or not there is money in it for us.
Ahrefs
Free
Its own crawler and index rather than a licensed one, which is why its backlink data is the reference point most others are compared against.
View Ahrefs →Canva Magic Studio
Free
Gets a week of social assets done in an afternoon — templates, brand kit enforcement, copy and resizing in one place.
View Canva Magic Studio →ChatGPT
Free
Fastest for volume — ad variants, subject lines, content calendars, scripts — with image generation in the same window.
View ChatGPT →Claude
Free
Best of the general options at holding a specific brand voice across a long batch of copy rather than drifting.
View Claude →Scalenut
Free
Takes a keyword through research, outline and draft in one pass, at a price well below the American SEO suites.
View Scalenut →Semrush
Free
Real search data underneath the AI, so a keyword volume or a ranking is something you can check rather than something a model guessed.
View Semrush →Buffer by job
Where Buffer sits in the wider category pages.
Best AI for Marketing
Strong fit — Social media, SEO, advertising, copywriting, content ideas, scripts, brand development.
Questions about Buffer
Is Buffer free?
Yes — Free forever plan for up to 3 channels, with 10 scheduled posts a channel, 100 ideas, the AI Assistant, insights and API access. The cheapest paid tier is Essentials, at $6/mo month to month or $5/mo billed yearly.
What is Buffer best at?
The simplest scheduler that still works properly, and one of the last in this category with a genuine free plan rather than a trial. It is listed under Marketing & Content Creation.
What should I watch out for with Buffer?
Deliberately light on analytics and approvals compared with the agency tools. The free plan covers three channels.
What are the alternatives to Buffer?
6 tools do comparable work: Ahrefs, Canva Magic Studio, ChatGPT, Claude, Scalenut, Semrush. 6 of them have a free plan.
How current is this Buffer pricing?
Checked by hand on 4 September 2026. Prices change often — confirm on the provider's own page before spending.