Simple social media scheduler

Buffer Review (2026): Pricing, Free Plan, Pros and Alternative

Buffer is a polished, approachable scheduler with a generous three-channel free entry. Paid pricing scales per channel and adds unlimited queues, analytics and team approvals.

Visit official website
3.3Trustpilot · 115 reviews
Category
Simple social media scheduler
Starting price
Free; paid from $5/channel/month annually
Free access
Free forever for 3 channels
Best for
Solo creators who value a clean publishing workflow

At a glance

  • Free: 3 channels and 10 queued posts each
  • Essentials: $5 per channel annually
  • Team: $10 per channel annually
  • AI Assistant and API included

What is it?

Buffer prioritizes clarity. Publishing, ideas, analytics and community engagement are separated into an easy workflow with little setup overhead.

Per-channel pricing is fair for a small footprint but becomes significant across many brands. Agencies should calculate total channels rather than compare only the advertised single-channel price.

Key features

  • Simple queue and calendar publishing
  • AI Assistant and ideas board
  • Analytics and custom reports on paid plans
  • Team approvals and access controls

Pricing and plans

Free

$0

3 channels and 10 scheduled slots per channel.

Essentials

$5/channel/mo annual

Unlimited scheduled posts and advanced analytics.

Team

$10/channel/mo annual

Unlimited members, permissions and approvals.

Prices and limits were checked on official pages in August 2026 and can change. Confirm the current offer before subscribing. Visit official website

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Very easy to use
  • Useful free tier
  • Transparent per-channel model

Cons

  • Many channels increase cost
  • Free queue is limited
  • Advanced team work doubles channel price

Our verdict

Buffer remains one of the safest simple schedulers. dopost is a compelling alternative if bundled account limits, workspaces and a lower multi-channel total fit better.

Comparison with dopost

AreaBufferdopost
Free plan3 channels, 10 queued each3 accounts, 10 monthly posts total
Paid model$5 or $10 per channelBundled account limits
Team scalingTeam price per channelSeats and workspaces by plan

Frequently asked questions

Is Buffer free?

Yes. Buffer Free supports up to 3 channels with 10 scheduled slots per channel.

How much is Buffer?

Annual Essentials pricing starts at $5 per channel monthly; Team starts at $10 per channel.

What is a Buffer alternative?

dopost offers a visual multi-platform calendar with bundled account plans instead of per-channel billing.

Sources and methodology

This editorial review is based on the vendor's public website, pricing page and help documentation. We do not invent user quotes or ratings, and outbound vendor links are marked nofollow.

More social media tool reviews