Social Media Management Tools
Buffer: features, pricing and who it fits
Buffer is a light scheduler priced per connected channel, not per user. The Free plan allows 10 queued posts per channel, and Essentials starts at $5 per channel monthly. Approval workflows are limited to Team. Reviewers like the calendar but find analytics basic.
Who Buffer is for
Best for
- Creators and small businesses with a few channels
- Teams wanting a free tier to start
Look elsewhere if
- Teams needing social listening or a deep shared inbox (not found on pricing page)
- Buyers needing SSO or audit logs (not published)
Fit by company size
| Category | 1-10 people | 11-50 people | 51-500 people | 500+ people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Media Management Tools | Strong fit | Strong fit | No data | Poor fit |
Strong fitWorkablePoor fitNo data from the vendor
Buffer features
- Scheduling and publishing
- Unlimited scheduled posts on paid plans; 10 per channel on Free; ideas library
- Supported networks
- G2 reviewers name Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X; full current list not confirmed by the vendor
- Analytics and reporting
- Advanced analytics on Essentials and Team
- Approvals and collaboration
- Approval workflows and custom permissions on Team only
- Pricing model
- Per connected channel, not per user
- Target company size
- Solo creators to small teams
Buffer pricing
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | up to 3 channels | 10 scheduled posts per channel, 1 user |
| Essentials | $5 | per channel/month ($60/year) | 1 user, advanced analytics |
| Team | $10 | per channel/month ($120/year) | Unlimited users, approval workflows |
Pricing page says prices last updated November 2025. Volume pricing above 10 channels, amounts not published. Nonprofits get 50% off.
Prices as published by Buffer on the date above. Quotes for larger teams often differ, which is what a request on SaaSBid surfaces.
Pros and cons
What users like
- Easy to use
- Clean calendar and scheduling
Common complaints
- Limited analytics
- Pricing grows with channel count
Worth knowing before you buy
- Upgrading from Free means paying for all connected channels, including the original three
- Annual discount shown as 'save 2 months' (about 17%) on cards but 20% in the FAQ
- API keys: 1 on Free, 3 on Essentials, 5 on Team
- Accepts cards only: no PayPal, checks or bank transfer
- Publishes its own finances; about page cited $27.6M ARR
