Buffer Review
Social Scheduling · Social Media
Simple, reliable social scheduling with an AI assistant for drafting and repurposing.
Our take
The one I recommend to small businesses by default. It does the job, the pricing is honest, and nobody needs training to use it.
At a glance
- Category
- Social Media
- Type
- Social Scheduling
- Pricing
- Freemium
- Free option
- Yes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Best for
- Small teams, solo marketers
What Buffer does
Buffer does scheduling without the bloat. Queue posts per channel, let the AI assistant adapt one idea into platform-appropriate versions, and get analytics that are clear rather than exhaustive. Per-channel pricing means you pay only for what you use.
How marketers actually use it
Connect the two or three channels you actually post to, set a posting schedule per channel, and fill the queue once a week. The AI assistant adapts one idea into platform-appropriate versions so you are not rewriting the same post four times.
Best for
- Small teams scheduling across a few social channels
- Adapting one post into platform-specific variants
- Keeping a consistent posting cadence
- Anyone who found the enterprise suites overwhelming
Watch out for
Analytics and social listening are shallow next to the bigger platforms, and approval workflows are minimal.
Buffer pricing
Free plan covers up to three channels; Essentials is $5/mo per channel.
Checked August 2026. Pricing changes constantly — confirm on the official site before you buy. There are no affiliate links on this page.
Check current Buffer pricingBuffer FAQ
Is Buffer free?
Yes — the free plan covers up to three channels. Essentials is $5/mo per channel, so you pay only for what you use.
Buffer or Hootsuite?
Buffer for small teams that want scheduling to be simple and cheap. Hootsuite for large organisations needing approval workflows, listening and compliance.
Does Buffer have good analytics?
Adequate rather than deep. If reporting matters to you, Metricool gives considerably more for similar money.
How many channels does Buffer’s free plan cover?
Up to three, with a limited queue per channel. For a small business posting to Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook, that is often enough indefinitely.
Does Buffer post to Instagram automatically?
Yes, direct publishing is supported for most Instagram formats. Some formats still require a mobile reminder due to platform API limits.
Buffer alternatives
Other social media tools worth comparing before you commit: