What Buffer is
Buffer is a tool for planning and scheduling social media posts. You connect your accounts, write posts, and Buffer publishes them at the times you choose. It also gives you a content calendar, an ideas board, basic analytics and a place to reply to comments.
Pricing
Buffer charges per connected channel (one social account) rather than per user. Based on public pricing information checked in October 2026:
- Free: up to 3 channels for one user, with a limit on queued posts per channel.
- Essentials: about $6 per channel a month, or about $5 on annual billing.
- Team: about $12 per channel a month, or about $10 on annual billing, with unlimited users.
The per-channel rate reportedly drops once you connect more than ten channels. When you upgrade, you pay for every connected channel, including the ones you had on the free plan.
Who it suits
Buffer fits a freelancer, creator or small business that wants to schedule posts across a handful of accounts without paying for features it will not use. The free plan is useful for testing whether scheduling fits your routine.
Who should look elsewhere
Agencies managing dozens of client accounts, or teams that need approval workflows, social listening and detailed reporting, will find Buffer thin. Those needs point toward a larger suite such as Hootsuite or Sprout Social, at a much higher price.
Bottom line
Buffer does one job well at a fair price. If scheduling and a tidy calendar are what you need, start with the free plan and upgrade only when you hit its limits.