Buffer

What is Buffer?

Buffer is a social media workspace for scheduling, publishing, engagement and analytics with a built-in AI Assistant. It supports 12 platforms including Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, X and YouTube.

Key capabilities of Buffer

• Scheduling and publishing: Plan posts across connected channels.
• AI Assistant: Refine and draft content on all plans.
• Analytics: Advanced analytics and reporting on paid plans.
• Team approvals: Approval workflows and custom permissions on Team.
• Hashtag manager: Hashtag manager and first comment scheduling on Essentials.

How Buffer works

Users connect social channels, write or generate posts with the AI Assistant, then queue them for scheduled publishing. Paid plans add unlimited scheduled posts and deeper analytics, and Team adds approval workflows. Pricing is per connected channel, with reduced rates beyond 10 channels.

Who uses Buffer?

Creators, small businesses and marketing teams manage social calendars with Buffer. Team plans add unlimited team members.

Buffer pricing

Free covers 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts per channel. Essentials is $5 per channel per month ($60 per year) and Team is $10 per channel per month ($120 per year). A 14-day free trial applies to paid plans.

Buffer alternatives

Hootsuite and Sprout Social are larger social suites, Later focuses on visual planning, and Metricool combines scheduling with analytics. Buffer is distinguished by simple per-channel pricing.