10 best Buffer alternatives in 2026

Buffer is easy to use and connects to more networks than almost any other scheduler. But it charges per channel, so the bill grows with every account you add, and its free plan holds only 10 posts per channel. Here are ten alternatives, and when each one is the better choice.

Posttyy publishes this article, and Posttyy is on the list. We've said plainly where it falls short. Prices were checked on each tool's own website on 25 September 2026.

Why people look for a Buffer alternative

• Per-channel pricing adds up. Essentials is $6 per channel a month ($5 billed yearly). Ten channels is $60 a month, or $120 on the Team plan.
• The free plan is small. 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, and 8 channel connections ever.
• They need more than scheduling. Some teams want deeper analytics, a shared inbox or content recycling.

If none of those bother you, Buffer is still a good tool. It's simple, and it supports 11 networks, including TikTok, Threads, Bluesky and Pinterest.

What 10 accounts costs

Per-account prices look cheap until you multiply them. Here's the monthly bill for 10 accounts, billed monthly:

1. Posttyy

Best Buffer alternative for: simple scheduling at a flat price.

Posttyy works like Buffer: connect your accounts, write a post, pick a time. The difference is the price. You pay for a number of accounts, not per channel, and every plan has unlimited posts.

• Price: $19 a month for 2 accounts, $39 for 10, $59 for unlimited.
• Better than Buffer at: cost once you have more than a few accounts, a live preview for each network, and an Instagram grid preview.
• Worse than Buffer at: networks. Posttyy posts to X, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. TikTok, Threads and Pinterest are waiting on those networks' approval, and there's no Bluesky or Mastodon. No free plan, just a 7-day trial.

2. Publer

Best Buffer alternative for: keeping per-account pricing, but cheaper.

• Price: $5 per account a month (Professional). Every 10th account is free.
• Free plan: 3 social accounts, not including X.
• Better than Buffer at: price per account.
• Watch out: the free plan leaves out X.

3. Metricool

Best Buffer alternative for: analytics.

• Price: paid plans start with Starter, priced by brand.
• Free plan: 1 brand, one profile per network, 20 published posts a month.
• Better than Buffer at: reports, analytics history and tracking competitors.
• Watch out: the free plan's 20 posts a month.

4. SocialBee

Best Buffer alternative for: recycling evergreen posts.

• Price: $29 a month ($24.20 billed yearly).
• Better than Buffer at: sorting posts into categories and re-sharing the evergreen ones.
• Watch out: no free plan, and more setup than Buffer.

5. Later

Best Buffer alternative for: visual Instagram and TikTok planning.

• Price: Starter, Growth and Scale plans. Starter allows 30 posts per profile a month.
• Better than Buffer at: planning how a feed will look, and link in bio.
• Watch out: Starter is one user and one social set.

6. SocialPilot

Best Buffer alternative for: small agencies.

• Price: $30 a month for 7 accounts and 1 user. Standard is $50 for 15 accounts and 3 users.
• Better than Buffer at: accounts per dollar for teams, plus an inbox on Standard.
• Watch out: no free plan.

7. Pallyy

Best Buffer alternative for: freelancers with several clients.

• Price: $25 a month (Pro), then $10 per extra social set. You pay per client, not per network.
• Free plan: 1 social set, 15 scheduled posts a month, images only.
• Watch out: the free plan has no video.

8. Hootsuite

Best Buffer alternative for: large teams that want everything in one place.

• Price: $99 a month (Standard), with a 30 days free trial.
• Better than Buffer at: inbox, listening and team workflows.
• Watch out: far more expensive than Buffer.

9. Sprout Social

Best Buffer alternative for: reporting and customer care at scale.

• Price: $199 per user a month ($169 billed yearly).
• Better than Buffer at: reports and a shared inbox.
• Watch out: per-user pricing makes it the most expensive option here.

10. Vista Social

Best Buffer alternative for: agencies that want a full suite for less.

• Price: $79 a month for 15 profiles and 2 users ($64 billed yearly).
• Better than Buffer at: inbox, reviews and listening in one tool.
• Watch out: more tool than one small business needs.

Which Buffer alternative should you choose?

• You like Buffer, but it costs too much: Posttyy or Publer.
• You want better analytics: Metricool.
• You manage clients: SocialPilot or Pallyy.
• You need a full team suite: Hootsuite, Sprout Social or Vista Social.

For all ten tools side by side, see the best social media scheduling tools. Looking to leave Hootsuite instead? See Hootsuite alternatives for small businesses.

Common questions

What is cheaper than Buffer?
For one or two accounts, Buffer is already cheap. From about 7 accounts, flat-price tools cost less: Posttyy is $39 a month for 10 accounts, where Buffer Essentials is $60 for 10 channels.

Is there a free alternative to Buffer?
Yes. Metricool, Publer, Zoho Social and Pallyy have free plans. See what each free scheduler allows.

Is Buffer still worth it?
Yes, if you post to only a few channels, or need a network few others support, like Bluesky or Mastodon.