The open-source Buffer alternative
Buffer charges per channel. Postbase charges per plan, is open source, and has an agent that writes and schedules posts for you.
Cancel anytime · or self-host for free
Your whole week in one calendar
Postbase vs Buffer at a glance
Buffer is a simple, well-loved scheduler for creators and small businesses, with a free plan and per-channel pricing.
PostbaseBuffer- Starting price
- Postbase:$29/month for 5 channels, billed monthly or yearly
- Buffer:$5 per channel per month (Essentials)
- Free plan
- Postbase:No free hosted plan: a 7-day trial, or self-host for free
- Buffer:Yes: 3 channels and 10 queued posts per channel
- How pricing scales
- Postbase:Per plan, not per channel: 15 channels and team seats for $39/month
- Buffer:Per channel: 15 channels on Essentials is $75/month
- Networks
- Postbase:X, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, YouTube (Instagram, Facebook and Threads coming soon)
- Buffer:X, LinkedIn, Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile, Substack
- MCP server
- Postbase:Yes, on every plan. Sign in with Postbase or use an API key
- Buffer:Yes, an official remote server for Claude
- Public API
- Postbase:Yes, on every plan. Create a key on the Developers page
- Buffer:Yes, on every plan, with request quotas by plan
- Open source
- Postbase:Yes. Self-host for free with your own platform keys
- Buffer:No
Buffer details from their official pages, checked 26 September 2026. Plans change, so check Buffer pricing, Buffer: scheduling limits and Buffer MCP server before you decide.
Which one should you pick?
Both are good tools. It comes down to what you post and how you work.
Choose Postbase if
- You post to more than a handful of channels and want a flat price. 15 channels is $39/month on Postbase.
- You want to self-host, or read the code that posts for you.
- You want an AI agent inside the app that drafts and schedules, as well as an MCP server for Claude and Cursor.
Choose Buffer if
- You need Instagram, Facebook, Threads or Pinterest today. Postbase is waiting on Meta's app review.
- You only post to two or three channels and want a free plan.
- You want built-in engagement tools for replying to comments.
What you get with Postbase
A calendar for every network, an agent built in, and an MCP server for the AI tools you already use.
Connect the AI tool you already use
Claude, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf or Gemini CLI. Sign in with Postbase and your agent can schedule posts, with no key to paste.
Connect the Postbase MCP server to your AI tool so it can schedule and publish for you.
Authentication
Client
In Claude: Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector, and paste this URL. You'll sign in to Postbase in a browser window — no API key.
https://mcp.postbase.so/mcp
Or use the agent built in
Tell it what to post and when. It checks your channels, writes each version and schedules it when you say so.
Here's a post for all three, with a shorter cut for X. It's set for Wednesday at 12:00.
Everything on one calendar
Posts you write and posts your agent schedules, across every network, in a month, week or day view.
Switching from Buffer
Run both for a week before you decide.
- 1
Start a trial
Sign up for Postbase. Every plan starts with 7 days free, so you can run both tools side by side for a week.
- 2
Connect your channels
Connect the same accounts you use in Buffer from the Channels page. Connecting to Postbase doesn't disconnect them from Buffer.
- 3
Move your queue
Recreate the posts still queued in Buffer, or ask Claude or another MCP client to do it for you. Then cancel them in Buffer so nothing posts twice.
Frequently asked questions
Is Postbase cheaper than Buffer?
It depends on how many channels you have. Buffer's Essentials plan is $5 per channel per month, so up to five channels Buffer costs less. From six channels up, Postbase's flat plans cost less: 15 channels is $39/month on Postbase and $75/month on Buffer Essentials.
Does Postbase have a free plan like Buffer?
Not a hosted one. Postbase has a 7-day free trial on every plan. It's also open source, so you can self-host it for free with your own platform API keys.
Can I use Claude with both?
Yes, both have an MCP server. Postbase also has its own agent inside the app, and posts your agent schedules appear on your Postbase calendar.
Can I import my Buffer queue?
There's no one-click import yet. Recreate your queued posts in the composer, or connect Claude over MCP and ask it to recreate them from a list.
Other comparisons
- Postbase vs Hootsuite
Hootsuite is a full social media suite for larger teams: publishing, a shared inbox, listening and reporting.
- Postbase vs Typefully
Typefully is a polished writing app for X and LinkedIn creators, with a great thread editor and X growth tools.
- Postbase vs Ayrshare
Ayrshare is a social media API for platforms that post on behalf of many customers, with white-label multi-tenant profiles.
- Postbase vs Hypefury
Hypefury is a scheduler for solo creators, known for auto-plugs, auto-DMs and AI that writes in your own voice.
- Postbase vs Later
Later is a visual planner for Instagram-, TikTok- and Pinterest-first brands, with an influencer marketing product alongside.
- Postbase vs Sprout Social
Sprout Social is an enterprise-grade suite for social teams: publishing, a unified inbox, listening and reporting.
- Postbase vs Publer
Publer is a budget-friendly scheduler for small businesses and agencies, with per-account pricing and a long list of networks.
- Postbase vs SocialBee
SocialBee is a scheduler for small businesses built around content categories and evergreen recycling, with an AI copilot.
- Postbase vs Post Bridge
Post Bridge is a simple, high-volume scheduler for creators and short-form video accounts, with an API and MCP server on its current plans.
From the blog
The best Buffer alternatives in 2026
Nine Buffer alternatives compared on price, networks, AI and API access, with a "best for" for each and when to stick with Buffer.
28 September 2026 · 5 min read
GuidesThe best open-source social media schedulers in 2026
Six open-source, self-hostable social media schedulers compared on licence, networks, activity and hosted options.
28 September 2026 · 4 min read
AI agentsThe best MCP servers for social media in 2026
Six MCP servers that let Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor post to social media, compared on networks, sign-in, price and what the agent can do.
26 September 2026 · 5 min read
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