Buffer has a free plan for up to 3 channels, then charges per channel: Essentials is $5 per channel per month and Team is $10 per channel per month, or $60 and $120 per channel a year. A channel is one social account, such as one LinkedIn profile or one Instagram account, so the price grows with every account you add. Channels beyond 10 are cheaper.
Here's what each plan includes, what you'd actually pay, and when a flat-priced tool works out cheaper. Prices were checked on Buffer's pricing page on 10 November 2026.
Buffer plans at a glance
| Free | Essentials | Team | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per channel, monthly | $0 | $5 | $10 |
| Price per channel, yearly | $0 | $60 ($5 a month) | $120 ($10 a month) |
| Channels | Up to 3 | As many as you pay for | As many as you pay for |
| Scheduled posts | 10 per channel | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Users | 1 | 1 | Unlimited |
| First comment | No | Yes | Yes |
| API keys | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Analytics history | 30 days | Longer | Longer |
Source: Buffer pricing. Buffer's pricing cards say yearly billing saves two months, while its FAQ mentions a 20% discount; check the page when you sign up.
What a "channel" means in Buffer
Each social account you connect is a channel: your LinkedIn profile, your company's LinkedIn page, an Instagram account, an X account. A brand on four networks is four channels. Buffer supports X, LinkedIn (profiles and pages), Bluesky, Mastodon, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Pinterest, Google Business Profile and more.
What Buffer actually costs
| Channels | Essentials, monthly | Team, monthly |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $5 | $10 |
| 3 | $15 | $30 |
| 5 | $25 | $50 |
| 8 | $40 | $80 |
| 10 | $50 | $100 |
Beyond 10 channels, Buffer charges less per channel; the exact rate is on its pricing page. Yearly billing gives roughly the same monthly figure with a discount on top.
What the free plan includes (and doesn't)
Includes: up to 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel at a time, one user, 30 days of analytics, an ideas board, a little AI help, and one API key.
Doesn't include: first-comment scheduling, more than one user, longer analytics history, or more than 10 queued posts per channel. If you post daily to three networks, the 10-post queue is the limit you'll hit first.
Essentials or Team?
- Essentials if you're one person: unlimited scheduling, first comments, full analytics and more API keys.
- Team if others need to log in: unlimited users and team collaboration features. It doubles the per-channel price, so a team with 10 channels pays $100 a month.
Is Buffer worth it?
Great value if you post to one to five accounts, want a simple, reliable scheduler, and are happy with per-channel pricing. At 3 channels, Essentials is $15 a month, which is hard to beat.
Gets expensive if you manage many accounts, or need a team: 10 channels on Team is $100 a month, and an agency with 20 clients on three networks each pays for 60 channels.
Buffer vs flat-priced schedulers
Some schedulers charge a flat price for a bundle of channels instead. Where the lines cross:
| Channels | Buffer Essentials | Buffer Team | Postbase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | $15 | $30 | $29 (up to 5) |
| 5 | $25 | $50 | $29 |
| 10 | $50 | $100 | $39 (up to 15) |
| 15 | Less than $75 with volume pricing | Less than $150 with volume pricing | $39 |
Prices monthly, checked 10 November 2026.
For one to five channels as one person, Buffer is cheaper. From around eight channels, or as soon as you need several users, a flat price usually wins. Postbase is $29 a month for 5 channels (one user) or $39 for 15 channels and 5 users, with an AI agent, an MCP server for Claude and ChatGPT, and a REST API on every plan. It doesn't post to Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn company pages yet, which Buffer does. Our Buffer alternatives roundup and the Postbase vs Buffer comparison go further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Buffer cost?
Buffer is free for up to 3 channels with 10 scheduled posts each. Essentials costs $5 per channel per month and Team $10 per channel per month, or $60 and $120 per channel per year.
Is Buffer free?
Yes, for up to 3 channels and 10 scheduled posts per channel, with one user and 30 days of analytics.
What counts as a channel in Buffer?
Each connected social account. A LinkedIn profile, a LinkedIn page and an Instagram account are three channels.
Does Buffer charge per user?
No. Essentials is for one user, and Team includes unlimited users. You pay per channel, not per seat.
Does Buffer offer a discount for yearly billing?
Yes. Paying yearly costs less than paying monthly; Buffer's pricing page shows the yearly price for each plan.
Is Buffer cheaper than Hootsuite?
Much cheaper for small accounts. Hootsuite starts at $99 per user per month (billed yearly), while Buffer starts at $5 per channel. Hootsuite includes more team, inbox and reporting features.
Can I post a first comment with Buffer?
Yes, on Essentials and Team, for Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn posts. The free plan doesn't include it.
Postbase