Buffer pricing: Free for 3 channels; Essentials $5/channel/mo (annual). Free plan: yes — 3 channels, 1 user. Rated 4.3/5 on G2 (1,041 reviews). Each figure links to the comparison it was verified in.
Buffer bills per connected channel, not per user, so adding a colleague on Team costs nothing while every extra social account adds to the bill.
The free plan covers 3 channels and 1 user, Essentials is $5/channel/mo billed annually ($6 monthly) and still 1 user, and Team is $10/channel/mo annual ($12 monthly) with unlimited users and approvals. That model rewards a tidy account list, so audit it before you connect anything and drop profiles you haven't posted to in months, since you pay for each one. Then check who actually owns each account: a brand page registered to a former freelancer's personal login is one resignation away from being locked out, and no scheduling tool can fix that for you. Move ownership to company logins first. If you need listening or ads management, Buffer offers neither, so read Hootsuite vs Buffer.
My read of the verified data on this page, checked against vendor sources on September 19, 2026. Disagree or spot an error? Tell Bill
Every row was recorded on a HelpCompare comparison page. The Source column links to the page it was verified on and the date it was last checked.
| Attribute | Value | Source & date |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Free for 3 channels; Essentials $5/channel/mo (annual) | hootsuite-vs-buffer |
| Free plan | Yes — 3 channels, 1 user | hootsuite-vs-buffer |
| Team | $10/channel/mo annual ($12 monthly), unlimited users | hootsuite-vs-buffer |
| Users | Essentials 1 user; Team unlimited | hootsuite-vs-buffer |
| Not offered | Social listening and ads management | hootsuite-vs-buffer |
| Approvals | Team | hootsuite-vs-buffer |
Compliance reports, sign-in controls, offline access and the setup details that matter for remote, hybrid and in-office teams. Each value links to the vendor page it came from. Buffer’s own security documentation: buffer.com.
How Buffer connects to the rest of the software we track — head-to-head research, switching paths, and the closest alternatives in its category.
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Discounts for Buffer: 1 verified way to pay less (pay yearly), checked on Buffer’s own site. See the discounts →
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