Buffer and Publer are both popular scheduling tools aimed at creators, freelancers, and small teams. If you are deciding between Buffer or Publer, it comes down to priorities: Buffer focuses on simplicity and broad platform coverage, while Publer packs in bulk scheduling, RSS automations, and AI image generation at aggressive price points.
Both tools promise simple social scheduling at affordable prices — but they deliver on that promise differently. In this 2026 comparison, we tested the pricing at real scales, compared the features plan by plan, and read hundreds of user reviews to give you this breakdown. Still weighing your options? Browse all social media scheduling alternatives.
Buffer vs Publer at a Glance
Here's a quick side-by-side overview before we dive deeper:
| Category | Buffer | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $6/mo per channel | $5/mo (1 account) |
| Free Plan | Yes (3 channels, 10 posts each) | Yes (3 accounts, no X/Twitter) |
| Platforms Supported | 11 | 13 |
| Unlimited Scheduling | Yes (paid plans) | Yes (paid plans) |
| AI Tools | AI Assistant (captions) | AI Assist (Business plan only) |
| AI Image Generation | No | Yes (DALL-E 3, Business plan) |
| Link in Bio | Yes (Start Page) | No |
| Team Collaboration | Team plan ($12/mo/channel) | Business plan ($10/mo+) |
| Approval Workflows | Team plan only | Business plan only |
| Social Inbox | Basic (Community Inbox) | No |
| Analytics | Basic to Advanced | Business plan only |
| G2 Rating | 4.3/5 (1,023 reviews) | 4.7/5 (486 reviews) |
| Trustpilot Rating | 2.1/5 (93 reviews) | 4.8/5 (863 reviews) |
| Best For | Multi-platform creators who want simplicity | Budget-conscious users who want bulk scheduling and automations |
Buffer Overview
Buffer is one of the oldest social media scheduling tools, launched in 2010. It focuses on simplicity — a clean interface for scheduling posts, managing a basic content calendar, and viewing analytics.
Buffer supports 11 platforms: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, X/Twitter, TikTok, YouTube, Google Business Profile, Threads, Bluesky, and Mastodon.
Key features:
- Post scheduling with queue management
- AI Assistant for generating captions and post ideas
- Hashtag manager and first comment scheduling
- Basic community inbox
- Start Page (link-in-bio builder)
- Content calendar
Buffer is popular among solo creators and freelancers who want a no-frills scheduling experience across many platforms. If you are new to scheduling, check out our guide on how to schedule social media posts. For a deeper look, see what users say about Buffer on G2 and Trustpilot.
Publer Overview
Publer is a social media scheduling and automation platform built around efficiency. It combines bulk scheduling, RSS feed automations, and AI-powered content creation at some of the lowest prices in the market.
Publer supports 13 platforms: Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter (paid plans only), LinkedIn, Pinterest, Google Business, YouTube, TikTok, WordPress, Telegram, Mastodon, Threads, and Bluesky.
Key features:
- Bulk scheduling via CSV import
- RSS feed automations (unlimited on Professional+)
- AI Assist with GPT-4 text and DALL-E 3 image generation (Business plan)
- Canva and VistaCreate integration
- Watermarks and signatures
- Content calendar with auto-scheduling (see our guide on building a social media content calendar)
- Competitor analysis (Business plan)
Publer targets budget-conscious creators and small teams who want powerful automation features without paying enterprise prices. Read real user reviews of Publer from G2 and Trustpilot.
Pricing Comparison
Buffer and Publer use different pricing models — Buffer charges per channel, Publer charges per connected account with tiered plan features.
Buffer Pricing
Buffer uses per-channel pricing. Each social account you connect adds to your monthly cost. We break this down further in our Buffer pricing guide.
| Plan | Price | Channels | Users | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | 3 | 1 | 10 posts/channel, basic analytics |
| Essentials | $6/mo per channel | Unlimited | 1 | Unlimited posts, advanced analytics, hashtag manager |
| Team | $12/mo per channel | Unlimited | Unlimited | Approval workflows, permissions, team collaboration |
Example costs:
- 5 channels on Essentials = $30/month
- 10 channels on Team = $120/month
Publer Pricing
Publer uses per-account pricing that scales with the number of social accounts you connect. See the full Publer pricing breakdown for details.
| Plan | Price | Accounts | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | 3 (no X/Twitter) | 10 pending posts/account, basic scheduling |
| Professional | From $5/mo | 1 (+$4/account) | Unlimited scheduling, RSS automations, bulk scheduling |
| Business | From $10/mo | 1 (+$7/account) | AI Assist (unlimited), analytics, competitor analysis |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom features and support |
Example costs:
- 3 accounts on Professional = ~$12/month
- 3 accounts on Business = ~$21/month
- 5 accounts on Professional = ~$20/month
Price Verdict
Publer is cheaper for most users. A solo creator managing 3 accounts pays $0/month on either free plan, but Publer's free plan lacks X/Twitter support. On paid plans, 3 accounts on Publer Professional costs ~$12/month vs $18/month on Buffer Essentials. The gap widens at scale — 5 accounts on Publer Professional costs ~$20/month vs $30/month on Buffer Essentials.
However, Publer's most powerful features (AI Assist, analytics, competitor analysis) are locked behind the Business plan, which starts at $10/month and adds $7 per extra account. Buffer includes analytics on all paid plans and unlimited AI on Essentials.
The biggest catch with Publer's free plan: no X/Twitter support due to API costs. Buffer's free plan includes all 11 platforms.
Feature Comparison
Scheduling & Publishing
| Feature | Buffer | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| Unlimited scheduling | Yes (paid plans) | Yes (paid plans) |
| Post limits (free) | 10 posts/channel | 10 pending posts/account |
| Bulk scheduling (CSV) | Yes | Yes |
| RSS feed automations | No | Yes (unlimited on Professional+) |
| Auto-scheduling | No | Yes |
| First comment scheduling | Yes (Essentials+) | No |
| Content calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Draft saving | Yes | Yes |
Winner: Publer — RSS feed automations and auto-scheduling give it an edge for users who want to automate their social media workflow. Both support bulk CSV scheduling, but Publer's automation features make it more hands-off. Buffer wins on first comment scheduling for Instagram engagement.
AI Tools
| Feature | Buffer | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| AI caption generation | Yes (AI Assistant) | Yes (Business plan only) |
| AI image generation | No | Yes (DALL-E 3, Business plan) |
| AI post ideas | Yes (unlimited on paid) | Yes (Business plan) |
| AI credits/limits | Unlimited (paid plans) | Unlimited (Business plan) |
Winner: Publer on the Business plan — DALL-E 3 image generation is a standout feature that Buffer lacks entirely. For more on how AI is changing content creation, see our guide to AI social media tools. However, Publer's AI tools are locked behind the Business plan ($10/mo+), while Buffer includes unlimited AI on all paid plans starting at $6/month. If you only need captions, Buffer is the better value.
Analytics & Reporting
| Feature | Buffer | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| Basic analytics | All plans | Business plan only |
| Competitor analysis | No | Yes (Business plan) |
| Post performance tracking | Yes | Business plan only |
| Export reports | Yes | Business plan only |
Winner: Buffer for accessibility — analytics are included on all paid plans. Publer restricts all analytics to the Business plan, which means Professional users get no performance data at all. If analytics matter to you, Buffer is the more affordable option — learn more in our roundup of social media analytics tools. If you need competitor analysis, Publer's Business plan is the only choice between the two.
Team Collaboration
| Feature | Buffer | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple users | Team plan | Business plan |
| Approval workflows | Team plan | Business plan |
| Role management | Team plan | Business plan |
| Workspaces | No | Business plan |
Winner: Tie — both lock team features behind higher-tier plans. Buffer requires the Team plan ($12/mo/channel), Publer requires the Business plan ($10/mo + $7/account). Cost-wise, Publer's Business plan is cheaper for small teams, but Buffer's Team plan includes analytics that Publer's Professional plan lacks.
Platform Support
| Platform | Buffer | Publer |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | |
| Yes | Yes | |
| X/Twitter | Yes | Paid plans only |
| Yes | Yes | |
| TikTok | Yes | Yes |
| YouTube | Yes | Yes |
| Yes | Yes | |
| Threads | Yes | Yes |
| Bluesky | Yes | Yes |
| Mastodon | Yes | Yes |
| Google Business | Yes | Yes |
| WordPress | No | Yes |
| Telegram | No | Yes |
Winner: Publer — supports 13 platforms vs Buffer's 11. Publer uniquely includes WordPress and Telegram. However, Publer restricts X/Twitter to paid plans only due to API costs, while Buffer includes X/Twitter on all plans including the free tier.
What Real Users Say
Buffer Reviews
G2: 4.3/5 (1,023 reviews) — Users praise Buffer's clean interface, ease of use, and efficient scheduling. Common complaints include limited analytics, rising costs at scale, and outdated UI.
Trustpilot: 2.1/5 (93 reviews) — Lower rating driven by complaints about customer support, scheduling glitches, and sync issues with social platforms.
Publer Reviews
G2: 4.7/5 (486 reviews) — Users highlight the generous free plan, bulk scheduling, RSS automations, and excellent value for money. Complaints mention occasional UI quirks and the lack of analytics on lower plans.
Trustpilot: 4.8/5 (863 reviews) — Exceptionally high rating. Users consistently praise Publer's customer support responsiveness, feature set for the price, and reliable scheduling. One of the highest-rated social media tools on Trustpilot.
Review Verdict
Publer wins decisively on user satisfaction. It scores higher on both G2 (4.7 vs 4.3) and dramatically higher on Trustpilot (4.8 vs 2.1). The Trustpilot gap is the most striking — Publer's 4.8/5 from 863 reviews is among the highest in the social media scheduling space, while Buffer's 2.1/5 points to persistent customer support issues. Review counts and ratings are as of February 2026 and are updated periodically.
Who Should Use Buffer?
If Buffer sounds right but you want to explore other options first, check out our best alternatives to Buffer. You can also see how Buffer stacks up against Hootsuite, Later, Metricool, Sprout Social, and SocialBee. For a broader view of what is available, browse our list of the best social media management tools.
Buffer is the better choice if you:
- Are a solo creator who wants the simplest social media scheduling interface
- Need analytics on all paid plans without paying for a Business tier
- Want unlimited AI caption generation starting at $6/month
- Need a social inbox for basic community management
- Want a link-in-bio tool (Start Page) included
- Need X/Twitter on the free plan without upgrading
Who Should Use Publer?
If Publer is on your shortlist, you may also want to see our top alternatives to Publer before committing. You can also see how Publer compares to Hootsuite, Sprout Social, Later, Metricool, and SocialBee. Publer is especially popular among small business owners looking for affordable automation.
Publer is the better choice if you:
- Are a budget-conscious creator or small business who wants the cheapest paid plans
- Need RSS feed automations to auto-post content
- Want bulk scheduling via CSV with auto-scheduling
- Need to post to WordPress or Telegram alongside social platforms
- Want AI image generation (DALL-E 3) on the Business plan
- Need Canva and VistaCreate integration for in-app design (learn more about Canva for social media)
Final Verdict
Buffer is the better choice if you are a solo creator or freelancer who values simplicity, wants analytics on every paid plan, and needs broad platform support including X/Twitter on the free tier.
Publer is the better choice if you are a budget-conscious user who needs RSS automations, bulk scheduling, AI image generation, and the cheapest per-account pricing available.
For most creators and small teams, Publer offers stronger value on paper, but its best features require the Business plan, which narrows the pricing gap with Buffer. If neither tool fully meets your needs, PostPlanify offers unlimited scheduling, AI captions, AI image generation, and analytics on every paid plan starting at $19/month flat — see how it compares.
What If Affordable Didn't Mean Basic?
Buffer keeps it simple but gates AI and team features behind higher tiers. Publer is budget-friendly but locks AI image generation and analytics to the Business plan. PostPlanify starts at $19/month and includes what both tools charge extra for: AI captions, AI image generation, Canva integration, and unlimited scheduling on every paid plan.
| Feature | Buffer | Publer | PostPlanify |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $6/mo/channel | $5/mo (1 account) | $19/mo flat |
| Unlimited Scheduling | Paid plans | Paid plans | All paid plans |
| AI Caption Generation | Yes (unlimited) | Business plan only | Yes (unlimited) |
| AI Image Generation | No | Business plan (DALL-E 3) | Yes |
| Canva Integration | No | Yes | Yes |
| Google Drive Import | No | No | Yes |
| Analytics | All paid plans | Business plan only | All paid plans |
| Approval Workflows | $12/mo/channel | Business plan | $99/mo (Premium) |
| Platforms Supported | 11 | 13 | 9 |
| Social Inbox | Basic | No | No |
PostPlanify starts at $19/month for 3 accounts with unlimited scheduling and AI tools included. The Premium plan at $99/month includes unlimited accounts, unlimited team members, and approval workflows. See all plans on the PostPlanify pricing page.
Try PostPlanify free — all features included
FAQ
Is Buffer cheaper than Publer?
Not necessarily. Publer's paid plans start at $5/month for 1 account, while Buffer starts at $6/month per channel. For 3 accounts, Publer Professional costs ~$12/month vs Buffer Essentials at $18/month. However, Buffer includes analytics and unlimited AI on all paid plans, while Publer locks these behind the more expensive Business plan.
Does Publer have a free plan?
Yes. Publer offers a free plan with 3 accounts and 10 pending posts per account. However, X/Twitter is not available on the free plan due to API costs, which is a notable limitation for anyone who needs Twitter scheduling. Buffer also has a free plan with 3 channels and 10 posts per channel, including full X/Twitter support. If you outgrow both free plans, paid tiers start at just $5/month for Publer Professional and $6/month per channel for Buffer Essentials.
Which has better AI tools — Buffer or Publer?
It depends on the plan. Buffer includes unlimited AI caption generation on all paid plans starting at $6/month. Publer's AI Assist is only available on the Business plan ($10/mo+), but it includes both GPT-4 text generation and DALL-E 3 image generation — a feature Buffer lacks entirely.
Can I switch from Buffer to Publer?
Yes. You can reconnect your social accounts to Publer and start scheduling immediately. Both tools support CSV import for bulk scheduling, which makes migrating your content queue relatively straightforward. The main differences you will notice are Publer's RSS automations and auto-scheduling capabilities, which can save time on recurring content. However, you will lose Buffer's social inbox for community management and Start Page link-in-bio features, so factor those into your decision.
Which supports more social media platforms?
Publer supports 13 platforms, including WordPress and Telegram, which makes it one of the broadest schedulers for multi-channel publishing. Buffer supports 11 platforms covering all major social networks. However, Publer restricts X/Twitter to paid plans only due to API costs, while Buffer includes it on all plans including the free tier. Both support newer platforms like Bluesky, Mastodon, and Threads, which is a strong advantage over many competitors.
Does Publer have analytics?
Only on the Business plan ($10/month + $7 per extra account). Publer's Professional plan and free plan have no analytics. If analytics are important to you, Buffer includes them on all paid plans starting at $6/month, or consider PostPlanify which includes analytics on all paid plans at $19/month flat.
Is Publer good for teams?
Publer supports team collaboration on the Business plan, which includes workspaces and approval workflows. For 3 accounts, the Business plan costs ~$21/month — cheaper than Buffer's Team plan at $36/month for 3 channels. However, Publer lacks a social inbox for team-based community management.
Which tool has better user reviews?
Publer has significantly better reviews on both platforms. On G2, Publer scores 4.7/5 (486 reviews) vs Buffer's 4.3/5 (1,023 reviews). On Trustpilot, the gap is dramatic — Publer scores 4.8/5 (863 reviews) vs Buffer's 2.1/5 (93 reviews). Publer is one of the highest-rated scheduling tools across review platforms.
Is Publer worth it in 2026?
Yes, Publer remains a strong value pick in 2026, especially for creators and small businesses on a tight budget. Its Professional plan starts at just $5/month for one account and includes unlimited scheduling, RSS feed automations, and bulk CSV import. The Business plan adds AI-powered content generation with DALL-E 3 image creation, which few competitors offer at this price point. The main drawback is that analytics and AI tools are locked behind the Business tier, so you should budget accordingly if those features matter to your workflow.
What is the best alternative to Buffer?
The best alternative to Buffer depends on what you need most. If you want cheaper pricing with automation features, Publer is a strong contender. If you need a full engagement platform with social inbox and CRM, Agorapulse is the industry leader. For visual-first scheduling, Later is worth considering. For an all-in-one tool with AI image generation, unlimited scheduling, and analytics on every plan, PostPlanify delivers the best overall value starting at $19/month. See our full list of the best social media schedulers.
Does Buffer offer a free trial?
Buffer does not offer a traditional free trial because it has a permanent free plan. The free plan includes 3 channels, 10 scheduled posts per channel, and basic analytics, which lets you test the platform indefinitely. If you want to try paid features like unlimited scheduling and the AI Assistant, you will need to upgrade to the Essentials plan at $6/month per channel. Publer also has a permanent free plan with 3 accounts, though it excludes X/Twitter support on the free tier.
