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Social media scheduler priced per channel: free for 3 channels, Essentials $5/channel/month, Team $10/channel/month. 14-day trial on paid plans.
Editor's take: “Cheapest honest per-channel pricing in the category, with a real free plan” — Sohail Akhtar
Reviewed by Sohail Akhtar
Lead Editor & Founder
What we like
Limitations
| Plan | Details |
|---|---|
| Free | Free – up to 3 connected channels, limited scheduled-post queue, no time limit |
| Essentials | Essentials – $5 per channel/month, or $60 per channel billed yearly (listed on 14 September 2026) – unlimited scheduled posts, analytics |
| Team | Team – $10 per channel/month, or $120 per channel billed yearly (listed on 14 September 2026) – unlimited team members, approvals |
| Trial | 14-day free trial on paid plans |
Buffer has a free-forever plan for up to 3 channels. Its pricing page listed Essentials at $5 per channel per month, or $60 per channel billed yearly, and Team at $10 per channel per month, or $120 per channel billed yearly, on 14 September 2026. Paid plans carry a 14-day free trial.
Quick Summary
Buffer is the simple scheduler: connect your channels, queue posts, look at the analytics, and pay per channel rather than per user. Its free plan covers three channels for as long as you like, and its paid plans were listed at $5 and $10 per channel per month on 14 September 2026, which makes it the cheapest mainstream option for a small brand or creator.
Associated Tags
social media scheduler, free social media tool, content calendar, per-channel pricing, hootsuite alternative
Who should use Buffer?
Discover practical workflows and real-world scenarios where Buffer delivers key solutions.
A solo creator schedules a week of posts to Instagram, LinkedIn and Threads on the free plan
A small brand pays $15 a month for three channels on Essentials and gets analytics
An agency assistant queues client posts for approval on the Team plan
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