Pricing

Buffer Nonprofit Pricing 2025: Free Plan & Discount Guide

Matt
Matt
8 min read

TL;DR - Quick Answer

10 min read

Tips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.

Quick answer: Buffer's free plan works for most nonprofits, 3 social channels with 10 scheduled posts each. No official nonprofit discount, but the free tier and affordable paid plans make it budget-friendly.

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Let AI do the work. Ideas, posts, images, carousels. Scheduled in seconds.

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Buffer Pricing Overview

PlanPriceChannelsPosts/ChannelUsers
Free$0310 scheduled1
Essentials$6/channelUnlimitedUnlimited1
Team$12/channelUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited

Does Buffer Offer Nonprofit Discounts?

Short answer: No official nonprofit discount program.

Good news: Buffer's free plan is generous enough for many nonprofits.


🤔 Quick Knowledge Check

Does Buffer have a special nonprofit discount program?


Buffer Free Plan for Nonprofits

What You Get for $0

  • 3 social channels (any platforms)
  • 10 scheduled posts per channel
  • Basic publishing tools
  • Landing page builder
  • Mobile app access
  • Basic analytics

What's Missing

  • More than 3 channels
  • More than 10 scheduled posts
  • Team collaboration
  • Engagement features
  • Advanced analytics
  • AI assistant

Is Buffer Free Enough?

Free Plan Works If You:

  • Manage 3 or fewer social platforms
  • Post 2-3 times per week per platform
  • Work solo (no team access needed)
  • Need basic scheduling only

Upgrade If You:

  • Manage 4+ social platforms
  • Post daily or more frequently
  • Have multiple team members or volunteers
  • Need advanced analytics
  • Want engagement tools

🤔 Quick Knowledge Check

Your nonprofit manages Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, posting twice weekly on each. Best Buffer plan?


Buffer Paid Plans for Nonprofits

Essentials ($6/channel/month)

Best for solo nonprofit social media managers.

FeatureDetails
ChannelsUnlimited
Scheduled postsUnlimited
Users1
AI assistantIncluded
Engagement toolsYes
AnalyticsAdvanced

Example costs:

  • 5 channels = $30/month
  • 7 channels = $42/month
  • 10 channels = $60/month

Team ($12/channel/month)

Best for nonprofits with volunteers or staff teams.

FeatureDetails
ChannelsUnlimited
Scheduled postsUnlimited
UsersUnlimited
Approval workflowsYes
Team analyticsYes

Example costs:

  • 5 channels = $60/month
  • 7 channels = $84/month
  • 10 channels = $120/month

Nonprofit Budget Scenarios

Tiny Nonprofit ($0 budget)

Setup: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn

OptionCost
PlanBuffer Free
Monthly$0
Channels3
Posts30 total (10 per channel)

Verdict: Works for basic weekly posting.


Small Nonprofit ($30-50 budget)

Setup: 5 platforms

OptionCost
PlanBuffer Essentials
Monthly$30 (5 channels × $6)
AI assistantIncluded
PostsUnlimited

Verdict: Good value for solo managers.


Medium Nonprofit ($100+ budget)

Setup: 8 channels, 3 team members

OptionCost
PlanBuffer Team
Monthly$96 (8 channels × $12)
UsersUnlimited
Approval workflowsYes

Verdict: Great for teams with volunteers.


🤔 Quick Knowledge Check

Your nonprofit has 5 platforms and 3 volunteers needing access. Monthly cost for Buffer?


Maximize Buffer on Nonprofit Budget

Tip 1: Start with Free

Use the free plan to establish workflow. Only upgrade when you hit limits.

Tip 2: Consolidate Channels

Focus on 3 high-impact channels:

  • Where your donors are
  • Where volunteers engage
  • Where you get most traction

Tip 3: Use Native Tools for Extra Platforms

Free options beyond your 3 Buffer channels:

  • Meta Business Suite, Facebook + Instagram (free)
  • YouTube Studio, YouTube scheduling (free)
  • LinkedIn, native scheduling (free)

Tip 4: Request Informal Discounts

While no official program exists:

  • Email support explaining you're a nonprofit
  • Ask about annual billing discounts (15-20% off)
  • Inquire about pilot programs

Buffer vs Other Nonprofit-Friendly Tools

ToolFree PlanPaid StartingNonprofit Discount
Buffer3 channels$6/channelNo (free tier works)
CanvaLimited$15/month100% free
Sprout SocialNo$249/user~50% off
HootsuiteNo$99/monthNo
SocialRailsTrial$29/monthContact for info

🤔 Quick Knowledge Check

Which tool offers the best free option for nonprofits?


Alternatives for Nonprofits

For AI Content Creation

SocialRails — $29/month with unlimited AI content Try SocialRails →

For Larger Teams

Sprout Social — ~50% nonprofit discount available

For Visual Content

Later — Free plan, great for Instagram

For Design + Scheduling

Canva for Nonprofits — Free Pro + basic scheduling


Quick Answers

Does Buffer have a nonprofit discount? No official program. However, the free plan works for most small nonprofits.

How many platforms for free? 3 social channels with 10 scheduled posts each.

Is Buffer good for nonprofit volunteers? Free and Essentials are single-user. Team plan ($12/channel) includes unlimited users.

Can I get Buffer for free as a nonprofit? Yes, the free plan is available to everyone. No application needed.

Buffer vs Hootsuite for nonprofits? Buffer is much cheaper. Hootsuite has no free plan and starts at $99/month.


Summary

Buffer nonprofit pricing:

  • Free plan: 3 channels, 10 posts each
  • Essentials: $6/channel, solo managers
  • Team: $12/channel, volunteer teams

No official discount, but Buffer is nonprofit-friendly with its free tier.

Our recommendation: Start free. Upgrade to Essentials when you need more channels. Consider SocialRails for AI content at similar pricing.

Create content, post everywhere

Let AI do the work. Ideas, posts, images, carousels. Scheduled in seconds.

Start your free trial

Nonprofit Resources:

Buffer Resources:

More Alternatives:

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